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Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers

Notifications

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 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:
RG5.124
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
3.5 linear ft. (7 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers, RG 5/124 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1906-1979 (inclusive)
Creator:
Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979)
Abstract:
Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979) was born into an extended Quaker family who lived for generations in Clarke and Loudon counties, Virginia. She moved beyond the Virginia Quaker community to a career in the women's movement, first as a campaigner for women's suffrage (1917-1920), then as an educator and political activist in Virginia (1920-1928) and finally as a research economist for the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor (1928-1956). During her retirement years, Pidgeon became active in Quaker affairs. The collection contains personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979), including family and other correspondence and papers relating to her activities as student, suffragette. and in her professional and organizational work.

Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979) was born into an extended Quaker family who lived for generations in Clarke and Loudon counties, Virginia. She moved beyond the Virginia Quaker community to a career in the women's movement, first as a campaigner for women's suffrage, 1917-1920, then as an educator and political activist in Virginia, 1920-1928, and finally as a research economist for the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, 1928-1956. During her retirement years, Pidgeon became active in Quaker affairs.

The collection contains chiefly personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979), including family correspondence and papers related to her professional and organizational life.

Researchers should note that additional Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon papers which originally were part of the same collection were given to Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College in 1983 by the same donor who gave the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers to Radcliffe College in 1982. This larger collection also contains personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon as well as family papers and is named the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Family Papers, RG 5/123. The collections are administered as two separate collections. However, the checklists for both collections refer to related material.

The collection is divided into seven series:

  1. Biographical and pictorial
  2. Family correspondence
  3. Other writings
  4. Diaries, finances and notes
  5. School papers
  6. Professional and organization work
  7. Miscellaneous printed material

On indefinite loan from the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College, 1984.

The collection was given by Mary-Susan Robare, niece of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, to Radcliffe College in 1982. Other related papers in the same collection were given to Friends Historical Library, designated the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Family Papers. RG 5/123. The collection at the Schlesinger Library was transferred to Friends Historical Library in 1984 to reunite the two parts of a single collection in one depository, but they were processed and catalogued separately since they belong to two different institutions.

Processed by Jane Knowles of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College. Received in three cartons. Arrangement and order retained when transferred to document boxes at FHL, and stored with other Record Group 5 collections. Checklists for the two collections are cross-indexed.

Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Family Papers, RG 5/123

Subject
Place

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
1984
Sponsor
Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce items in this collection beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

For related material, see also Pidgeon Papers. The relevent series in the Pidgeon Papers is indicated where appropriate.

Photographs of family and friends.
Box 1 Folder 1
Scope and Contents

Photograph celebrating victory of woman suffrage in New York State, removed to PICTURE COLLECTION: Oversize - Miscellaneous - Woman Suffrage. See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 21.

Biographical.
Box 1 Folder 2
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

Memberships identification cards, etc.
Box 1 Folder 3
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

Clippings programs, and miscellaneous material re: MEP.
Box 1 Folder 4
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

Letters by MEP to her parents, Susan Talbott (Williams) and Lewis Pidgeon, 1906-1913.
Box 1 Folder 5
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

Letters by MEP to her parents on suffrage campaign, 1917-19.
Box 1 Folder 6
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

Letters by MEP to her parents, 1925 and 1939-1941.
Box 1 Folder 7
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

Letters from parents to MEP, 1918 and 1929-1939.
Box 1 Folder 8
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

Letters to Susan Pidgeon (not by MEP), 1922-1923.
Box 1 Folder 9
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

Susan Pidgeon's bank account, driver's license, etc, 1930-1943.
Box 1 Folder 10
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 5

Letters following the death of Susan Pidgeon, 1943.
Box 1 Folder 11
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

Letters following the death of Susan Pidgeon, 1943.
Box 1 Folder 12
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

Correspondence of Dorothy Everett (Pidgeon) Berry, mostly with Susan and Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, 1908-1979.
Box 1 Folder 13
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3, 10

Letters from Hannah Conrow (Williams) Tomlinson to Susan and Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, 1934-1960.
Box 1 Folder 14
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3, 10

Condolence letters on the death of Rebecca R. Pidgeon (aunt), 1942-1943.
Box 2 Folder 15
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

Other family correspondence, 1908-1979.
Box 2 Folder 16
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3, 10

Scope and Contents

For below, see also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10.

Letters received, 1909-1934.
Box 2 Folder 17
Letters from Louise Lawton, 1915.
Box 2 Folder 18
Correspondence concerning job searches, 1927-1929.
Box 2 Folder 19
Scope and Contents

Includes telegram from Mary Anderson offering MEP a position at the Women's Bureau, February 8, 1928.

Letters from Rachel Ryan, 1935-1947.
Box 2 Folder 20
Letters received by MEP, 1936-1943.
Box 2 Folder 21
Letters received by MEP, 1946-1967 and 1974.
Box 2 Folder 22
Letters received by MEP, 1977.
Box 2 Folder 23
Letters received by MEP, 1978.
Box 2 Folder 24
Letters received by MEP, 1979.
Box 3 Folder 25
Christmas cards and unidentified material, etc., n.d.
Box 3 Folder 26

Engagement books, book list, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1967, 1968.
Box 3 Folder 27
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 9

Financial bills and receipts.
Box 3 Folder 28
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 18

Notes.
Box 3 Folder 29
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 20

George School, reunions, 1959-1979.
Box 3 Folder 30
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 13

Swarthmore College, 1913, 1979.
Box 3 Folder 31
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 14

Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 14

Correspondence and reports, 1915-1917.
Box 3 Folder 32
Releases, 1916-1917.
Box 3 Folder 33
Releases, resolutions, bulletins, 1916-1917.
Box 4 Folder 34
Virginia Good Road Association, 1921.
Box 4 Folder 35
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

University of Virginia, Extension Division, 1922-1923.
Box 4 Folder 36
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 15

Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

Correspondence (including with Belle Sherwin), 1922-1926.
Box 4 Folder 37
Correspondence and related material, 1927-1928.
Box 4 Folder 38
National League of Women Voters, printed material.
Box 4 Folder 39
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

Virginia Council of Administrative Women in Education, 1922-1924.
Box 4 Folder 40
Virginia Women's Council of Legislative Chairmen of State Organizations, 1923-1929.
Box 4 Folder 41
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 17

Bulletins, planned and written by MEP, 1930-1937.
Box 4 Folder 42
Reports and bulletins, 1937-1938.
Box 4 Folder 43
Physical Description

bound volume, interleaved

Inserts removed from "Women in the U.S.", 1937.
Box 5 Folder 44
Publications, 1940-1941.
Box 5 Folder 45
Bulletins,, 1942-1956.
Box 5 Folder 46
Publications written under the direction of MEP, 1941-56.
Box 5 Folder 47
Research Division, writings describing its work, 1929-1939.
Box 5 Folder 48
Physical Description

ms. and clippings

Publications by and about the Women's Bureau, 1913-1954.
Box 5 Folder 49
Memos and correspondence (includes Mary Anderson), 1928-1956.
Box 6 Folder 50
Reports concerning equal pay for women, 1945.
Box 6 Folder 51
Reports, clippings, about women in Congress, 1924-1955.
Box 6 Folder 52
Notes, studies, 1940s.
Box 6 Folder 53
National Council for the Prevention of War, 1928.
Box 6 Folder 54
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 19

Correspondence, program, committees.
Box 6 Folder 55
Publicity.
Box 6 Folder 56
Correspondence and printed material.
Box 6 Folder 57
Printed proceedings (and inserts).
Box 6 Folder 58
Other printed material and reports on the Congress.
Box 6 Folder 59
Notes, programs, newsletters, mostly concerning Baltimore Yearly Mtg., 1948 and 1966-1967.
Box 6 Folder 60
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10, 19

Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C., newsletters, programs, etc., 1970-72.
Box 7 Folder 61
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

Women Strike for Peace, 1962.
Box 7 Folder 62
Women Strike for Peace, 1963.
Box 7 Folder 63
Women Strike for Peace, 1964.
Box 7 Folder 64
Women Strike for Peace, 1965.
Box 7 Folder 65
Women Strike for Peace, 1966-1967.
Box 7 Folder 66
Memo (official publication of WSP), 1962-1967.
Box 7 Folder 67
Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions,, 1965.
Box 7 Folder 68
Scope and Contents

Includes letter by MEP which appeared in Change.

The Outlook, Women's Number and other publications, 1904, 1928-1947.
Box 7 Folder 69
Scope and Contents

See also Oversize.

Madeleine Doty articles "Women of Many Lands" in Good Housekeeping, 1918, and n.d.
Box 7 Folder 70
Clippings about women, 1940s.
Box 7 Folder 71
Oversize in Chart Case: Posters, clippings, and other printed material, 1917, 1946, 1964.

Print, Suggest