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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.

Archival Resource Key. 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.

Archival Resource Key. Biographical.
Box 1 Folder 2
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

Archival Resource Key. 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

Archival Resource Key. 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

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

Archival Resource Key. 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

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

Archival Resource Key. 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

Archival Resource Key. 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

Archival Resource Key. 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

Archival Resource Key. 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.

Archival Resource Key. Letters received, 1909-1934.
Box 2 Folder 17
Archival Resource Key. Letters from Louise Lawton, 1915.
Box 2 Folder 18
Archival Resource Key. 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.

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

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 9

Archival Resource Key. Financial bills and receipts.
Box 3 Folder 28
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 18

Archival Resource Key. Notes.
Box 3 Folder 29
Scope and Contents

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 20

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 13

Archival Resource Key. 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

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

Archival Resource Key. 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

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

Archival Resource Key. Virginia Council of Administrative Women in Education, 1922-1924.
Box 4 Folder 40
Archival Resource Key. 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

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

bound volume, interleaved

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

ms. and clippings

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

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 19

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, program, committees.
Box 6 Folder 55
Archival Resource Key. Publicity.
Box 6 Folder 56
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence and printed material.
Box 6 Folder 57
Archival Resource Key. Printed proceedings (and inserts).
Box 6 Folder 58
Archival Resource Key. Other printed material and reports on the Congress.
Box 6 Folder 59
Archival Resource Key. 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

Archival Resource Key. 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

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

Includes letter by MEP which appeared in Change.

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

See also Oversize.

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

Print, Suggest