Biographical Information: Akeley was born in Vienna, Austria in 1904. Akeley chose to focus on comparative religion at college, but also studied physics (specifically x-rays) at the request of her parents. Forced to leave college early for personal reasons, Akeley began working as an editor for a Viennese printing firm. As the Nazis gained more political power, Akeley's Jewish employer was forced to flee Austria. In his absence, she was in charge of liquidating the company's assets. During this time, Edward Akeley, a Purdue physics graduate student, came to Austria and met Anna. Upon his second visit to Austria, they decided to get married, and she came back to the United States with him, arriving in Lafayette in 1942. Shortly after coming to Purdue, Anna learned that she would be teaching physics due to the wartime personnel shortage. Although she was very excited, Anna had been away from the formal study of physics for nearly twenty years and had never been taught physics in English. Despite these initial setbacks, Anna went on to teach numerous courses throughout her 29 years in the Purdue Physics Department. She was elected by her students to receive a Best Instructor Award in 1966, "In Recognition of Outstanding Works Being Done in the Classroom." Always referring to herself as a "simple physics teacher," Anna retired with tenure in 1971. She was the only member of the Physics Department without a physics degree.

Scope and Content: The Anna Akeley papers (ca1890-2003; 0.95 cubic feet) document the life and career of Anna Akeley, a physics professor at Purdue University.  With the inclusion of Akeley’s recorded memoirs and personal photographs, the collection provides an accurate reflection of Akeley’s life from childhood to her later years.  Other materials demonstrate Akeley’s impact at Purdue.  The papers would be useful to researchers interested in women in science and higher education, changing roles of women in the twentieth century, material culture of the twentieth century, and immigration as a result of WWII.  Types of materials include: printed material, certificates, and photographs.

Biographical Information: (Esther) Marguerite Hall Albjerg was born to Coumbus H. and Theodora Parks Hall in 1895 in Franklin, Indiana. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin College (1917) and a Master of Arts (1922) and PhD (1925) from the University of Wisconsin. She was the first woman to hold the University of Wisconsin's prestigious President Adams Fellowship. After receiving her PhD, Hall served as the head of History at the Alabama State College for Women until 1927, when she married Victor Lincoln Albjerg.Hall Albjerg was an instructor at Purdue University from 1927-1951 in the History Department, where her husband was a member of the faculty. Although she was unable to serve as a faculty member in the History Department because of her husband's position, Albjerg was later offered a counselor position by the Dean of Women. She authored four books and nearly 30 articles. Dr. Albjerg's daughter Patricia Parks (Albjerg) Graham (1935) later became a professor as well. Albjerg passed away in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1971.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of three articles written by Marguerite Albjerg.

Biographical Information: The Lafayette Chapter of Altrusa International was founded in 1922 with Ruby Dautel serving as the first president.  This early founding date makes the Lafayette chapter one of the earliest members of the national Altrusa Organization.  Altrusa was first started in 1917 in Nashville, Tennessee by Dr. Alfred Durham in an effort to foster fellowship among professional and business women, since no such clubs for women existed at the time.  In 1918, Durham was joined at the helm by Mamie Bass, the superintendent of the Women’s Division of the U.S. Employment Service.  Bass instilled in the club its philosophy of service and personal achievement and organized the first Altrusa convention in 1918 in Indianapolis where she became the first elected president of the national organization.  Since that time, Altrusa has gone international and now has thousands of members in several countries.  The Lafayette Chapter of Altrusa has remained an active member of the sixth district which encompasses member clubs in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.  Altrusa of Lafayette has been active in the support of vocational training and scholarships for young women, literacy programs, and various other projects during its tenure.

Scope and Content: The Altrusa International of Lafayette, Indiana records (1922-2014; 3.2 cubic feet) document the members and activities of the organization from its inception.  Also documented are some of the milestones of individual members and the local chapter’s involvement with the regional district chapter and Altrusa International.  Due to the fact that the organization restricted membership to prominent women within the community, the collection could be useful for researchers interested in determining women leaders within the greater Lafayette and Purdue community.  This fact could also provide insight into the types of jobs and professions held by women in the greater Lafayette community over the years.  The records would also be useful to researchers interested in philanthropy in the Lafayette community and women’s clubs and service organizations more generally.  Types of materials include: papers, photographs, scrapbooks, and publications, etc.  The records are organized into three series.

Scope and Content: The Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection documents the history of Purdue University. The collection consists of recordings and transcripts of oral history interviews conducted with individuals associated with Purdue University.

Biographical Information: Alice Biester (1890-1969) received her education in nutrition at the University of Illinois, earning an AB (1912) and an AM (1913). Her research interests focused on the impact of proper nutrition on children, and the ways in which nutrients react to cooking and/or processing of foods. She joined the Home Economics faculty at Purdue in 1913 and served briefly as the acting head of the department before her resignation in 1915. From there, she joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota as a Professor in Nutrition. She retired from Minnesota in 1955. Biester also served as a guest lecturer at the University of California and as a dietician for the Cook County Hospital in Illinois. She was a member of the American Home Economics Association.

Scope and Content: The collection contains one article by Alice Biester.

Biographical Information: Gertrude Bilhuber was born June 5, 1895, in Maywood, New Jersey. She began her education at Columbia University, ultimately receiving both a B.S. and an M.A. there. While completing her education, Bilhuber was admitted to the Association of American Physical Education. She continued her education in Public Health at the University of Michigan, and earned an M.S. (1925) and a PhD (1926). After completing her degrees, she joined the Physical Education faculty at Purdue as an Associate Professor. She was promoted quickly to Head of the Department but resigned in 1929. During her tenure at Purdue, Bilhuber was also active on the Women's Residence Halls Committee which worked to secure housing for women students. After leaving Purdue, Bilhuber remained devoted to health education and continued her career doing research and health education work for the American Society for the Control of Cancer in New York. She passed away in November 1975.

Scope and Content: This collection contains one folder with a study by Dr. Bilhuber - "This study concerns itself with the effect of menstruation on the motor ability of college women in certain sports".

Biographical Information: Katherine Golden Bitting earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Purdue in 1892, and became an instructor soon after graduating. She married Arvill Wayne Bitting, a professor of veterinary science, and they went on to take jobs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Katherine, a microanalyst in the chemistry division, gained expertise on food preservation and related topics, authoring nearly fifty pamphlets in that subject area. Her 4,346 volume collection of gastronomic literature from the fifteenth through twentieth centuries now resides at the Library of Congress' Rare Books and Special Collections Division.

Scope and Content: This collection contains four folders with articles written by Katherine Golden Bitting, vita, bibliographic information, Plant Studies book and an article about Katherine Bitting.

Biographical Information: Arthur G. Bitzer and Roberta Miriam (Craig) Bitzer were alumni of Purdue University. Arthur "Art" G. Bitzer, Jr. received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1942. Originally from River Forest, Illinois, he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Arthur was a WWII veteran who served in the U.S. Navy. He was the founder and former owner of Bitzer Products Co. of Broadview, Illinois. Roberta Miriam Craig graduated from Purdue University in 1943 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta (where she was called "Bobbie"), as well as the Activities Bureau, the Union, and the Virginia C. Meredith Club. Arthur and Roberta were married in Chicago, Illinois, on February 6, 1943. Together they raised two children, Nancy (Bitzer) Sturgeon and John Craig Bitzer (BSME 1970). Arthur passed away in 2009, followed by Roberta in 2015.

Scope and Content: The Arthur and Roberta Bitzer photographs, schedule card and buttons are from the Bitzer's time as students at Purdue University. Types of materials include: black and white photographs of campus scenes and student life, a schedule card and buttons.

Biographical Information: Esther Conolley was born in Rockford, Ohio to Vaughn and Naomi Conolley in 1924. The family moved to Michigan before eventually settling near Upland, Indiana on a 90 acre farm that Vaughn inherited. Esther graduate high school there, from Jefferson Township Hugh School, in 1941. After graduating high school, Conolley enrolled at Purdue University in the Home Economics School where she majored in Clothing and Interior Home Design. After earning her bachelor's degree, Conolley taught at a high school in New Carlisle before marrying Dr. Charles Boonstra. After marrying the two lived in Indianapolis for a year while Charles finished medical school, and Esther taught at an elementary school. Esther and Charles had two children, Michael and Anne. They moved several times during Charles' early career, but Esther developed an affinity for volunteerism in the various places they lived. She volunteered with the Red Cross assisting hospitals, and as an art history teacher. Esther died in West Lafayette in 2018.

Scope and Content: Recollections by Esther Boonstra of the years she spent at Purdue from 1941 to 1945.

Biographical Information: Esther Conolley was born in Rockford, Ohio to Vaughn and Naomi Conolley in 1924. The family moved to Michigan before eventually settling near Upland, Indiana on a 90 acre farm that Vaughn inherited. Esther graduate high school there, from Jefferson Township Hugh School, in 1941. After graduating high school, Conolley enrolled at Purdue University in the Home Economics School where she majored in Clothing and Interior Home Design. After earning her bachelor's degree, Conolley taught at a high school in New Carlisle before marrying Dr. Charles Boonstra. After marrying the two lived in Indianapolis for a year while Charles finished medical school, and Esther taught at an elementary school. Esther and Charles had two children, Michael and Anne. They moved several times during Charles' early career, but Esther developed an affinity for volunteerism in the various places they lived. She volunteered with the Red Cross assisting hospitals, and as an art history teacher. Esther died in West Lafayette in 2018.

Scope and Content: The Way It Was at Purdue 1941-1945, by Esther Conelley Boonstra I came to Purdue as a freshman in September 1941. There were four male students for every female student. The Music Hall (now Elliott Hall of Music) was new and in it we freshmen had an orientation talk and an initial assessment of each one's capabilities for the assignment to classes, whether remedial, level one or level two. We were welcomed by then University President, Edward C. Elliott, after which another man spoke and among other things told us to look first to our right and then left and by the end of the year one of the three would still be a Purdue student. Everyone registered for class assignments in the armory at the beginning of each semester. The "Green Guard" was an honorary group of upper level women students which helped new women with registration and served as volunteer counselors. Each student received a "Passport" on which were our photographs and which allowed us to attend basketball and football games, convocations, some dances and other activities. All freshmen, both men and women, were expected to wear freshmen beanies, small green felt caps. Slacks for women were not permitted on campus and none of my friends even owned slacks or jeans. saddle shoes and ankle sox were common footwear for coeds and skirts and sweaters or sweater sets were normal attire for attending class. However, in the dorms, women were required to wear heels and hose for dinner time. Six girls were seated at each table and one of them served as hostess for the table - this assignment changed every evening. Only the hostess was permitted to speak to the waiter on behalf of her table mates when asking for any additional needs, such as coffee, water, milk, etc. All women were required to take four semesters of PE (Physical Education). The first semester required swimming, unless one could pass a basic swimming test; but, since most homes and communities at that time had no swimming pools, this requirement was a good, basic lesson as a lifesaving precaution. For subsequent semesters I registered for archery, tennis and modern dance. I successfully tried out for the University Choir which was the largest component of the Purdue Musical Organization at that time with about 250 members. Our director was Mr. Albert P. Stewart. Some of the choir formed the Varsity Glee Club which was then about 35 men. In January 1942, Mr. Stewart introduced a new specialty group he named "Purduettes," beginning with 12 girls selected mostly from the Concert Choir. Each semester he conducted try-outs for individuals to be selected for one of the groups. The PMO Christmas Show was simply a performance by all of the choral groups together wearing robes and singing a mixture of religious and secular music of the times, while the orchestra performed its own concert. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced by radio (no TV) on December 7, 1941 that Pearl Harbor had been attacked by Japanese war planes. On December 8 classes were dismissed to hear the United States declare war. Universal draft registration soon followed and campus life quickly changed. Girls, whose brothers and boyfriends could be drafted and sent to war, were anxious and crying. Gradually enrollment declined and at one point diminished to a little less than 4,000. Consequently the ratio of girls to men was about 21/1. During the holiday vacation Purdue declared an end to semester-end final exams and awarded grades based on periodic smaller exams. Vacation time between semesters was reduced to a week or less. There were three full terms of 16 weeks each year with no summer breaks for the duration of the war. A student who was fortunate enough to successfully complete 8 consecutive semesters could earn a degree in 2 2/3 years instead of the customary four. Men were required to continue without summer interruptions and make good enough grades in order to stay in school. Women could choose to take summer breaks, if desired. Each dormitory had a house mother and each floor had a "smoker" (room), and smoking in individual dorm rooms was prohibited. Washers and dryers were in the basement, but many students had canvas covered heavy card board boxes about 24 x 15 x 4 inches in which laundry was mailed home to be washed, ironed and returned, perhaps with some treat tucked inside among the clothing. My roommate and I were both Home Economics students. I majored in teaching and minored in art while she majored in textile chemistry. (She was also in PMO participating in the choir and playing flute in the orchestra, then also a part of PMO, directed by Mr. Joseph M. Ragains). She later earned advanced degrees and ultimately became Dean of Home Economics at Auburn University. Applied design was a required course for Home Economics students. Many more art-related classes were then available in the Home Economics School, such as clothing design, house planning and interior decorating. Water color painting was used to illustrate home interior decorating and clothing design. Because of the decline in numbers of male students leaving for the war effort, Michael Golden Shops offered some classes to women students. We were taught elementary electrical wiring, learned to use metal and wood lathes and soldering techniques. I made a brass plate and aluminum plates, some cookie cutters which I used for years, and small wooden bowls. The marching band directed by Colonel P. S. "Spots" Emrick was then an alternative to the mandatory two year ROTC military training for all able bodied men. Because of the decline of male students from over one hundred to less than 50, the band began to accept women students, among them my roommate. Male black students could only live in West Lafayette in International House on University Avenue. However, black female students were denied the right and had to live across the river. "Practice House" was a requirement in order to earn a degree in Home Economics. It was a program of 6 weeks duration, during which time home making duties were rotated among the girls each week. During those weeks two girls roomed together in the house. However, I was assigned to a group of five which included a very well-liked black student. Those making the room pairings were planning to assign her to her own room, thinking incorrectly that no one would want to room with her. But she did have a roommate and one of the white girls roomed alone. Therefore, all of the assignments had to be rescheduled to accommodate a class of five. Thankfully, those restrictions were lifted long ago. Purdue Independent Association (P.I.A.), the organization representing the numerous cooperative housing units, sponsored the annual Valentine Dance, and others. Dances, both formal and informal, were common during the war years, with "sock hops," "blanket hops," Military Ball, and Senior Ball, among others. Also, "Victory Varieties" were presented in the Hall of Music, as well as frequent convocations. Many famous orchestras of the times provided music for entertainment and the major dances. Among many others, they included the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Stan Kenton, and Les Brown. All entertainment was free. Activities Bureau, Student Senate, and Exponent staffs all met in rooms on the second floor of the Union. Following one of the convos in the summer of 1943, I was invited to the Sweet Shop in the Union basement by my future husband. Student automobiles were almost non-existent on campus. Students, with few exceptions, went home infrequently and seldom even called home. Busses and trains were the common means used to go home and return. Walking from class to class was the mode on campus. City busses connected West Lafayette to Lafayette. In 1942, the first unit of the armed forces to send uniformed students for training to Purdue was the Navy. These men were in the V-5 and V-12 programs and were housed in Cary Quad which they named USS Cary. Early in 1943, the Army began sending groups of men to Purdue in the Army Specialized Training Corps (ASTP). They too were housed in Cary and eventually totaled 500. These were followed by a group of Brazilian Air Force men, who were housed in the Union Hotel. The same year several different companies involved in the war effort sent groups of women for specialized radio/electronics training (RCA Victor and Wright Field Cadettes) and engineering (Curtis-Wright Cadettes), later to become significant radio and electronic manufacturing aides and under-engineering aides replacing men called away from those companies to the armed forces. These women were assigned housing in the women’s' dorms. I was displaced along with many others and 18 of us moved to a large home on Waldron St. Heavy rains accompanied by extreme flooding of the Wabash River occurred in the spring of 1943 and two or three sailors decided, despite warnings, to try to cross in a row boat, unsuccessfully, of course. The boat swamped and they had to cling to trees to avoid being washed downstream. They had to be rescued by the police and spent the night in jail. Smith Hall on the south side of State Street was the location of Purdue's dairy store where we could purchase ice cream cones for a nickel. It was a short walk from my house. In February 1945 I received my Purdue B.S. H.E. degree during the first of several commencements that year and accepted a teaching position at New Carlisle, Indiana. I completed that school year and the summer extension program, then registered shortly before marrying in August and moving to Indianapolis with my husband who had one more year at the I.U. School of Medicine. I taught art for that one year in one of the public elementary schools of Indianapolis.

Biographical Information: Helen Bosard was born in 1895 to Edgar and Nellie Bosard. After growing up in the Lafayette area, she attended college at Purdue University. Bosard earned her B.S. in home economics in 1918, and earned an MA at the University of Chicago in 1919. While at Purdue, Bosard was very active in extracurricular activities, including Omicron Nu, Purdue Girls' Club, YWCA, Student Council, and the Philalethean Society. Bosard went on to head the department of home economics education at the University of Alabama where she achieved the rank of Associate professor and retired after 27 years in 1965. Bosard moved back to Indiana after retiring, where she died in 1987.

Scope and Content: Papers of Helen Bosard, including letters, photographs, and artifacts relating to her time as a student at Purdue University, and information on the Purdue class of 1918. Please see PDF Finding Aid for collection inventory.

Biographical Information: Irma Jean Bowman was born in Remington, Indiana on June 30, 1908. She was the daughter of Charles and Alice Bowman. Irma Jean Bowman graduated from Remington High School in 1926 and attended Indiana University. She graduated from South Bend Cosmetology and Beautician School. She operated a beauty shop and later owned a yarn shop in Remington. In 1959, she assumed the role of district distributor for Beauty Counselor Cosmetics. She served on the board and chaired the program committee of Fountain Park Chautauqua. She died on June 3, 1999 at Indianapolis Orthopedic in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Scope and Content: The Irma Jean Bowman scrapbook documents Bowman’s attendance at a wide variety of musical, theatrical, dance, lectures, and related cultural performances at Purdue University and in Northwestern Indiana. The majority of the contents relate to concerts held at the Purdue University Hall of Music (now known as Elliott Hall of Music). Performances at Purdue were primarily offered through Purdue Convocations and Lectures, Purdue Musical Organizations, Purdue Playshop, and Victory Varieties. A few events of note include the Ed Sullivan Show held at the Hall of Music (1954) and a talk given by Ann Landers at Purdue (1961). Programs, clippings, and tickets documenting concerts, plays, and performances offered by Remington High School and the Remington Public Schools are included, as are documentation of performances Bowman attended in Chicago. A small number of postcards depicting California scenes and the Purdue Hall of Music are included, as well as a telegram sent to Bowman announcing the birth of a baby. Some programs and related items on the Indiana State Fair are included, as well as a small number of tickets for attendance at miscellaneous events such as the Billy Graham Crusade in Indianapolis (circa 1959). Types of materials include: programs (documents), playbills, clippings (information artifacts), ticket stubs, and postcards.

Biographical Information: Susan Bulkeley Butler graduated from Purdue in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the Krannert School of Management. The following year, she joined Arthur Andersen & Co., one of the then Big 8 Accounting firms, as the first professional female employee. Butler went on to become the Managing Partner of the Office of the CEO for Andersen Consulting/Accenture, until her retirement from Accenture in 2002. Butler, who has established a reputation as a "benefactor extraordinaire" for Purdue, holds an honorary doctorate from the Krannert School of Management, where she has an endowed chair and a scholarship for women student leaders. A leading member of the Women for Purdue, a group that is dedicated to women's leadership giving, she donated $3.65 million in order to establish the Institute of Leadership Excellence in Discovery Park, as well as an endowed chair. Butler has served on the Purdue Research Foundation Board, the Dean's Advisory Council at Krannert, and is past president of the university's President's Council. She was presented with the Business Leadership Award from the Krannert School in 2004. In 2006, Butler was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to Purdue's Board of Trustees, and participated in selecting a successor to President Martin Jischke, Dr. France Cordova. Butler's generous gift of $1 million to the Purdue University Libraries recently established the Susan Bulkeley Butler Women's Archives, which will document the lives and accomplishments of women affiliated with Purdue University and the state of Indiana.

Scope and Content: The Susan Bulkeley Butler papers (1959 – 2006; 2.3 cubic feet) documents Susan Bulkeley Butler’s experience as a student at Purdue in the 1960s. The collection includes student artifacts such as ‘pots’ and a cord skirt, as well as correspondence, publications, and ephemera documenting Butler’s extracurricular activities and interests.

Biographical Information: Eleanore Cammack was born in 1906 in Greencastle to James and Adelene Cammack. Cammack received her AB from DePauw (1928) and a Bachelor's of Library Science degree from the University of Illinois (1929). She was originally hired at Purdue as an order assistant in the Purdue University Library in 1929. By 1955, she had become the head of the library's Order Department, with a rank of assistant professor. She also worked as an archivist outside of Purdue, helping to compile and process collections for the Depauw University and Indiana Methodist archive until her retirement in 1971.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of various programs from University Convocations; two folders which contain issues of the Campus Copy, News of the Staffs of Purdue University, from the 1940s; Books and Coffee listing for the fourth series, 1953-1954; and a short biography on Stanley Anderson, artist, with notations made on the back.

Biographical Information: Kassandra Agee Chandler was born in Gary, Indiana, and graduated from Purdue in 1981 with a BS in Accounting. As a sophomore in 1978, Agee was named Purdue's Homecoming Queen out of an initial group of twenty-four competitors. She was the first African American to hold the position. Agee was also an active student, as she was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honor society, Purdue Pals, and the Black Voices of Inspiration Choir. Agee Chandler was also a former president and founding member of Purdue's Society of Minority Managers.In addition, Agee also served as a social counselor for the Business Opportunity Program in the School of Management and was a member of the Mortar Board senior honor society. After graduating from the Krannert School of Management, she held positions at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Exxon, Dow Chemical and Proctor & Gamble. Agee Chandler is founder and principal consultant of Systematic Design Consultants, an information technology consulting firm, in College Station, Texas.

Scope and Content: The Kassandra Agee Chandler papers document Chandlers' time as a student at Purdue, with particular focus on her nomination as the first and only African American Homecoming Queen at Purdue. The papers also document the many student activities with which she was involved and her career and alumni involvement. The collection includes personal records, newspaper clippngs, photographs, correspondence, and artifacts. This collection would be useful to researchers interested in student life in the 1970s and 80s, women in business, and the Business Opportunity Program.

Scope and Content: The Pearl Child papers include correspondence, teacher's certificates, Tri-State College certificate, clippings, report cards, tuition receipts, recommendation letters, postcards, photographs, Mansfield Machine Works catalog, issue of The Valley Register, two issues of The Ohio Farmer, cards detailing food traits.

Biographical Information: Dorothy Christoff (1943-1998) was born to Boris and Luba Christoff in Northwest Indiana.  An active member of the Purdue Society of Women Engineers, Christoff earned her BS in civil engineering in 1965.  Two years later, Christoff also completed a MS degree in education at Purdue.  While a student, Christoff was very involved in extracurricular activities. Organizations with which she was affiliated include: Grand Prix, intramural sports, John Purdue Club, YWCA, Sycamore Girlscout Council, the Boilermaker Network, and the Lafayette Country Club. After graduating, Christoff remained in the Greater Lafayette area and served as the Assistant Director of the Educational Placement Service. Subsequently, she held a position as the Assistant to the Head of the Department of Agriculture Economics. She was a lifetime member of the Purdue Alumni Association. She also served on the boards of Sycamore Girl Scout Council and the Lafayette Country Club, was a president of the YWCA of greater Lafayette, and was an advisor to the Pan Orthodox Student Fellowship at Purdue. Christoff passed away February 5, 1998.

Scope and Content: The Dorothy Christoff papers (1963-1967; 0.5 cubic feet) document Christoff’s time at Purdue as an engineering student. The collection consists of various artifacts, including Christoff’s senior cord skirt, stickers and decals, a class photograph, and a decorative wooden t-square with Christoff’s affiliations on the front and signed by her classmates on the back. These materials reflect only Christoff’s time as an undergraduate civil engineering student at Purdue, although she did eventually complete a Master’s degree in education as well. The collection would be useful to researchers interested in women in higher education in the twentieth century, material culture of the mid-twentieth century, Purdue student social life and customs, and the early years of the Purdue Society of Women engineers. Included in the collection are various types of artifacts. The papers are organized into a single series.

Biographical Information: Joan Minton Christopher attended Purdue University from 1967-1971 and received a BA in Creative Writing. While at Purdue, she met her husband, Tom Christopher, who received his BS in Civil Engineering in 1970 and his MS in 1971. Joan Christopher earned a second degree in Radio/TV and works as a free-lance TV researcher and writer. She co-authored the book Images of America: The Lehigh Valley Cement Industry, which was published in 2005.

Scope and Content: The Joan Minton Christopher papers (1968-1970; 0.4 cubic feet) documents her undergraduate years at Purdue University during the late 1960s. The collection contains tickets from Purdue Convocations events, as well as basketball and football tickets. Christopher’s green WRX Club beanie, several programs from Purdue events, a box of matches from the Purdue National Bank, and a photo of Joan Minton Christopher from 1968 are also included.

Biographical Information: Margaret Church was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 8, 1920. She received her A.B. from Radcliffe (1941), her Master’s degree from Columbia University (1942), and then returned to Radcliffe for her PhD (1944). Church taught at Temple University and at Duke University before coming to Purdue in 1953, where she joined the English Department. When Church became a full professor in 1965, she was the first woman in the School of Liberal Arts to do so. In 1955, Church helped to found a journal that would become internationally known, Modern Fiction Studies. She remained instrumental with the publication and served as its co-editor from 1971 until her death. Church also founded Purdue’s doctoral program in Comparative Literature and served as its first director. Outside of Purdue, Church was widely known for her work with the James Joyce Foundation and for her many published writings. Her first book was entitled Time and Reality: Studies in Contemporary Fiction (1963). Her second book was Don Quixote: The Knight of La Mancha (1971). Before her death in 1982, Church was also in the midst of finishing a third book, Structure and Theme: Don Quixote to James Joyce. The work was later finished by a friend and colleague of Church. Throughout nearly thirty years at Purdue, Church acted as a mentor to numerous women. The Margaret Church MFS Memorial Prize was established in 1984 in memory of Dr. Church. In addition, the Purdue Board of Trustees named a distinguished professorship in honor of Church in 1998.

Scope and Content: Folder 1 contains an obituary, a short autobiography, an article about her from The Indianapolis News, four English exams from Harvard, and a rough draft of a paper written by Margaret Church, along with a catalog record for a book written by her. Folder 2 contains various Church publications and a photograph of Tennessee Williams and Tom Adler.

Biographical Information: Helen E. Clark was born in 1912 in Edam, Saskatchewan. After graduating high school, she taught in one room schools until she was able to afford enrollment in university. She received her Bachelor of Household Science degree (1939) from the University of Saskatchewan. After graduation, she taught home economics in British Columbia (1939-1942). Eventually, she decided to pursue graduate study and received a research assistantship at Iowa State University. Her M.S. thesis research (1945) was based on the protein quality of the egg for the growth of young rats. Her Ph.D. research (1950) was directed to protein and amino acid requirements of adult rats. Dr. Clark was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Kansas State University (1950-1954) before joining the faculty at Purdue University where she stayed until her retirement (1954-1977). At Purdue, she developed a project related to protein and amino acid requirements of humans. The study examined whether these were provided by foods alone, amino acid mixtures, or combinations of foods and amino acids. Dr. Clark was the recipient of numerous awards including the Borden Award (1968), the Centennial Award of the College of Home Economics (ISU, 1971), the first woman to be recognized as a Distinguished Professor at Purdue (1974), and honorary Doctor of Science (Purdue, 1994). In 1995, Dr. Clark was awarded a Distinguished Achievement Citation from the Iowa State University Alumni Association. She was named Professor Emerita of the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University and has been credited with building the teaching and research program in nutrition there. Helen Clark died on January 3, 2001.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of four folders containing publications by Helen Clark and her professional record.

Biographical Information: Marguerite Ann Clifton was born in Long Beach, California (1925) to Bertha and James Clifton. After leaving Long Beach, Clifton earned her B.A. from University of Redlands, an M.A. from USC, and an EdD from Stanford University. Her career in Physical Education with a focus on childhood motor skill development spanned positions at UCLA, Purdue University, and CSU Long Beach. Clifton was hired to the faculty of the Department of Physical Education at Purdue in 1964 as the the Head of the Department of Physical Education for Women. Before coming to Purdue, Clifton had worked as the Chairman of the Undergraduate Men's and Women's Physical Education Major Unit at the University of California at Los Angeles. After leaving Purdue, she joined the faculty at CSU Long Beach as the Physical Education Department Chair, and received Professor Emeritus status in 1987. During her time as department head at Purdue, Clifton worked to improve and promote the field of women's physical education. She and co-author Hope Smith agreed to donate one-third of the royalties from their book, "Introduction to Human Movement," to expand the Department of Physical Education for Women. In addition, Clifton served as the president of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. In addition to her service to the AAHPE, Clifton served as president of numerous physical education related organizations, including AAPAR, AAHPER, AAKPE, and NAPEHE.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of one folder that contains items from the 58th Convention of Midwest District of AAHPER, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1972, the year Marguerite Clifton was president.

Biographical Information: After the introduction of home economics classes in primary and secondary schools, the classes were often taught by women with little (if any) formal training in education. Although they were often recruited from college-level home economics cohorts and were thus well-versed in the subject matter they taught, they were unaware of pedagogy that could be used to improve their efficacy as instructors. As the need for this type of instruction became clear, the home economics department began to offer special courses that were tailored to the needs of prospective home economics instructors. Eventually, women who desired to teach home economics in primary or secondary schools, received formalized training and evaluation in the two departments: home economics and education. This shift was a reflection of changes in the twentieth century which brought a more formalized process to the training and licensing of educators.

Scope and Content: The College of Education records on Home Economics Education (1931-1981; 2 cubic feet) document the development of a pedagogy of home economics education. The collection reflects the specific means by which prospective educators in home economics were evaluated and how the evaluation rubrics were developed. The records are complementary to other home economics records that focus more specifically on the topical areas of home economics (i.e. foods, home management, sewing, etc). The bulk of the collection is comprised of materials documenting the annual Supervising Student Teachers in Home Economics Conference, and the evaluations of and recommendations for individual students. Most of the materials relate to the institutional or professor perspective, rather than the perspectives of the women who were being evaluated. This collection would be useful to researchers interested in home economics education, women in higher education, pedagogy, and the means by which women students and professionals were evaluated in the mid-twentieth century. Types of materials include: programs, evaluation rubrics, notes, presentations, and correspondence. The records are organized into two series.

Biographical Information: The College of Health and Human Sciences was established on July 1, 2010 and is comprised of nine academic units. These include the Departments a/or Schools of: Consumer Science; Human Development and Family Studies; Health and Kinesiology; Health Sciences; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Nursing; Nutrition Science; Psychological Sciences; and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The College also added a separate Graduate Program in Public Health in 2014. Prior to the merge, these programs were housed in three colleges: the College of Liberal Arts, the now defunct Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences and Consumer and Family Sciences. The former College of Consumer and Family Sciences enjoyed a long tradition at Purdue University. Its first iteration was the Department of Household Economics which began in 1905 within the School of Science. In 1926, the Department expanded and was established as the School of Home Economics. Finally, the School transitioned to the College of Consumer and Family Sciences in 1976, a move that significantly increased enrollment by male students. These changes in structure and name reflect the college's ability to evolve and change with the times, as well as the demands and needs of students. Today the college joins health and human sciences scholars to adress issues that are "vital to enhancing quality of life."

Scope and Content: The College of Health and Human Sciences records (1875-2009; 3.8 cubic feet) document the historical background of the College; included are many historical documents, including 75th and 100th anniversary documents and memorabilia.  Also included are annual reports, pamphlets, audio visual material; with a focus on work simplification practices or interviews involving key individuals from the College’s history, newspaper clippings, publicity, department brochures and pamphlets, newsletters and miscellaneous material.  Information on many key individuals involved in the activities of the College can also be found among the documents.

Biographical Information: Barbara Cook Collins graduated from Purdue in 1940 with a B.S.S. While at Purdue, Collins was the first female athlete to represent Purdue as a National Champion Diver and was the first woman to be inducted into the Purdue Athletic Hall of Fame. Collins was also a member of the inaugural class of female cheerleaders in 1939.

Scope and Content: The Barbara Cook Collins Collection of Cheerleading Uniforms and pennants (1939, 1 cubic foot) documents the advent of the inclusion of women in cheerleading at Purdue. The collection reflects the clothing worn and props used by women cheerleaders in 1939. The items also reflect material and university culture from the late 1930s. The collection might be most useful to researchers interested in cheerleading history (particularly at Purdue), extracurricular activities available to women in the early years of Purdue, material culture of the mid-twentieth century, and university culture and customs. Unfortunately there is little documentation or supporting documents accompanying the artifacts. Types of materials include: uniforms/ clothing and pennants.

Biographical Information: Prior to 1939, cheer or yell leaders at Purdue were all men.  The male students were chosen by the student body, with one member appointed as the head cheerleader.  These students were responsible for fostering school spirit and support for Purdue’s athletic teams.  The position of head yell (cheer) leader was highly coveted, with its selection process well-documented in the Exponent.  In 1939, Stubby Meiers was selected as the head cheerleader and forever changed the face of cheerleading at Purdue.  During his tenure, Meiers selected three female students to join the squad for the first time:  Barbara Cook (BSS 1940), Mary Mather (BSHE 1940), and Marjorie Moore (BSHE 1942).  The three women are pictured with the rest of the Yell Leaders in the 1939 Debris. Interestingly, 1939 also saw the introduction of a Mascot to Purdue Athletics, with the creation of the first Boilermaker Special.

Scope and Content: The Barbara Cook Collins Collection of Cheerleading Uniforms and pennants (1939, 1 cubic foot) documents the advent of the inclusion of women in cheerleading at Purdue. The collection reflects the clothing worn and props used by women cheerleaders in 1939. The items also reflect material and university culture from the late 1930s. The collection might be most useful to researchers interested in cheerleading history (particularly at Purdue), extracurricular activities available to women in the early years of Purdue, material culture of the mid-twentieth century, and university culture and customs. Unfortunately there is little documentation or supporting documents accompanying the artifacts. Types of materials include: uniforms/ clothing and pennants.

Biographical Information: Dr. Janice Voss was born on October 8, 1956 to James and Louise Voss in South Bend, Indiana.  Voss attended Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science in 1975.  She then earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctorate in Aeronautics/Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977 and 1987, respectively.  Having worked on computer simulations and as a crew trainer at the NASA Johnson Space Center during her graduate studies, Voss took a position at the Orbital Sciences Corporation upon completing her doctorate, where she was involved with mission integration and flight operations.  In January 1990, Voss was selected by NASA to become an astronaut, and qualified as a mission specialist in July 1991. She flew on five space flights from 1993 until 2000, including the STS-57, STS-63, STS-83, STS-94 and STS-99, having logged a total of 49 days and 18.8 million miles in space. From 2004 to 2007, Voss was the Science Director for the Kepler spacecraft at the NASA Ames Research Center. Most recently, she served as Payloads Lead of the Astronaut Office Station Branch. Janice Voss died of breast cancer in February 2012.

Scope and Content: The collection relates to Janice Voss' involvement with her first space flight, STS-57 (in 1993).  Included are three photographs of the mission, an autographed mission t-shirt, and a letter written by Voss to Comstock.  These materials would be useful to researchers interested in the history of NASA flight missions, women in space, women in STEM fields, and space research.

Biographical Information: Dr. Joni Comstock has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to advancing women's collegiate sports. Comstock earned her undergraduate degree in health and physical education from Eastern Illinois University in 1979. She earned her masters in education and sports management at Illinois State University and completed her doctorate in administration of higher education in 1987 at University of Illinois. Comstock worked in collegiate athletics and administration at several universities. Her career started at University of Illinois (1983-1989). After leaving Illinois, she spent 11 years at Purdue Univeristy, eventually earning the title of Senior Associate Athletics Director. She also spent time at American University and University of North Carolina Asheville. In 2006, Comstock joined the NCAA leadership team as the Senior Vice President of Championships and senior woman administrator. She oversees 84 NCAA championships, media coordination and statistics, rules, ticketing, marketing, and publicity.

Scope and Content: The collection relates to Janice Voss' involvement with her first space flight, STS-57 (in 1993).  Included are three photographs of the mission, an autographed mission t-shirt, and a letter written by Voss to Comstock.  These materials would be useful to researchers interested in the history of NASA flight missions, women in space, women in STEM fields, and space research.

Biographical Information: Alice Rice Cook was a colleague and personal friend of Lillian M. Gilbreth. They co-authored the book, The Foreman in Manpower Management in 1947. Cook worked as an employee relations consultant and was the supervisor of the Employee Relations Training Program of the City College of New York. The Alice Rice Cook Papers contain clippings regarding the Gilbreths, correspondence with Lillian Gilbreth, and correspondence and materials regarding the death of Lillian Gilbreth." (Inventory to the Alice Rice Cook papers) Cook was born circa 1900 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1921, an M.A. from Radcliffe in 1924, and was a graduate fellow at Columbia in 1934-35. She directed the Human Relations Centers at the New School for Social Research and at City College. Prior to these positions, Cook was a Dean at Briarcliff Junior College and an instructor at New York University. She also worked in industry, in as president of the E.L. Cook Brick Company, head of Employee Relations at Arma Corporation, and in consulting work. Cook was a strong advocate of women's education and grew the program at the New School Center from a single workshop for 19 students in 1951, to an offering of 75 courses for 3000 students in 1973. Her primary goal was not to teach knowledge but to change the perspective of women who had been previously secluded at home. She hoped to enable them to take part in their communities or prepare for emplorment if desired. Cook died in 1973.

Scope and Content: The Alice Rice Cook Papers contain clippings regarding Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, correspondence with Lillian Gilbreth, and correspondence and materials regarding the death of Lillian Gilbreth collected by Alice Cook.

Biographical Information: Born in 1929, Barbara Cook came to Purdue in 1956 as a counselor in the Office of the Dean of Women. She received her BA in Sociology from the University of Arkansas in 1951, a M.A. in Student Personnel Administration from Syracuse University in 1954, a Ph.D. in Counseling and Personnel Services from Purdue University in 1967 as well as an honorary doctorate from Purdue University in 1996. One of her early responsibilities as councilor in the Dean’s office involved serving as an advisor to Mortar Board, a senior-student honor society over which she presided for nearly thirty years. Cook also served as director of the Placement Service for Women, assistant and associate Dean of Women, associate Dean of Students, and, from 1980 to 1987, Dean of Students. She was a lecturer in the School of Education starting in 1970, and a professor of education from 1987 to 1989. Nationally recognized for her efforts in promoting career opportunities for women, Cook served in several positions within the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Councilors (NAWDAC) including serving as President from 1975–1976. She is also the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion for Distinguished Contributions to Purdue University, the Dean Beverley Stone Award for Personal Counseling Contributions, and the Distinguished Lifetime Mortar Board Member Award. Following her retirement in 1989, Barbara Cook was an active member of the Lafayette community and involved with many organizations, including the Salvation Army, Greater Lafayette YWCA, West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission, and the Indiana Governor's Commission for Women. In 2004, a sculpture entitled "When Dreams Dance" was dedicated to Cook and her late colleague and friend, Beverley Stone. It is located in between Schleman and Hovde Halls. Today, the current chapter of the Purdue Mortar Board is named in Cook's honor, who advised the group from 1956 to 1986.

Scope and Content: The Barbara Cook papers documents the life and work of Barbara Cook, predominately concerning her work as a student personnel administrator and instructor at Purdue University. Cooks collection of research files and essays on women’s issues, especially in regards to education, could be useful for any researcher interested in feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s. The two “student unrest” binders of Series 8 provide thorough documentation of the various clashes between students and administration during the turbulent years of 1968 – 1969. Researchers interested in the profession of student administration will find much of value in the Barbara Cook papers, including documentation on the Syracuse University Student Dean program she attended in 1952, the Education courses she taught in the 1980s on student administration, and speeches she gave to various student groups in her role as an administrator. Types of materials include: correspondence, speech notes, dissertations, photographs, research files, scrapbooks, artifacts, and ephemera.

Biographical Information: France A. Córdova, the eleventh president of Purdue University, was born in 1947 in Paris, France.  Córdova is the oldest of twelve siblings born to her parents, who returned to the United States after her father’s service to the United States’ State Department was complete.  Córdova attended Bishop Amat High School in West Corvina, California and was active in her community and school activities.  In spite of her later interest in astrophysics, she was initially drawn to the liberal arts, graduating cum laude from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in English.  During her tenure at Stanford, Córdova also explored her heritage while doing fieldwork with the Zapotec Indians in Oaxaca, Mexico.  The trip resulted in the publication of a short novel and recipe book which ultimately led to an internship with Mademoiselle that allowed her to travel further after graduation.  These early experiences affected Córdova greatly, and had an impact on her approach as an educator- namely her support of international study, broad-based liberal arts education, and interdisciplinary research. After the Apollo 11 moon landing, Córdova renewed her early interest in science and became fascinated by space.  Her initial exploration of astrophysics began with her appointment as a lab assistant.  While working, she also took classes to gain foundational knowledge in astrophysics before ultimately earning her PhD in Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1979.  Her PhD thesis was titled X-Ray Observations of Dwarf Novae, and led to several publications and conference presentations.  This research continued during Córdova’s 10 year appointment at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.  Córdova first tried her hand at higher education during her four year stint at Pennsylvania State University, where she began as a professor and was promoted to the head of the newly developed Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.  Subsequently, she was selected as the Chief Scientist of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where she worked on the Hubble Space Telescope and with several other committees. In 1996, she returned to higher education when she was appointed as the vice chancellor for research and professor of physics at University of California, Santa Barbara.  In 2002, she remained in the University of California system but transferred to the Riverside campus as the newly appointed chancellor, where she helped to establish a School of Medicine.  She remained there until her 2007 appointment as Purdue’s eleventh president.  This appointment brought much attention as Córdova was recognized for being the first female as well as the first Hispanic president of Purdue.  Córdova’s time at Purdue was noted for the establishment of the College of Health and Human Sciences, the Global Policy Research Institute, and for improving upon various rankings of the university.  At the conclusion of her five year term in 2012, Córdova served as the chair of the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution, before being appointed in 2014 as the new head of the National Science Foundation.  In addition to her impressive resume and career thus far, Córdova has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, some of which are highlighted throughout the collection. Source(s):

Scope and Content: The France A. Córdova papers (1965-2012; 10.65 cubic feet) document the life and career of France A. Córdova.  The bulk of the materials relate to Córdova’s work in academia.  The collection primarily covers Córdova’s research and career, with little information or materials regarding her earlier years, personal life, or various appointments with governmental organizations (such as NASA or the NSF).  This collection will particularly useful for researchers interested in France Córdova’s research as an astrophysicist and her career in higher education.  Also of note to researchers interested in NASA, astrophysics, or space are Córdova’s slide collections and other printed materials from NASA.  Types of materials include: correspondence, certificates, printed material, slides, photographs, machine-readable media, artifacts, ephemera, etc.  The papers are organized into five series.

Biographical Information: Lana Murphy Couch was born in Smiths Grove, Kentucky on Nov. 27, 1941. She was the only child of Floyd W. and Fanny C. Murphy. Couch moved to Martinsville, Indiana in the early 1950s. She was a 1963 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in aeronautical engineering. Couch was employed by NASA, Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. and NASA, Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1963 through 2003. She started her career as a wind tunnel test engineer and advanced through a series of increasingly responsible technical and management positions to retire in 2003 as the Associate Director for Business Management at NASA Langley Research Center. She was a member of the Senior Executive Service and a Purdue University Distinguished Engineering Alumnus. Couch was a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She was the holder of several U. S. and international patents for improvements to wind tunnel design and was the author of many technical papers. She was also the recipient of numerous technical and management awards for her contributions to NASA and to aeronautical sciences including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and the NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal. Lana Murphy Couch passed away on April 22, 2007.

Scope and Content: The Lana Murphy Couch papers document Couch's forty year career with NASA, first as a wind tunnel test engineer, and later in management positions. Types of materials include: correspondence, newsletters, papers, photographs, programs, publications, research and work reports, technical reports, VHS tapes, writings, and material related to award recognition.

Biographical Information: Mabel Post (Coulter) Smith was born October 21, 1880, to Stanley Coulter, Purdue’s first Dean of Science, and grew up near Purdue University. She left Indiana to study and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902 from Smith College. By 1907, Mabel had returned to Lafayette, Indiana, and married Albert Smith, a Purdue Civil Engineering graduate. They had two children, Catherine and Frederick. She died April 19, 1977, and is buried in Lafayette, Indiana.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of one notebook of Mabel Coulter containing notations, compositions and Greek prose and some of her correspondence.

Biographical Information: The Council on the Status of Women was founded at Purdue in 1988 to provide a space for women faculty and staff to network and advocate for women’s rights at the university.  The Council was also instrumental in the founding of the Women’s Resource Center at Purdue.  During the Council’s tenure, they worked for the equal status and rights of women and other minorities at Purdue.  They provided input for job searches for positions related to these goals and for the development of the Women’s Resource Center and Office for Diversity.  In addition to the many programs and presentations they sponsored, the Council also sponsored a mentorship program for junior faculty and several important studies and reports.  These studies included several reports on the overall status of women at Purdue, work and family reports, and flexible scheduling and work-life balance studies.  They also advocated on behalf of Myra Mason and her Lilly Report on Diversity.  In addition, the Council played an important role in facilitating the change of university policies on birth control, same sex partnerships and benefits, child and elder care, and work-life balance related benefits.  The group is perhaps best known, however, for its institution of and sponsorship of the Violet Haas Award, which honors an individual (usually a woman) affiliated with the university who has worked for women’s rights.  The Violet Haas Award continues as a legacy of the Council in spite of the group’s dissolution in 2011.

Scope and Content: The Council on the Status of Women records document the activities and impact of the Council on the Status of Women at Purdue University.  The collection provides a comprehensive picture of the various activities and causes that Council was involved in during its tenure.  Also included are some news clippings about notable members and relevant stories about women’s rights in the news.  The collection would likely be useful for researchers interested in women’s rights, affirmative action, equality and diversity in the university, women in higher education, advocacy in the university, and prominent women at Purdue University.  Types of materials are in both physical and digital format and include: correspondence, papers, minutes, financial records, reports, newsletters and news clippings, handouts, and machine readable media, audio-visual materials, etc. 

Biographical Information: Born in Kirkpatrick, Indiana, Alida Cunningham graduated from Purdue University in 1894 with a BS. Her senior science project was titled, "Value of Seed Characteristics in Determining Specific Rank." After graduation, she joined the Indiana Academy of Science and participated in the State Biological Survey. She also worked for Purdue Dean of Science, Stanley Coulter to map the plants of Tippecanoe County as part of a larger project, the Catalogue of Plants of Indiana. In addition, her article "Distribution of the Orchidacee in Indiana" was published in the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science in 1895.

Scope and Content: Articles written by Alida Mabel Cunningham.

Biographical Information: Clara Avesta Cunningham was from West Lafayette, Indiana. She attended Purdue and graduated in 1896 with a BS,and an MS in 1897. While a Purdue undergraduate, Clara was very active in clubs and served as the President of the Young Women's Christian Association, President of the Philalethean Society, and was the class secretary for 1896. Her senior thesis was titled, "Effects of Drought on Certain Native Plants." Her graduate research focused on diseases of sugar beet and the effects of droughts on plants. After graduation, she eventually moved to South Bend, Indiana and became involved with the Indiana Academy of Science, which published some of her work. She was also a high school teacher in South Bend and Indianapolis. She married Frank Elbel of South Bend in 1915.

Scope and Content: Three publications by Clara Cunningham, "The Effects of Drought Upon Certain Plants--An Experimental Study." Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 1896, pp. 208-211. "A Bacterial Disease of the Sugar Beet." Reprinted from the Botanical Gazette, vol. XXVIII, no. 3, September 1899, pp. 177-192, with plates XVI-XX (two copies).

Biographical Information: Julia A. Davidson was a member of the Purdue University Class of 1871.

Scope and Content: The papers consist of two homework assignments in penmanship.

Biographical Information: In 1974, Purdue consolidated the roles of Dean of Women and Dean of Men into the Office of the Dean of Students, with Beverley Stone serving as the first Dean of Students. Barbara Cook took over as Dean of Students in 1980 and served until 1987. Betty Nelson served as Dean of Students 1987 – 1995. Tony Hawkins served as Dean of Students 1995 - 2011. The duties of the Dean of Students during this time included providing personal and academic counseling, disciplinary action, administrating student organizations, providing testing services, student housing services and other services related to student well-being.

Scope and Content: The Dean of Students records documents the function and day-to-day duties of the Office of the Dean of Students through outgoing correspondence (Date Files), organizational and procedural documents, and other materials. Materials include both paper and electronic record, such as documents, slides, and audiocassettes.

Biographical Information: In 1933 Purdue hired its first full-time Dean of Women, Dorothy Stratton. Prior to this, the Dean of Women duties were carried out by Professor of English Literature Carolyn Shoemaker. When Helen Schleman took over as Dean in 1947, the office staff consisted of her, a placement officer, and an assistant dean seeing to the counseling, discipline, and administration needs of Purdue’s women students. As the number of women students at Purdue grew steadily, so did the size and responsibilities of the dean’s office, including placement services for women students, the SPAN Plan program to help nontraditional women return to education, and minority outreach programs to help the expanding diversity in the student body. Beverley Stone took over as Dean of Women after Schleman’s retirement in 1956, and in 1974 Stone became the first Dean of Students at Purdue when the Dean of Women and Dean of Men offices were combined.

Scope and Content: The Dean of Women Office records (1958 – 1986; 6.35 cubic feet) document the official records of the Office of the Dean of Women, including correspondence, budgets, organization records, annual reports, and affiliated professional organizations. The Date File, which is a copy of outgoing mail from the Dean, offers researchers a glimpse into the day-to-day duties of the Dean of Women. However, any Date File that may have existed prior to 1960 is not included in these records, and there is a sizable gap between 1961 and 1969. The Annual Reports offer summaries of and statistics about the office’s responsibilities. Purdue’s Deans of Women were important contributors to the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Councilors (NAWDAC), and Series 4 documents the history of that organization and its relationship with Purdue.

Biographical Information: Martha Doan was born in Westfield, Indiana to Abel and Phoebe Doan. Her education began at Union High School, a Quaker School in Westfield known for producing leaders in many fields. Upon graduation, Doan left for Purdue University, where she earned her B.S. in 1891. She went on to earn a B.L. at Earlham College (1892), before returning to Purdue to complete a Masters degree in 1893. She received a ScD in Chemistry from Cornell in 1896, with research that focused on thalium. After completing her education, Doan had a long career as an educator, beginning at Indianpolis Manual Training School (1896-1900). Doan's growing reputation as a researcher and educator resulted in an offer from Vassar, where she taught for 14 years (1900-1914). Doan also served as the Dean of Women and Professor of Chemistry at Earlham College (1914-1926), and at Iowa Wesleyan College (1929-1937). Over the course of her career, Doan was very active in several organizations dedicated to science education and higher education for women: the American Association of University Women, the National Association of the Deans of Women, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, the Indiana Academy of Science, and the Sigma Zi National Scientific Honorary Society. Doan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from Purdue (1950), and an Alumni Citation from Earlham College(1952). She also became a member of the Advisory Committee for the Indiana Historical Commission. In 1963, the Martha Doan Memorial Garden in Westfield, Indiana was dedicated in her honor by the local Women's Club.

Scope and Content: Contains Doan's thesis, "Contributions to the Chemistry of Thallium: A Thesis," presented to the faculty of Cornell University for the degree of Doctor of Science, June 1896.

Biographical Information: Earhart Residence Hall, originally named Women’s Residence Hall H-8, was opened and dedicated in 1964 as a women’s only hall. In June of 1965 the Purdue University Board of Trustees voted to rename the hall “Amelia Earhart Hall.” Amelia Earhart began an association with Purdue University in 1936 as a consultant in careers for women and as a technical advisor to the Department of Aeronautics. Earhart Hall’s official club is the Itasca Club, named after the last ship to hear from Earhart on her transatlantic flight in 1937. The club’s purpose is to encourage scholastic achievement and promote a wide range of activities for residents. In April of 2003 the new dining court was opened and the hall transitioned to co-ed housing that fall. Note written by

Scope and Content: The Earhart Residence Hall records document the history and activity of Earhart Residence Hall. Types of materials include: artifacts, certificates, clippings, dance cards, memorandums, photographic prints, programs, and telephone directories. The Earhart Residence Hall records are organized into three series.

Biographical Information: Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Amy Otis Earhart and Edwin Stanton Earhart. Her sister, Muriel, was born two and a half years later. Due to Edwin's occupation as a legal representative for various railroads, the family moved frequently during Amelia's childhood, living at times in Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Paul, and Chicago. After attending six high schools in four years, Earhart graduated from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Earhart entered Ogontz School near Philadelphia in 1916. The following year, after visiting her sister Muriel in Toronto over Christmas, she decided not to return to Ogontz School and graduate, but instead to remain and join the war effort in Toronto. In February 1918, Earhart left Ogontz School and moved to Toronto to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital. While in Toronto, she began frequenting a local airfield, and soon became fascinated with flying. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she returned to the United States and entered Columbia University as a pre-medical student in the fall of 1919. Earhart soon realized that the practical aspects of medicine did not appeal to her, and left Columbia in 1920 to join her parents in Los Angeles, in an effort to help keep their marriage intact. In December 1920, she took her first ride in an airplane with pilot Frank Hawks. In January 1921, she began taking flying lessons from Anita ("Neta") Snook. With help from her family, she took a job in a telephone company and bought her first airplane. In 1922, she set her first aviation record with an unofficial women's altitude record of 14,000 feet under the auspices of the Aero Club of Southern California. The following March, Earhart appeared as one of the attractions at a local air rodeo and in May 1923 she acquired her airline pilot's license. She was the first woman, and seventeenth pilot, to receive a National Aeronautic Association pilot's license. She became engaged to Sam Chapman and worked in a photography studio. Despite Earhart's efforts, her father's alcoholism, combined with her parents' inability to manage money, eventually led to the divorce of Edwin and Amy Earhart in 1924. Following her parents' divorce, Earhart sold her airplane and bought a Kissel roadster car she called the "Yellow Peril." In June 1924, she drove cross-country with her mother from Los Angeles to Medford, Massachusetts, stopping along the way to visit several national parks (1924). She and her mother then moved in with Earhart's sister Muriel, in Medford, Massachusetts. After undergoing a sinus operation to relieve her chronic sinus headaches, she returned to Columbia University for the winter of 1924 - 1925. In May 1925, Earhart returned to the Boston area and upon her sister's urging, took classes at Harvard during the summer and received a teaching license. Earhart then spent several months teaching foreign students at the University of Massachusetts (Haugen, 2009). From June to October, she worked as a companion in a hospital for mental diseases, but found the work too confining and the pay insufficient. In 1926, Amelia joined the staff of Denison House, Boston's oldest settlement house, as a social worker. At Denison House, Earhart worked with immigrants and their children, teaching them English and educating them on local customs. Earhart joined the Boston chapter of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and in 1928 was elected vice president of the chapter. While working one day at Denison House, in April 1928, Earhart received a call from Hilton H. Railey asking if she would like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Earhart accepted the proposal and accompanied pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis "Slim" Gordon on their 1928 transatlantic flight on the Friendship plane. She soon gained international acclaim for being the first woman to make the transatlantic crossing by air, although she did not fly the plane herself. Following the Friendship flight, Amelia wrote her first book, 20 Hrs. 40 Mins. She broke her engagement with Sam Chapman, and took a job as Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1929, Earhart competed in the Powder Puff Derby, the first national Women's Air Derby race, finishing in third place. She was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport with special responsibility for promoting aviation to women travelers. Amelia, along with Ruth Nichols and several other women pilots, founded the Ninety-Nines, the first women pilots' organization. In 1930, Earhart set the women's flying speed record of 181.18 mph and acquired her transport pilot's license. She became the first woman to fly an autogiro in the United States and became vice president of Ludington Lines, a commercial airline. Her father, Edwin Earhart, died of cancer that same year. In February 1931, Amelia married publisher George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. Earhart acquired an autogiro and set an altitude record for the autogiro in April. She completed a solo transcontinental flight across the United States in an autogiro in the summer of 1931 and that same year was elected the national vice president of the NAA (and the first woman officer of the NAA). Earhart was also elected the first president of the Ninety-Nines in 1931, and served in this position until 1933. In May 1932, Amelia became the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop, setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and the longest distance flown by a woman. Amelia was awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. Congress, Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was presented to her by President Herbert Hoover. In July, she set the women’s record for the fastest non-stop transcontinental flight, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. She wrote her second book, The Fun of It, and began lecturing all over the country, often speaking in two different cities on the same day. She was awarded the Harmon Trophy as America's Outstanding Airwoman, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and received honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association. In 1933 Earhart participated in the National Air Races. The following year, in 1934, Amelia launched a fashion house to manufacture and market clothing designed by her. Her first shop opened in Macy’s in New York. It was initially a success, but by the end of the year the venture was shut down. In November 1934, the Earhart/Putnam home in Rye, New York, caught fire and many of Earhart's earliest papers burned, including poems written during childhood, letters, and stories she had been working on (Lovell, 1989). In 1935, Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the American mainland, landing in Oakland, California. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first person who had flown solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. That same year, she became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City, by official invitation of the Mexican government. On September 26 - 27, 1934, Purdue President Edward C. Elliott heard Amelia Earhart speak at a luncheon in New York on women's careers and he was so impressed with her talk that he asked if she would visit Purdue and give a lecture for the women students. Earhart spoke at a banquet at Purdue on October 17, 1934, and discussed "Activities for Women After College." After several talks with President Elliott, a contract was negotiated in 1935, stating that Amelia Earhart would be employed by Purdue as a visiting faculty member. In the fall of 1935, Earhart joined the faculty of Purdue University, serving as a from the autumn of 1935 until her disappearance in July 1937 as Consultant in the Department for the Study of Careers for Women and Technical Advisor in the Department of Aeronautics for Purdue. Earhart was attracted to Purdue because at the time it was the only university in the United States with its own fully equipped airport. She was also impressed that practical mechanical and engineering training was available without discouragement to the women students on campus. At Purdue, Amelia lectured, conducted conferences with Purdue faculty and students, and initiated studies on new career opportunities for women. Perhaps most importantly, she served as an example of a successful modern woman for the female students. While working at Purdue, Amelia stayed in South Hall (later known as Duhme Hall) on campus. South Hall students vied with each other to sit at Amelia's table during meals. Buttermilk became an overnight favorite beverage on campus because it was Amelia’s choice. Amelia's husband, George Palmer Putnam, first planted the idea of a "flying laboratory" airplane for research into President Elliott's mind. In the autumn of 1935, at a dinner party at Elliott's home, Amelia outlined her dreams for women and aviation and spoke of her desire to conduct studies on how long-distance flying affected pilots. Before the evening was over, guest David Ross offered to donate $50,000 as a gift toward the cost of providing a machine suitable for the flying laboratory. Further donations totaling $30,000 in cash and equipment were received from J. K. Lilly, Vincent Bendix, and manufacturers Western Electric, Goodrich, and Goodyear. The $80,000 formed the basis of "The Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research." The fund's primary objective was to enable the development of scientific and engineering data of vital importance to the aviation industry. The Earhart Fund with the Purdue Research Foundation financed Amelia's "flying laboratory," providing funds for a new Lockheed Electra airplane specially outfitted for long-distance flights. With her new airplane Earhart began seriously planning a world flight at the equator. It was in this plane that Amelia disappeared during her world flight attempt in 1937. In March 1937, Amelia made her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator, flying westward from Oakland to Hawaii. Unfortunately, her plans were later thwarted when she attempted a takeoff from Luke Field and ground looped her plane. The plane was badly damaged and had to be sent to California for repairs. On June 1, Earhart began her second world flight attempt, this time taking off from Miami with navigator Fred Noonan, and reversing her course from west to east. After completing 22,000 miles of the flight, Amelia and Fred Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea en route to tiny Howland Island. They experienced radio and weather difficulties and eventually lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on July 2, 1937. Despite a massive search authorized by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found. On July 18, the government abandoned its search, although George Putnam continued to finance his own search until October 1937. In 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles. The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and is the subject of much speculation to this day.

Scope and Content: The Earhart Residence Hall records document the history and activity of Earhart Residence Hall. Types of materials include: artifacts, certificates, clippings, dance cards, memorandums, photographic prints, programs, and telephone directories. The Earhart Residence Hall records are organized into three series.

Biographical Information: Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Amy Otis Earhart and Edwin Stanton Earhart. Her sister, Muriel, was born two and a half years later. Due to Edwin's occupation as a legal representative for various railroads, the family moved frequently during Amelia's childhood, living at times in Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Paul, and Chicago. After attending six high schools in four years, Earhart graduated from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Earhart entered Ogontz School near Philadelphia in 1916. The following year, after visiting her sister Muriel in Toronto over Christmas, she decided not to return to Ogontz School and graduate, but instead to remain and join the war effort in Toronto. In February 1918, Earhart left Ogontz School and moved to Toronto to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital. While in Toronto, she began frequenting a local airfield, and soon became fascinated with flying. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she returned to the United States and entered Columbia University as a pre-medical student in the fall of 1919. Earhart soon realized that the practical aspects of medicine did not appeal to her, and left Columbia in 1920 to join her parents in Los Angeles, in an effort to help keep their marriage intact. In December 1920, she took her first ride in an airplane with pilot Frank Hawks. In January 1921, she began taking flying lessons from Anita ("Neta") Snook. With help from her family, she took a job in a telephone company and bought her first airplane. In 1922, she set her first aviation record with an unofficial women's altitude record of 14,000 feet under the auspices of the Aero Club of Southern California. The following March, Earhart appeared as one of the attractions at a local air rodeo and in May 1923 she acquired her airline pilot's license. She was the first woman, and seventeenth pilot, to receive a National Aeronautic Association pilot's license. She became engaged to Sam Chapman and worked in a photography studio. Despite Earhart's efforts, her father's alcoholism, combined with her parents' inability to manage money, eventually led to the divorce of Edwin and Amy Earhart in 1924. Following her parents' divorce, Earhart sold her airplane and bought a Kissel roadster car she called the "Yellow Peril." In June 1924, she drove cross-country with her mother from Los Angeles to Medford, Massachusetts, stopping along the way to visit several national parks (1924). She and her mother then moved in with Earhart's sister Muriel, in Medford, Massachusetts. After undergoing a sinus operation to relieve her chronic sinus headaches, she returned to Columbia University for the winter of 1924 - 1925. In May 1925, Earhart returned to the Boston area and upon her sister's urging, took classes at Harvard during the summer and received a teaching license. Earhart then spent several months teaching foreign students at the University of Massachusetts (Haugen, 2009). From June to October, she worked as a companion in a hospital for mental diseases, but found the work too confining and the pay insufficient. In 1926, Amelia joined the staff of Denison House, Boston's oldest settlement house, as a social worker. At Denison House, Earhart worked with immigrants and their children, teaching them English and educating them on local customs. Earhart joined the Boston chapter of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and in 1928 was elected vice president of the chapter. While working one day at Denison House, in April 1928, Earhart received a call from Hilton H. Railey asking if she would like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Earhart accepted the proposal and accompanied pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis "Slim" Gordon on their 1928 transatlantic flight on the Friendship plane. She soon gained international acclaim for being the first woman to make the transatlantic crossing by air, although she did not fly the plane herself. Following the Friendship flight, Amelia wrote her first book, 20 Hrs. 40 Mins. She broke her engagement with Sam Chapman, and took a job as Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1929, Earhart competed in the Powder Puff Derby, the first national Women's Air Derby race, finishing in third place. She was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport with special responsibility for promoting aviation to women travelers. Amelia, along with Ruth Nichols and several other women pilots, founded the Ninety-Nines, the first women pilots' organization. In 1930, Earhart set the women's flying speed record of 181.18 mph and acquired her transport pilot's license. She became the first woman to fly an autogiro in the United States and became vice president of Ludington Lines, a commercial airline. Her father, Edwin Earhart, died of cancer that same year. In February 1931, Amelia married publisher George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. Earhart acquired an autogiro and set an altitude record for the autogiro in April. She completed a solo transcontinental flight across the United States in an autogiro in the summer of 1931 and that same year was elected the national vice president of the NAA (and the first woman officer of the NAA). Earhart was also elected the first president of the Ninety-Nines in 1931, and served in this position until 1933. In May 1932, Amelia became the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop, setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and the longest distance flown by a woman. Amelia was awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. Congress, Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was presented to her by President Herbert Hoover. In July, she set the women’s record for the fastest non-stop transcontinental flight, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. She wrote her second book, The Fun of It, and began lecturing all over the country, often speaking in two different cities on the same day. She was awarded the Harmon Trophy as America's Outstanding Airwoman, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and received honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association. In 1933 Earhart participated in the National Air Races. The following year, in 1934, Amelia launched a fashion house to manufacture and market clothing designed by her. Her first shop opened in Macy’s in New York. It was initially a success, but by the end of the year the venture was shut down. In November 1934, the Earhart/Putnam home in Rye, New York, caught fire and many of Earhart's earliest papers burned, including poems written during childhood, letters, and stories she had been working on (Lovell, 1989). In 1935, Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the American mainland, landing in Oakland, California. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first person who had flown solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. That same year, she became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City, by official invitation of the Mexican government. On September 26 - 27, 1934, Purdue President Edward C. Elliott heard Amelia Earhart speak at a luncheon in New York on women's careers and he was so impressed with her talk that he asked if she would visit Purdue and give a lecture for the women students. Earhart spoke at a banquet at Purdue on October 17, 1934, and discussed "Activities for Women After College." After several talks with President Elliott, a contract was negotiated in 1935, stating that Amelia Earhart would be employed by Purdue as a visiting faculty member. In the fall of 1935, Earhart joined the faculty of Purdue University, serving as a from the autumn of 1935 until her disappearance in July 1937 as Consultant in the Department for the Study of Careers for Women and Technical Advisor in the Department of Aeronautics for Purdue. Earhart was attracted to Purdue because at the time it was the only university in the United States with its own fully equipped airport. She was also impressed that practical mechanical and engineering training was available without discouragement to the women students on campus. At Purdue, Amelia lectured, conducted conferences with Purdue faculty and students, and initiated studies on new career opportunities for women. Perhaps most importantly, she served as an example of a successful modern woman for the female students. While working at Purdue, Amelia stayed in South Hall (later known as Duhme Hall) on campus. South Hall students vied with each other to sit at Amelia's table during meals. Buttermilk became an overnight favorite beverage on campus because it was Amelia’s choice. Amelia's husband, George Palmer Putnam, first planted the idea of a "flying laboratory" airplane for research into President Elliott's mind. In the autumn of 1935, at a dinner party at Elliott's home, Amelia outlined her dreams for women and aviation and spoke of her desire to conduct studies on how long-distance flying affected pilots. Before the evening was over, guest David Ross offered to donate $50,000 as a gift toward the cost of providing a machine suitable for the flying laboratory. Further donations totaling $30,000 in cash and equipment were received from J. K. Lilly, Vincent Bendix, and manufacturers Western Electric, Goodrich, and Goodyear. The $80,000 formed the basis of "The Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research." The fund's primary objective was to enable the development of scientific and engineering data of vital importance to the aviation industry. The Earhart Fund with the Purdue Research Foundation financed Amelia's "flying laboratory," providing funds for a new Lockheed Electra airplane specially outfitted for long-distance flights. With her new airplane Earhart began seriously planning a world flight at the equator. It was in this plane that Amelia disappeared during her world flight attempt in 1937. In March 1937, Amelia made her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator, flying westward from Oakland to Hawaii. Unfortunately, her plans were later thwarted when she attempted a takeoff from Luke Field and ground looped her plane. The plane was badly damaged and had to be sent to California for repairs. On June 1, Earhart began her second world flight attempt, this time taking off from Miami with navigator Fred Noonan, and reversing her course from west to east. After completing 22,000 miles of the flight, Amelia and Fred Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea en route to tiny Howland Island. They experienced radio and weather difficulties and eventually lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on July 2, 1937. Despite a massive search authorized by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found. On July 18, the government abandoned its search, although George Putnam continued to finance his own search until October 1937. In 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles. The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and is the subject of much speculation to this day.

Scope and Content: The Amelia Earhart at Purdue papers document Amelia Earhart's arrival at Purdue University, her time there, and the efforts to memorialize Earhart after her disappearance. Types of materials include correspondence, ephemera, administrative reports, photographs, publicity materials, and speeches.

Biographical Information: On September 26 - 27, 1934, Purdue President Edward C. Elliott heard Amelia Earhart speak at a luncheon in New York on women's careers and he was so impressed with her talk that he asked if she would visit Purdue and give a lecture for the women students. Earhart spoke at a banquet at Purdue on October 17, 1934, and discussed "Activities for Women after College." After several talks with President Elliott, a contract was negotiated in 1935, stating that Amelia Earhart would be employed by Purdue as a visiting faculty member. From the autumn of 1935, until her disappearance in July 1937, Earhart served as Consultant in the Department for the Study of Careers for Women and Technical Advisor in the Department of Aeronautics for Purdue. Earhart was attracted to Purdue because at the time it was the only university in the United States with its own fully equipped airport. She was also impressed that practical mechanical and engineering training was available without discouragement to the women students on campus. At Purdue, Amelia lectured, conducted conferences with Purdue faculty and students, and initiated studies on new career opportunities for women. Perhaps most importantly, she served as an example of a successful modern woman for the female students. While working at Purdue, Amelia stayed in South Hall (now called Duhme Hall) on campus. South Hall students vied with each other to sit at Amelia's table during meals. Buttermilk became an overnight favorite beverage on campus because it was Amelia's choice. Amelia's husband, GeorgePalmer Putnam, first planted the idea of a "flying laboratory" airplane for research into President Elliott's mind. In the autumn of 1935, at a dinner party at Elliott's home, Amelia outlined her dreams for women and aviation and spoke of her desire to conduct studies on how long-distance flying affected pilots. Before the evening was over, guest David Ross offered to donate $50,000 as a gift toward the cost of providing a machine suitable for the flying laboratory. Further donations totaling $30,000 in cash and equipment were received from J. K. Lilly, Vincent Bendix, and manufacturers Western Electric, Goodrich, and Goodyear. The $80,000 formed the basis of "The Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research." The fund's primary objective was to enable the development of scientific and engineering data of vital importance to the aviation industry. The Earhart Fund financed Amelia's "flying laboratory," providing funds for a new Lockheed Electra airplane specially outfitted for long-distance flights. It was in this plane that Amelia disappeared during her world flight attempt in 1937. In 1940, George Palmer Putnam donated Amelia Earhart's papers, photographs, medals, flight jacket, and other belongings to Purdue University. In 2002, Putnam's granddaughter, Sally Putnam Chapman, donated an additional group of Earhart personal papers to Purdue. These include personal letters, poems, and Amelia's famous pre-marital agreement. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections owns the largest, most comprehensive collection of materials in the world relating to Amelia Earhart.

Scope and Content: The Amelia Earhart at Purdue papers document Amelia Earhart's arrival at Purdue University, her time there, and the efforts to memorialize Earhart after her disappearance. Types of materials include correspondence, ephemera, administrative reports, photographs, publicity materials, and speeches.

Biographical Information: Amelia Mary Earhart (AE) was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Amy Otis Earhart and Edwin Stanton Earhart. Her sister, Muriel, was born two and a half years later. Due to Edwin’s occupation as a legal representative for various railroads, the family moved frequently during Amelia’s childhood, living at times in Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Paul, and Chicago. After attending six high schools in four years, Amelia graduated from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Amelia entered Ogontz School near Philadelphia in 1916. The following year, after visiting her sister Muriel in Toronto over Christmas, Amelia decided not to return to Ogontz School and graduate, but instead to remain and join the war effort in Toronto. In February 1918, Amelia left Ogontz School and moved to Toronto to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital. While in Toronto, she began frequenting a local airfield, and soon became fascinated with flying. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she returned to the United States and entered Columbia University as a pre-medical student in the fall of 1919. Amelia soon realized that the practical aspects of medicine did not appeal to her, and left Columbia in 1920 to join her parents in Los Angeles, in an effort to help keep their marriage intact. In December 1920, she took her first ride in an airplane with pilot Frank Hawks. In January 1921, she began taking flying lessons from Anita (“Neta”) Snook. With help from her family, she took a job in a telephone company and bought her first airplane. In 1922, she set her first aviation record with an unofficial women’s altitude record of 14,000 feet under the auspices of the Aero Club of Southern California. The following March, Amelia appeared as one of the attractions at a local air rodeo and in May 1923 she acquired her airline pilot’s license. She was the first woman, and seventeenth pilot, to receive a National Aeronautic Association pilot’s license. She became engaged to Sam Chapman and worked in a photography studio. Despite Amelia’s efforts, her father's alcoholism, combined with her parents’ inability to manage money, eventually led to the divorce of Edwin and Amy Earhart in 1924. Following her parents' divorce, Amelia sold her airplane and bought a Kissel roadster car she called the “Yellow Peril.” In June 1924, she drove cross-country with her mother from Los Angeles to Medford, Massachusetts, stopping along the way to visit several national parks (1924). She and her mother then moved in with Amelia’s sister Muriel, in Medford, Massachusetts. After undergoing a sinus operation to relieve her chronic sinus headaches, Amelia returned to Columbia University for the winter of 1924-1925. In May 1925, Amelia returned to the Boston area and for a few weeks taught English to foreign students at a Harvard University summer extension program. From June to October, she worked as a companion in a hospital for mental diseases, but found the work too confining and the pay insufficient. In 1926, Amelia joined the staff of Denison House, Boston’s oldest settlement house, as a social worker. At Denison House, Amelia worked with immigrants and their children, teaching them English and educating them on local customs. Earhart joined the Boston chapter of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and in 1928 was elected vice president of the chapter. While working one day at Denison House, in April 1928, Amelia received a call from Hilton H. Railey asking if she would like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Amelia accepted the proposal and accompanied pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis “Slim” Gordon on their 1928 transatlantic flight on the Friendship plane. She soon gained international acclaim for being the first woman to make the transatlantic crossing by air, although she did not fly the plane herself. Following the Friendship flight, Amelia wrote her first book, 20 Hrs. 40 Mins. She broke her engagement with Sam Chapman, and took a job as Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1929, Amelia competed in the Powder Puff Derby, the first national Women’s Air Derby race, finishing in third place. She was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport with special responsibility for promoting aviation to women travelers. Amelia, along with Ruth Nichols and several other women pilots, founded the Ninety-Nines, the first women pilots’ organization. In 1930, Amelia set the women’s flying speed record of 181.18 mph and acquired her transport pilot’s license. She became the first woman to fly an autogiro in the United States and became vice president of Ludington Lines, a commercial airline. Her father, Edwin Earhart, died of cancer that same year. In February 1931, Amelia married publisher George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. Amelia acquired an autogiro and set an altitude record for the autogiro in April. She completed a solo transcontinental flight across the United States in an autogiro in the summer of 1931 and that same year was elected the national vice president of the NAA (and the first woman officer of the NAA). Amelia was also elected the first president of the Ninety-Nines in 1931, and served in this position until 1933. In May 1932, Amelia became the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop, setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and the longest distance flown by a woman. Amelia was awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. Congress, Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was presented to her by President Herbert Hoover. In July, she set the women’s record for the fastest non-stop transcontinental flight, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. She wrote her second book, The Fun of It, and began lecturing all over the country, often speaking in two different cities on the same day. She was awarded the Harmon Trophy as America’s Outstanding Airwoman, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and received honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association. In 1933, Amelia participated in the National Air Races. The following year, in 1934, Amelia launched a fashion house to manufacture and market clothing designed by her. Her first shop opened in Macy’s in New York. It was initially a success, but by the end of the year the venture was shut down. In 1935, Amelia became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the American mainland, landing in Oakland, California. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first person who had flown solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. That same year, she became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City, by official invitation of the Mexican government. In the fall of 1935, Amelia joined the faculty of Purdue University, serving as a counselor in the study of careers for women and an adviser in aeronautics. In July 1936, Amelia acquired a new Lockheed Electra airplane she called her “Flying Laboratory.” It was purchased with funds from the Purdue Research Foundation. With her new airplane, Amelia began seriously planning a world flight at the equator. In March 1937, Amelia made her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator, flying westward from Oakland to Hawaii. Unfortunately, her plans were later thwarted when she attempted a takeoff from Luke Field and ground looped her plane. The plane was badly damaged and had to be sent to California for repairs. On June 1, Amelia began her second world flight attempt, this time taking off from Miami with navigator Fred Noonan, and reversing her course from west to east. After completing 22,000 miles of the flight, Amelia and Fred Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea en route to tiny Howland Island. They experienced radio and weather difficulties and eventually lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on July 2, 1937. Despite a massive search authorized by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found. On July 18, the government abandoned its search, although George Putnam continued to finance his own search until October 1937. In 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles. The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and is the subject of much speculation to this day. Sources: Biographical information from the finding aid to the George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart papers

Scope and Content: The Collection of Amelia Earhart related materials consists of items collected by the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections over the years as a supplement to the George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers. There are numerous articles about Earhart, including information about her relationship with Purdue University and activities held in her honor. The collection also contains firsthand accounts of encounters with Earhart written by those who knew her while she was employed by Purdue or at other times during her career. Other material includes reports by TIGHAR: The International Group for the Historic Aircraft Recovery - The Earhart Project, compiled by Richard E. Gillespie, Executive Director. This information includes some findings on their search for the remains of Earhart, Fred Noonan and/or her Lockheed Electra. Also among the material is genealogy information on the Earhart family. The Earhart genealogy was compiled by Charles Farrell Ehrhart and Linda Kaye Kirkpatrick. Contained in the binder is information on the "Ehrhard – Erhard – Ehrhardt – Earhart – Ehrhart Families, from Germany to America, Descendants of Hanss Michael Ehrhard/Ehrhardt." The audio visual material includes VHS tapes featuring Earhart; several produced by Purdue University Relations, as indicated on the tapes; "Amelia Earhart Program,"  "Dorothy Stratton Remembers Amelia Earhart," and "Amelia Earhart Collection Dedication Ceremony." Also included are cassettes from the 1982 Amelia Earhart Symposium, photographs of Earhart and other aviatrices (some signed) and Amelia Earhart negatives used in the 1997 publication, "Amelia Earhart World Flight 1937." The collection is rounded out by various artifacts including, a piece of Amelia Earhart brand luggage and the accompanying brochure, several Earhart collectible dolls, and various first day cover stamps, including a binder containing a first day cover from Earhart's 1928 "Friendship Flight," signed by Earhart, Wilmer Stultz (co-pilot) and Lou Gordon (mechanic). Also included is various memorabilia, including programs from Purdue events, and a series of "Amelia Earhart: The Purdue Years," postcards, Purdue Research Foundation. The oversized material includes front-page newspaper articles from the late 1920s to early 1930s that feature Earhart and other aviatrices of that era. There are also some advertisements that feature Earhart. Types of materials include: advertisements, artifacts, cassettes, clippings, correspondence, first day covers, genealogy, manuscripts, memorabilia, negatives, newsletters, papers, photographs, plaques, reports, and VHS tapes.

Biographical Information: David Lloyd Wolper was an American television and film producer. He was born in New York City, New York on January 11, 1928. Wolper produced well-known television series including Roots and L.A. Confidential and the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Wolper also produced many documentaries and documentary series such as Biography (1961-1963), The Race for Space (1959), Imagine: John Lennon, and more. He died on August 10, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. Biography (1961-1963) was a U.S. documentary television series created by David Wolper, produced by Wolper Productions, and distributed by Official Films, Inc. It first aired in 1962 and highlighted important persons and depicted their lives using photographs, stock footage, and interviews. The episodes were narrated by Mike Wallace. It was syndicated to individual television stations across the United Stated from 1962-1964 and then ran again in 1979 on CBS.

Scope and Content: The Amelia Earhart movietone film is a 25 minute documentary television episode created by David Wolper for the Biography series (1961-1963). The film documents Amelia Earhart's life (1897-1937) including her upbringing and family, accomplishments in the field of aviation, and disappearance. It includes archival footage of Earhart, significant moments that occured during her life such as women gaining the right to vote and World War I, and her rise in the field of aviation including footage of the Friendship Flight (1928), her solo atlantic flight (1932), her solo Pacific flight (1935), and her world flight (1937). It also includes footage of Earhart at parades and events held in her honor, interviews with her and George Palmer Putnam, and photographs of her and her family. This film would be valuable for anyone interested in Amelia Earhart, aviation, women's rights, and women's war work.

Biographical Information: Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Amy Otis Earhart and Edwin Stanton Earhart. Her sister, Muriel, was born two and a half years later. Due to Edwin's occupation as a legal representative for various railroads, the family moved frequently during Amelia's childhood, living at times in Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Paul, and Chicago. After attending six high schools in four years, Earhart graduated from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Earhart entered Ogontz School near Philadelphia in 1916. The following year, after visiting her sister Muriel in Toronto over Christmas, she decided not to return to Ogontz School and graduate, but instead to remain and join the war effort in Toronto. In February 1918, Earhart left Ogontz School and moved to Toronto to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital. While in Toronto, she began frequenting a local airfield, and soon became fascinated with flying. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she returned to the United States and entered Columbia University as a pre-medical student in the fall of 1919. Earhart soon realized that the practical aspects of medicine did not appeal to her, and left Columbia in 1920 to join her parents in Los Angeles, in an effort to help keep their marriage intact. In December 1920, she took her first ride in an airplane with pilot Frank Hawks. In January 1921, she began taking flying lessons from Anita ("Neta") Snook. With help from her family, she took a job in a telephone company and bought her first airplane. In 1922, she set her first aviation record with an unofficial women's altitude record of 14,000 feet under the auspices of the Aero Club of Southern California. The following March, Earhart appeared as one of the attractions at a local air rodeo and in May 1923 she acquired her airline pilot's license. She was the first woman, and seventeenth pilot, to receive a National Aeronautic Association pilot's license. She became engaged to Sam Chapman and worked in a photography studio. Despite Earhart's efforts, her father's alcoholism, combined with her parents' inability to manage money, eventually led to the divorce of Edwin and Amy Earhart in 1924. Following her parents' divorce, Earhart sold her airplane and bought a Kissel roadster car she called the "Yellow Peril." In June 1924, she drove cross-country with her mother from Los Angeles to Medford, Massachusetts, stopping along the way to visit several national parks (1924). She and her mother then moved in with Earhart's sister Muriel, in Medford, Massachusetts. After undergoing a sinus operation to relieve her chronic sinus headaches, she returned to Columbia University for the winter of 1924 - 1925. In May 1925, Earhart returned to the Boston area and upon her sister's urging, took classes at Harvard during the summer and received a teaching license. Earhart then spent several months teaching foreign students at the University of Massachusetts (Haugen, 2009). From June to October, she worked as a companion in a hospital for mental diseases, but found the work too confining and the pay insufficient. In 1926, Amelia joined the staff of Denison House, Boston's oldest settlement house, as a social worker. At Denison House, Earhart worked with immigrants and their children, teaching them English and educating them on local customs. Earhart joined the Boston chapter of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and in 1928 was elected vice president of the chapter. While working one day at Denison House, in April 1928, Earhart received a call from Hilton H. Railey asking if she would like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Earhart accepted the proposal and accompanied pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis "Slim" Gordon on their 1928 transatlantic flight on the Friendship plane. She soon gained international acclaim for being the first woman to make the transatlantic crossing by air, although she did not fly the plane herself. Following the Friendship flight, Amelia wrote her first book, 20 Hrs. 40 Mins. She broke her engagement with Sam Chapman, and took a job as Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1929, Earhart competed in the Powder Puff Derby, the first national Women's Air Derby race, finishing in third place. She was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport with special responsibility for promoting aviation to women travelers. Amelia, along with Ruth Nichols and several other women pilots, founded the Ninety-Nines, the first women pilots' organization. In 1930, Earhart set the women's flying speed record of 181.18 mph and acquired her transport pilot's license. She became the first woman to fly an autogiro in the United States and became vice president of Ludington Lines, a commercial airline. Her father, Edwin Earhart, died of cancer that same year. In February 1931, Amelia married publisher George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. Earhart acquired an autogiro and set an altitude record for the autogiro in April. She completed a solo transcontinental flight across the United States in an autogiro in the summer of 1931 and that same year was elected the national vice president of the NAA (and the first woman officer of the NAA). Earhart was also elected the first president of the Ninety-Nines in 1931, and served in this position until 1933. In May 1932, Amelia became the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop, setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and the longest distance flown by a woman. Amelia was awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. Congress, Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was presented to her by President Herbert Hoover. In July, she set the women’s record for the fastest non-stop transcontinental flight, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. She wrote her second book, The Fun of It, and began lecturing all over the country, often speaking in two different cities on the same day. She was awarded the Harmon Trophy as America's Outstanding Airwoman, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and received honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association. In 1933 Earhart participated in the National Air Races. The following year, in 1934, Amelia launched a fashion house to manufacture and market clothing designed by her. Her first shop opened in Macy’s in New York. It was initially a success, but by the end of the year the venture was shut down. In November 1934, the Earhart/Putnam home in Rye, New York, caught fire and many of Earhart's earliest papers burned, including poems written during childhood, letters, and stories she had been working on (Lovell, 1989). In 1935, Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the American mainland, landing in Oakland, California. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first person who had flown solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. That same year, she became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City, by official invitation of the Mexican government. On September 26 - 27, 1934, Purdue President Edward C. Elliott heard Amelia Earhart speak at a luncheon in New York on women's careers and he was so impressed with her talk that he asked if she would visit Purdue and give a lecture for the women students. Earhart spoke at a banquet at Purdue on October 17, 1934, and discussed "Activities for Women After College." After several talks with President Elliott, a contract was negotiated in 1935, stating that Amelia Earhart would be employed by Purdue as a visiting faculty member. In the fall of 1935, Earhart joined the faculty of Purdue University, serving as a from the autumn of 1935 until her disappearance in July 1937 as Consultant in the Department for the Study of Careers for Women and Technical Advisor in the Department of Aeronautics for Purdue. Earhart was attracted to Purdue because at the time it was the only university in the United States with its own fully equipped airport. She was also impressed that practical mechanical and engineering training was available without discouragement to the women students on campus. At Purdue, Amelia lectured, conducted conferences with Purdue faculty and students, and initiated studies on new career opportunities for women. Perhaps most importantly, she served as an example of a successful modern woman for the female students. While working at Purdue, Amelia stayed in South Hall (later known as Duhme Hall) on campus. South Hall students vied with each other to sit at Amelia's table during meals. Buttermilk became an overnight favorite beverage on campus because it was Amelia’s choice. Amelia's husband, George Palmer Putnam, first planted the idea of a "flying laboratory" airplane for research into President Elliott's mind. In the autumn of 1935, at a dinner party at Elliott's home, Amelia outlined her dreams for women and aviation and spoke of her desire to conduct studies on how long-distance flying affected pilots. Before the evening was over, guest David Ross offered to donate $50,000 as a gift toward the cost of providing a machine suitable for the flying laboratory. Further donations totaling $30,000 in cash and equipment were received from J. K. Lilly, Vincent Bendix, and manufacturers Western Electric, Goodrich, and Goodyear. The $80,000 formed the basis of "The Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research." The fund's primary objective was to enable the development of scientific and engineering data of vital importance to the aviation industry. The Earhart Fund with the Purdue Research Foundation financed Amelia's "flying laboratory," providing funds for a new Lockheed Electra airplane specially outfitted for long-distance flights. With her new airplane Earhart began seriously planning a world flight at the equator. It was in this plane that Amelia disappeared during her world flight attempt in 1937. In March 1937, Amelia made her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator, flying westward from Oakland to Hawaii. Unfortunately, her plans were later thwarted when she attempted a takeoff from Luke Field and ground looped her plane. The plane was badly damaged and had to be sent to California for repairs. On June 1, Earhart began her second world flight attempt, this time taking off from Miami with navigator Fred Noonan, and reversing her course from west to east. After completing 22,000 miles of the flight, Amelia and Fred Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea en route to tiny Howland Island. They experienced radio and weather difficulties and eventually lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on July 2, 1937. Despite a massive search authorized by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found. On July 18, the government abandoned its search, although George Putnam continued to finance his own search until October 1937. In 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles. The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and is the subject of much speculation to this day.

Scope and Content: The Amelia Earhart movietone film is a 25 minute documentary television episode created by David Wolper for the Biography series (1961-1963). The film documents Amelia Earhart's life (1897-1937) including her upbringing and family, accomplishments in the field of aviation, and disappearance. It includes archival footage of Earhart, significant moments that occured during her life such as women gaining the right to vote and World War I, and her rise in the field of aviation including footage of the Friendship Flight (1928), her solo atlantic flight (1932), her solo Pacific flight (1935), and her world flight (1937). It also includes footage of Earhart at parades and events held in her honor, interviews with her and George Palmer Putnam, and photographs of her and her family. This film would be valuable for anyone interested in Amelia Earhart, aviation, women's rights, and women's war work.

Biographical Information: Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Amy Otis Earhart and Edwin Stanton Earhart. Her sister, Muriel, was born two and a half years later. Due to Edwin's occupation as a legal representative for various railroads, the family moved frequently during Amelia's childhood, living at times in Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Paul, and Chicago. After attending six high schools in four years, Earhart graduated from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Earhart entered Ogontz School near Philadelphia in 1916. The following year, after visiting her sister Muriel in Toronto over Christmas, she decided not to return to Ogontz School and graduate, but instead to remain and join the war effort in Toronto. In February 1918, Earhart left Ogontz School and moved to Toronto to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital. While in Toronto, she began frequenting a local airfield, and soon became fascinated with flying. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she returned to the United States and entered Columbia University as a pre-medical student in the fall of 1919. Earhart soon realized that the practical aspects of medicine did not appeal to her, and left Columbia in 1920 to join her parents in Los Angeles, in an effort to help keep their marriage intact. In December 1920, she took her first ride in an airplane with pilot Frank Hawks. In January 1921, she began taking flying lessons from Anita ("Neta") Snook. With help from her family, she took a job in a telephone company and bought her first airplane. In 1922, she set her first aviation record with an unofficial women's altitude record of 14,000 feet under the auspices of the Aero Club of Southern California. The following March, Earhart appeared as one of the attractions at a local air rodeo and in May 1923 she acquired her airline pilot's license. She was the first woman, and seventeenth pilot, to receive a National Aeronautic Association pilot's license. She became engaged to Sam Chapman and worked in a photography studio. Despite Earhart's efforts, her father's alcoholism, combined with her parents' inability to manage money, eventually led to the divorce of Edwin and Amy Earhart in 1924. Following her parents' divorce, Earhart sold her airplane and bought a Kissel roadster car she called the "Yellow Peril." In June 1924, she drove cross-country with her mother from Los Angeles to Medford, Massachusetts, stopping along the way to visit several national parks (1924). She and her mother then moved in with Earhart's sister Muriel, in Medford, Massachusetts. After undergoing a sinus operation to relieve her chronic sinus headaches, she returned to Columbia University for the winter of 1924 - 1925. In May 1925, Earhart returned to the Boston area and upon her sister's urging, took classes at Harvard during the summer and received a teaching license. Earhart then spent several months teaching foreign students at the University of Massachusetts (Haugen, 2009). From June to October, she worked as a companion in a hospital for mental diseases, but found the work too confining and the pay insufficient. In 1926, Amelia joined the staff of Denison House, Boston's oldest settlement house, as a social worker. At Denison House, Earhart worked with immigrants and their children, teaching them English and educating them on local customs. Earhart joined the Boston chapter of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and in 1928 was elected vice president of the chapter. While working one day at Denison House, in April 1928, Earhart received a call from Hilton H. Railey asking if she would like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Earhart accepted the proposal and accompanied pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis "Slim" Gordon on their 1928 transatlantic flight on the Friendship plane. She soon gained international acclaim for being the first woman to make the transatlantic crossing by air, although she did not fly the plane herself. Following the Friendship flight, Amelia wrote her first book, 20 Hrs. 40 Mins. She broke her engagement with Sam Chapman, and took a job as Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1929, Earhart competed in the Powder Puff Derby, the first national Women's Air Derby race, finishing in third place. She was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport with special responsibility for promoting aviation to women travelers. Amelia, along with Ruth Nichols and several other women pilots, founded the Ninety-Nines, the first women pilots' organization. In 1930, Earhart set the women's flying speed record of 181.18 mph and acquired her transport pilot's license. She became the first woman to fly an autogiro in the United States and became vice president of Ludington Lines, a commercial airline. Her father, Edwin Earhart, died of cancer that same year. In February 1931, Amelia married publisher George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. Earhart acquired an autogiro and set an altitude record for the autogiro in April. She completed a solo transcontinental flight across the United States in an autogiro in the summer of 1931 and that same year was elected the national vice president of the NAA (and the first woman officer of the NAA). Earhart was also elected the first president of the Ninety-Nines in 1931, and served in this position until 1933. In May 1932, Amelia became the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop, setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and the longest distance flown by a woman. Amelia was awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. Congress, Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was presented to her by President Herbert Hoover. In July, she set the women’s record for the fastest non-stop transcontinental flight, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. She wrote her second book, The Fun of It, and began lecturing all over the country, often speaking in two different cities on the same day. She was awarded the Harmon Trophy as America's Outstanding Airwoman, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and received honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association. In 1933 Earhart participated in the National Air Races. The following year, in 1934, Amelia launched a fashion house to manufacture and market clothing designed by her. Her first shop opened in Macy’s in New York. It was initially a success, but by the end of the year the venture was shut down. In November 1934, the Earhart/Putnam home in Rye, New York, caught fire and many of Earhart's earliest papers burned, including poems written during childhood, letters, and stories she had been working on (Lovell, 1989). In 1935, Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the American mainland, landing in Oakland, California. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first person who had flown solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. That same year, she became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City, by official invitation of the Mexican government. On September 26 - 27, 1934, Purdue President Edward C. Elliott heard Amelia Earhart speak at a luncheon in New York on women's careers and he was so impressed with her talk that he asked if she would visit Purdue and give a lecture for the women students. Earhart spoke at a banquet at Purdue on October 17, 1934, and discussed "Activities for Women After College." After several talks with President Elliott, a contract was negotiated in 1935, stating that Amelia Earhart would be employed by Purdue as a visiting faculty member. In the fall of 1935, Earhart joined the faculty of Purdue University, serving as a from the autumn of 1935 until her disappearance in July 1937 as Consultant in the Department for the Study of Careers for Women and Technical Advisor in the Department of Aeronautics for Purdue. Earhart was attracted to Purdue because at the time it was the only university in the United States with its own fully equipped airport. She was also impressed that practical mechanical and engineering training was available without discouragement to the women students on campus. At Purdue, Amelia lectured, conducted conferences with Purdue faculty and students, and initiated studies on new career opportunities for women. Perhaps most importantly, she served as an example of a successful modern woman for the female students. While working at Purdue, Amelia stayed in South Hall (later known as Duhme Hall) on campus. South Hall students vied with each other to sit at Amelia's table during meals. Buttermilk became an overnight favorite beverage on campus because it was Amelia’s choice. Amelia's husband, George Palmer Putnam, first planted the idea of a "flying laboratory" airplane for research into President Elliott's mind. In the autumn of 1935, at a dinner party at Elliott's home, Amelia outlined her dreams for women and aviation and spoke of her desire to conduct studies on how long-distance flying affected pilots. Before the evening was over, guest David Ross offered to donate $50,000 as a gift toward the cost of providing a machine suitable for the flying laboratory. Further donations totaling $30,000 in cash and equipment were received from J. K. Lilly, Vincent Bendix, and manufacturers Western Electric, Goodrich, and Goodyear. The $80,000 formed the basis of "The Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research." The fund's primary objective was to enable the development of scientific and engineering data of vital importance to the aviation industry. The Earhart Fund with the Purdue Research Foundation financed Amelia's "flying laboratory," providing funds for a new Lockheed Electra airplane specially outfitted for long-distance flights. With her new airplane Earhart began seriously planning a world flight at the equator. It was in this plane that Amelia disappeared during her world flight attempt in 1937. In March 1937, Amelia made her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator, flying westward from Oakland to Hawaii. Unfortunately, her plans were later thwarted when she attempted a takeoff from Luke Field and ground looped her plane. The plane was badly damaged and had to be sent to California for repairs. On June 1, Earhart began her second world flight attempt, this time taking off from Miami with navigator Fred Noonan, and reversing her course from west to east. After completing 22,000 miles of the flight, Amelia and Fred Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea en route to tiny Howland Island. They experienced radio and weather difficulties and eventually lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on July 2, 1937. Despite a massive search authorized by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found. On July 18, the government abandoned its search, although George Putnam continued to finance his own search until October 1937. In 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles. The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and is the subject of much speculation to this day.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of two photo albums containing 100 press photographs of Amelia Earhart. Many of the photographs include separate papers with detailed press release information such as places, dates, and individuals' names. Many of the photographs are Associated Press and International Newsreel photographs. There are 48 photographs in album one and 52 photographs in album two.

Biographical Information: Barbara Ann “Babs” Elsbury was born in Greenfield, IN, on October 16, 1936. After graduating from Greenfield High School, she earned a bachelor of science degree at Purdue University in 1958. While a student at Purdue, Elsbury was active in numerous social and academic groups, including her sorority Alpha Xi Delta and several related organizations, as well as the Exponent and Mortar Board. Following graduation, Elsbury completed a Masters degree in Counseling at Indiana University. Elsbury returned to Purdue University in 1962 as a member of the Dean of Women’s staff. She worked with the Dean of Women’s and Dean of Students’ staffs for thirty-five years, holding the title of Assistant Dean from 1967 until her retirement in 1997. In addition to counseling students, she was a notable advisor to the Panhellenic Association, and she administered the Dean of Students Emergency Loan and Gifts fund. She was also a persistent advocate for women in higher education and an active member of the National Association for Women in Education, American Association of University Women in Education, and Indiana Association of Women in Education (IAWE). Elsbury received many awards and tributes throughout her career. In 1989, Elsbury was awarded the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion award, an annual award that highlights a faculty or staff member’s support for women in Purdue’s student body and leadership. In 1993, the Panhellenic Association hosted a tribute banquet in her honor for her many years of dedicated service. And in 1997, Governor Frank O’Bannon named Elsbury a Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest award distributed by Indiana’s governors, and highlighted her work on behalf of Purdue’s Panhellenic Association and sororities. In 1997, a series of annual awards was established in her name, the Dean Elsbury Awards, which rewards individual sorority chapters for a variety of accomplishments. Elsbury died on December 26, 2000, from complications of multiple sclerosis.

Scope and Content: Miscellaneous materials related to Barbara Elsbury's time at Purdue as both a student and Assistant Dean including scrapbooks, medals, and documentation of her memorial service.

Biographical Information: The Eurodelphian Literary Society was started at Purdue in 1917 as a local women’s society dedicated to literary discussion and debate.  Shortly after, the members of the society learned of a second Eurodelphian Society at Kansas State University and contacted them about the prospect of creating a national version of the group.  The two local chapters were successful in doing so and became the first national literary society to be established for women in 1919.  The Purdue chapter of the national society was named the Beta chapter.  The Beta chapter constitution found in this collection indicates that there were at least six chapters of the national society.  The club maintained strict academic requirements for admission, including an “A” average in all English classes, and a “B” average for all other classes.  The Eurodelphians found strong support from Dean Carolyn Shoemaker, who instituted the annual award of the Eurodelphian medal to a senior member of outstanding achievement.  Shoemaker also helped inspire the merger between the Eurodelphians and the Philaletheans to form a more unified and stronger society in the face of declining memberships.  The new society retained the name of the Philaletheans and lasted until 1936, when it appears that honoraries took the place of literary societies due to decreased interest and membership (likely due to the expanded availability of women’s activities at Purdue).

Scope and Content: The Eurodelphian Literary Society records documents the activities and membership of both the local and national chapters of the society.  Included in the collection are meeting minutes, pledge registers, constitutions, and notes on ceremonies and rituals.  These materials give insight into the weekly happenings of the society as well as less frequent ceremonies.  Unfortunately, the collection has no content from the earliest years of the society’s existence.  This collection might be useful to researchers interested in women’s history, Purdue history, literary societies, extracurricular activities of female students, 19th and 20th century material culture, and the impact of Dean Shoemaker.  Types of materials include: records books, printed material, constitutions, and ephemera.

Biographical Information: Emma Ewing was born in Broome County, New York in 1838. Emma married W.P. Ewing in 1863. After the Civil War, Emma gained national recognition as a cooking instructor and became known as "the woman who would have taught America to make good bread if America could have been taught." Emma authored several books, including titles such as Cooking and Castle-building (1880), Soup and Soup-making (1882), and A Text-book of Cookery, for Use in Schools (1899), among others. In 1882, she established the Chicago School of Cookery. Emma went to Iowa State University in 1884 as the leader of the Domestic Economy Department. She left in 1887 to head the newly formed Department of Domestic Economy at Purdue University. By 1891, Emma had left Purdue and was involved as both the dean of the Chautauqua Assembly in New York and as a traveling lecturer. In 1892, she formed the Housekeepers’ National League to improve training in the domestic sciences. In addition, she also founded the Model Home School of Household Economics in 1898, which was affiliated with Marietta College in Ohio.

Scope and Content: One folder containing publication information by Emma Pike Ewing.

Biographical Information: Born in 1952, Phoebe Farris established herself as a well-known artist, a professor, a licensed CCR/DUNS art curator/dealer, a registered art therapist, a documentary photographer, an author, and an editor. Under these plethora of roles, she explored issues relating to race, gender, indigenous sovereignty, Native American Studies, peace, social justice, and the environment. Born into a family deeply involved in literary and visual art, Farris received a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the City College of the City University of New York in 1974, a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from Pratt Institute, New York, in 1977, and a Doctorate in Art Education from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1988. She proudly identified herself as a part of the Powhatan-Renape/Pamunkey, a Native American tribe, and was forthcoming in dealing with national/international indigenous rights issues. Seeking out and pursuing areas for which she had great passion, Farris was able to set an exciting and enviable career path for herself. She embarked on her career as a painter/printmaker but soon took interest in photography. In addition to photographing structures of spiritual and cultural significance to Native Americans, Farris turned to photography as a means of documenting and sharing stories of cultural survival and contemporary cultural expression. Phoebe Farris played an active role in many art shows and exhibitions. She was one amongst thirty-nine artists whose works are featured in the traveling exhibition The Map Is Not The Territory, Parallel Paths: Palestinians, Native Americans, Irish. Apart from the many exhibitions she had been a part of, she also wrote and reviewed many publications related to topics encompassing Art Education, Cultural Research, Native American, African American and Latin American heritage. Two significant publications of hers are Voices of Color: Art and Society in the Americas and Women Artists of Color: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists in the Americas and these evoke amongst the readers, the understanding of the relationship between social activism and the arts. Phoebe Farris was a professor of art design and women’s studies at Purdue University for twenty-two years. She considered this period of her career as the peak of her professional endeavors. As a professor, she was able to travel to different countries, and collaborate on projects with individuals who shared the same interests. Moreover, Farris consulted for the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian Art and taught at the Corcoran School of Arts.

Scope and Content: The Phoebe Farris papers (1972-2011; 1.5 cubic ft.) documents the professional and personal life of Purdue professor, Phoebe Farris. It reflects her contribution to the art scene in America, shedding light on Native American history. The collection may be useful for researchers interested in Purdue's Native American community. The types of materials include written publications and reviews of other’s publications; contributions to art shows and exhibitions; correspondence; career and personal photographs and articles.

Biographical Information: Christina Faulkner graduated from Purdue University in 1974 with a degree in Speech and Hearing. She is the daughter of Ruth and George Bender.Faulkner was involved in many extra curricular activities during her time at Purdue, including: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Kappa Delta Pi, Association of Women Students, and other service oriented groups.

Scope and Content: The collection consists primarily of papers sent to or collected by Ruth Bender including letters from and clippings relating to Helen Schleman, Dorothy Stratton, and Beverly Stone. In addition, there are typed poems written by Goldeen Papenguth.

Biographical Information: Dr. Clinton F. Fink was born on March 12, 1933 to Fred Fink and Clara Sabine in Cleveland, Ohio. He had three brothers: David, Gerald, and Robert. Fink graduated from Lakewood High School in Ohio in 1951, and continued his education at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. At Swarthmore, he earned a BA in Psychology and graduated in 1955. Fink attended graduate school at the University of Michigan, where he earned his PhD in social psychology in 1962. His dissertation was titled: "The Strength of Perceived Relations as a Factor in Cognitive-Affective Consistency: An Experimental Study." After receiving his doctorate, Fink continued as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan's at the Center for the Study of Conflict Resolution. He also edited the Journal for Conflict Resolution there. In 1974 he began his tenure as a researcher at the Institute of Communications Research and the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois. There he engaged in independent and collaborative research on peace theory and action with Dr. Berenice Carroll. During the 1980s, Fink was also a chair and executive director of COPRED, and a co-editor of the COPRED Peace Chronicle. After Berenice Carroll's appointment at Purdue University, Fink became a visiting scholar in the political science and sociology departments at Purdue. While here, he co-founded the Lafayette Area Peace Coalition which was started in response to the Gulf War in 1991. Fink also organized an alternative newspaper called the Community Times, which was in publication for ten years. Fink died on March 2, 2018 in Lafayette, Indiana.

Scope and Content: The Clint Fink papers document Fink's life and career as a peace activist and educator. The papers documenting his career reflect his research while in graduate school and various proposals and presentations from after he received his doctorate. This series is also particularly strong in its coverage of Fink's involvement in and work with peace activism and advocacy. The collection contains records pertaining to the Peace Groups he led and participated in as well as a number of serial publications with which he was affiliated. The collection series which documents his personal life contains notes and records from the schools he attended, family genealogy (including a folder of Civil War era letters), correspondence and cards from friends and family, and materials documenting his relationship with and the research of Dr. Berenice Carroll. This collection would be of particular use for researchers interested in peace activism and research, political science, activism on campus, peace advocacy groups, the life of Berenice Carroll, and Civil War history. The collection includes articles and notes, correspondence, personal artifacts, photographs, and publications.

Biographical Information: Cleo Fitzsimmons was born March 5, 1900 in St. Paul, Kansas. She graduated in 1928 from Iowa State University with a degree in Home Economics. She received an Alumni Merit Award in 1953 from her alma mater. She joined the faculty at Purdue University in 1946 as a professor and department head in Home Management and Economics. Her research focused on farm families, food, and economics. Fitzsimmons is credited with introducing the field of family economics into the college that is now known as Consumer and Family Sciences. She retired from Purdue as a Professor Emeritus in 1972 and returned to Iowa. She passed away November 30, 1998.

Scope and Content: The Cleo Fitzsimmons papers document the career of Purdue University Professor Emerita Cleo Fitzsimmons, who joined the Purdue faculty in 1946 as head of the Department of Home Management. Materials predominantly document her professional career in home management and home economics. Types of materials include correspondence, photographs, awards and certificates, published materials, and ephemera.

Biographical Information: Susan Houston Fortune was born in 1936 in Hamilton, Ohio to Mr. and Mrs. George F Houston. As a result of the Depression, the family moved around the country until settling in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with family. Ms. Fortune graduated from Wauwatosa High School in 1955 and elected to attend college at Purdue University because her father was a Purdue alumni. While at Purdue, Ms. Fortune majored in Home Economics with a focus in Housing, which emphasized home management and design. She earned her B.S. in Home Economics in 1959. During her tenure as a student, she was also a member of Sigma Kappa which is where she became friends with Leslie Pahre Hornbeck. Hornbeck and Fortune were members of the first women's Grand Prix team during their senior year in 1959. Although they were unable to compete in the second heat because of an engine failure, they did finish in the top half of their first heat. After graduating, Ms. Fortune pursued a career as an Extension Educator on the recommendation of Eva Goble. She was an Extension Home Economist with 4H and employed by Oregon State University. While in Oregon she met her husband, John Fortune, Jr. After they married, both enrolled in Graduate School at Oregon State University. John earned a Masters in Fisheries (1962), while Susan earned a Masters in Clothing, Textiles, and Related Arts (1965).

Scope and Content: The Susan Houston Fortune Papers (1955-1959; 0.5 cubic feet) document the life of Susan Fortune when she was a student at Purdue University in the 1950s. The collection includes a scrapbook and Susan Houston's corduroy skirt (Purdue senior cord skirt). Susan Houston [Fortune] received her B.S. degree in Home Economics from Purdue University in 1959. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. George F. Houston of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Biographical Information: Mary Louise Foster, a native of Harrisburg, Indiana, studied Home Economics at Purdue. Foster earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1939 and a Master’s degree in 1950. After graduation she taught Home Economics in local public high schools, including the first home economics class for boys at Harrisburg High School. Foster returned to Purdue in 1955 as a professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, where she served as an instructor of the Home Management House course. Foster helped to develop the first program in Home Economics at the University of Vicosa in Brazil, working there from 1960 until 1965. She officially retired from Purdue in 1987, but continued on as an Academic Advisor in the Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing. Mary Louise Foster served a total of almost sixty years at Purdue. She received the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion award in 2000 and the Special Boilermaker Award from the Purdue Alumni Association in 2005. A scholarship in her name has been established by the former Consumer and Family Sciences Student Council (later the Health and Human Sciences Student Council).

Scope and Content: This collection documents the work of Mary Louise Foster during her time at Purdue as a faculty member and counselor in the Consumer and Family Sciences Department.  It contains correspondence; biographical information on other faculty members in the School of Home Economics; teaching materials and student work pertaining to Home Management courses; instruction guides, recipe booklets, Extension leaflets and other publications; clippings; and photographs.

Biographical Information: Nancy Friedersdorf served in Purdue University’s Office of the Dean of Women and Office of the Dean of Students from 1969 to 1989 in various roles: Counselor, Assistant Dean of Women, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of the Undergraduate Testing Center, and Coordinator of Counseling Services. She was also a visiting professor in the Department of Education for several years. Friedersdorf was the first woman President of the Indiana Personnel and Guidance Association. She represented Purdue University as Spokesperson for the Purdue Alumni Association and she has published articles in the Purdue Alumni magazine on women students, student religious concerns, and the demographics of university students. In 1980, Friedersdorf was instrumental in organizing valuable forums and workshops for Purdue advisors, which eventually grew into the Purdue Academic Advising Association (PACADA), an organization which actively promotes the quality of academic advising at Purdue.  In 1983, she received the prestigious Helen B. Schleman Award. She is an honorary member of Omicron Delta Kappa, The Reamer Club, and Alpha Phi Omega. Friedersdorf has shown her commitment to the Purdue community through a multitude of speaking engagements for students, alumni, and parents.

Scope and Content: The Nancy Friedersdorf papers (1965 – 2016; 1.2 cubic foot) documents the student services career of Nancy Friedersdorf at Purdue University. A large majority of the collection is composed of speech manuscripts and speech notes from Friedersdorf’s many speaking and workshop engagements throughout her career. The rest of the collection consists of biographical documentation about her professional career. Very little information about Dr. Friedersdorf’s life outside of her Purdue career is included in the collection.

Biographical Information: Laura Fry was the daughter of Henry Fry, a prominent Cincinnati woodcarver. She entered the McMicken School of Design (later the Cincinnati Art Academy) at the age of twelve and developed an interest in pottery decoration. She became a charter member of the Cincinnati Pottery Club, which was founded in 1879. Later, she joined the decorating department at Rookwood Pottery and proved to be an outstanding decorator and teacher. Fry developed a technique of applying pigment evenly to ceramics by using an atomizer, and gained a patent for her work. She went to work for the Lonhuda Pottery in Steubenville in 1892 and sued to prevent Rookwood from using her technique. Judge William Howard Taft ruled in favor of Rookwood, stating that her technique was a new use for an existing tool. Eventually, she settled in Indiana and taught industrial design at Purdue University. Laura became professor of Industrial Art at Purdue in 1891. She left in 1892 but returned to teach from 1893-1922, serving as head of the Art Department. In 1898, Miss Fry was one of the founders of the Art League, later the Art Club. In 1909, this organization became the Greater Lafayette Museum of Art.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of a press release from the Greater Lafayette Museum of Art announcing Laura A. Fry's exhibition of decorative arts; Rookwood art pottery and contemporary art glass. There are also two pages of references to Laura Fry from the Special Collections card catalog index to Purdue publications (Debris, 1899-1914).

Biographical Information: Lella Gaddis was born May 29, 1877, in Rossville, Indiana, and was a member of a prominent Tippecanoe County pioneer family. She graduated from the old Lafayette High School in 1896 and attended Purdue University from 1913 to 1915. Professor Gaddis taught in the Purdue summer school in 1914, and assisted in training the first home economics vocational teachers in the state. She was appointed state leader of Home Demonstration Agents in 1917, a post which she held until her retirement in 1947. Professor Gaddis was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, American Association of University Women, Epsilon Sigma Phi, National Home Economics Association, Indiana Home Economics Association of which she was honorary president, Indiana Federation of Clubs, Alpha Chi Omega, Altrusa Club, Purdue Women's Club, and the Tippecanoe County Historical Association and Lafayette Art Association. She died on January 16, 1968, after an illness of three weeks, in the Knights of Pythias Home where she had been a resident for one year. She had no immediate survivors.

Scope and Content: This collection includes an article written by Lella Gaddis in 1917 as well as clippings and photographs pertaining to her life, activities, and work.

Biographical Information: Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Gates graduated with a BS from Purdue in 1903. Her senior thesis is titled, "The Formations of Cork in Woody Stems and its Effect on the Peripheral Tissues." Nicknamed "Goo Goo" by her classmates, Gates was active in the Philalethean Literary Society and served as Exchange Editor for the Exponent student newspaper. She also received her MS at Purdue and then underwent further training at the Toledo Manual Training School. In 1914, she was employed as a science teacher at Toledo Central High School in Ohio. An article she wrote, "Some Health Conditions Existing Among Our High School Girls," was published in 1919. When the new Edmund D. Libbey High School was opened in 1923, Gates became the Head of the Science Department. Florence was the sibling of Christopher Gates (Class of 1913), and Louise Gates. Florence and Louise started the Gates Scholarship Fund in memorium of their brother.

Scope and Content: The Florence Gates papers include one item, "Some Health Conditions Existing Among Our High School Girls." Reprinted from The Pedagogical Seminary, vol. XXVI, no. 2, June, 1919, pp. 153-161. [2 copies]

Biographical Information: Esther Louise Gault was born February 12, 1907 in Lafayette, Indiana. A graduate of Jefferson High School, she attended Purdue and earned a Bachelor of Science in 1928. She also received a teaching license from the state of Indiana in 1928, for English and social studies. She enrolled in gradaute school there in 1936, but there is no record of her finishing. She was involved with several student clubs such as the Spanish Club, the Eurodelphian Society, the Y.W.C.A., and the Sophomore Commission.

Scope and Content: The Esther L. Gault papers, including transcripts, receipts, admission application, teaching license, newspaper clippings and her framed diploma, BS 1928.

Biographical Information: Frank Bunker Gilbreth was born July 7, 1868 to John and Martha (Bunker) Gilbreth of Fairfield, Maine. The youngest of three children, Frank enjoyed a quiet childhood until his father’s sudden death from pneumonia in 1871. For financial reasons, his mother was forced to move Frank and his sisters, Anne and Mary, to Boston where Martha opened a boardinghouse. Martha successfully managed the boarding house and along with a small income from her sister Caroline’s artwork, was able to support the family and put her two daughters through college. After passing the MIT entrance exams in the summer of 1885, Frank decided to forgo higher education and entered the construction trade as a bricklayer’s assistant. Frank noted that the bricklayers with whom he trained all had different approaches to bricklaying and he soon devised a method which eliminated unnecessary motions and greatly increased productivity. Frank quickly worked his way up within the company and was soon able to support his mother and aunt. In 1895, he started his own contracting firm, Frank Gilbreth and Company. The company became famous for finishing projects early and under budget. In 1902, Frank’s firm finished building a laboratory for MIT in eleven weeks, a feat which so impressed a young engineering student that he begged the president of the university to arrange a meeting. The student was Andrey Potter (who later became the dean of engineering at Purdue University) and he and Frank Gilbreth became lifelong friends. Lillian Evelyn Moller was born May 24, 1878 in Oakland, California to William Moller, a successful plumbing business owner, and Annie Delger Moller. The oldest surviving daughter of nine children, Lillian became adept at aiding her often ailing mother in the management of a large well-to-do household. A shy child, Lillian was home-schooled by her mother until she was nine. Once in school, Lillian excelled at her studies and ended up graduating high school with straight As. In 1896, she entered the University of California and became the first woman in the university’s history to deliver a commencement address when she graduated in 1900. The following fall, Lillian moved to New York to start her graduate work at Columbia University. An illness forced her to return to California but in 1901 she returned to the University of California and earned a master’s degree in literature. In the spring of 1903, Lillian, along with a group of friends, set out for the East Coast to begin a six month tour of Europe. They arrived in Boston and had a few days to sightsee before boarding their ship. One of her friends, Minnie Bunker, introduced Lillian to her cousin, Frank Bunker Gilbreth. Frank, a confirmed bachelor, became infatuated with Lillian and was waiting at the dock when her ship returned. Six months after their first meeting he proposed and on October 19, 1904 Frank and Lillian were married in the living room of her parents’ home in Oakland, California. The marriage of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth began one of the most famous partnerships in engineering history. Lillian immediately became a full partner in Frank’s business, working with him first from home but soon joining him on job sites, at business meetings, and participating in industrial conferences. Frank relied on Lillian tremendously and affectionately referred to her as “Boss.” They collaborated on papers, 9 speeches, lectures, and co-authored four books. In 1907, Frank met Frederick Winslow Taylor, the developer of time study, and became a disciple of the Taylor System. The Gilbreths became deeply involved in scientific management research and Frank was instrumental in the creation of the Taylor Society. In 1912, the Gilbreths left construction and focused their attention on scientific management consulting. They broke with Taylor in 1914 and formed their own form of scientific management which focused on the human element as well as the technical. In 1915, Lillian received her doctorate in psychology and incorporated her training into the family business. She saw the need to improve worker satisfaction which would in turn improve overall job performance and worker efficiency. Frank designed his systems to ease worker fatigue and increase productivity by studying each movement a worker made in a process he called micromotion study. The Gilbreths used still photographs and film strips to study worker movement in order to devise the “One Best Way” to perform a task. The Gilbreths also saw the need to improve the physical comfort of the worker and their innovations in office furniture design were ahead of their time and led the way to the study of ergonomics. The Gilbreths’ work in time management and efficiency carried over into their personal lives. Early on, Frank and Lillian agreed to have twelve children, six boys and six girls, a feat which they accomplished in seventeen years. The children Anne, Mary (died at the age of six from diphtheria), Ernestine, Martha, Frank Jr., Bill, Lillian, Fred, Dan, John, Bob, and Jane soon became willing participants in their parents’ studies. The older children were assigned younger siblings to care for and all had daily housekeeping tasks, including the toddlers, who were given table legs to dust. Often Frank would recruit the children for help with his research including his motion studies on typing and surgery. The Gilbreths’ success raising a large family in which both parents worked full time was a testimony to their achievements in management and efficiency and their love for one another. After Frank’s sudden death from a heart attack in 1924, Lillian not only carried on with their work but also managed to put every child through college. Lillian retired in 1968 and died January 2, 1972

Scope and Content: The Gilbreth Library of Management documents the pioneering research of Frank Gilbreth and Lillian Gilbreth in the fields of time and motion study. Commonly referred to as the N-file, the collection covers the Gilbreths quest to find The One Best Way in job performance, worker satisfaction, efficient office management, and home economics. Types of material in the N-file include photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, notes, blueprints, newspaper clippings, reports, and research materials collected by the Gilbreths. Subjects include time study, motion study, fatigue in the workplace, psychology, photography, ergonomics, management, construction, and creating work environments geared toward the handicapped. Company files in the collection include: New England Butt Company, Regal Shoe Company, Remington Typewriter Company, Sears and Roebuck, National Cash Register, Pierce Arrow, Eastman Kodak, Lever Brothers, Macy's, Johnson and Johnson, Brooklyn Borough Gas Company, and Cluett Peabody and Company. A small portion of the collection covers the Gilbreths family life and Frank's army career during World War I.

Biographical Information: Frank Bunker Gilbreth was born July 7, 1868 to John and Martha (Bunker) Gilbreth of Fairfield, Maine. The youngest of three children, Frank enjoyed a quiet childhood until his father’s sudden death from pneumonia in 1871. For financial reasons, his mother was forced to move Frank and his sisters, Anne and Mary, to Boston where Martha opened a boardinghouse. Martha successfully managed the boarding house and along with a small income from her sister Caroline’s artwork, was able to support the family and put her two daughters through college. After passing the MIT entrance exams in the summer of 1885, Frank decided to forgo higher education and entered the construction trade as a bricklayer’s assistant. Frank noted that the bricklayers with whom he trained all had different approaches to bricklaying and he soon devised a method which eliminated unnecessary motions and greatly increased productivity. Frank quickly worked his way up within the company and was soon able to support his mother and aunt. In 1895, he started his own contracting firm, Frank Gilbreth and Company. The company became famous for finishing projects early and under budget. In 1902, Frank’s firm finished building a laboratory for MIT in eleven weeks, a feat which so impressed a young engineering student that he begged the president of the university to arrange a meeting. The student was Andrey Potter (who later became the dean of engineering at Purdue University) and he and Frank Gilbreth became lifelong friends. Lillian Evelyn Moller was born May 24, 1878 in Oakland, California to William Moller, a successful plumbing business owner, and Annie Delger Moller. The oldest surviving daughter of nine children, Lillian became adept at aiding her often ailing mother in the management of a large well-to-do household. A shy child, Lillian was home-schooled by her mother until she was nine. Once in school, Lillian excelled at her studies and ended up graduating high school with straight As. In 1896, she entered the University of California and became the first woman in the university’s history to deliver a commencement address when she graduated in 1900. The following fall, Lillian moved to New York to start her graduate work at Columbia University. An illness forced her to return to California but in 1901 she returned to the University of California and earned a master’s degree in literature. In the spring of 1903, Lillian, along with a group of friends, set out for the East Coast to begin a six month tour of Europe. They arrived in Boston and had a few days to sightsee before boarding their ship. One of her friends, Minnie Bunker, introduced Lillian to her cousin, Frank Bunker Gilbreth. Frank, a confirmed bachelor, became infatuated with Lillian and was waiting at the dock when her ship returned. Six months after their first meeting he proposed and on October 19, 1904 Frank and Lillian were married in the living room of her parents’ home in Oakland, California. The marriage of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth began one of the most famous partnerships in engineering history. Lillian immediately became a full partner in Frank’s business, working with him first from home but soon joining him on job sites, at business meetings, and participating in industrial conferences. Frank relied on Lillian tremendously and affectionately referred to her as “Boss.” They collaborated on papers, 9 speeches, lectures, and co-authored four books. In 1907, Frank met Frederick Winslow Taylor, the developer of time study, and became a disciple of the Taylor System. The Gilbreths became deeply involved in scientific management research and Frank was instrumental in the creation of the Taylor Society. In 1912, the Gilbreths left construction and focused their attention on scientific management consulting. They broke with Taylor in 1914 and formed their own form of scientific management which focused on the human element as well as the technical. In 1915, Lillian received her doctorate in psychology and incorporated her training into the family business. She saw the need to improve worker satisfaction which would in turn improve overall job performance and worker efficiency. Frank designed his systems to ease worker fatigue and increase productivity by studying each movement a worker made in a process he called micromotion study. The Gilbreths used still photographs and film strips to study worker movement in order to devise the “One Best Way” to perform a task. The Gilbreths also saw the need to improve the physical comfort of the worker and their innovations in office furniture design were ahead of their time and led the way to the study of ergonomics. The Gilbreths’ work in time management and efficiency carried over into their personal lives. Early on, Frank and Lillian agreed to have twelve children, six boys and six girls, a feat which they accomplished in seventeen years. The children Anne, Mary (died at the age of six from diphtheria), Ernestine, Martha, Frank Jr., Bill, Lillian, Fred, Dan, John, Bob, and Jane soon became willing participants in their parents’ studies. The older children were assigned younger siblings to care for and all had daily housekeeping tasks, including the toddlers, who were given table legs to dust. Often Frank would recruit the children for help with his research including his motion studies on typing and surgery. The Gilbreths’ success raising a large family in which both parents worked full time was a testimony to their achievements in management and efficiency and their love for one another. After Frank’s sudden death from a heart attack in 1924, Lillian not only carried on with their work but also managed to put every child through college. Lillian retired in 1968 and died January 2, 1972

Scope and Content: The Gilbreth Papers documents the professional and personal lives of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The collection consists of personal papers, letters, correspondence, photographs, and other memorabilia that Lillian Gilbreth collected during her life regarding her youth, marriage, family, and career. Types of materials in the collection include: personal correspondence between Frank and Lillian Gilbreth regarding their courtship, marriage, family, and work; correspondence between the Gilbreths and family members, family photographs of the Gilbreths, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth’s work diaries and scrapbooks, business correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, manuscripts, books, speeches, notes, articles, motion pictures, work-related photographs, slides, audio recordings, flow charts, awards, citations, certificates, diplomas, honorary diplomas, artifacts from their motion study research, and printed ephemera from engineering conferences and meetings. Subjects include time study, motion study, fatigue in the workplace, psychology, photography, ergonomics, management, construction, and creating work environments geared toward the handicapped.

Biographical Information: Roberta Banaszak Gleiter received her BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1960, a time when women engineers were very few and far in between. As a result, Gleiter faced discrimination in her field. She married fellow Purdue alumnus, John Gleiter, and raised her three children from 1960 until 1980. In 1980, she re-entered the workforce and was offered a job at the The Aerospace Corporation. She then earned her MS in Systems Management/Technical Systems from the University of Southern California. Gleiter has published several articles and given many presentations nationwide and worldwide. She is a proud advocate for engineering and received the 2008 Outstanding Chemical Engineering Award from Purdue University.

Scope and Content: The Roberta Banaszak Gleiter papers (8 cubic feet; 1931-2011) contain materials that document both Gleiter’s personal and professional life such as letters of appreciation and commendation, awards, certificates, speeches and presentations, photographs, academic transcripts, items pertaining to Gleiter’s involvement in professional organizations, and materials documenting Gleiter’s time at Purdue. These include her Purdue University student identification card, materials pertaining to Gleiter’s involvement with the Chi Omega fraternity, and senior cords belonging to both Gleiter and her husband.

Biographical Information: Eva Goble was born on May 28, 1910 in southern Clay County and attended school in Jasonville, Indiana where she participated in girls' basketball and was instrumental in starting her high school's first library. Goble started college at Indiana State University, but had to leave school for work when the stock market crashed in 1929. She eventually was able to return to Indiana State University and graduated from the Teaching College in 1941. She worked for Purdue Extension services from 1941 until being named Dean of Home Economics in 1967, a position she held until her retirement in 1973. Goble was also state leader of the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association from 1947 to 1973. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana State University in 1968. In 1972, she received one of the first Frederick L. Hovde Awards for Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana. Purdue's College of Consumer and Family Sciences established the Eva Goble Lecture Series in 1992, and Dean Goble, now emeritus, received an honorary doctorate from Purdue in 1999.

Scope and Content: The Eva L. Goble papers (1920–2005) documents Eva L. Goble’s life and work with the Cooperative Extension Service and the School of Home Economics. Types of materials include printed material, photographs, audio/visual material.

Biographical Information: Helen Gould was a Purdue University student from 1922-1926, as indicated in the Debris yearbook. Little more is known about her. Her dance cards and theater programs reflect the many dances and performances she attended as a Purdue student. A dance card was used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intended to dance each successive dance at a formal ball, and it listed all the dances for the evening. Opposite each dance is a space to record the name of the partner for the dance. They appear to have originated in the 18th century, but their use first became widespread in the 19th century Vienna, especially at the massive balls during Fasching before Lent. A dance card is typically a booklet with a decorative cover, indicating the sponsoring organization of the ball and a decorative cord by which it could be attached to a lady's wrist or ball gown. As in Gould's case, they are often kept as souvenirs of the evening.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of 41 dance cards, four theater programs and seven Purdue related ephemera and miscellaneous memorabilia from Helen Gould's tenure are a Purdue student, 1922-1926.

Biographical Information: Amy Otis Earhart and Zelda Gould were pen pals for eleven years. Represented here are the letters that Earhart sent Gould from January 14, 1939 to January 10, 1950. A friendship via the United States mail was formed between the two women. Earhart shares many of her feelings about having lost her daughter, Amelia, and other things that were on her mind during this time period.

Scope and Content: The Zelda Gould collection of Amy Otis Earhart correspondence and photographs documents the thoughts and feelings Amelia Earhart's mother, Amy Otis Earhart, was experiencing after the disappearance of her daughter, and then coming to terms with her fate. Topics also include World War II and the events following the war, politics and elections, current events of the era, hobbies, personal concerns, thank-you notes, among other topics. There are some newspaper clippings about Amelia Earhart among the letters. The letters begin on January 14, 1939 and run through January 10, 1950. Gould and Amy Otis Earhart were pen pals during this time, and the collection of seventy-five letters received by Gould were given to Purdue in 1992. There are a few issues of The Centerville Crusader, the community newspaper from the town where Gould resided. The papers contain a column about Amelia Earhart, Zelda Gould's connection to Earhart's mother, Amy Otis Earhart, and a photograph of the letters being delivered to Purdue. Also included with the collection are five framed photographs of Amelia Earhart that were given to Gould by Mrs. Earhart.

Biographical Information: The Purdue University Graduate Dames Club was a social and philanthropic group for the wives of Purdue graduate students.  It included an executive board that met regularly for meetings as well as several special interest groups in which women could electively choose to participate.  These groups included bridge, sports, child development, decorating, etc. and changed frequently over the years as interests shifted.  The Graduate Dames started in 1932 after the founding members thought it a good idea to separate from the more general University Dames Club which was also inclusive of the wives of undergraduate students.  This separation came largely as a result of the large number of participants in the combined club and the resultant inability to function efficiently.  The tradition of University Dames at Purdue started much earlier, however; Dean Carolyn Shoemaker was a founding member and sponsor of the Dames from their inception in 1918.  Shoemaker remained a strong supporter of and advocate for all University Dames until her death in 1933. The tradition of University Dames Clubs began with the development of the first such group at Harvard in 1896.  As Harvard Dames moved on to other parts of the country they would start new chapters at the next university with which they were affiliated.  These clubs were devoted to creating a sense of community between the wives as well as a source of social and intellectual development and philanthropic endeavors.  The National Association of University Dames was founded in 1921 to address the growing need to better facilitate transfer of members among chapters and foster a sense of cooperation and communication between them.  Due to the fact that individual chapters were quite small and with extremely limited resources, the possibility of annual conventions was unlikely; thus, the founding committee of the national association decided that the responsibilities of the national chapter would be carried out on a rotating basis by the officers of local chapters.  Purdue Dames held the National chairmanship for two years (1931-1932, 1933), ostensibly due to the division of the undergraduate and graduate groups. The Purdue Graduate Dames took on a number of philanthropic projects over the years and contributed significantly to university culture.  Some of the groups they supported include: the Agapai, the County Farm, and the **** School, among others.  They also hosted several events a year, some for members only, others for members and their spouses, and occasionally events that were open to the public.  These events were generally formatted around a dinner dance concept or card games, but the Dames were well known for their annual fashion show and crafts bazaars. The Graduate Dames reverted to their original title of the Purdue University Dames in 1964, when they reabsorbed the Undergraduate group.  It is unclear at this time how long the club continued to operate after this since the records end abruptly in 1965 (but with no indication that the club was disbanding).  Later records in the collection indicate that the Dames maintained a cooperative relationship with the Purdue Women’s Club as well and it is possible that the two could have merged.

Scope and Content: The Purdue Graduate Dames Club records documents the membership and activities of the Dames, as well as the activities of the National Association of University Dames.  The collection primarily reflects the general activities of the club and its board, with less information on the individual special interest groups.  It also documents changes in the club’s relationship with the university and in the club’s scope.  Unfortunately, there is no information from 1955-1960, and some years are more complete than others.  The collection would be useful to researchers interested in social customs of the mid twentieth century, gender roles and women’s lives in the same era, social or philanthropic groups, material culture, the non-academic lives of past students and faculty, and the role of Purdue University in the community.  Types of materials include: treasury records, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, club publications, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and ephemera.

Biographical Information: Violet Haas was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926. She received a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College in 1947. Haas later matriculated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) where she received her master's degree in 1949 and her Ph.D. in 1951, both of which were in mathematics. While at M.I.T., Violet was introduced to her future husband, Felix. After school, Haas taught at the University of Connecticut, Wayne State University, and the University of Detroit. She came to Purdue University in 1962, where she joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the College of Electrical Engineering and Computing Engineering. By 1978 she had become a full professor of Electrical Engineering and had published numerous scholarly articles in the areas of optimal control, nonlinear control, and optimal estimation. Haas also garnered numerous awards for her research and teaching excellence, including the National Science Foundation Science Faculty Fellowship, the A.A.U.W. Vassie James Hill Fellowship, the D.D. Ewing Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award. In addition, Haas served as a role model and counselor to many female students. She and fellow professor Carolyn Perrucci co-edited a book entitled Women in Scientific and Engineering Professions in 1984. Haas continued to work at Purdue until her death in 1986. The Council on the Status of Women established the Violet B. Haas award in her honor in 1990 to recognize individuals who have helped to promote the status of women at Purdue. There is conflicting information regarding the birth date of Violet Haas; most sources site her birth year as 1926.

Scope and Content: One folder containing a program from the funeral service for Violet Haas.

Biographical Information: Jewel Carrie Mae Hardkopf was born in 1910 in Chicago, to William and Lulu Hardkopf. Hardkopf was a prominent libraries management consultant in the mid twentieth century, and was hired by libraries across the United States to improve efficiencies in operations. A 1967 article announcing her arrival in Greenville, South Carolina, noted she also did work in Brooklyn, California, Colorado, Atlanta, and Augusta. Over the course of her career, Hardkopf published several articles related to methods and motion techniques, library management, and office appliances. She was an associate of Lillian Gilbreth who also worked in the field of management and motion studies. Hardkopf died in 1980 in Massachusetts.

Scope and Content: Papers of Jewel Hardkopf, including manuscripts, correspondence, teaching notes, printed material and related documents. Materials primarily relate to teaching; some materials relate to Lillian Gilbreth. Please see PDF Finding Aid for collection inventory.

Biographical Information: Mabel Louise Whitehead was born in 1877 near Rome, Indiana, to Israel and Louise Whitehead. Mabel grew up on the family farm which inspired her love of nature. She began teaching at rural schools in her county the early age of 16. She enrolled in the Central Normal College in Danville, Indiana, where she met Dr. Wilbur Harlan, who she married in 1900. Mabel was widowed in 1905 after Wilbur contracted tuberculosis. After Wilbur's death, Mabel taught in Danville public schools from 1905 until 1911. She was invited to join staff of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Purdue in 1911, and served as a stenographer and clerk until her promotion to Assistant in Agricultural Extension in 1917. Harlan remained in that position until her retirement in 1947. Harlan merged her love of nature and writing in her role with extension and contributed to many extension bulletins and circulars. In 1915 she authored a bulletin titled Naming the Farm, which was released in several editions and was quite popular. Harlan also contributed several farm magazines and newspapers, as well as the Indianapolis Star. While affiliated with Purdue Extension, Harlan was able to earn her B.S. degree (1929) and receive additional training in journalism from the University of Wisconsin. James Stuart noted that Mabel had, " a real talent in sensing human interest stories." Harlan was a member of many professional organizations, including: the Penwoman's Club, the Indianapolis Press Club for Women, American Association of University Women, Kappa Delta Pi, Theta Chi Gamma, Epsilon Sigma Pi. She was also a contributing member of many social and service organizations: Lafayette Art Association, Tippecanoe County Historical Association, Phi Mu, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. From September until the end of December, 1948, Harlan served as acting curator of the Tippecanoe County Historical Association and was assistant curator during the year 1949. She died shortly after on March 5, 1950.

Scope and Content: One folder containing publications by Mabel Harlan.

Biographical Information: Leather skins were awarded annually to the senior girl in W.A.A. who showed "outstanding ability in leadership-health-scholarship."

Scope and Content: The Eleanor Harrison collection comprises one leather skin decorated with the letters of "PURDUE," the WAA (Women's Athletic Association) insignia, and the Purdue seal.

Biographical Information: Eleanor L. Harrison was born in Union City, Indiana, in 1920. She attended Purdue University, where she was active in sports, and graduated with a B.S. in 1942. Miss Harrison later lived in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Scope and Content: The Eleanor Harrison collection comprises one leather skin decorated with the letters of "PURDUE," the WAA (Women's Athletic Association) insignia, and the Purdue seal.

Biographical Information: Elise Hatt was born in 1899 in West Lafayette, Indiana. She was the daughter of Dr. William K. and Josie Bell Hatt. Dr. W.K. Hatt was a prominent professor in the Engineering School and headed the civil engineering department for many years. Ms. Hatt was a member of the Class of 1922, but there is no record of her graduating. Ms. Hatt appears to have stopped taking classes after her Junior year. While a stuent, she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Interestingly, although she didn't graduate, Ms. Hatt continued at Purdue in the President's Office and in a research capacity. Her research focused on student retention and enrollment. She married Dudley Rhodes Campbell in 1932, and the couple moved to Michigan. In Michigan, Ms. Hatt continued her research in higher education, and expanded her scope to include child development. She published many papers and also taught at the Merrill Palmer Institute and Wayne State University. She also had two children: David and Bonnie. Ms. Hatt died in 1988.

Scope and Content: Publication by Hatt through the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Education,"Vocational Education in Geneva, Switzerland," 1924.

Biographical Information: The Indiana Extension Homemakers Association began in 1913 as a social and educational organization for women.  Before changing to their current name in the 1960s, the group(s) were also referred to as Home Economics clubs and Home Demonstration clubs, due to the focus on demonstration educational work to educate women about matters relating to the farm and home.  In these efforts, the home was recognized as a contributing factor to the relative success of farms, and the work of homemakers was recognized as critical to ensuring said successes.  Many of the lessons taught were related to food preservation, gardening, sewing, and home maintenance. Although the clubs were not restricted to rural membership, the affiliation of the homemakers extension with farms and the farm extension services resulted in a membership that was primarily rural.  The IEHA has also been instrumental in the growth and success of 4H programs throughout the state.  Early leaders and educators in the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association include notable women from Purdue University like Lella Gaddis, Virginia Claypool Meredith, and Eva Goble.  Although the meetings and mission of the Extension Homemakers Association was always officially to educate women and make home processes more efficient and productive, the groups also served as a social outlet for women who typically did not spend much time outside of the home. More closely related to this social aspect of the Homemakers Association was the Extension Homemakers Chorus (1934-1974), organized and conducted by Albert Stewart.  Individual chapters or counties would practice songs from the song of the month books distributed by Stewart before occasionally meeting as a large group to rehearse and perform.  The chorus performed throughout the state, as well as some more notable national and international performances. Source(s): MSP 133, Indiana Extension Homemakers records Arnold, Eleanor, editor; Memories of Hoosier Homemakers; Indiana Extension Homemakers Association. Note written by Virginia Pleasant

Scope and Content: The Indiana Extension Homemakers Association records (1953-2015; 1.2 cubic feet) documents the history and activities of the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association, an educational and social group for homemakers in Indiana.  The collection is primarily composed of materials from the Miami County branch of the Association and materials relating to the statewide Homemakers chorus.  Unfortunately, there is not much material at this time relating to other counties, but the activities of the Miami County homemakers seem to representative of clubs throughout the state.  The collection would be useful to researchers interested in the extension activities of Purdue University, women’s history and material culture, women’s social groups, farm/rural life, and shifts in the domestic sphere during the twentieth century.  Types of materials include: papers, publications, artifacts, scrapbooks, etc.  The records are organized into two series.

Biographical Information: The schedule card has the name O. Jane Jarrell written on the front.  Although O. Jane Jarrell does not appear to have graduated from Purdue, there is an Olive J. Jarrell on the list of previous students  contained in the 1924 alumni register.  According to this listing, Jarrell was a member of the home economics class of 1912.  Classes included on her schedule card are: cooking, sewing, poultry, horticulture, crops, soils, dairy, etc.  The reverse of the card features an advertisement for Jacques and Southworth Company.

Scope and Content: Class schedule card of a home economics student, circa 1908

Biographical Information: Blanche Wallace Brown was born on August 20, ca. 1859, daughter of L.M. and Mary Brown of Lafayette, Indiana. In 1883-1884, Blanche enrolled in special courses at Purdue University, taking wood carving, decorative design, and historical ornament. She married Oscar D. Johnson in 1886, and they had two sons, Harold Brown Johnson (b. 1890) and Maxwell Oscar Johnson. Johnson appears to have gone to college in 1876 to Auburn, New York. She was interested in art, cooking, interior decorating, and served at least one year as President of the Art Club of Lafayette in 1914-1915. Blanche’s son Maxwell Oscar Johnson graduated from the School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University with a B.S. in 1913, and later returned to Purdue to attain a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1928. Maxwell became an internationally known scientist for his research on the pineapple. Blanche’s husband, Oscar D. Johnson, appears to have died in 1921. Blanche Brown Johnson and her family remained supportive of the university and offered several items that had belonged to John Purdue to the university in 1925. She acquired these items from her father who was a colleague and friend of Purdue, and from Purdue himself.

Scope and Content: Diaries, correspondence, photographs, and related materials of Blanche Johnson.  Includes newspaper clippings and printed material pertaining to items of interest to Blanche Johnson, such as art, bridges, cooking, mysticism, home decorating, poetry, religion, sex, and sewing. Some ephemera, primarily Christmas gift tags and cards collected by Johnson, are included.  A constitution and program for the The Art Club of Lafayette, Indiana, 1912-1915, is included in the collection.

Biographical Information: Vivian Annabelle Johnson was born in Portland, Oregon to Albert and Ada Johnson in 1912. She developed an interest in Math and Chemistry in High School, and earned her B.A. in Physics from Reed College in 1932. At Reed, she studies with Professor Knowlton, who helped her secure a teaching assistantship at Purdue under Dr. Lark-Horovitz. Johnson's Master's research was completed under the supervision of Professor Akeley and was completed in 1934. For her PhD, she worked with Dr. Norheim and completed her dissertation research, the Effect of Valence Electrons on the Electron Cloud Distribution, in 1937. Her early research contributed to the newly developing firls of solid state physics. After completing her doctorate, Johnson remained on the faculty of the physics department at Purdue, where she continued to specialize in theoretical solid state physics. She was named the Assistant Department Head in 1973. Over the course of her career, Johnson contributed to and published research on the transport propoerties of semi-conductors. She also published a biography of her mentor Karl Lark-Horovitz in 1969 (Karl Lark-Horovitz, Pioneer in Solid State Physics). In addition to her contributions at Purdue, Johnson was a Visiting Lecturerof the American Association of Physics Teacher within the NSF program to cultivate interest in physics. Johnson was awarded a Standard Oil Foundation Teaching Award in 1973, and a Helen B Schleman Gold Medallion Award in 1979. She was a member of serveral honoroaries and service organizations: Sigma Xi, Sigma Pi Sigma, Indiana Academy of Sciences,Phi Beta Kappa, and the American Association of UNiversity Professors. Physicist, Purdue University faculty member, research in theoretical solid state physics, and author of many scientific papers on the transport properties of semiconductors. Concerned with the educational opportunities and the status of women. Visiting lecturer of the American Association of Physics Teachers as a part of the National Science Foundation program to stimulate interest in physics. Her scholarship, leadership and abilities as a teacher were recognized in 1973 when she received the Standard Oil Foundation Teaching Award, and in 1979 when she received the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award at Purdue University. She was a member of Sigma Xi, Sigma Pi Sigma, Indiana Academy of Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa, and the American Association of University Professors.

Scope and Content: Scientific papers, notes, correspondence and lectures of physicist Vivian Johnson, Purdue faculty member. Some of the subjects covered in the papers include electrons in crystals, radiation, electric quantum theory, structure of metals, the polaron, and multicontact theory. Please see PDF Finding Aid for collection inventory.

Biographical Information: Virginia Kelly Karnes and her late husband Bill were long-time benefactors of Purdue University. Virginia was named the first woman chair of the President's Council of Purdue, as well as being elected to the Mortar Board at Purdue. The Purdue University Libraries honored her by naming the Archives and Special Collections research center for her in recognition of her generosity to the libraries. A native of Warsaw, Indiana, Virginia Grace Kelly worked at a box factory for three years after graduating from high school, saving enough money to enroll at Butler University in 1929. When the Warsaw Bank closed in 1930, tying up her money, she had to go back to work. In 1932, she resumed her education at Purdue University and graduated in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and did housework at Alpha Chi Omega to pay for her room and board. In 2002, she endowed a financial assistance program for qualifying members of the Alpha Chi Omega attending Purdue. She met William George Karnes in 1928, and after a nine-year courtship, they were married on May 1, 1937. She became his closest friend, confidant and most valued counsel as he advanced from the position of law clerk to become president and chief executive officer of Beatrice Foods Company in Chicago, Illinois. During Bill's early years at Beatrice Foods, Virginia frequently would travel with him by train from city to city meeting the company's various division managers. They had been married for 63 years when Bill passed away on November 17, 2000. Virginia Karnes served Rush University Medical Center for fifty years as a member of its Woman's Board (serving as president 1974-1976) and was a member of the Medical Center's Board of Trustees. Her volunteerism and philanthropy were recognized with membership in several of the Medical Center's premier giving groups, including the Anchor Cross Society, Rush Heritage Society, and Board of Benefactors.

Scope and Content: The Virginia Kelly Karnes Papers (circa 1910-2006; 4.5 Cubic ft.) document the life of Virginia Karnes. Types of materials include correspondence, notes, awards and certificates, printed material, electronic media, photographs, and artifacts.

Biographical Information: Bertha Keller was hired at Purdue as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education for Women in 1929. She worked under Helen W. Hazelton and was in charge of summer program sessions. In addition, she served as the faculty advisor to the Women's Athletic Association and the Purdue Archers Club and supervised health examinations and a program to promote individual health. In 1932, Keller took a leave of absence to study at the Teachers College at Columbia University in order to earn her Master of Arts degree. By 1934 she had published a work entitled Posture for Women. She resigned from Purdue in 1935.

Scope and Content: The collection contains one folder with a publication by Bertha Keller.

Biographical Information: Dr. Avanelle (Nell) Kirksey (1926-2016) was born in Mulberry, Arkansas to Odell and Blanche Kirksey. She had two brothers, Ozell (who was killed during WWII) and Joe, a prominent figure in the soybean industry. Her father, Dr. Odell Kirksey, was a noted obstetrician and opened Arkansas' first maternity hospital (the Kirksey Maternity Hospital) where he is estimated to have delivered 4700 babies over the years. Although she was discouraged from practicing medicine, it is likely that Avanelle’s later research interests took some inspiration from her father’s work. Kirksey received her B.S. in 1947 from the University of Arkansas, with a major in Home Economics and minors in chemistry and biology. Her M.S. in home economics and dietetics was attained in 1950 from the University of Tennessee. Finally, she received her PhD from Pennsylvania State University in 1961 in the field of nutrition and biochemistry. Her work at Penn State was supervised by Dr. Ruth Pike whose research focused on Vitamin B6, which was another contributing factor to the trajectory of Kirksey’s research. During the course of her postsecondary education, Kirksey taught at a handful of institutions before accepting her position at Purdue University upon the completion of her PhD work. Kirksey’s work in the area of maternal and infant nutrition has left a lasting impact, both directly and through the ongoing legacy of the many graduate students she mentored. Much of her work focused on the role of Vitamin B6 in maternal health and infant development, as well as the impact of mild to moderate malnutrition. Kirksey is perhaps best known for her involvement in and oversight of the multi-institutional Nutrition Collaborative Research Support Program which examined malnutrition in Egypt, Kenya, and Mexico. Kirksey was also involved in a large scale project designed to develop nutrition education programs in Indonesian colleges. Her work is credited with providing a better overall understanding of the role of micronutrients in maternal and infant health and nutrition. Kirksey was the recipient of numerous awards and honors over the course of career. She was awarded the title of Meredith Distinguished Professor of Foods and Nutrition during her tenure at Purdue (1961-1994). She was the second woman at Purdue to be awarded a distinguished professorship. Purdue also honored Kirksey’s research by awarding her an Honorary Doctorate. Additionally, Kirksey was a distinguished Alumna at both the University of Arkansas and Penn State. Other awards and honors of note were the Borden Award (1980), the Lederle Award (1994), and her designation as a Fellow of the American Institute of Nutrition (1994). Upon her retirement in 1994, the annual Avanelle Kirksey Lecture Series was established to honor Kirksey’s lasting contributions.

Scope and Content: The Avanelle (Nell) Kirksey papers document the life and career of Dr. Avanelle Kirksey, a prominent researcher in maternal and infant nutrition. The collection reflects the impact of Kirksey as an educator and researcher, as well as the continued significance of her research on maternal and infant nutrition. The coverage of her work in Egypt and on vitamin B6 is particularly strong. Additionally, the collection is an indication of Kirksey’s ongoing legacy via the research of her graduate students. These materials could be useful to researchers interested in Kirksey’s career, the NCRSP projects, Vitamin B6 research, maternal and infant nutrition, early studies in lactation and breast milk composition, mixed methods and interdisciplinary research in the health and nutrition field, and women in higher education. Types of materials include papers, publications, correspondence, clippings, photographs, and artifacts, etc.

Biographical Information: Jacqueline Kruper is an independent researcher and private pilot. She has written articles for Woman Pilot, and provided book reviews for the Minerva Society for the Study of Women and War: H-Net and MINERVA: Quarterly Report on Women and the Military.

Scope and Content: The Jacqueline Kruper Women in Aviation papers and rare books give a glimpse into the lives of key aviatrices in the earliest years of flight, along with pioneer aviators. The ephemera includes magazine advertisements from 1943, which provide a unique look into how women aviators were portrayed during the 1940s. The papers also include Jacqueline Kruper's writings for Woman Pilot magazine, and book reviews for Minerva: Quarterly Report on Women and the Military, and H-Minerva, H-Net Reviews. Types of materials include: advertisements, articles, books, book reviews, booklets, and aviation magazines. Please see pdf finding aid for list of books.

Biographical Information: Mrs. Betty Lark-Horovitz was an artist of international renown. She was commissioned to do etchings of several buildings at Purdue University in 1930. These buildings were Ladies Hall, The Old Dormitory, The Pharmacy Building, University Hall and the Mechanical Engineering Building. The etchings, one of which was in color, were issued in Limited Form. There were only 100 sets, each numbered and signed by the artist. Mr. W. H. Winterrowd, M. E., 1907 conceived of the idea of having the etchings done, and he underwrote the cost, and presented the entire 100 sets to Purdue University. The sets were to be sold and the entire income from their sale was to go to the University. They were sold at $100 per set. In addition to her work at Purdue, Lark-Horovitz was also well known for woodblocks depicting Yosemite National Park and SanFrancisco, and other scenes in California. Lark-Horovitz authored several books, including The Art of the Very Young: An Indicator of Individuality; With Graver and Woodblock Over American Highways; Children's Art Abilities; and Understanding Children's Art for Better Teaching. Betty Lark-Horovitz was the wife of Dr. Lark-Horovitz who was in charge of the Department of Physics at Purdue. Interestingly for the time, Dr. and Betty Lark-Horovitz combined family surnames when they married in 1926. Together they had two children, Caroline and Karl Gordon Lark. Lark-Horovitz lived to be 100.

Scope and Content: Etching, article co-authored by Betty Lark-Horovitz, "Children's Art Abilities: Developmental Trends of Art Characteristics," and an article discussing etchings. [Note: author is sometimes referred to as Betty Lark-Horowitz.]

Biographical Information: Mrs. Betty Lark-Horovitz was an artist of international renown. She was commissioned to do etchings of several buildings at Purdue University in 1930. These buildings were Ladies Hall, The Old Dormitory, The Pharmacy Building, University Hall and the Mechanical Engineering Building. The etchings, one of which was in color, were issued in Limited Form. There were only 100 sets, each numbered and signed by the artist. Mr. W. H. Winterrowd, M. E., 1907 conceived of the idea of having the etchings done, and he underwrote the cost, and presented the entire 100 sets to Purdue University. The sets were to be sold and the entire income from their sale was to go to the University. They were sold at $100 per set. In addition to her work at Purdue, Lark-Horovitz was also well known for woodblocks depicting Yosemite National Park and SanFrancisco, and other scenes in California. Lark-Horovitz authored several books, including The Art of the Very Young: An Indicator of Individuality; With Graver and Woodblock Over American Highways; Children's Art Abilities; and Understanding Children's Art for Better Teaching. Betty Lark-Horovitz was the wife of Dr. Lark-Horovitz who was in charge of the Department of Physics at Purdue. Interestingly for the time, Dr. and Betty Lark-Horovitz combined family surnames when they married in 1926. Together they had two children, Caroline and Karl Gordon Lark. Lark-Horovitz lived to be 100.

Scope and Content: The Betty Lark-Horovitz Purdue University Buildings sketches (1930; 0.5 cubic feet) shows drawings of five buildings on Purdue University's campus in 1930.  These buildings include University Hall, Ladies' Hall, Purdue Men's Hall, Mechanical Engineering buildings and the Pharmacy/Science building.  All of the sketches are in black and white pencil except for the sketches of University Hall, which are in color. [Note: author is sometimes referred to as Betty Lark-Horowitz.]

Biographical Information: Latta was the daughter of Professor William C. Latta. She graduated from Purdue in 1907 with a BS in Science. Her thesis is titled Materials for a History of Tippecanoe County, Indian. While at Purdue, she was involved with organizations such as the Philalethean Literary Society, the Tennis Club, and was on the staff of the Exponent student newspaper. Though Purdue's Home Economics Department was not founded until the year after Latta had graduated, she proceeded to create a short course in home economics at the Fairmount Academy in Fairmount, Indiana. After teaching high school for several years, Latta became the Indiana State Supervisor of Home Economics Education for seven years. By 1924, Latta had become interested in the insurance industry. She worked in Lafayette for a few months before becoming the district manager of the Peoria Life at the South Bend office. In 1926, she established a branch in the Lafayette district and acted as head.

Scope and Content: Three Indiana State Department of Public Instruction publications and one journal clipping.

Biographical Information: In 1920, with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, The National American Woman Suffrage Association reformed itself as the League of Women Voters. State organizations, including Indiana's generally followed this reorganization pattern and the Tippecanoe County League of Women Voters was fromed in April of 1920. Although the League's first task was teaching newly enfranchised women the mechanics of registering and voting, it has evolved into a non-partisan political organization whose purpose is to encourage the informed and active political participation of all citizens. The State League had its third annual convention in Lafayette in 1922. Ada Whittredge (Ellswort) Stuart was the first President of the Tippecanoe County League and also served on the State board. In 1956 the county league divided into two leagues: The Lafayette League of Women Voters and the League of Women Voters of West Lafayette to better serve their individual municipalities. However, in 1962 the Leagues merged back into one entity as The League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette. Over the years, the League has researched, debated, and advocated for a variety of local social political issues, such as environmental concerns in the Wabash watershed, parks and recreation, public utilities, welfare, youth issues, neighborhood identity, zoning decisions, and education reforms.

Scope and Content: The League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette records document the history and administrative actions of various League of Women Voters organizations in the Greater Lafayette area.  Types of materials include correspondence, photographs, news clippings, administrative records, printed ephemera, programs, financial records, and websites. Links to the archived website can be found in "External Documents".

Biographical Information: Alma Irene Long was born July 28, 1883 in Newport, Kentucky. Before beginning her formal education, Long taught home economics at a public high school in Cincinnati and the North Carolina College for Women. She also worked for the War Industries Board from 1917-1919 doing statistical and educational research. Long received her B.S. in 1923 from the Teacher's College at Columbia and went on to attain her MA there in 1930. She received her PhD in 1933 from Western Reserve University. While receiving her education, she also served as the head of Home Economics at Wittenberg College, Antioch College, Winthrop College, and the Putnam School. She joined the faculty at Purdue in 1938 as an Assistant Professor of Home Economics and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1943. Long's research focused on the phsychological aspects of home economics education. She presented several papers to the Indiana Academy of Science and published a textbook: Home Health and Nursing. Long was an active member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Association, the Midwest Psychology Association, the Indiana Academy of Science, and was a Fellow of the Education Research Association. She passed away September 25, 1951 in Lafayette, Indiana.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of one folder which contains articles by Alma Long.

Biographical Information: Anne M. Lutz (1871-1938) was a female scientist and genetics researcher with a focus on oenothera mutant chromosome research. Lutz worked at Cold Spring Harbours, conducted research in Belgium, published numerous articles in scientific journals, and was the first woman to receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Purdue University for her contributions in discovering the double chromosome theory. She was born on March 18, 1871 to parents Samuel B. Lutz and Eleanor E. (Gougar) Lutz. Anne was one of eight children. For her early education, she attended a one-room school in Union township. She entered Purdue University and obtained a B.S. degree 1890, after only three years instead of four. The following year she earned an M.S. degree from Purdue University in Biology (1891). She later attended the University of Michigan and received another B.S. degree from there in 1893 after one year. After graduating, Lutz continued at University of Michigan as an assistant in biological research. Later she conducted research at the University of Chicago for a year, followed by research at Columbia University. Lutz was sought out and joined the staff of the Carnegie Institute of Experimental Evolution at Cold Springs Harbor, Long Island, New York, and remained there until 1911 (approximately 6-8 years). On June 11, 1911, she left Lafayette, Indiana for Europe. She gained entrance to the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, where she was the first woman student in 200 years and the last before the university was destroyed during World War I. She continued her research studies there in the Department of Botany and Cytology, and also studied at Amsterdam University in Holland. After sixteen months, she returned home to complete her studies. Lutz published articles in leading scientific journals between 1907 and 1917, and Louvain published a bulletin dealing with her work. Lutz also made a business of producing and selling microscopic slides for biological subjects and she was one of the first women, if not the first woman, to do so. After completing most of her studies around 1916, she devoted time to the state and county tuberculosis associations, the Tippecanoe County Historical Association in Indiana, the Federation of Clubs, Farm Bureau, and other organizations. She was also involved in local organization such as the League of Women Voters. Lutz was offered jobs by Harvard University as well as the U.S. government during World War I, but turned them down due to poor health. In 1932, she became the first woman to receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Purdue University for her work in discovering the double chromosome theory. Upon her death in 1938, Lutz was a member of the board of directors of the Indiana State Tuberculosis Association, for which she had served as president. She had been a board member and secretary of the Tippecanoe County Historical Association, a member of the Trinity M.E. Church in Lafayette, the Twentieth Century Club, and a patron of Tri Kappa. She was also actively involved in the League of Women Voters. Surviving Lutz after her death were a sister, Flora J. Lutz, and a brother, Harry G. Lutz.

Scope and Content: The Anne M. Lutz papers document Lutz' professional work in the field of genetics and her personal experiences while on a work trip to Belgium. Lutz was an early female scientist and genetics researcher who specialized in documenting chromosomes in plants. She was an expert in the area of chromosomes of Oenothera mutants and hybrids and has been credited with discoveries relating to the double chromosome theory. The collection includes diaries and publications written by Lutz.

Biographical Information: Betty J. Lynch Roberts, from Brazil, Indiana, was a student at Purdue University from 1943-1947. She earned a BS in Education in February 1947.  She graduated early in order to accept a teaching position at Marian High School.  During her tenure at Purdue, Lynch was highly active in extracurricular activities and was a member of several honoraries including Alpha Chi Omega, the Gold Peppers, Playshop, Radio Stage, the University Choir, WBAA, and 920 Club. She displayed leadership as the President of the Purdue Players and Theta Alpha Phi.

Scope and Content: The papers document Betty J. Lynch Roberts's time at Purdue, particularly her involvement in the Purdue University Playshop and the University Players. Included in the collection are various programs from plays in which she acted, a commencement program from 1947, several photographs documenting Lynch-Roberts's participation in plays, and two key pendants representing her membership in the Purdue Players and Theta Alpha Phi drama honorary. The collection would be useful to researchers interested in student culture and life, theatre in the World War II era, and material culture of the mid twentieth century.

Biographical Information: Alice Shaw Major was born in 1861 in Shelbyville, Indiana. She graduated from the high school there in 1880. Shaw married Charles Major, a prominent Hoosier author and member of the Board of Trustees at Purdue Unversity, on September 27, 1883. Upon her death in 1925, she donated her husband's extensive personal library, papers, and her estate to Purdue. Charles Major was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 25, 1856 to Stephen and Phoebe (Gatskill) Major. Stephen Major, an attorney, moved the family to Shelbyville, Indiana in 1869. Charles Major completed his schooling in Shelbyville before attending the University of Michigan to study law in 1872. Major returned to Shelbyville in 1875 to work at his father’s law firm while studying for the bar. In 1877 he passed the bar exam and chose to stay in Shelbyville to set up his law practice. Major also served one term in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1886-1887. Charles Major had always been interested in history and historical fiction, being a keen admirer of Sir Walter Scott’s work. In his spare time he wrote his first novel When Knighthood Was in Flower and had it published by Bowen Merrill in 1898. It was very popular and sold quite well; remaining on the best sellers list for fourteen months. In 1899 the novel was dramatized by Paul Kester for the popular actress Julia Marlowe. A revised version of the play opened in New York in 1901 to positive reviews. Film versions were produced in 1908 and 1922, and in 1953 When Knighthood Was in Flower was the basis for Walt Disney's The Sword and the Rose. Because of the success of this first novel, Major was able to cut back on law practice and the majority of his time was devoted to writing. The fame brought about by his first novel resulted in many opportunities for the Major family. In 1901 the couple was invited to the White House to meet President William McKinley and dined with Samuel Clemens "at the famous Delmonico's in New York City." Major’s next novel was The Bears of Blue River. It tells the story of Little Balser Brent, a young child in Indiana and recounts his adventures in the early 1800s. This novel was distinguished by its "Hoosier" character. His third novel was Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall, which was an historical romance. His other novels include: A Forest Hearth, 1903; Yolanda, Maid of Burgundy, 1905; Uncle Tom Andy Bill, 1908; A Gentle Knight of Old Brandenburg, 1909; The Little King, 1910; Sweet Alyssum, 1911; and The Touchstone of Fortune, 1912. Some reviewers criticized his writing as hokey, while others felt it was "fine, readable fiction." However, all reviewers seemed to agree that Major’s historical research was impeccable. Charles Major passed away from liver cancer on February 13, 1913.

Scope and Content: The Charles and Alice Shaw Major Papers (1847-1949; 51.25 cubic feet) document the personal and professional life of Charles Major and his wife Alice Major. Charles Major was an author and a member of the Purdue University board of trustees. The papers consist of Charles Major's literary works, materials from various theatrical productions, poetry written by Major, sketches, and materials from Major’s law career. The Majors' personal life is represented by the materials collected by Alice Shaw Major including household accounts, family mementos, and memorabilia from their many travels. Also included in this collection are the personal writings of Alice Major. Types of materials include: correspondence, printed material, diaries, photographs, programs, manuscripts, theatrical scripts, receipts, and ephemera. The Charles and Alice Shaw Major Papers are organized into 13 series and an addendum collection.

Biographical Information: Marguerite was born on January 1, 1890, in Bloomington, Illinois. Her father was John P. Mallon, a statistician for the Chicago and Eastern Railroad, and her mother was an organist and teacher of piano. Marguerite went through public schools in Chicago before earning her Bachelor of Science degree from the Institute of Technology, Chicago, in 1915. She continued her studies at the University of Chicago, earning a M.S. in 1916 and a Ph.D. in 1926 in nutrition. Marguerite came to Purdue in 1918 as an instructor in Foods and Nutrition. She became an assistant professor in 1920 and was promoted to associate professor in 1934. She resigned from Purdue in 1936 after accepting a position as an assistant professor in home economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Through her research on nutrition, Mallon addressed issues related to calcium and its retention in the body. She wrote numerous academic articles on the subject, many of which were printed in publications such as Biological Chemistry, Journal of Home Economics, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and others. Mallon passed away in 1968.

Scope and Content: One folder containing multiple articles authored or co-authored by Marguerite Mallon.

Biographical Information: Pauline (Mariotte) Davies was born on April 21, 1849, in the Madelene quarter in Paris to Julie (Moehrmann) and August Mariotte. She married John Francis Davies, and they had one daughter, Blanche (Davies) Bryant (1874-1954) of Syracuse, New York. Mariotte-Davies was educated at Ecole Normale Supirieure of Paris and the University of France. Following the Franco-Prussian war, she taught in a woman's college in England. Mariotte-Davies was a professor of French and History. She served as Dean of Women for nine years at an Ohio college. She also taught at Milwaukee Downer College. Dr. Davies joined the faculty of Purdue University in 1896. She worked as a Professor of French at Purdue University, also teaching psychology and Spanish, until her retirement in 1915. In 1896, she was honored by France by naming her an Officer d'Academie. She was founder of the Alliance Francaise in Indiana. Dr. Davies died on September 10, 1930, in Petoskey, Michigan, and is buried in Spring Vale Cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana.

Scope and Content: This collection consists of two series: "Class Announcements, Publication and Miscellaneous" and "Student's Verb Blank."

Biographical Information: Dr. Joan L. Marshall was an Assistant Professor of Education and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at Purdue University. Throughout her career, Marshall was committed to women's issues and diversity. In addition to her role as associate dean at the CLA, Marshall served as the coordinator for Affirmative Action, liaison for the Diversity Action Committee and for the Sexual Harassment Advisor's Network, worked to ensure equitable hiring practices for faculty, and focused on recruiting and retaining diverse faculty. While at Purdue, Marshall also served on an advisory group for the Spousal Relocation Assistance Program and was on the University Task Force for Women's Issues. Marshall earned many awards during her time at Purdue. Marshall became a fellow for the Committee on Institutional Cooperation's (CIC) Academic Leadership Program from 1990-1991. She also won the Violet Haas Award in 1997 and the Title IX Service Award in 2012 in recognition of her work on gender equity.

Scope and Content: The Joan L. Marshall papers document Dr. Marshall's career at Purdue University as an Assistant Professor of Education and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). The collection includes both physical and electronic materials. Physical materials include letters related to Marshall's fellowship in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation's (CIC) Academic Leadership Program and her Title IX Service award, an academic paper by Marshall entitled "Mentoring in Academia: Gender differences and similarities", articles about women and minority faculty and staff and programs offered at Purdue, and two artifacts; her name plate and signature stamp. Digital materials include one 3.5 inch floppy disk, one 5.25 inch floppy disk, and two optical disks. Files on digital media include course materials, a job application, and a video titled "Women in Academia: Institutional Change to Enhance Success".

Biographical Information: Mary Lockwood Matthews was born in 1882 to Harriet Matthews. SHe was later adopted by agricultural pioneer Virginia Meredith, who was a friend of her mother's. She joined the Purdue faculty in 1910 as an extension home economics instructor. In 1912, she was named head of the Department of Household Economics, which expanded to become the School of Home Economics in 1926. At its founding, Matthews was the dean- a tribute to her work in advocating for the creation of the school and to advance educational opportunities for women students. Matthews was instrumental in the creation of a home economics building, constructed in 1922 and named in her honor. The School has since been described as a "strong pillar of American home economics education." Mary Matthews is also credited for the invention of "Master Mix," a concoction created in the home economics labs at Purdue which was utilized by homemakers for the quick and easy preparation of baked goods. After serving at Purdue nearly fifty years as a faculty member, Mathews retired in 1958, earning the title Dean Emeritus. Matthews published many books and articles on foods and cookery, textiles, and home economics education. Over the course of her career, she was a fierce advocate for women's education and the recognition of the importance of women's work. Mary Matthews died in 1968.

Scope and Content: Scrapbook

Biographical Information: Marylu McEwen is a prominent scholar in student development theory, working specifically in theories of student development for students of color. She also focuses on multiculturalism in student affairs and higher education. These research and teaching foci developed from an early emphasis on women’s issues and development in graduate school that later expanded to focus more broadly on diversity, multiculturalism and social justice. McEwen is currently an Associate Professor Emerita in the College of Education at the University of Maryland at College Park where she spent twenty-one years in the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services. Prior to her tenure at the University of Maryland, McEwen was a member of the faculty at Auburn University in the Counselor Education Program for twelve years. McEwen earned both her Bachelor of Science (mathematics) and her doctorate (Counseling and Personnel Services) from Purdue University, in addition to her M.S.Ed. from Indiana University (College Student Personnel Administration). While finishing her PhD, McEwen worked as an intern in the Office of the Dean of Women at Purdue. Upon receiving her doctorate in 1972, McEwen completed a two year term as the Assistant Dean of Women there. In addition to many publications and presentations over the course of her career, McEwen has placed an emphasis on the importance of mentorship and guidance of her students. She has also remained highly active in her field by maintaining membership in numerous professional organizations and honor societies, as well as accepting leadership positions in service to the university and professional associations.

Biographical Information: Marylu McEwen is a prominent scholar in student development theory, working specifically in theories of student development for students of color. She also focuses on multiculturalism in student affairs and higher education. These research and teaching foci developed from an early emphasis on women’s issues and development in graduate school that later expanded to focus more broadly on diversity, multiculturalism and social justice. McEwen is currently an Associate Professor Emerita in the College of Education at the University of Maryland at College Park where she spent twenty-one years in the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services. Prior to her tenure at the University of Maryland, McEwen was a member of the faculty at Auburn University in the Counselor Education Program for twelve years. McEwen earned both her Bachelor of Science (mathematics) and her doctorate (Counseling and Personnel Services) from Purdue University, in addition to her M.S.Ed. from Indiana University (College Student Personnel Administration). While finishing her PhD, McEwen worked as an intern in the Office of the Dean of Women at Purdue. Upon receiving her doctorate in 1972, McEwen completed a two year term as the Assistant Dean of Women there. In addition to many publications and presentations over the course of her career, McEwen has placed an emphasis on the importance of mentorship and guidance of her students. She has also remained highly active in her field by maintaining membership in numerous professional organizations and honor societies, as well as accepting leadership positions in service to the university and professional associations.

Scope and Content: This collection contains a program, typed remarks, digital photographs, and the Request for Proposal for the "When Dreams Dance" sculpture that honors the work of Betty Nelson, Sandra Monroe, and Linda Ewing in their capacity of administrators at Purdue.

Biographical Information: Anna Roberta McNeill was born in 1881 in Canada. She attended the MacDonald Institute, which was a part of the Ontario Agircultural College. was an Assistant in Home Economics Extension at Purdue University. The MacDonald Institute specialized in the education of rural women in home management skills. McNeill was invited to Purdue as a home demonstration agent, where she taught in the field and at the university's Farmer Institutes. Through her work, she became close friends with Lella and Kate Gaddis, and eventually moved in with them as a boarder. McNeill authored several Extension Bulletins on cookery and safe food preservation, and was a member of the Indiana State Home Economics Association. In a 1916 annual report, McNeill reported that there had been 127 home economics classes offered around the state, a testament to the impact that she and Gaddis had on rural women in Indiana. McNeill left Purdue and Indiana in 1918 to move to South Dakota. Once there, she married Dr. David Whitton in 1919. Sometime before David's death in 1949, the Whittons moved back to Ontario. Roberta died there in 1956.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of one folder which contains 3 copies of a bulletin by Roberta McNeill.

Biographical Information: Emma Montgomery McRae, born February 12, 1848, at Loveland, Ohio; died September 21, 1919 at Newton Center, Massachusetts. Mrs. McRae was born at Loveland, Ohio, and at five years of age she moved with her parents to Indiana. Her early education was obtained from private tutors, among whom her father, who was a Methodist minister, held a prominent place. Later she attended private and public schools, and finally took a course in Brookville Academy. She was granted the degree of Master of Arts from Wooster College in Ohio. Mrs. McRae began teaching in the public schools of Vevay. From there she went to Muncie, where she served as principal of the high school from 1867 to 1888. It was in Muncie that she married Hamilton S. McRae, who was superintendent of Muncie schools. In 1887 she came to Purdue to take the position of professor of English Literature and lady principal. Mrs. McRae spent twenty-six years at Purdue. In 1913 she retired under the auspices of the Carnegie Foundation, where she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. S. Hardy Mitchell of Newton Center, Massachusetts. In addition to the work Mrs. McRae did in the classroom, she deserves special mention for what she did among the teachers of the state. She was a pioneer in the work of the institutes. She was the only woman so honored in Indiana to be chosen the President of the State Teachers' Association. Socially she occupied a very high position. She was a delightful hostess and was never so happy as when her apartments in the Ladies' Hall were the scene of some social gathering. Her annual Easter Monday reception was always brilliant and the invitation list was always large. No one had more devoted friends among the people of Lafayette. But, naturally, it was at Purdue that her influence was strongest. Her fine literary sense, the very essence of her idealism, was always in evidence; her wonderful judgment was always ready, and her sympathy was swift. As a public speaker, she won not only by the power of her thought and the eloquence of her manner, but also by the sweetness of her soul. Her funeral was held in Muncie at the home of Miss Elizabeth Willard. It was the same home that had received Mrs. McRae when she went to Muncie as a teacher. President Stone represented the University and began his address with the words: "At this moment the flag at Purdue University hangs at half-mast in memory of Mrs. McRae." And this, it must seem to all of us, is the heart of the whole matter, silence - more eloquent than words - and the flag at half-mast - the flag that she had lived to see thrice assailed, thrice triumphant. Mrs. McRae loved the flag, loved her country. She loved the State of Indiana - she was proud of being a Hoosier. Mrs. McRae loved Purdue, and when she found last June that she would not be able to come to us, she wrote: "It breaks my heart not to be with you." And we know that Mrs. McRae died with the Purdue love in her heart. From her son-in-law we have the account of her last conscious utterance. He had performed some kindly service for her, and she had rallied for the moment: "O, bless your sweet soul!" And thus passed out of her midst this gentlest and sweetest of souls, that had walked with us and talked with us, as teacher and friend. This was taken from the Memorial for Mrs. McRae, written by Dean Carolyn Shoemaker, and appeared in The Purdue Alumnus, vol. 7, no. 1, October 1919, p. 5.

Scope and Content: The collection consists a scrapbook given to Emma Montgomery McRae upon her retirement from Purdue in 1913 as well as two folders which contain articles and publications by Emma Montgomery McRae.  The scrapbook contains handwritten notes of praise from Purdue faculty members including Winthrop Stone, William Murray Smith, Stanley Coulter, Carolyn Shoemaker, Mary Matthews and others.

Biographical Information: Virginia Claypool Meredith was born in Fayette County, Indiana, November 1, 1848, the daughter of Austin B. and Hannah A. Claypool. She graduated from Glendale College in 1866, and married Henry Clay Meredith in 1870. After her husband's death in 1882, she assumed full charge of his large farm and gained national fame in handling his herds and flocks. Her varied achievements in agriculture, home economics, as a public speaker, organizer, writer, editor, and trustee of Purdue University won her nation-wide recognition as the "Queen of American Agriculture". Meredith's involvement with Purdue began in 1899, while she was a speaker for the Farmers' Institutes, offering lectures across Indiana that were aimed to educate farmers on the latest science and technology in agriculture. These lectures, along with Meredith's unrelenting petitioning of Purdue presidents, were highly influential in paving the way for a home economics department in 1905. In addition to being a pioneer in agricultural education, organizer of the Indiana Federation of Women's Clubs, and editor of the Breeders Gazette, Virginia Claypool Meredith also became the first woman to serve on the Board of Trustees at Purdue, a post which she held from 1921-1936. The women's residence hall known as "Meredith Hall" is named in her memory. President University President Edward C. Elliott paid her the following tribute at the time of her death on December 10, 1936: "Thus, comes to an end a brilliant career of devoted service to the nation, the state, the University, and above all to the advancement of the place of women in our civilization. All who had the privilege of working with her were constantly the beneficiaries of her kindly and farsighted wisdom. She was an ideal University trustee. The best of her life was built into the University she loved so much and served so well."

Scope and Content: The collection consists of three folders which contain 63 articles about or by Virginia Claypool Meredith as well as a four leaf clover she found on the site of the Purdue Memorial Union Building immediately preceding the building dedication ceremonies.

Biographical Information: Paulina T. Merritt was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia on August 8, 1831 to John and Hannah McClung. She married George Merritt in 1852, and they settled in Indianapolis, where George ran a wool manufacturing business. George and Paulina were both dedicated philanthropists and advocates in the Indianapolis community. Paulina invested her inheritance in order to improve conditions for those less fortunate, building "small cottages for friendless, suffering families" in 1864. She established a house for soldier’s orphans with her husband. She was an advocate for reforming insane asylums, and was instrumental in Sarah Oren's election to office as the first state librarian in Indiana. Paulina Merritt also donated property to the Indianapolis Colored Women's Mutual Society, to be used by those who were sick or elderly. Together with Eliza Goff, Merritt founded the Alpha Home for Aged Colored Women in 1886. The home housed aging women who had survived captivity, and opened to men in 1928. Merritt was a member of and frequent visitor for the Benevolent Society, and was active in securing equal rights for women throughout her adult years. Merritt died in 1921 in San Diego, California, but is interred in Indianapolis.

Scope and Content: The Paulina T. Merritt papers on the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Movement document Paulina Merritt’s activities pertaining to the suffrage movement in Indiana in the late 19th century.  It includes correspondence to elected officials, among them Senator Benjamin Harrison, concerning voting rights as well as correspondence with leaders in the women’s suffrage movement including May Wright Sewall. Also included in the collection is an autobiographical sketch of Merritt, as well as some clippings and advertisements. Also included are papers written by her husband, George Merritt.

Biographical Information: Nancy Lee Griffith Miller was a member of the Purdue Class of 1948.

Scope and Content: The Nancy Griffith papers include a schedule for New Civilian Students and a Purdue News pamphlet, 1944.

Biographical Information: Eulora Miller Jennings (d. 1939) holds the distinguished place amongst Purdue alumnae as the first woman to graduate from the University in 1878. As an undergraduate, she also served as the first president of the Philalethean Society, an organization "effected for the literary needs of the young ladies at Purdue." Upon earning a Bachelor's of Science degree, Eulora Miller became Purdue's first professional librarian, and continued her career in librarianship at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She went on to study at Columbia University in New York, and gained notoriety as a dramatist, having published four plays, including Mrs. Oakley's Telephone, Tom's Fiancee, Dinner at the Club, and Die Prinzessin Barnof.

Scope and Content: The papers include Eulora Miller's diploma from Purdue and a play she wrote.

Biographical Information: Leah Rowena Miller, called Rowena by her friends, was a member of the class of 1927 from Decatur, Indiana.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. She married Vernon P Sharkey in 1948 and lived as a homemaker in Goshen. She passed away in 2000.

Scope and Content: The Leah Rowena Miller scrapbook (1924-1931; 0.4 cubic feet) documents the student life of Leah Rowena Miller.  It includes her time as a student at Purdue as well as her travels after graduation.  The scrapbook focuses heavily on Rowena's social life with her family and friends.  This scrapbook would be a valuable asset for any individual researching the history of Purdue and student life.  It would also be valuable for an individual researching the time period of the 1920s.  Within the scrapbook are mementos, black and white photographs, programs, holiday cards, newspaper clippings, and handwritten notes.  You will also find within the scrapbook is a list of all of Rowena's friends and their hometowns, two tables of sports scores for both the football and basketball teams for the 1924-1925 seasons, and a list of productions and social functions that Rowena attended during her time at Purdue.

Biographical Information: The Mortar Board chapter at Purdue University began with the creation of the SLS honor society in the fall of 1924.  The ideals and goals of SLS were embodied in its name, the letters standing for Service, Leadership, and Scholarship.  The seven senior women inducted into the organization in 1924 initially operated secretly and individually within the community to achieve these standards; the ultimate goal was to eventually secure affiliation with the National Mortar Board society.  Beginning with the first class of inductees in the spring of 1925, SLS moved into the public sphere and began to operate as a cohesive unit.  SLS restricted membership to senior women with a minimum grade average of 85, and they were initiated during May Day festivities of their junior year. The focus within SLS was on providing opportunities for and recognition of leadership by women students and the support of their character development.  From its inception, the group aligned itself with other women’s organizations and leaders on campus including the Women’s Athletic Association, the Young Women’s Christian Association, and the Dean of Women.  During the spring of 1926, SLS members began to more actively pursue their proposal for acceptance into the National Mortar Board society.  Members compiled a petition in scrapbook form to be presented by an SLS delegate at the National Mortar Board Conference in November of 1926.  The book contains historical information about and photos of Purdue, SLS, and SLS members and alumnae.  Also included in the book are several letters of support from regional Mortar Board chapters and prominent members of Purdue faculty. After their petition was approved in the fall of 1926, SLS changed their name to the Mortar Board honor society.  Membership was still restricted to senior women of high scholastic aptitude.  Dean Carolyn Shoemaker was a faculty member of the society and supported their various endeavors in the early years, including the sponsorship of a women’s glee club at Purdue, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the Gold Peppers.  In addition to providing support for other women’s groups on campus, Mortar Board hosted annual dances, teas, and breakfasts and engaged in volunteer work in the community.  By the 1930s, they also began to donate scholarship funds to the Dean of Women to be distributed to deserving women students; these early awards served as a precursor for the better-known Mortar Board scholarships and fellowships.      Beginning in 1945, Mortar Board also contributed financially to the scholarship funds offered jointly by the Gold Peppers and Women’s Panhellenic Association.  Mortar Board’s contributions to the various scholarship funds were collected through their annual calendar sales.  By 1955, calendar sales were successful enough to enable Mortar Board to establish a separate scholarship fund in addition to the money contributed to the jointly awarded scholarships.  A report compiled by the Mortar Board Scholarship Committee indicates that by 1971, the group had contributed over $100k to women pursuing their education.  After the advent of Title IX legislation and the inclusion of male students in the club, the scholarships became available to men as well—but it does seem as though women students and Mortar Board members and alumni were given precedence. In addition to their significant contributions to scholarship funds at Purdue University, the Barbara Cook Chapter of the Mortar Board Society sponsored a number of other efforts at the university: lecture series, health clinics, and informational books.  In addition, the group sponsored long-lasting testaments to their presence such as various memorials to the Deans of Women and Amelia Earhart and a pond/sitting area at the Ag Hort Park in honor of their 50th anniversary. The club operates today with a continued focus on the tenets of scholarship, leadership, and service.  Annual calendar sales still fund numerous scholarship and fellowship opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Scope and Content: The Mortar Board records (1924-2015; 6.95 cubic feet) document the establishment and myriad activities of the Barbara Cook Chapter of the Mortar Board National Society at Purdue University.  The collection reflects the changing scope of Mortar Board over the years, from their early supportive roles in the university, to their position as a major donor of scholarships and fellowships for women (and later men) students, and their devotion to fostering leadership skills in their members.  This collection might be useful for researchers interested in women’s history and organizations, women’s liberation and the latent effects of Title IX legislation, student life and activities during the twentieth century, scholarship funds, and the impact of the Deans of Women at Purdue.  Types of materials include: correspondence, publications, society records, scrapbooks, photos, slides and negatives, video and audio cassettes, cds, and computer discs.

Biographical Information: Mary Marguerite Murphy was born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1903. Mary Murphy graduated from Purdue in 1924 with a Bachelor of Science degree. During her time as an undergraduate, Mary was very involved with campus activities, including women’s sports. She played basketball and was a member of Theta Chi Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, the Philalethean Literary Society, the Women’s Athletic Association, the Woman’s Press Club, the Purdue Girls’ Club, the Purdue Union Club, and the staff of the Exponent student newspaper. She remained in South Bend until the time of her death in 2004. Rosemary Ann Murphy was born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1908. She was a prominent student athlete in the early days of women’s sports at Purdue. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1929, Rosemary spent her undergraduate years involved in the Women’s Athletic Association, and playing soccer, basketball, and baseball. She also took part in the coed track meets and was one of the highest scoring individuals. In 1927, Rosemary served as the President of the Women’s Athletic Association and represented Purdue at the Athletic Conference of American College Women in Ithaca, New York. Outside of sports, Rosemary was also involved in Gold Peppers, Kappa Delta Pi, the Philalethean Literary Society, the Purdue Girls’ Club, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Theta Chi Gamma. She also won recognition as a Distinguished Student multiple times. Later records indicate that Rosemary continued her education to become a doctor and that she lived in Boston Massachusetts at the time of her death in 1969.

Scope and Content: The Murphy Family Papers (1916-1929, 1999; 0.5 cubic ft.) document the student life and activities of Rosemary Murphy and Mary Marguerite Murphy during their school days at Purdue University. Subject areas include women's sports at Purdue University (basketball, soccer, track), the Purdue "We Girls Rifle Team," physical education for women students at Purdue, and the various fraternities, sororities, honors and athletic societies to which the Murphy women belonged. The bulk of the papers were created by Rosemary Murphy and relate to her athletic activities on campus.

Biographical Information: The College of Health and Human Sciences, Home Economics has enjoyed a long tradition at Purdue University. Its first iteration was the Department of Household Economics which began in 1905 within the School of Science. Department head since 1912, Mary L. Matthews was named dean when the department was established as the School of Home Economics in 1926. At this time, there were 368 undergraduate students and three graduate students enrolled and the school consisted of five departments: applied design, clothing and textiles, foods and nutrition, home administration, and institutional management. The School transitioned to the College of Consumer and Family Sciences in 1976, a move that significantly increased enrollment by male students. On July 1, 2010, the College of Consumer and Family Sciences was changed to the College of Health and Human Sciences and now comprises of nine academic units. These include the Departments a/or Schools of: Consumer Science; Human Development and Family Studies; Health and Kinesiology; Health Sciences; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Nursing; Nutrition Science; Psychological Sciences; and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The College also added a separate Graduate Program in Public Health in 2014. Prior to the merge, these programs were housed in three colleges: the College of Liberal Arts, the now defunct Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences and Consumer and Family Sciences.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of a collection of recipes produced by the School of Home Economics in 1932. The recipes are compiled under various categories, e.g., "Recipes for Inexpensive Dishes" and "Menus for St. Valentine's Day."

Biographical Information: Virginia Nilles was born in 1950 in Muncie, Indiana. She attended high school at Burris Laboratory School. She earned her Bacehlors from American University in Washington DC and a Masters of Library Science from the University of Michigan. Until her retirement in 2016, Nilles was the director of the Muncie Public Library for nearly 22 years. Nilles is also an indirect descendent of Virginia Meredith.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of a collection of recipes produced by the School of Home Economics in 1932. The recipes are compiled under various categories, e.g., "Recipes for Inexpensive Dishes" and "Menus for St. Valentine's Day."

Biographical Information: Norton is originally from Lafayette, Indiana and graduated with a BS from Purdue in 1927. While at Purdue, she participated in campus organizations such as Zeta Tau Alpha, the Y.W.C.A., and the Purdue Girls' Club. After graduation, Norton worked in governmental libraries and became an important benefactor of Purdue University. A distinguished professorship in the Purdue University Libraries was named in her honor.

Scope and Content: Materials collected by Esther Norton. The collection includes prints of older campus buildings and locations including the entrance, Fowler Hall, the drive way, University Hall, the lion fountain, the library, and the Mechanical Building. Also includes flyer from the First Annual Student Show and a picture of the Zeta Tau Alpha house. Esther Ellis Norton (Purdue class of 1927) served in governmental libraries and became an important benefactor of the Purdue Libraries.

Biographical Information: Miss Nugent was born on a Tippecanoe County farm and lived there until she was 10 years old. She graduated from Purdue in 1915, and taught home economics, food work and managed cafeterias in Emerson School, Gary; Indiana State Normal at Muncie and at Terre Haute; operated a mess hall during the World War, and in 1926 took charge of all food work at the Purdue Union Memorial Building. She was also an instructor in Institutional Management at Purdue.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of one folder, which contains an article about Geneva Nugent.

Biographical Information: Growing up in Medford, Ohio, Zoe Dell received dance lessons from a teacher who lived next door to her family in exchange for around the-house-chores. Once she had saved up $100 from ushering at a local theater, Dell headed for San Francisco, applying for positions at three major theaters and receiving offers from each. Continuing her dance lessons, Dell became a member of the San Francisco ballet in 1937 until 1940. While performing in a show at St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, she was recruited to promote the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition as its theme girl. This position required extensive travel, and her responsibilities largely included promoting the fair as well as being a spokeswoman for air travel at a time when it was generally considered unsafe. She was featured in the February 7, 1938 issue of Life magazine, and was dubbed “Most Photographed Girl in the World” by the National Clipping Service. Zoe Dell married Dr. Richard S. West, a dentist, and moved to Southern California with him. Shortly afterwards, Dell needed back surgery that would ultimately end her dancing career. Her friends, "Bucky" and Grayce McGeoghegan, were active in aeronautical pursuits and encouraged her to take up flying. She did, and joined a flying club in northern California, where she and her husband had relocated. Since road transportation was still dangerous at the time, Dell often flew there to San Francisco to go shopping. She and West divorced in 1958, and in that same year she became the official ambassador to the World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium, a position which required much travel and allowed her to continue to promote aviation. In the 1960s, she accepted a position offered by William Piper, of Monarch Aviation, in which she would market aviation and flight courses as well as demonstrate airplanes. It was at this time that she joined the Ninety Nines with three other women in Monterey, California, where she lived. She met her second husband, Ervin "Erv" J. Nutter, while on a business in Dayton, Ohio, where she was to purchase a Bede-1 aircraft for training purposes at Monarch. Ervin had begun his career at Wright Field, where he oversaw the environmental testing of military aircraft. He also was part of the Manhattan Project, in building and testing the trigger for the atomic bomb. He became president and CEO of the Elano Corporation in 1950, which became a successful manufacturer of materials used in the aviation industry. Subsequent to her betrothal to Ervin, Zoe Dell continued her flying lessons and encouraged her husband to do the same so they could fly together. Zoe Dell was step-mother to three sons and she lived with Ervin in Dayton, Ohio where she fought tirelessly to ensure that the Wright family received recognition for their contributions to aviation. In continuing her aeronautical education, she obtained instrument training at Midway in Chicago because “it was known as the toughest school in American.” Among her aviation related accomplishments, she was instrumental in developing the Elano manifold, designed to assist her in flying over mountain ranges. It is now considered OEM standard equipment on my piston aircraft. Zoe Dell became active in the National Aviation Hall of Fame beginning in 1966, after attending her first enshrinement ceremony. She was instrumental in helping build this organization, and worked tirelessly to ensure that the achievements of women were recognized by this predominately male group of aviation aficionados. After serving twelve years on the board of directors, Zoe Dell was elected first president and chairwoman of the Congressional NAHF. She also serves on the boards of the Treasure Island Museum and the San Francisco Aeronautical Society, and is a member of the Ninety-Nines and the International Organization of Licensed Women Pilots.

Scope and Content: This collection contains aviation-related serial publications, copies of photographs, National Aviation Hall of Fame programs, and clippings pertaining to the life of aviatrix Zoe Dell Nutter.

Biographical Information: Dr. Mary O'Hara is a long-time educator and activist. She was born in 1952 to James O'Hara and Dolores O'Hara Hayes. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Masters in Community Development, and a PhD from the Department of Sociology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. After earning her PhD, O'Hara worked as a sociology professor at John A. Logan College. O'Hara was a close friend of Purdue University professor, Helen Bass Williams. They met in 1984 at the Southern Counties Action Movement's (SCAM) annual meeting, after which they developed a strong personal relationship. She remained a close friend of Williams until Williams' death in 1991. O'Hara wrote her PhD dissertation, titled "Let it fly: The legacy of Helen Bass Williams", on Williams' life experiences and her contributions to the civil rights movement in the United States. In 2007, O'Hara received the "Spirit of Dr. King Community Service Award" for her commitment to effecting social change.

Scope and Content: The Mary O'Hara papers on Helen Bass Williams includes records created and collected by O'Hara for her dissertation research on Helen Bass Williams, the Civil Rights Movement, and community organizing, as well as records documenting her personal relationship with Williams. The collection includes research notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, interview recordings and transcripts, photographs, and scholarship, and includes both physical and digital materials. Of particular interest are recordings of O'Hara's interviews with Helen Bass Williams where Williams retells narratives of her experiences early in life and during the Civil Rights Movement.

Biographical Information: Born on October 27, 1895, in Madison, Wisconsin, Harriet was one of four children in a family of cultural and educational achievement. (The School of Education building at the University of Wisconsin is named for her father.) Her self-assurance and wide range of interests were encouraged from early childhood. She completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1916 and a master's degree in 1917. For the next dozen years she held a variety of jobs ranging from working as a statistical analyst for the War Department, to conducting surveys in cities and states regarding the desirability of all-year schools. For much of this time she was concurrently head of the English department, school psychologist, and principal of the Childrens University School in New York City. She taught at Bryn Mawr College and was acting department head. At Mills College, she was student personnel advisor and director of the preschool laboratory for four years. Along with these full-time, part-time, and overlapping responsibilities, she completed the PhD at Columbia University in 1931. Robert S. Woodworth and Edward L. Thorndike were her advisors, providing the theoretical basis for the applied activities that she preferred. From 1931 until 1964, Harriet O'Shea was at Purdue University, moving through the ranks from associate professor to professor emeritus. In keeping with her life history of multiple involvements she not only taught courses in child and adolescent development, clinical psychology, and the usual introductory, general, and educational courses, but she also expanded the teaching and clinical resources in related fields. She organized and directed the nursery school. She was Women's Personnel Director. She was active as a therapist and psychologist in the University Psychological Services, where she had earlier established a school psychological clinic. She organized the program and actively participated in the training of clinical psychologists from 1946 to 1960, following the Boulder Conference model. The unique needs of children, the importance of early identification, and the prevention of adjustment problems were themes that guided her teaching and all her professional activities. As an inevitable consequence of her interests, she was active in professional organizations. She had been a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and was active in the merger of APA and the American Association for Applied Psychology in the 1940s. She was one of those who urged that school psychology, as distinct from educational psychology, be recognized as a division of APA. She was a member of APA divisions related to children, school, education, and counseling and was active as secretary, council representative, and committee chair in these divisions. The Thayer Conference, at which school psychology was defined and evaluated, was a major forum for her views on the role psychology might play in the educational system. In Indiana, O'Shea was a principal creator of the Indiana Psychological Association. Her efforts to attain legal professional status for psychologists in that state formed the basis for subsequent certification regulations. She supported high standards of training and was an early Diplomate in Cinical Psychology in the American Board of Professional Psychology. She held a life certificate as school psychologist in Indiana. She was active in organizing the International Council of Women Psychologists and served as president for several terms. Along the way, she garnered professional and civic honors and recognitions. Following her retirement from Purdue, Harriet moved to Massachusetts and joined a mental health program. Later, she joined an educational collaborative program, and still later a joint private practice, remaining active until past 85 years of age. She shared her rich experiences in clinical techniques, psychotherapy, and counseling, both as staff member and consultant. She was a beloved and influential mentor because of her creative approach to problems and the encouragement she provided to both staff and clients to make maximum use of their potential. In this she continued what she had been doing all her life-teaching, stimulating, opening doors to new ideas and activities.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of one folder which contains articles about and by Dr. Harriet E. OShea.

Biographical Information: The Purdue Panhellenic Association is a long-standing organization at Purdue University that represents 21 women's fraternities and sororities. Panhellenic is a self-governing body, with representatives from each of the member organizations. The mission of the Panhellenic Association is to promote academic excellence and promote involvement in Greek life. To achieve these goals, Panhellennic works on chapter and leadership development, scholarship, philanthropy and community service, member education, alumni involvement, and public relations.

Scope and Content: The Panhellenic Association records includes materials documenting the activities of both the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association, particularly as it relates to their membership. Records include scrapbooks, awards, minutes, correspondence, pamphlets, brochures, news articles, RUSH and Fraternity Life guides, and more. Topics of particular interest include alcohol policies, racial issues, community involvement, housing, and black fraternities.

Biographical Information: Judith Marie Edman was born in 1946 in Marion, Indiana, to Robert Edman and Mary Greenfield. She earned her bachelors from Allegheny College in 1968, and was also a member of the Medical Science Liaison Society at Columbia University in 1969. Judith married Wayne Pask in 1969, and they had a daughter, Alida, together. Pask has had a long career in libraries and information science. Before joining the faculty at Purdue, she had appointments in the libraries at the Rochester Institute and the University of Illinois. At Purdue, she worked for many years in the Krannert Libraries. In addition to her work in the libraries, Pask has authored several publications on information literacy in the digital age and has demonstrated a great committment to helping students learn how to discern credible information. After her retirement, Pask was honored with a Professor Emerita title.

Scope and Content: Envelope: audio cassette, buttons, slides from the libraries Box with letter from Bruce A. Hufford, Director, Annual Giving, which contained a slice of the former Michael Golden Labs ("One Brick Higher").

Biographical Information: Faith Wayne Pearson was born in Monroeville, Indiana, to Joshua and Roxie Wayne. She received her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in 1942. She began her career as an analytical engineer for Hamilton Stand Division UTC, and subsequently worked in a variety of leadership postions at different companies, including United Steel, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, and the town of Wethersfield, Connecticut. She has also served in a variety of speaking and teaching engagements, including at Yale in 1978.

Biographical Information: Annie Smith Peck was a lecturer, accomplished mountain climber, and suffragist. She was a professor of Latin and elocution at Purdue University from 1881-1883 before travelling to Europe to pursue an advanced degree. Peck attained notoriety for her ascents and held the American record for women for climbing the highest point in the Western Hemisphere. In 1911, she climbed Peru's Mount Coropuna and raised a "Votes for Women" pennant at the summit.

Scope and Content: The Annie S. Peck letter and photograph includes one letter from and two photographs of Annie Smith Peck. The letter is written to an unknown recipient regarding the scheduling of a lecture, the first photograph is from a magazine and depicts Peck in her mountain climbing gear, and the second is a photocopied portrait of Peck.

Biographical Information: Dr. Linda Levy Peck received her B.A. in 1962 from Brandeis University, an M.A. in 1964 from Washington University in St. Louis, and her PhD from Yale University in 1973. Her area of specialization is early modern British history. After earning her doctorate, she worked in a series of short term appointments at City College, New York; Hunter College; and Brooklyn College from 1973-1975. In 1976, Peck joined the History Department at Purdue University where she eventually achieved the rank of full Professor. She was on the faculty at Purdue from 1976-1992. In addition to her service to the History Department, Peck also served as the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School from 1986-1988. Additionally, Peck served on numerous committees while at Purdue and was particularly involved in efforts to advance women's rights on campus. After her tenure at Purdue, Peck joined the History Department at the University of Rochester where she served from 1992-1996. In 1996, Peck was appointed at George Washington University, where she was named the Columbian Professor of History in 2000. Peck is currently a Professor Emeritus of History at George Washington University (2016) and an Honarary Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London (2003-). In addition to her distinguished career as an educator, Peck has received many awards, accolades, and Fellowships in honor of her scholarship. These include multiple appointments at the Folger Shakespeare Library, a Mellon Senior Fellowship, a Columbian Research Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, NEH and NHC Fellowships, etc. She has published five books and dozens of articles, in addition to countless lectures and paper presentations.

Scope and Content: The Linda Levy Peck papers document Peck's career (particularly her tenure at Purdue) and many publications. Of particular note in the collection is the sub-series on Women at Purdue. During her tenure at Purdue, Peck was highly involved with various women's rights organizations on campus as well as the landmark TIAA-CREF pension lawsuit. The collection includes correspondence, personal records, awards, drafts, revisions, and manuscripts. This collection would be of interest for researchers of women in higher education, women's rights, curriculum development, and British history.

Biographical Information: Nancy Bowden Perterson received her Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer and Family Sciences in 1965 from Purdue University. During her time at Purdue, she was very involved in extracurricular activities, including: Green Guard, Gold Peppers, Tomahawk, AWS Council, Home Ec Club, and the WRX Governing Board.

Scope and Content: Nose warmer, hand knitted by Nancy Peterson, circa 1965. Our Babies: Their Feeding, Care and Training by Dr. Herman N. Bundesen, 1938. Margaret Amsden's (Peterson's mother) recipe collection from her days as a Purdue student, circa 1938.

Biographical Information: The Philalethean was a women’s literary society at Purdue University that was founded in 1877 after a petition by women students for the founding of a literary club.  Prior to their recognition and sponsorship by the University, the group was known as the Cereal Society and hosted annual programs in 1876 and 1877.   The first president of the Philalethean was Derexa Morey Errant.  Errant also held the honor of coming up with the name of the society, which she borrowed from the Philalethean society at Vassar (where she had previously attended).  At its inception, the Philalethean was the only University sponsored extracurricular activity for women.  The society’s activities were modeled after those of the Irving Literary society (the only male literary society on campus at the time), and focused on literature, music and debate.  The Philalethean found strong support from early Deans of Women, including Emma McRae and Carolyn Shoemaker.  McRae’s contributions were memorialized by the McRae Medal, which was awarded to a senior member of the Philalethean at their annual banquet for the duration of McRae’s tenure at Purdue.  Shoemaker, who was both a member and advisor for the society, instituted a Philalethean award that she awarded to an undergraduate woman of outstanding literary achievement each year.  Eventually the Philalethean was joined by two other women’s literary societies, the Eurodelphian and the Anonian.  Shoemaker was also responsible for the merging of the Philalethian and the Eurodelphian in 1933, in the interest of strengthening both groups through increased interest and membership.  Members of the Philalethean contributed significantly (along with the Irving and Carlyle Literary Societies) to the founding and production of both The Purdue and The Exponent.  The last appearance of the Philalethean in the student handbook is in the 1935 edition.  It appears that as the extracurricular activities available to women became more diverse, interest in the Philalethian declined.

Scope and Content: The Philalethean Literary Society records document the meetings and events of Purdue University’s first women’s club. The record ledgers document the public and secret weekly meetings of the society from 1890-1920. These ledgers contain information on membership and offices, programs and presentations, as well as the society’s interactions with the male literary societies and University administration. The ephemera portion of the collection is comprised primarily of prototype and printed versions of programs for the society’s annual events as well as co-sponsored events (with the male literary societies). Also included in this portion of the collection are two versions of the Philalethean’s constitution and bylaws (one from 1890 and the other undated), and some clippings from the 1904 Debris. The collection might be useful for researchers interested in women’s history, Purdue University history, literary societies, extracurricular activities of female students, nineteenth and twentieth century material culture, and the impact of Deans McRae and Shoemaker. Types of material include: records ledgers, programs, photos, and printed materials.

Biographical Information: Lynne Ann Bruce Phillips attended Purdue University from 1957 to 1962 and graduated from the College of Pharmacy. As a student she was actively involved in Tau Beta Sigma and the Purdue Marching Band. Her appointment as 2nd lieutenant in the band made her the first woman to receive a rank. After graduation she married fellow Purdue alum Terry Phillips.

Scope and Content: The Lynne Ann Phillips scrapbook was compiled by Lynne Bruce as a student at Purdue University from 1957 to 1962. It contains information related to Purdue Bands, Tau Beta Sigma, cooperative housing, and student activities. Formats of materials include booklets, photographs, news clippings, dance cards, and small artifacts.

Biographical Information: Doris Hurt Powers, known as "Dodi," started flying at the age of 14 and received her commercial and flight instructor ratings by the time she was 20 years old. After starting college as a music major at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, she transferred to Purdue University to join the first class of the new School of Aeronautics, graduating in 1945. Powers continued to teach flying in various capacities while living a globally mobile army family life with her husband and three children. After her husband's retirement from the army, the couple started two businesses together and Dodi started her own product research and development company called Shielding Technologies, Inc. Powers served on many boards and committees, was a fellow of the Society for Women Engineers, was recognized as a Purdue "Old Master" in 1995, and received the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer award in 2006. Doris Hurt Powers passed away in February of 2009.

Scope and Content: The Doris Hurt Powers papers (1942 – 2008; 2 cubic feet) documents the student, aviation, and business activities of Doris Hurt Powers. Powers’ experience as a woman breaking into the male-dominated fields of engineering and aeronautics is well documented through autobiographical speeches and her memoir Nothing but Blue Skies. One strength of the collection are the speeches delivered by Powers that address the particular challenges and opportunities encountered by women in the engineering field. Powers traveled extensively, including several trips to Russia during and immediately after the cold war. In 1991, she was invited by the Russian Ministry of Aviation and Defense, and that trip is documented through photographs in Series 2. Materials in the collection include newspaper clippings, books, speeches, photographs, pamphlets, and artifacts.

Biographical Information: The Purdue student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers began as the Gamma chapter of Pi Omicron professional society for women in engineering in 1946.  Pi Omicron received support from Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, who was also involved in the founding of Pi Omicron chapters at Syracuse and Cornell.  Dr. Gilbreth noted the specific challenges faced by women in engineering and believed that a professional society geared toward fostering fellowship among women engineers and providing resources to them was a necessity.  Potential members of Pi Omicron were required to be enrolled in engineering, be of sophomore standing, have good grades, and maintain membership in her respective technical society. The decision to join the Society of Women Engineers came as a result of the desire of engineering faculty and women students to participate in a national professional society in an effort to provide more opportunities and guidance for women engineering students at Purdue.  The Purdue chapter became the first student section of Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in 1954.  As a student chapter, they emphasize scholarship in addition to fellowship and professional development.  They have provided scholarships and awards over the years to members with outstanding records, the first of which was awarded in 1967 with assistance from the Mortar Board.  Since the advent of Title IX legislation, the Purdue chapter has also expanded to include male membership. The Purdue chapter has frequently been recognized by the national organization of SWE.  They have been honored as the best section in their region, the best student section in the nation, and for the involvement and leadership of individual members.   

Scope and Content: The Purdue Student Section of the Society of Women Engineers records (4.2 cubic feet; 1945-2010) document the creation of a professional society for women engineering students at Purdue (Pi Omicron) and the subsequent transition to the student section of the Society of Women Engineers, a national organization.  The bulk of the papers document the activities and organization of the Purdue chapter of SWE, and its relationship with the national organization of SWE.  The participation of SWE in Purdue’s Grand Prix is also documented.  The collection is particularly strong in its documentation of the earliest years of both Pi Omicron and SWE (1940s-1950s) and the more recent era of the 1980s-2000s.  The 1960s-1970s are not well documented within the contents of the collection.  The bulk of the materials documenting the most recent years and the Grand Prix are in the form of scrapbooks.  This collection would be particularly useful to researchers interested in women in STEM professions, women’s professional organizations, Purdue’s Grand Prix, engineering at Purdue, and precursors to Title IX legislation.  Types of materials include papers, correspondence, photographs, programs, printed materials, scrapbooks, awards and slides.

Biographical Information: The Purdue Women’s Club (PWC) is a philanthropic organization that was founded in 1922 by 125 women from the Purdue community. Mrs. At it's founding, the organization was led by Professor Laura Fry and Mrs. Stanley Coulter. The purpose of the organization was to promote social interaction among women in the university community. Today, membership is open to all women interested in Purdue and the Greater Lafayette Community. The Purdue Women's Club promotes a number of programs and projects to serve it's members and women at Purdue Univerity. They seek to promote intellectual interests and to provide the opportunity for association among our members; furnish organized opportunities for educational, cultural, and recreational activities; actively support women seeking to continue their education at Purdue through annual contributions from PWC to the Span Plan; and to further the interests of the University.

Scope and Content: The Purdue Women’s Club records (1922-2009; 10 cubic feet) consists of the club’s annual and treasurer reports, brochures, presidents' notebooks, meeting minutes, membership information, newsletters, and programs.

Biographical Information: Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Amy Otis Earhart and Edwin Stanton Earhart. Her sister, Muriel, was born two and a half years later. Due to Edwin’s occupation as a legal representative for various railroads, the family moved frequently during Amelia’s childhood, living at times in Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Paul, and Chicago. After attending six high schools in four years, Earhart graduated from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Earhart entered Ogontz School near Philadelphia in 1916. The following year, after visiting her sister Muriel in Toronto over Christmas, she decided not to return to Ogontz School and graduate, but instead to remain and join the war effort in Toronto. In February 1918, Earhart left Ogontz School and moved to Toronto to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital. While in Toronto, she began frequenting a local airfield, and soon became fascinated with flying. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she returned to the United States and entered Columbia University as a pre-medical student in the fall of 1919. Earhart soon realized that the practical aspects of medicine did not appeal to her, and left Columbia in 1920 to join her parents in Los Angeles, in an effort to help keep their marriage intact. In December 1920, she took her first ride in an airplane with pilot Frank Hawks. In January 1921, she began taking flying lessons from Anita (“Neta”) Snook. With help from her family, she took a job in a telephone company and bought her first airplane. In 1922, she set her first aviation record with an unofficial women’s altitude record of 14,000 feet under the auspices of the Aero Club of Southern California. The following March, Earhart appeared as one of the attractions at a local air rodeo and in May 1923 she acquired her airline pilot’s license. She was the first woman, and seventeenth pilot, to receive a National Aeronautic Association pilot’s license. She became engaged to Sam Chapman and worked in a photography studio. Despite Earhart’s efforts, her father's alcoholism, combined with her parents’ inability to manage money, eventually led to the divorce of Edwin and Amy Earhart in 1924. Following her parents' divorce, Earhart sold her airplane and bought a Kissel roadster car she called the “Yellow Peril.” In June 1924, she drove cross-country with her mother from Los Angeles to Medford, Massachusetts, stopping along the way to visit several national parks (1924). She and her mother then moved in with Earhart’s sister Muriel, in Medford, Massachusetts. After undergoing a sinus operation to relieve her chronic sinus headaches, she returned to Columbia University for the winter of 1924-1925. In May 1925, Earhart returned to the Boston area and upon her sister’s urging, took classes at Harvard during the summer and received a teaching license. Earhart then spent several months teaching foreign students at the University of Massachusetts (Haugen, 2009). From June to October, she worked as a companion in a hospital for mental diseases, but found the work too confining and the pay insufficient. In 1926, Amelia joined the staff of Denison House, Boston’s oldest settlement house, as a social worker. At Denison House, Earhart worked with immigrants and their children, teaching them English and educating them on local customs. Earhart joined the Boston chapter of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and in 1928 was elected vice president of the chapter. While working one day at Denison House, in April 1928, Earhart received a call from Hilton H. Railey asking if she would like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Earhart accepted the proposal and accompanied pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis “Slim” Gordon on their 1928 transatlantic flight on the Friendship plane. She soon gained international acclaim for being the first woman to make the transatlantic crossing by air, although she did not fly the plane herself. Following the Friendship flight, Amelia wrote her first book, 20 Hrs. 40 Mins. She broke her engagement with Sam Chapman, and took a job as Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1929, Earhart competed in the Powder Puff Derby, the first national Women’s Air Derby race, finishing in third place. She was appointed Assistant to the General Traffic Manager at Transcontinental Air Transport with special responsibility for promoting aviation to women travelers. Amelia, along with Ruth Nichols and several other women pilots, founded the Ninety-Nines, the first women pilots’ organization. In 1930, Earhart set the women’s flying speed record of 181.18 mph and acquired her transport pilot’s license. She became the first woman to fly an autogiro in the United States and became vice president of Ludington Lines, a commercial airline. Her father, Edwin Earhart, died of cancer that same year. In February 1931, Amelia married publisher George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. Earhart acquired an autogiro and set an altitude record for the autogiro in April. She completed a solo transcontinental flight across the United States in an autogiro in the summer of 1931 and that same year was elected the national vice president of the NAA (and the first woman officer of the NAA). Earhart was also elected the first president of the Ninety-Nines in 1931, and served in this position until 1933. In May 1932, Amelia became the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop, setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and the longest distance flown by a woman. Amelia was awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. Congress, Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators, and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was presented to her by President Herbert Hoover. In July, she set the women’s record for the fastest non-stop transcontinental flight, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. She wrote her second book, The Fun of It, and began lecturing all over the country, often speaking in two different cities on the same day. She was awarded the Harmon Trophy as America’s Outstanding Airwoman, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and received honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association. In 1933 Earhart participated in the National Air Races. The following year, in 1934, Amelia launched a fashion house to manufacture and market clothing designed by her. Her first shop opened in Macy’s in New York. It was initially a success, but by the end of the year the venture was shut down. In November 1934, the Earhart/Putnam home in Rye, New York, caught fire and many of Earhart’s earliest papers burned, including poems written during childhood, letters, and stories she had been working on (Lovell, 1989). In 1935, Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the American mainland, landing in Oakland, California. With this flight, Amelia became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first person who had flown solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. That same year, she became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City, by official invitation of the Mexican government. In the fall of 1935, Earhart joined the faculty of Purdue University, serving as a counselor in the study of careers for women and an adviser in aeronautics. In July 1936, she acquired a new Lockheed Electra airplane she called her “Flying Laboratory.” It was purchased with funds from the Purdue Research Foundation. With her new airplane, Earhart began seriously planning a world flight at the equator. In March 1937, Amelia made her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator, flying westward from Oakland to Hawaii. Unfortunately, her plans were later thwarted when she attempted a takeoff from Luke Field and ground looped her plane. The plane was badly damaged and had to be sent to California for repairs. On June 1, Earhart began her second world flight attempt, this time taking off from Miami with navigator Fred Noonan, and reversing her course from west to east. After completing 22,000 miles of the flight, Amelia and Fred Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea en route to tiny Howland Island. They experienced radio and weather difficulties and eventually lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on July 2, 1937. Despite a massive search authorized by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane was ever found. On July 18, the government abandoned its search, although George Putnam continued to finance his own search until October 1937. In 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles. The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and is the subject of much speculation to this day. Source(s): Lovell, M. (1989). The sound of wings : The life of Amelia Earhart (1st ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. Haugen, B. (2007). Amelia Earhart: Legendary aviator. Minneapolis, Minn.: Compass Point Books. Material found among Earhart’s papers.

Scope and Content: The George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers (1785-1948; 31.1 cubic feet) documents the personal life, aviation career, and business activities of pilot Amelia Earhart. Types of materials include: advertisements, articles, artifacts, awards, blueprints, books, certificates, charts, commemorative coins, contracts, correspondence, data sheets, diagrams, ephemera, flight logs, licenses, maps, newspaper clippings, notebooks, notes, permits, photographs, poetry, postage stamps, press releases, scrapbooks, speeches, and writings.

Biographical Information: Carol M. Pyle earned Bachelor of Science in Physics from Purdue University in 1968. She was awarded her degree with honors. While at Purdue, she was active in many activities, including The Exponent and Mortar Board. Ms. Pyle also earned an MBA in Finance from Drexel University in 1973. She now lives in the Philadelphia area and owns Carol M. Pyle and Associates, a company specializing in finanicial services assistance.

Scope and Content: The Carol Pyle Collection of Dean Of Women And Dean Of Students Memorabilia includes correspondence, photographs, and other memorabilia documenting Pyle’s relationships with Dorothy Stratton, Helen Schleman, Beverley Stone, and Barbara Cook. The correspondence is generally of a casual nature, such as what books are being read and reports of social gatherings. The collection consists of one folder of correspondence and clippings and one envelope containing an empty jewelry box with a note from Dorothy Stratton.

Biographical Information: Martha Bemis Rogers graduated from Purdue University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. As a student, Martha was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, Association of Women Students, University Choir and Women's Recreational Association.

Scope and Content: The Martha Bemis Rogers dance cards document the dances Martha Bemis attended from 1953-1957, while a student at Purdue University. There are 32 cards in the collection.

Biographical Information: Mary Opal Otten was born in 1899 in Rossville, Indiana. Rose earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1922. Mary was the class historian and secretary for the Class of 1922, President of the Eurodelphian Literary Societynd a member of Pi Beta Phi, Purdue Girls Club, Home Economics Society, May Queen, YWCA, Independent Literary Society, and Purdue Union. After marrying Frederick Rose in 1924, the two remained in Lafayette and had three children together. Rose died in Lafayette in 1997.

Scope and Content: Materials collected by Fred Rose and Mary Otten Rose. The collection includes a Class of 1921 directory, records, Class of 1921, 45th, 50th, and 55th anniversary papers, correspondence to classmates in regards to events, copies of clippings from Purdue Exponent, and related materials. One folder contains photographs, newsletters, programs from 25th 30th, 40th and 50th reunions, rosters and notes from the Class of 1922 for which Mary Otten Rose was class secretary.

Biographical Information: Janalyce Rouls was born in Kokomo, Indiana to S.D. and Ardella Rouls.  She earned a B.S. from Ball State University and an M.S. from Columbia University.  Prior to her work for Purdue, Rouls taught high school home economics.  During this time, she was the home extension agent for Kosciusko County in Northern Indiana in service to the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association.  In 1947, Rouls was appointed the Assistant State Leader of Home Economics, a position she held until 1973 when she retired.  At this post, Rouls was influential in further developing Home economics adult education and growing membership, as well as further developing the role of home economics in Purdue’s cooperative extension service.  Rouls’ service to Purdue, the IEHA, and countless women was honored in 1971 with creation of the Jane Award, named in her honor.  The Jane Award was established to recognize women who contributed to building leadership in others, and was awarded to Rouls in its inaugural year.  Rouls was further honored in 1971-1972 by the establishing of a Janalyce Rouls Year, explicitly devoted by the IEHA to increasing membership and honoring service.  In addition, Rouls was honored by the USDA for her milestones of 20 and 30 years of service.  Upon her retirement in 1973, she was awarded the rank of Emeritus by Purdue. Note written by Virginia Pleasant

Scope and Content: The Janalyce Rouls papers document the career of Rouls and her influence on home demonstration work in Indiana and the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association (IEHA). Also documented is Eva Goble’s leadership in home demonstration and cooperative extension efforts. The collection reflects both women’s role in establishing the importance of the domestic sphere and in gaining university support for extension efforts and the creation of academic departments devoted to food, textiles, management, etc. Rouls’ personal life is not represented as well as her professional life. The collection would be useful for researchers interested in the history of home demonstration work and the cooperative extension service for home economics, rural life in Indiana, home economics education, the IEHA, women’s clubs and history, and educational opportunities for early women students at Purdue. Types of materials include: correspondence, clippings, photographs, publications, videocassettes, and artifacts.

Biographical Information: Laurentza Schantz-Hansen came to Purdue University in 1929 as an instructor of applied design. By 1930, she had become the Head of the Department of Applied Design. She held this position for a quarter of a century, until her retirement in 1956. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and later pursued her Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. As a student of art, Schantz-Hansen studied painting in Woodstock, New York and Taxco, Mexico. She also travelled extensively in Europe to study her craft. In addition, Schantz-Hansen was awarded to Carnegie scholarships for advanced study in the history and appreciation of art at Harvard University. Close to the time of her retirement, Schant-Hansen presented Purdue University with her collection of more than 650 children's books as a donation to the Purdue Nursery School in the Department of Child Development and Family Life. Aside from the children's books, she also donated 350 volumes to the Purdue Libraries, most of which dealt with the arts and their cultural impact. Laurentza Schantz-Hansen passed away in 1974 in Iowa. She was 85 years old.

Scope and Content: Three folders containing correspondence, writings, conceptual drawings, newspaper clippings, programs, publications and donation papers of Laurentza Schantz-Hansen.

Biographical Information: During World War II Purdue, like many universities, became involved in the war effort. As a land grant university and nationally recognized leader in engineering education, the University's role in the war effort was to ensure that military members and civilians alike were adequately trained to serve both overseas and at home in the factories. For women students, the war provided a unique opportunity to gain training and work experience that was typically restricted to men. As a result, American pop culture saw the development of icons such as Rosie the Riveteer and Wanda the Welder. Women were also given unprecedented training opportunities due to collaborative training and placement programs such as the Curtiss-Wright Cadettes and the RCA Engineering Cadettes. Women at university and homemakers alike were encouraged to consider work outside the home in support of the war effort, and some were recruited for military service in women's branches (i.e. SPARS, WAVES, etc)

Scope and Content: The collection contains several clippings, pamphlets and announcements belonging to Mary Lou Schiltz, who was a Home Economics student at Purdue during World War Two. Of particular interest are materials relating to the experiences of women students during this time, including: program material for the Work to Win Conference that was compulsory for women students, an article about the RCA engineering cadette program that was modeled after the Curtiss-Wright Cadettes, and other articles pertaining to student life and special training for women during the war. Also included is a pamphlet that was distributed on campus and contains a war-time address from President Elliott.

Biographical Information: Mary Lou Schiltz was originally from Elkhart, Indiana. She earned a Science degree from Purdue University in 1946. While at Purdue she was a member of Delta Gamma, the Panhellenic Council, and the V.C. Meredith Club. Schiltz was married to Arthur J Herrmann, Jr. who earned a Bachelors (47) and Masters (48) in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue.

Scope and Content: The collection contains several clippings, pamphlets and announcements belonging to Mary Lou Schiltz, who was a Home Economics student at Purdue during World War Two. Of particular interest are materials relating to the experiences of women students during this time, including: program material for the Work to Win Conference that was compulsory for women students, an article about the RCA engineering cadette program that was modeled after the Curtiss-Wright Cadettes, and other articles pertaining to student life and special training for women during the war. Also included is a pamphlet that was distributed on campus and contains a war-time address from President Elliott.

Biographical Information: Helen Blanche Schleman was born in 1902 to William and Blanche Schleman in Francesville, Indiana. The Schleman family moved to Valparaiso, Indiana in 1912, where they owned an 800 acre farm, Breyfogle Ranch. William also had a real estate and insurance business; an ice company; and was involved in land development, including the creation of a subdivision with an accompanying golf course. Schleman entered college at Northwestern University in 1920 and earned her A.B. in English literature and Philosophy in 1924. While at Northwestern, she was very involved in sports, the YWCA, student government, Mortar Board, and was the president of the Women's Athletic Association. On the advice of one of her professors, she attended Welleslay College where she earned an M.S. and a certificate in Hygiene and Physical Education (1928). Schleman's first teaching appointment was at Ohio State University, from 1926-1932, in the Department of Physical Education for Women. Before coming to Purdue, she wrote her book Group Golf Instruction in 1933. Helen Schleman's long tenure at Purdue began in 1934, when she was hired as the Director of Residence Halls for Women and met her life-long friend Dorothy Stratton. She also earned a second Master's degree from Purdue ni Psychology and Education in 1934. In addition to her role in the residence halls, she served as the Director of the Housemothers Training School at Purdue. After the United States' entry into World War II, Schleman took a military leave of absence from Purdue to serve in the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard (SPARS), where she eventually acchieved the rank of Captain while serving with the Navy. Schleman returned to Purdue in 1947, when she began her tenure as Dean of Women. As Dean of Women, she was able to provide support and mentorship for women students who had often been overlooked. Helen Schleman, acknowledged as an "unapologetic feminist" fought hard for the rights and opportunities of women students at Purdue. During her time as Dean, she was instrumental in terminating the curfew for women students, starting a freshman conference program for women, and fighting for equity in the university's hiring and salary practices. In her continued servive to women at Purdue, she established Span Plan, a program that provided scholarships and support to non-traditional women students in an effort to provide them opportunities for career advancement after their children entered school. Over the years, Helen Schleman received many awards, including honorary doctorates from Purdue and Valaparaiso University. She was also very committed to professional and community service, particularly to organizations that served the interests of Women's Rights and Equality. She published many articles and books, and frequently gave speeches to local and national organizations on women's rights and education. Schleman Hall and the Schleman Award were both named in her honor. Schleman remained an active member in the West Lafayette community until her death in 1992.

Scope and Content: The Helen Schleman papers document the life of Helen B. Schleman from her time as a student at Northwestern University in the 1920s up until her death in 1992. Much of the collection documents Schleman’s tenure at Purdue University as Head of the Women’s Residence Halls, Dean of Women, and Dean Emeritus, as well as her military service in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARs) during World War II. Additionally, the collection contains Schleman’s collection of newspaper clippings pertaining to the women’s liberation struggle of the 1970s. The collection also has many articles and speeches authored by Schleman and documents pertaining to her advocacy for women's rights and professional service. Types of materials include personal and professional correspondence, school and employment records, speech notes, published material, newspaper clippings, photographs, pamphlets from professional organizations, and documents about Schleman’s charitable work.

Biographical Information: Helen Blanche Schleman was born in 1902 to William and Blanche Schleman in Francesville, Indiana. The Schleman family moved to Valparaiso, Indiana in 1912, where they owned an 800 acre farm, Breyfogle Ranch. William also had a real estate and insurance business; an ice company; and was involved in land development, including the creation of a subdivision with an accompanying golf course. Schleman entered college at Northwestern University in 1920 and earned her A.B. in English literature and Philosophy in 1924. While at Northwestern, she was very involved in sports, the YWCA, student government, Mortar Board, and was the president of the Women's Athletic Association. On the advice of one of her professors, she attended Welleslay College where she earned an M.S. and a certificate in Hygiene and Physical Education (1928). Schleman's first teaching appointment was at Ohio State University, from 1926-1932, in the Department of Physical Education for Women. Before coming to Purdue, she wrote her book Group Golf Instruction in 1933. Helen Schleman's long tenure at Purdue began in 1934, when she was hired as the Director of Residence Halls for Women and met her life-long friend Dorothy Stratton. She also earned a second Master's degree from Purdue ni Psychology and Education in 1934. In addition to her role in the residence halls, she served as the Director of the Housemothers Training School at Purdue. After the United States' entry into World War II, Schleman took a military leave of absence from Purdue to serve in the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard (SPARS), where she eventually acchieved the rank of Captain while serving with the Navy. Schleman returned to Purdue in 1947, when she began her tenure as Dean of Women. As Dean of Women, she was able to provide support and mentorship for women students who had often been overlooked. Helen Schleman, acknowledged as an "unapologetic feminist" fought hard for the rights and opportunities of women students at Purdue. During her time as Dean, she was instrumental in terminating the curfew for women students, starting a freshman conference program for women, and fighting for equity in the university's hiring and salary practices. In her continued servive to women at Purdue, she established Span Plan, a program that provided scholarships and support to non-traditional women students in an effort to provide them opportunities for career advancement after their children entered school. Over the years, Helen Schleman received many awards, including honorary doctorates from Purdue and Valaparaiso University. She was also very committed to professional and community service, particularly to organizations that served the interests of Women's Rights and Equality. She published many articles and books, and frequently gave speeches to local and national organizations on women's rights and education. Schleman Hall and the Schleman Award were both named in her honor. Schleman remained an active member in the West Lafayette community until her death in 1992.

Scope and Content: This collection includes a collection of papers and artifacts that were collected during Helen Schleman's life and posthumously by individuals who were close to her, such as Dorothy Stratton and Betty Nelson. Some items were donated after they were removed from an exhibit on Schleman that was previously installed in Schleman Hall.

Biographical Information: Mary Lou Seaburg Bieber was from Hammond, Indiana. She graduated from Purdue with a Bachelor of Science in 1948. While at Purdue, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Scope and Content: The collection consists of one folder which contains programs, Exponents and Exponent clippings, along with other memorabilia from Mary Lou Seaburg Bieber's days as a Purdue student.

Biographical Information: Carolyn Ernestine Shoemaker earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue in 1888, and later a master's degree in 1889. After spending several years caring for her incapacitated mother, Shoemaker found her way back to Purdue in 1900, taking on a position as professor of English Literature with the encouragement of Emma McRae, also a professor of English Literature and widely known "Lady Principal" of the University. In 1913, President Winthrop E. Stone offered Shoemaker the position of Dean of Women in addition to her teaching responsibilities. Among her accomplishments, Dean Shoemaker is remembered for her unceasing efforts in raising funds for the construction of the Purdue Memorial Union and ensuring that the alumni association remained an active organization on campus.

Scope and Content: The collection contains a box of memorial pamphlets, one faculty folder, Shoemaker's annotated copy of the Purdue 1926-1927 Directory, and two books owned by her: The Crescent Moon, and The Perfect Tribute.

Biographical Information: Sisters for Health Education (S.H.E.) was a Purdue University student organization which functioned to inform, support and provide referrals to women in the Purdue community regarding birth control, problem pregnancy, rape prevention and counseling, and general women’s health concerns. The group began in 1979 as an effort by three staff members to create a small women’s health center. This effort was resisted by the administration because of the fear of abortion counseling. The idea for a women’s health center was instead applied to creating a student group, led by the student Marcia Whisman and advisor Jackie Kassouff. Eventually, the organization opened a small counseling center on March 2, 1981, staffed by community volunteers and partnering with local groups such as Planned Parenthood, the YWCA, local churches, and women’s organizations. The Archives has no record of the demise of the program, however there are no collection materials created after 1982.

Scope and Content: The Sisters for Health Education (S.H.E.) records (1979 – 1982; 1.4 cubic feet) documents the creation and operations of this Purdue student organization. The educational materials in this collection record the kinds of sexual and reproductive health information available to college students at the time. The collection also shows the difficulties encountered trying to establish an organization that talked openly about issues of abortion, birth control, and rape during this era. Types of materials include circulars, clippings, correspondence, and planning notes.

Biographical Information: Donna N. Stahl was born March 22, 1927, to Stanton R. and Thelma (Friend) Stahl in Massillon, Ohio. She graduated from Washington High School in 1945 and earned a B.S. in Home Economics from Purdue University in 1949. While at Purdue, Donna was a member of the V. C. Meredith Club (Home Economics Club), the Women's Residence Halls Club, the Wesley Foundation, and the Y.W.C.A. She worked as a Dietician at Ohio Wesleyan University, Ohio State University, and the Ohio State Department of Education, where she supervised the state's school lunch program. She was active in her local community as a member of the Massillon First United Methodist Church, Massillon Women's Club, First Families of Ohio, and D.A.R. Regent (1996 - 2001). She died on February 7, 2011 at Affinity Medical Center in Massillon, Ohio.

Scope and Content: The Donna N. Stahl papers includes photographs, dance cards, clothing, and other ephemera, along with newspaper clippings and correspondence, all of which is memorabilia of Donna N. Stahl, a 1949 Purdue graduate in Home Economics. Of interest may be her personal reflections and article on the 1947 Purdue Bleacher Collapse. This collection may be useful to researchers interested in women in higher education, changing roles of women in the twentieth century, material culture of the mid-twentieth century, and women in the workplace.

Biographical Information: Opal D. Stech was born October 12, 1909 in Huntington County. She was a member of the Purdue Class of 1932, and she earned her B. S. in home economics and mathematics from Purdue in 1932. She received a M.A. from Columbia University in 1939; and did gerontology studies at State University of Iowa in 1964. Stech dedicated her career to teaching home economics at all levels and working as an Extension specialist. She taught in Huntington and Allen Counties; at Juniata College, Huntington, PA; Central Agriculture College, Warsaw Poland; the University of Massachusetts; and was head of home economics at Manchester College in 1955-1973. In recognition of her many contributions, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1970 from Purdue University.

Scope and Content: The Opal D. Stech collection is contained in a scrapbook, which documents Opal Stech's time as a Purdue student. The scrapbook includes programs from various events, invitations, newspaper clippings, news photographs and mementos. Some of the organizations and subjects in the scrapbook include the Purdue Christian Foundation, the Little Theater, the Women's Athletic Association, numerous convocations and lectures, Kappa Beta, Mother's Day events, The Twelve (Christian group), R. O. T. C., the American Association of University Women, and a variety of student activities such as beauty contests, tumbling team and other sports, dances and women in engineering.

Biographical Information: Evaleen Stein was born in 1863 to John A. Stein and Virginia Tomlinson Stein in Lafayette, Indiana.  Her brother was Orth Stein.  The Stein family was well respected within the greater Lafayette community due to John Stein’s law practice, involvement in local and state politics, his role in the establishment of Purdue University, and his involvement with the Board of Trustees once the university was established.  Virginia Stein was also well respected due to her position at the Lafayette library after the passing of her husband.  Both Orth and Evaleen were known for their writing, although Orth’s writing was primarily journalistic in nature. Ms. Stein’s writing career got its start with the publishing of several of her poems in Indianapolis newspapers.  As she gained more attention for her work from better known local authors such as James Whitcomb Riley and George Ade, she was eventually able to begin publishing her poems in collected volumes.  Later, Stein transitioned to writing and illustrating children’s stories.  Her status and standing within the local community and among other Indiana authors was celebrated at a program organized in her honor at Purdue University: An Authors’ Reading.  Notable authors such as George Ade, James Whitcomb Riley, Charles Major, and Meredith Nicholson read from their works and raised $1000 on Stein’s behalf so that she might travel to Europe.  Stein passed away at the age of sixty in 1923.

Scope and Content: The Evaleen Stein papers (1889-2005; 0.1 cubic feet) document the life and career of Evaleen Stein, one of the first female authors of note from Indiana. The collection consists of seven of Stein’s poems and letters from Ms. Stein to Mrs. William Graham, one of which describes a benefit that was thrown for Ms. Stein by several notable Indiana authors (George Ade, James Whitcomb Riley, Charles Major, etc) to enable her travel to Europe. All but one poem in the collection are handwritten by Ms. Stein. Also included in the collection are two letters written by Glen Swiggett to the Purdue libraries during the process of donating some of Ms. Stein’s poems and clippings of an article and unpublished book introduction written by Robert Kriebel (who has done extensive research on Evaleen Stein and her family). Although it is a small collection, the papers do reflect Stein’s writing style and provide insight into her relationships with other people. The collection might be useful to researchers interested in prominent individuals in the greater Lafayette area, Indiana poets, female authors, and nature writing in the early twentieth century. Types of materials include correspondence, poetry, and clippings. The papers are organized into a single series.

Biographical Information: Beverley Stone, or Bev Stone, began her 24-year career at Purdue in 1956, serving in the Office of the Dean of Women as an advisor to student organizations such as the Student Government, Panhellenic Association, and Mortar Board. In 1968, she succeeded Helen Schleman as Dean of Women with the rank of assistant professor. During the 1960s Stone ensured that students' voices were heard, requiring that they be appointed to faculty committees and held "speaking seats" at the Board of Trustees meetings. In 1974, after the Dean of Women and Dean of Men offices were combined, Stone was named Purdue's first Dean of Students, the first woman ever to hold such a position at a Big Ten university. It was also in this year that she co-authored a book with her colleague Barbara Cook entitled "Counseling Women". Stone was an active member of many professional and community organizations and recipient of numerous honors and awards. In 1980, Stone retired, and Barbara Cook became her successor as Dean of Students. A sculpture honoring both women was installed between Schleman and Hovde Halls on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. After her retirement from Purdue University, Stone remained active in community affairs and successfully ran for City Council in West Lafayette in 1983; she served from 1984 to 1988.

Scope and Content: The Beverley Stone papers documents the personal and professional life of Beverley Stone, from her time as a student at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in the 1930s, through her long career at Purdue University from 1956-1980, her subsequent city council service from 1984–1988, up until her death in 2003. A large part of the collection consists of Stone’s speech notes from her numerous speaking appearances at Purdue and elsewhere. Types of materials include: books, certificates, clippings, correspondence, photographic prints, speeches, and scrapbooks.

Biographical Information: The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton is a Legend-class National Security Cutter, the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the U.S. Coast Guard Fleet. The Stratton is named in honor of Dorothy Stratton, Director of the United States Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (known as SPARS). Dorothy Constance Stratton (1899-2006) served as Dean of Women at Purdue from 1933 until 1946, at a time in which the enrollment of women students jumped from less than 500 to more than 1,400. During her tenure at Purdue, she oversaw the creation of a liberal science program for women in the School of Science as well as an employment placement center. She helped established the Housemother Training School that gave intensive training to fraternity and sorority housemothers from across the United States. In 1942, during the Second World War, Stratton took a military leave of absence from Purdue and was commissioned to create and direct the Women’s Reserve of the Coast Guard (WAVES). She was soon called upon to create and direct the SPARS, an acronym she coined based on the Coast Guard motto "Semper Paratus" and its English translation "always ready.". Upon her retirement from the military in 1946, she was awarded a Legion of Merit Medal for her contributions to women in the armed forces. Stratton went on to serve as the first director of personnel at the International Monetary Fund and then later as an executive director of the Girl Scouts of the America until her retirement in 1960.

Scope and Content: This collection contains programs, a dvd, photographs and ephemera documenting the christening in 2010 and the commissioning in 2012 of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, named after Purdue University’s first full-time Dean of Women, Dorothy Stratton.

Biographical Information: Richard (Dick) George Strippel was born on June 16, 1929 in New York City, New York, to Otto and Bertha (Kolbe) Strippel.  He married Doris V. Strippel.  Strippel received his B.A. in Writing from Colgate University in 1951 and served as a United States Air Force Public Information Officer overseas during the Korean War from 1951-1953.  After the war, Strippel served as a public relations generalist and magazine editor for Commercial Union Group of Insurance Companies, Graybar Electric Company, CIT Corporation, and the United Parcel Service of America.  Starting in 1966, Strippel became the head of corporate public relations and publications activity for Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation. Throughout his life, Strippel researched the Amelia Earhart disappearance and published his book, Amelia Earhart: the myth and the reality… in 1972, which endorsed the government’s original conclusion that Amelia Earhart ran out of fuel and crashed at sea.  Strippel also authored articles based on his book, including “Howland Island…Aerial ‘Stepping Stone’ to Australia, or Presidential Gift to Amelia Earhart” and “Flight into Eternity,” published in the July 1972 issue of Air Classics(USA).  Strippel was in the process of working on a sequel to his book, entitled Amelia Earhart – A Reality Check, a draft from 1994 can be found in the Special Collections Department at the University of Texas at Dallas. Richard Strippel died on February 13, 2015.

Scope and Content: The Richard (Dick) G. Strippel Research and Writings on Amelia Earhart (1931-1999; 4.3 cubic feet) comprise the materials used to write the book, Amelia Earhart: the myth and the reality….  Strippel compiled the materials presented here in preparation for the book’s publication. The collection also contains the book proposal and drafts for Amelia Earhart: the myth and the reality…, correspondence related to the publication of the book, and reactions to the book that followed publication.  Types of materials in the collection include: research and reference files, correspondence, manuscripts, publication records, photographs, and oversized materials. The Richard (Dick) G. Strippel Research and Writings on Amelia Earhart are organized into 1 series: Writings.

Biographical Information: Betty M. Suddarth worked in admissions research at Purdue University. She was Purdue's first female registrar. Her research focuses on student services, curriculum, recruitment, and enrollment. Suddarth received the Indiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Distinguished Service Award in 1988. Prior to receiving the award, she served as the Association's president in 1986. Suddarth also served as the president of the Purdue University Retirees Association from 2007-2008.

Scope and Content: Factors Influencing the Successful Graduation of Freshmen Who Enroll at Purdue University, 1957 Chart of Degrees Given by Purdue, circa 1956-1957

Biographical Information: Gertrude Sunderlin was born in 1894 in Iowa, where she lived for much of her early life and after her retirement from Purdue.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics (with honors) from Iowa State University in 1919; this degree took some time to complete because she took alternate years off to teach.  After teaching for several years, she earned her Master’s degree in Household Bacteriology from Iowa State in 1926 and gained the attention of the Ball Jar Company who offered support for her PhD work.  Her PhD in Bacteriology and Foods and Nutrition was completed in 1928 with her dissertation titled: Studies in Home Canning: I, Some Factors Affecting the Keeping Qualities of Vegetables and Meats Canned by the Hot Water Bath Method. II, Indices of Spoilage in Home-Canned Foods.  Sunderlin holds the distinction of being the first woman to receive a PhD from Iowa State University. Before beginning her tenure at Purdue, Sunderlin was sponsored by the Purnell Research Foundation for post-doc work at Louisiana State University from 1928-1931.  She began at Purdue in 1931 in the College of Home Economics Experimental Foods Department, where she remained until her retirement in 1954.  While at Purdue, she oversaw the development of the Master Mix, a basic starting mix for baked goods that was made in the home and could be used for cakes, cookies, muffins, etc.  This mix was a precursor for several more specific “master” mixes as well as modern commercially available baking mixes.  Also developed under her mentorship were formulas for freezing jams and dough, and many other time-saving techniques or methods in the kitchen.  One student, Ruth Siems, is credited with the invention of Stove Top stuffing.  Her work as well as the work she supervised at Purdue seems to have been instrumental in the development of what we today call convenience foods, making Sunderlin instrumental in the development of modern food culture.  Dr. Sunderlin died in Iowa in 1990 at the age of 96.  

Scope and Content: The Gertrude Sunderlin papers (1939-1954; 2.2 cubic feet) document the life and career of Gertrude Sunderlin, an early foods and nutrition professor at Purdue University.  Much of the collection is comprised of theses written by Sunderlin’s students over the years that were based on experimental foods work.  Many of the recipes developed from these experiments were subsequently published in magazines or extension publications and reflect Sunderlin’s larger impact on the development of convenience foods in the twentieth century.  This influence is evidenced by Sunderlin’s correspondence with the various publishers.  Also included in the collection is a selection of Sunderlin’s publications, ranging from papers developed from her thesis to works written over the course of her career.  This collection would be particularly useful for researchers interested in food culture of the mid twentieth century, the development of convenience foods, and the influence of both Sunderlin and the early foods and nutrition program at Purdue.  Although the collection does include some of Sunderlin’s publications and correspondence, the bulk of the collection focuses on her role as a mentor and educator, rather than her personal life.  Researchers interested in other aspects of her life will find limited information in the collection.  Types of materials include: correspondence, recipes, clippings, theses, etc.  The papers are organized into two series.

Biographical Information: Lena A. Sutton was a member of the Purdue University Class of 1911.

Scope and Content: Publication co-authored by Lena Sutton entitled, "The Efficiency of the Preparation of Ether from Alcohol and Sulfuric Acid." Reprinted from the Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. XXXV, no. 6, June, 1913, pp. 794-800.

Biographical Information: Clifford Swanlund was born January 29, 1932, and Mary (Jo) Carty Swanlund was born June 16, 1933. They attended the same high school, Maplewood Richmond Heights in St. Louis (Maplewood), Missouri. In the summer of 1949, before Cliff entered Purdue University as a freshman, they began dating. They continued their relationship throughout Cliff's four years at Purdue, as he worked toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. They wrote many letters to each other during their time apart, and their relationship grew closer. They were engaged August 23, 1952, a month before Cliff entered his senior year at Purdue. Cliff graduated from Purdue University in May 1953, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He and Jo were married on June 20, 1953 at the Maplewood Baptist Church. In July 1953, they began a two year tour in the Army with three months at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and five months at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, followed by a year plus in Kitzingen, Germany. Upon their return home, they began a fifteen month Shell Oil Company training program at various (twelve) locations in Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Louisiana, and Texas. This culminated in assignment to New Orleans in mid-1956, where their son Chuck was born in 1959 and daughter Judy in 1961. The family moved to Houston in early 1964. Cliff continued to work for Shell Oil Company, and Jo's professional career started in 1968 when she began volunteering at St. Joseph Hospital, Department of Psychiatry. Through her efforts, the Psychiatric Volunteer Service was initiated and developed as one of only a few organizations in the country that recruited and trained volunteers for in-patient visitation on psychiatric wards. She became Staff Director (Coordinator) of the PVS in 1970. She went on to serve other hospitals in their volunteer efforts, but her career came to an abrupt end due to a stroke. She and Cliff resided in their home in Maplewood, until Jo's passing on April 27, 2002. They were married for 49 years.

Scope and Content: The Clifford and Jo Swanlund papers document the lives and careers of Cliff Swanlund and Jo Carty Swanlund. The collection contains an extensive number of letters written by Cliff and Jo from the beginning of their relationship through the early years of their marriage. It also contains many letters written by Cliff's parents to him, while he was a student at Purdue University. The correspondence gives one a unique perspective not only on the family itself, but on outside events which occurred during this time period. The letters are a wonderful memorial to the love and devotion this couple shared throughout their lives. The photographs also give a glimpse into Purdue life at this time. Some of the photographs are in poor condition, but one can view the subjects. Besides the strong collection of letters, some photographs and albums, there are other ephemera and miscellaneous items related to the Swanlund's lives, such as an autobiography written about the Swanlund family, plus "My Story" written by Clifford A. Swanlund, Jr.

Biographical Information: Mildred Templin was born in 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She grew up helping her parents in the drug store that they lived above. Templin developed an early interest in speech and audiology and decided to continue her education at the University of Wisconsin, one of the three best schools at the time for the still new field of speech pathology. She received her BA in speech at Wisconsin in 1936, and received her Masters in speech pathology there as well. Interestingly, she worked in the speech lab at Purdue while earning her master's degree. She earned her PhD in child development from the University of Minnesota, while also taking classes at Columbia. Throughout her career as a graduate student, Templin also worked in various schools and labs, gaining practical experience that would ultimately shape the direction of her research. When Templin retired in 1976, she received an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to the development of the speech lab there, her teaching and research, and contributions to the field of speech pathology. In 2007, the University of Minnesota named her one of the 100 most significant contributors to the university's efforts in the previous 100 years. Her research, publications, and teaching are considered seminal in the field of speech pathology.

Scope and Content: Collection consists of one folder, which contains an article by Mildred Templin.

Biographical Information: Marie Agnes Tilson received her AB from Butler in 1910, and an MS in 1914 form the University of Chicago. She went on to eventually earn her PhD. Tilson was an Assistant Professor of Home Economics Education at Purdue University. Later, she served as a Specialist in Parent Education at the Merrill Palmer School in the University of Michigan system.

Scope and Content: Collection consists of one folder which contains an article by Agnes Tilson.

Biographical Information: Mildred Tingley, originally from Howe, Indiana, earned her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in 1924. While at Purdue, she was very involved in extracurricular activities and had a distinguished academic record. Tingley was a member of Pi Beta Phi, Omicron Nu, Kappa Delta Pi, Theta Chi Gamma, YWCA, Exponent, the Women's Press Club, and Eurodelphian, among others. Tingley was also notably a part of the Purdue in China program, which enabled her to go to China in 1922.

Scope and Content: "Purdue Sends Girl to China," (the girl being Mildred Tingley) 1922. [newspaper clipping, no publication information available]

Biographical Information: Robert W. Topping was born November 27, 1925. He was the son of Professor and Mrs. Alanson N. Topping. Topping’s father was a professor of electrical engineering at Purdue from 1903 to 1949, so Robert grew up in the community. Robert Topping was a member of the Purdue Class of 1950, and he was editor in chief of the RIVET, a campus humor publication. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in English. His brothers and sisters also graduated from Purdue. After Robert Topping’s graduation, he spent several years working as a reporter for the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, the LaPorte Herald-Argus and the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan. He was cited in 1956 by the American Political Science Association for distinguished reporting of state and local government in 1956. Topping served in the Air Force in 1950 and 1951 as an information specialist at Castle Air Force base, Merced, California. He returned to Purdue permanently in 1961. Topping started working in the old Bureau of Information, before it was renamed the Purdue News Service. He was director of the News Service in 1976 when he left that post to begin work on his book about former Purdue President Frederick Hovde. While researching and writing the book, he became an assistant to the vice president for advancement and continued to serve as press officer for the board of trustees and editor of Perspective. He later became senior editor in the Office of Publications and retired in 1990, after twenty-eight years on the Purdue staff. At Topping’s retirement dinner, Governor Evan Bayh made him a “Sagamore of the Wabash”, the highest honor an Indiana governor can bestow. Another award, the Leather Medal, from the Purdue chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists went to Topping in 1990. Awarded annually since 1921, the honor goes to someone “who has made a great contribution to the welfare, success and reputation of Purdue.” Robert Topping was the founding editor in 1973 of Perspective, the university’s quarterly tabloid. He was also editor of Purdue Today. He has authored three books about Purdue University: The Hovde Years (1980), which covers Purdue history during Frederick Hovde’s presidency from 1946 through 1971. His book, A Century and Beyond (1988), was the first comprehensive history of Purdue since 1925. John Hicks III, the former senior vice president of Purdue, suggested that Topping write an updated version of Purdue’s history in 1983, and A Century and Beyond is a result of that suggestion. The book of trustees: Purdue University, 1865-1989, (1989) is book about Purdue University’s board of trustees members. Topping also wrote two unpublished manuscripts, “Gentle Force, The Women of Purdue University”, (1993) and “Just Call Me Orville”, the unpublished biography of Orville Redenbacher, (1996). Topping had been the vice president of the Class of 1950, and he played a key role in getting the Class of 1950 lecture hall built on campus. It’s been noted in several publications that he always considered Purdue home. Robert Topping died April 25, 2009, and he will be remembered as one of Purdue University’s best-known historians and beloved storytellers. Source(s): Various articles published by the Lafayette Journal and Courier, filed in the Archives and Special Collections vertical file.

Scope and Content: The Robert W. Topping papers (1930-1996; 2.75 cubic feet) collection consists of many newspaper clippings, news releases, ten interviews on cassette tapes and miscellaneous printed ephemera that Robert W. Topping collected, while on the staff of the Purdue University Office of Publications for twenty-eight years. Also included are the files used for his published book; “The Hovde Years,” 1980 and the original manuscript for “A Century and Beyond,” 1988, along with manuscripts for “Gentle Force, The Women of Purdue University,” 1993 and “Just Call Me Orville,” 1996, the unpublished biography of Orville Redenbacher, 1996. The papers are organized into two series:

Biographical Information: Virginia Avis Ulrey Humnicky was born in Pyrmont, Indiana in 1923. She earned her bachelors in education from Purdue University in 1945. While at Purdue during WWII, she was active in the PMO University Choir. She also worked as a student intern in the Purdue University Libraries at the HSSE Media Center in the 1960's. Humnicky was very proud of her association with Purdue University and its role in her career development. Her husband Stephen, two of her sons, two daughters-in-laws and a grandson are also Purdue graduates. Humnicky received a Masters in Library Science from Indiana University in September 1969. In 1968, as a graduate student intern at Indiana University South Bend, she established the the Indiana University South Bend archives. In 1974 she was appointed Assistant Librarian at IU's Indianapolis campus. From 1973-1978 she served as the Indiana state coordinator for Health Services Libraries. This position was funded by federal grants from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) under the Medical Library Assistance Act. She served as head of the Extension Services Department for state distribution of medical literature for health services libraries in the Indiana Regional Medical Program. Humnicky was a founding member of the Indiana Health Sciences Librarians Association (IHSLA). From 1979 to 1984 she was a staff Librarian (Extension Librarian) at the Indiana University School of Medicine Library. Humnicky retired early in 1984 due to health concerns.

Scope and Content: Papers relating to Virginia A. Ulrey Humnicky's time as a Purdue and Indiana University student.

Biographical Information: Ruth (Grubb) Vaught was a home economics student in the late 1920s and early 1930s. She graduated with her B.S. in 1932. While at Purdue, she was a member of Beta Phi Alpha, the WAA, the YWCA, and the Purdue Religious Council. She married Leslie L. Vaught in 1932, shortly before graduating from Purdue, and settled in West Lafayette.

Scope and Content: Papers of Leslie Vaught and Ruth Vaught documenting Purdue student life in the 1920s and 1930s. Types of materials include papers, ephemera, photographs, and artifacts (primarily Purdue memorabilia such as Reamer boards and clothing such as sweaters and hats, also called beanies or pots.) Includes information on the Ross Surveying Camp. Please see PDF Finding Aid for collection inventory.

Biographical Information: Loretta Mae Wallace, a native of Lafayette, Indiana, attended Purdue University and graduated in 1910 with a B.S. in Science. As a student, she was active in the Philalethean Society, Exponent Staff, Debris Staff, Girls' Glee Club, and Purdue Girls' Club. After graduating from Purdue, she earned an M.A. from Columbia University and Master's Diploma in Nutrition at Teachers College, both in 1911, followed by a Diploma in Domestic Art from Pittsburgh YWCA in 1913. She then returned to Purdue in 1914 as a faculty member in Home Economics.

Scope and Content: The Loretta Mae Wallace photo album was created by Wallace during her time as a Purdue student from 1906 to 1910, with most photos dating to 1908-1909. Photographs include campus scenes, buildings, Lafayette and surrounding areas, Mechanics Burning, a visit to Indiana University, Civil Engineering projects, and other scenes of student life.

Biographical Information: Sarah J. Watlington, also known as Sally Watlington, is a retired Captain of the U.S. Navy and was the first female executive officer of an NROTC unit at Purdue University. She was born May 6, 1938 to William Thomas and Margaret Watlington in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from Purdue University in 1960 with a BA. She received her MS in 1970 from the Naval Post Graduate School. Since retiring from her career in the Navy, Watlington has been highly active in her community and with philanthropic endeavors. In 1995, she was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash Award by Governor Evan Bayh.

Scope and Content: Program and speech by Sarah "Sally" Watlington about Helen Schleman, for Chronicling Women's History: Selections from the Susan Bulkeley Butler Women's Archives event at Purdue University, 2008.

Biographical Information: Bernice Roberts Moreland Wells was born in Arkansas. Marianna, Arkansas, where she grew up, was still segregated at that time, and she recounted her experiences attending the segregated Robert Moton High School where she graduated 3rd in her class in 1958. In her autobiography, Wells discussed how her experiences in the segregated south and as a migrant farm worker ultimately shaped her perspectives, her drive, and her commitment to amplifying the voices of Black students. Wells followed her older sister north to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where she intended to work until she was old enough to enroll in the army so that she could get money to go to college. While there, she met her first husband with whom she had her son Michael in 1962. They separated when Michael was still an infant, which inspired Wells to enroll at the Champaign School of Practical Nursing to earn her Licensure as a Practical Nurse to better support herself and her son. She graduated and earned her certification in 1966. Wells worked for some time as a nurse's aid at Burnham City Hospital before enrolling at the school. After completing her certification, Wells worked at Carle Hospital until 1969. In 1969, Wells applied to and was accepted to the University of Illinois, where she intended to purdue a degree in social work. While enrolled at the university, she received a number of scholarships, including the first AAUW Ida King Stevens award. Wells reminisced that although her sister completed one year of college, Bernice was the first to earn a college degree in her family. She received her BA in social welfare from the University of Illinois in 1973. After receiving her degree, Wells worked at Parkland College as an Outreach Specialist before moving on to Western Illinois University. At Western Illionis, she was tasked with running a new program that would help "minority" students adjust to college. Wells reflected that the program seemed to have been designed to keep Black students segregated from the rest of the student body. While at Western Illinois, she also earned an M.S. (1976). After finishing her two year contract and her Master's, Wells accepted a postion in the Purdue Division of Finanacial Aid in 1976. She hoped that it would provide a more fulfilling experience for her as well as provide opportunities for her son. At Purdue, Wells was a fierce advocate for students of color, but clear that her position was created to support all students at Purdue. She also advocated for the equitable treatment of staff and faculty of color at the University. Wells remained in her role at Purdue until 1988 when she was diagnosed with terminal ALS. Over the course of her career, Wells remained committed to researching the specific needs of first generation Black college students to determine how the university could better serve them and ensure their success.

Scope and Content: Wells, Bernice Roberts Moreland Wells (1988). A Quilt: An Autobiography.

Biographical Information: E. Kate Wentz was born in Indianapolis April 6, 1866. She attended the public schools here and was graduated from Lafayette High School. She received the Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in 1887 and the Master of Science in 1890. She taught at Purdue University in 1888 to 1890, and studied at Cornell University. She was a friend of George Ade, the humorist. When the mathematics department at Manual Training High School in Indianapolis was organized in 1904 she was named its head and held that position until her retirement. She was a member of teachers' and science societies and associations. These quotes were noted, upon her death, "Miss Wentz was an outstanding teacher, with an unusual ability to inspire boys," said E. H. Kemper McComb, principal of Manual. Edward A. Gardner, an organizer of the Roines Club, while a pupil under Miss Wentz, described her as "without a doubt one of the most beloved and remarkable teachers in the city."

Scope and Content: Includes a clipping of Wentz's obituary.

Biographical Information: Helen Bass Williams was an educator, public health worker, and civil rights leader in the South during the Civil Rights movement. She worked and protested alongside well-known activists such as Septima Clark, Rosa Parks, Modjeska Simkins, and Martin Luther King Jr. In 1968, Williams came to Purdue to serve as the first African American faculty member where she worked as an assistant professor in French and a counselor for minority students in the School of Humanities, Social Science, and Education (HSSE). Born on March 29, 1916 in Dewmaine, Illinois, Williams was the only daughter of Lillian (Spears) and Homer Kelley. Williams had connections to community activism and politics through her family. Her father was an elected official in the United Mine Workers of America, her great-grandfather on her father's side was a sub-conductor on the Underground Railroad in Illinois, and her mother was active in her community and in politics. After her father's death in 1922, Williams moved between Dewmaine, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Cleveland, Ohio; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Chicago, Illinois, staying with her mother or with relatives. Williams was educated as both a teacher and healthcare worker. She earned a teaching certificate from Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale in 1937 and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University, majoring in French and Elementary, in 1942. Williams also earned two masters degrees, one in Public Health from North Carolina College at Durham in 1950 and the other in French from Southern Illinois University in 1964. While living in Southern Illinois, Williams served as the principal of Dewmaine Elementary School (1937-1940) and later taught at Mount Carbon Grade School (1940-1941). During this period, she married her first husband, Dr. Jewell Lee Bass, a local physician. They were married from 1934 until 1950 when he passed away. Williams moved to Columbia, South Carolina in 1950 after earning her Master's in Public Health. Here, she worked at the South Carolina Tuberculosis Association (1950-1956) before joining the faculty at Benedict College (1956-1962), a historically Black college. Williams taught Introduction to Education, Biology, and French. During her tenure at Benedict College, Williams became involved with the Highlander Folk School, a social justice education center. At Highlander, she worked as a recruiter and served as a board member alongside activists such as Septima Clark, Rosa Parks, and Esau Jenkins. Williams would transport students from Benedict College to Highlander so they could participate in trainings, such as workshops on voter registration and grassroots political processes. In 1964, Williams moved to Mississippi where she worked as a teacher, health director, and civil rights leader. Williams taught French at Tougaloo College, one of Mississippi's Black colleges, from 1964-1967. This position allowed her to connect with other activists through the college and continue her movement work. While at Tougaloo, Williams contributed to early mobilizations efforts for Head Start Programs in Mississippi by writing grants and educating teachers. She also served as health director for the Child Development Group of Mississippi, one of the first Head Start programs in Mississippi, where she addressed the inadequacies and racism in Mississippi's health care system. She gained employment as a consultant for the federal government's Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), where she worked to mediate between two of the Head Start programs in Mississippi who were competing for the same funding. In 1967, Williams left Tougaloo College to become the director of the Mississippi Action for Progress, another Head Start program. Though she was there for less than a year, Williams worked to rewrite the bylaws to give Head Start parents more control over local programs. While in Mississippi, Williams also participated in freedom rides to allow Black Mississippi residents to vote, "Freedom Radio" which attempted to bridge the gap between Black and white communities, and opened her house to Black students and activists. She also participated in protests and stood alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Professor Mary Enders Fyfe recruited Helen Bass Williams to Purdue University. Fyfe was a professor at Purdue University who met Williams in Mississippi in 1965 through their work together at Tougaloo College. In 1968, Williams became the first African American faculty member at Purdue University where she worked as an assistant professor in French and a counselor for minority students in the School of Humanities, Social Science, and Education (HSSE). While at Purdue, Williams recruited Black students from schools throughout Indiana, wrote programs and proposals, encouraged the addition of Black faculty, planned bridging programs, and worked with students to encourage them to evaluate and vocalize their needs. She helped create the Africana Studies program (now the African American Studies program), Black Cultural Center, The Learning Center (now the Academic Success Center), and served on the first executive board of the Black Faculty and Staff Council (now Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff) in 1975 and as a faculty advisor for Harambee, a Black student organization on campus. Williams also opened her house to students in need by providing lodging and meals. In 1978, Williams retired from Purdue and returned to Southern Illinois to care for her mother who was ill. Here, she continued her work mentoring students and activists and working with an assortment of grassroots community groups. She also wrote for a community newsletter, No. 9, where she focused on Black history and current political issues for Black families. Throughout her life, Williams earned numerous awards for her work as a civil rights leader and educator, including many from Purdue University. Williams died on December 13, 1991 in the former mining camp of Colp, Illinois at 75 years old. In 1993, the Black Cultural Center established the Helen Bass Williams scholarship award as a tribute to her life and work.

Scope and Content: The Helen Bass Williams papers were created and collected by Williams and document her personal life, education, and work as a civil rights activist in the South, educator, and counselor and professor at Purdue University. Types of materials include birth, marriage, and death certificates; correspondence; poetry; professional papers from her work in the South and at Purdue; articles and stories by Williams on Black history and experiences in the Civil Rights Movement; photographs; memorabilia; awards; pamphlets and publications; and audio recordings. These papers would be important for anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement; Head Start programs in Mississippi; the connection between storytelling and social movements; the minority experience at Purdue; the founding of the Africana Studies program, Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff, and the Learning Center at Purdue; and educators in higher education, particularly African American or women educators. Some materials will be harmful to researchers as they contain descriptions of racism and acts of violence perpetrated by white Mississippians and others against Williams and others within the Black community, as well as offensive and racist language commonly used at the time.

Biographical Information: After the entry of the United States into World War II, the Curtis-Wright Corporation, a leading producer of planes for the war effort, experienced extreme labor shortages as increasing numbers of men were recruited for military efforts.  In an effort to alleviate these shortages and keep up with production demands, the aeronautics corporation proposed the creation of a training program for women who were mathematically inclined or whom had previously demonstrated proficiency in science.  The program was to be an extremely abbreviated introduction to aeronautical engineering that would prepare the women for entry level positions with Curtiss-Wright so that men currently employed by the company could be promoted to more advanced positions.  The Caddette program was similar to, but much less known than, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), the United States Coast Guard Reserve (SPARS), and the Rosie the Riveter/ Wanda the Welder campaigns. The Engineering Cadette Program was started in 1943 at seven universities: Purdue University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, Rensselear University, and University of Texas.  During their time in the program, the women’s educational and lodging costs were covered by Curtiss-Wright, and they received a $10 per week stipend.  Classes were rigorous, with the women expected to dedicate a minimum of 50 hours per week to classes and study.  The graduates of 1943 completed two and a half years of engineering curriculum in ten months, with subsequent graduating classes completing the work in even less time.  Upon completion of the program, the women were assigned positions in one of five Curtiss-Wright facilities in the country, with varying roles and responsibilities.  Once the war was over, the majority of the women were replaced by returning male soldiers, and it does not appear that the Curtiss-Wright Corporation kept is promise of additional funding for them to complete their engineering degrees.  Many women did, however, subsequently complete degrees at universities nationwide and went on to various careers and roles within their respective communities.

Scope and Content: The Totsye Harper Winslow papers on the Curtis-Wright Cadettes (1943-1997; 0.25 cubic feet) documents role and history of the Curtis-Wright Cadettes at Purdue and in the Curtis-Wright Corporation during World War II.  Photographs, newsletter, and clippings document their time at Purdue as well as the Engineering Cadette Program.  Programs, newsletters, and papers document local and national reunions of the cadettes, as well as their history.  Also included is information on the individual members of the Purdue Cadette classes.  The collection is mostly representative of the Purdue Cadettes, with very little information on the women who graduated from Curtiss-Wright Programs at other Universities.  This collection would be useful tor researchers interested in women in science, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, World War II production, and the role of women in the war effort.  Types of materials include: photographs, programs, newsletters, and papers.

Biographical Information: The Purdue Women in Engineering Program was established in 1969 in response to the perceived lack of women students enrolled in engineering in spite of the successes of women engineers in other countries.  The program was the first of its kind in the U.S., and is credited with providing a model for similar programs nationwide.  The program worked to actively recruit women skilled in math and science from Indiana high schools and, later, elementary schools.  In its outreach efforts, the program also attempted to improve general public knowledge about the engineering discipline and available career paths for graduates.  In addition to recruiting, a second focus of the Women in Engineering Program was to provide support for existing female students in an effort to improve retention and graduation rates.  These efforts included mentoring programs, grouping of women in classes, financial and personal support, and partnerships with the Purdue Society of Women Engineers.  These efforts ultimately helped to improve both retention and graduation rates among female students in engineering.  According to the Women in Engineering Program website, all of these efforts have resulted in the increased enrollment of women from one percent in 1969 to the current nineteen percent.

Scope and Content: The Women in Engineering Program records (1935-2012; 1.85 cubic feet) documents the creation of the program, as well as its activities and successes.  Also included in the collection is information on Dr. Lillian Gilbreth and the first woman to graduate in engineering at Purdue, Martha Dicks Stevens.  The records reflect the growth of the program over the years as well as the substantial increases in the number of women engineers that were attributed to the program.  The collection would be useful to researchers interested in women in STEM and traditionally male fields, women’s history, and the role of public universities in the women’s movement.  The records would also be useful for researchers interested in publicity a/or publications regarding Lillian Gilbreth and her role as a pioneering woman engineer.  The collection is comprised primarily of publicly distributed materials and has little in the way of correspondence or personal papers.  Types of materials include:  brochures, clippings, electronic media, photographs, reports, and speeches.  The records are organized into four series.

Biographical Information: Purdue University’s Women’s Studies Program first started in 1979 when the first Intro to Women’s Studies class was offered. At that time, the program was known as the Committee on Women's Studies. The program expanded and began running a curated film series, conferences, and festivals. The program later added an undergraduate minor (1983), a graduate minor (1995), and an undergraduate major (2004). The name of the program changed to the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program in 2013.

Scope and Content: The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program records documents the creation, evolution, and activities of the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program (known as Women’s Studies Program until 2013) through administrative records and other materials produced by the program. The recprds also include as well as reference material, such as clippings and publications, collected by members of the department. Of particular interests to researchers may be the meeting minutes and departmental newsletters that document the process of the field of Women’s Studies entered into the University system. The collection of curriculum, syllabi, and teaching portfolios will be of interest to researchers of pedagogy.