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Rebecca Osborn papers

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Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
MC.1295
Repository:
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Extent:
5 linear ft. (12 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Rebecca Osborn papers (HC.MC.1295), Quaker & Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.
Date:
1914-2013 (inclusive)
Creator:
Osborn, Rebecca, 1921-2014
Form:
memoirs
Abstract:
This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Rebecca Osborn, a Quaker author, poet, and social worker. A prolific writer, Osborn wrote and published both personal reflective pieces about her own life as well as articles about psychology, family matters, and poems. In her writings, Osborn speaks frankly about her personal difficulities, including her time in a psychiatric hosptial and her long divorce. This collection shows the full breadth of Osborn's life and work, from her childhood essays, to her memoir, to her reflections of her retirement community.

Rebecca Rumford McNees Osborn (1921-2014) was born on September 12th, 1921, the third daughter of Wendell George McNees and Helen Bye McNees in Chester, Pennsylvania. She had three sisters, Mary, Margaret, and Alice. Osborn graduated from Media High School in 1939 and was co-captain of the hockey team and editor of the newsletter (yearbook). She received her bachelor's in English Literature with High Honors from Smith College in Massachusets in 1943, and a master's of Social Work from Ohio State University in 1972.

Osborn started her career teaching English at the Moravian Seminar for Women in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, from 1946 to 1948. She spent some time in Montana from 1948 to 1955, working for the United States Forest Service and then teaching English literature and composition at Montana State College. Then she and her family moved to East Lansing, Michigan, and then back to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She held a variety of positions in the social work and counseling fields. She worked in the Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley, the College Misericordia in Dallas, Pennsylvania; Wesley Village in Interman, Pennsylvania; Medical Home Care Corporation in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Catholic Social Services in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; and the Family Service of Montgomery County in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. In 1980, she opened her own private practice. She was also the executive director of the Lehigh Valley Mental Health Association in Allentown, Pennsylvania, from 1967 to 1970. She was a prolific writer, and her articles about marriage, family, and psychology were published in a variety of magazines and journals. She also wrote and published poetry.

Osborn was a member of Unami Friends Meeting in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. She helped organize the United Friends School in Quakertown and served on the board from 1985 to 2000.

She married Joseph Osborn in 1948 and they had three children, Julie, Rachel, and Frank. Following Frank's birth, Osborn expereienced post-partum psychosis and was hospitalized three times at the Friends Hospital in Philadelphia. She writes about this experience in her diaries and personal essays. In 1984, Rebecca and Joseph divorced. Osborn retired from her private practice in Wilkes-Barre in 1986, and then joined Abington Quarterly Meeting. She passed away on August 13, 2014.

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Rebecca Osborn, a Quaker author, poet, and social worker. A prolific writer, Osborn wrote and published both personal reflective pieces about her own life as well as articles about psychology, family matters, and poems. In her writings, Osborn speaks frankly about her personal difficulities, including her time in a psychiatric hosptial and her long divorce. This collection shows the full breadth of Osborn's life and work, from her childhood essays, to her memoir, to her reflections of her retirement community.

This collection is arranged in five series: biographical materials, correspondence, social work materials, poetry and creative writings, and legal and financial documents. The first two series relate primarily to Rebecca Osborn's personal life, whereas the series about social work and poetry are primarily her professional documents. The series about legal and financial documents contains paperwork from her divorce and the finances of her private practice. Within each series, the materials are arranged chronologically.

Processed by Madison Arnold-Scerbo; completed June, 2018.

People
Subject

Publisher
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
Madison Arnold-Scerbo
Finding Aid Date
June, 2018
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

This series contains Osborn's journals, planners, memoirs, resumes, materials from childhood, high school, and undergraduate schooling, will, and personal essays.

Archival Resource Key. Childhood writings, 1931-1933.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Four essays with cardboard bindings.

Archival Resource Key. Media Elementary School Materials, 1928-1933.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Report cards, "True Dog Stories," weight and height chart from age 7, map of Media, PA and childhood home, other notes

Archival Resource Key. Media High School materials, 1933-1989.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Report cards, correspondence, newspaper clippings, Media High School handbook, hockey certificates, certificate for original one act play called "Love is Bind" written by Osborn, materials from high school reunion in 1989

Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1933-1948.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Family Bible, 1914.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Has names in the front.

Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1941-1945.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1958-1960.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Journals, 2005-2013.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1994-2005.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Scrapbook of childhood poems, 1930's.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of poems written by other people, with some illustrations

Archival Resource Key. Eighth-grade memoirs, 1935.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

A collection of writings from Osborn and her classmates in 8th grade.

Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1960-1970.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1971-1978.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Journals, 1979-1988.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Smith College newspapers, 1940-1942.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Smith College Association News and a letter thanking Osborn for an article in the Smith Tatler Magazine

Archival Resource Key. Smith College monthly, 1941.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Four issues of the Smith College Monthly, of which Osborn was on the editorial board

Archival Resource Key. Monthly planners, 1947-1962.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Wedding book, 1948.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook with correspondence and clippings pertaining to the wedding of Rebecca Rumford to Joseph C. Osborn on June 13, 1948 in Media, Pennsylvania.

Archival Resource Key. Marriage and Divorce records, 1948-2003.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Marriage liscense for Joseph C. Osborn and Rebecca Rumford McNees in 1948, divorce decree from 1978, Rebecca Osborn's will from 2003

Archival Resource Key. Full memoir, 1955-1984.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Personal essays, 1970-2000s.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

A narrative statement for Rutgers in 1970 and an essay called "Fighting Fear/Promoting Panic" written later in her life about her childhood, up until moving to a nursing home

Archival Resource Key. Resumes, 1985-undated.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Osborn's resumes and bibliographies of articles and workshops

Archival Resource Key. Smith alumnae magazine, 1986.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Includes a letter to Osborn thanking her for positive feedback about the publication, which profiles noteworthy graduates of Smith College

Archival Resource Key. Weekly planners, 1990-2000.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Weekly planners, 2002-2007.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Weekly planners, 2009-2013.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Senior retirement community materials, 1995-2012.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Reflections, notes, and publications from Osborn's time at Westminster Village. Includes a newsletter, minutes from a council meeting, and Osborn's complaints about problems at the institution.

Archival Resource Key. Scrapbook on 9/11, 2001.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Notebook with newspaper clippings pasted inside, relating to the terror attack in New York City on 9/11/2001

Archival Resource Key. Quaker materials, 2002-2012.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Quaker publications and articles, many from Philadelphia yearly meeting. Notes and highlighting added by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Memoir essays, 1990's.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Essays by Osborn about her life

Archival Resource Key. Memoir essays, 2008-2012.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Essays and correspondence

Scope and Contents

This series contains both personal and professional correspondence to and from Osborn. It contains conversations pertaining to the publishing of Osborn's essays.

Archival Resource Key. Editorial Correspondence, 1945-1971.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Correspondence relating to publication or rejection of her writing and receipts for payment

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence and articles, 1955-1964.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Correspondence relating to Osborn's time in Friends Hospital and her diagreements with Joe Osborn. Also contains magazine and newspaper clippings

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1958-1963.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Family and friends, and with Psychologist Erich Fromm and Dr. Frederic A Gibbs.

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1976-2012.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Notes, articles, poems

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence and other documents, 1977-1995.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence and photographs, 1989-1993.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Articles, 2000-2005.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and magazine and newspaper clippings

Scope and Contents

This large series contains materials from Osborn's schooling and professional experiences in social work. It contains documents from workshops that Osborn lead, publications about various elements of counseling and social work, and materials from her jobs and graduate studies. Some of these materials were created by Osborn, others she collected and annotated.

Archival Resource Key. Counseling materials, 1944-1986.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Essays and pamphlets, applications and bibliographies of Osborn.

Archival Resource Key. Psychology materials, 1950-1991.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Pertaining to workshops, conferences, and other aspects of Osborn's social work

Archival Resource Key. Writings relating to mental wellness, 1950-2000.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Articles and essays by Osborn about mental wellness and about a veterinarian and family friend of Osborn's, Mark Whittier Allam, upon his death

Archival Resource Key. Popular magazines, 1951-1968.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Publications with essays inside written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Psychology writings, 1954-1966.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Drafts and published writings by Osborn about pschology, as well as corresponedence relating to publishing her writings

Archival Resource Key. Mental Illness materials, 1958-1964.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Notes and essays by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Mental Illness materials, 1958-1972.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Published journal articles, 1960-1995.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Friends Journal, Modern Baby, The Christian Century,

Archival Resource Key. Mental health advocacy, 1964-1969.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

#Contains a few pages of sticky scrapbook pages of newspaper clippings

Archival Resource Key. "Inward Light" psychology magazine, 1965-1966.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Publications with essays inside written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Published magazine articles, 1966.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Two magazines with essays of Osborn's inside

Archival Resource Key. Lehigh Valley Mental Health Association, 1968-1970.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Notes and publications of the association during the time Osborn was executive director

Archival Resource Key. Therapy materials, 1970-1990?.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Worksheets about different therapy methods

Archival Resource Key. Marywood College materials, 1970-1972.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Essays and class materials from Osborn's graduate studies in social work

Archival Resource Key. Ohio State graduate studies, 1971-1972.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Essays and class materials from Osborn's graduate studies in social work

Archival Resource Key. Bethany Children's Home, 1972-1974.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Materials relating to her work there

Archival Resource Key. Therapist career materials, 1972-1992.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Some specific to Osborn, others are pamphlets

Archival Resource Key. Therapist career materials, 1974-1985.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Information about Osborn's jobs and workshop materials

Archival Resource Key. The New Age the New Woman, 1974.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

"The New Age The New Woman" with an essay from Osborn inside called "Women Need the Friendship of Women"

Archival Resource Key. Children counseling materials, 1975-1985.
Box 7
Archival Resource Key. Psychology articles, 1975-1985.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Essays written by Osborn about originiality and children, and love

Archival Resource Key. Counseling materials, 1975-1985.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Worksheets and information about workshops

Archival Resource Key. Counseling Notebook, 1976.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Contains theorietical notes and notes about patients

Archival Resource Key. Sexuality materials, 1976-1982.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Informational essays and graphic sexual drawings

Archival Resource Key. Pennsylvania Divorce Law Reform, 1979-1980.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, newspaper articles, and legal documentation about legislation to reform divorce laws in Pennsylvania, including text of House Bill 640 of Session of 1979

Archival Resource Key. Aging related training materials, 1980-1985.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, check registers, evaluations of courses taught at College Misericordia

Archival Resource Key. Depression materials, 1981-1992.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Elderly counseling materials, 1982.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Validation therapy materials, 1985.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Information about workshops about validation therapy and a certificate that Osborn completed one

Archival Resource Key. VHS and slides, 1985.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

27 slides of people in an office and one VHS tape called "Stress and Women"

Archival Resource Key. Parenting materials, 1986-1989.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Pamphlets and information, some created by the Family Relations Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends

Archival Resource Key. Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology pamphlets, 1988-1996.
Box 8
Scope and Contents

Pamphlets about Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology

Archival Resource Key. Peace Making in the Family workshop, 1990.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Information from a workshop lead by Osborn called "Peace Making in the Family" at the Camp Swatara Gathering in 1990.

Archival Resource Key. Death and funeral materials, 1990-1995.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Pamphlets relating to procedures in the case of death

Archival Resource Key. Marriage counseling, 1991-1992.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Public health booklets, 1992.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

"Workbook on the Global Aids Pandemic" Prepared for Bethlehem YWCA's Foreign Policy Series. "A Family Resource Guide on Mental Illness" Published as a Public Service by the Mental Health Society of the Lehigh Valley

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous social work materials, 1965-1990.
Box 9

Scope and Contents

This series contains manuscripts and published poetry mostly by Osborn, correspondence about publishing her poetry, and other creative writing she published, such as plays.

Archival Resource Key. Essays and poems, 1930-1990.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Essays and poems, mostly written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Poetry, 1939-1990.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Includes undated poems

Archival Resource Key. Moravian College catalog, 1947.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

A catalog from the time when Osborn was an instructor and then assistant professor of English

Archival Resource Key. Poetry, 1947-2005.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Poems, 1953.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Poems written by Osborn and some correspondence relating to her poetry

Archival Resource Key. Plays, 1953-2003.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

Article and pamphlet relating to play Osborn wrote in the 1950s in Montana, an essay called "A Limb for Mrs. Flight" that she wrote while in Montana, manuscripts of plays written by Osborn, and correspondence and a page from a play she wrote in the 2000s

Archival Resource Key. Chapters from book about womenhood, 1957.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

Written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Book on womanhood, 1960.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

Written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Articles about Illick's Mill Trail and Willow Locks, 1966.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

Articles she wrote for the newspaper

Archival Resource Key. "Frogpond" poetry magazine, 1988-1991.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

With annotations indicating poems written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. "Frogpond" poetry magazine, 1995-1997.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

With annotations indicating poems written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Poetry magazines, 1962-1995.
Box 10
Scope and Contents

With annotations indicating poems written by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Poetry materials, 1988-1994.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

Poems written by Osborn and correspondence relating to poetry

Archival Resource Key. Poetry materials, 1993-1997.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

Poems written by Osborn and correspondence relating to poetry

Archival Resource Key. Poetry, 1993-1995.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

Also includes correspondence and information about publishing poetry

Archival Resource Key. Small poetry books, 1994-1999.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

Two haiku books written by Osborn with an informational sheet about haikus

Archival Resource Key. Writings, 2000-2009.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

Selected writings and lists of writings by Osborn

Archival Resource Key. Poem Book, 2004.
Box 11
Scope and Contents

A green bound book with printed poems written by Oborn. There is a detached page with a note on the poems that reads "These poems were written from 1947 through 2000. Several were published in the Denver Post, The Writer, The Harp, Pandora, The Lyric, Mental Hygiene, and in a magazine of poetry entitled Up Against the Wall, Mother .All of them reflect experiences of my own: the fears, and the special moments, the childood memories, the feelings of a mother, and much later, of a grandmother. - Layout done with care and devotion by a good friend Peggy Becker to whom I am grateful. November 2004." There is also a note in the front from David, thanking her for sending the book to him.

Scope and Contents

This series contains paperwork from Osborn's divorce, financial records from her private practice, and materials from the Home and Care Committee of Abington Quarterly meeting that provided financial assistance to Osborn in the final years of her life.

Archival Resource Key. Divorce materials, 1964-1984.
Box 12
Scope and Contents

Documents pertaining to the divorce of Rebecca and Joe Osborn. Includes notes, correspondence, and legal documents.

Archival Resource Key. Divorce materials, 1967-1980.
Box 12
Scope and Contents

Documents pertaining to the divorce of Rebecca and Joe Osborn. Includes notes, correspondence, and legal documents.

Archival Resource Key. Property materials, 1978-1993.
Box 12
Scope and Contents

Documents pertaining to property disputes between Rebecca and Joe Osborn upon their divorce. Includes notes, correspondence, and legal documents.

Archival Resource Key. Private practice records, 1981-1990.
Box 12
Scope and Contents

Accounts of her private practice, with entries for expenses and charges to patients.

Archival Resource Key. Home and Care Committee of Abington Quarterly meeting, 1995-2013.
Box 12
Scope and Contents

Welcome packet for new members of the committee that explains their goals and procedures, and annual statements to Osborn as a recipient of assistance from the committee.

Print, Suggest