Skip to main content

Correspondence

 Series
Identifier: 5

  • Staff Only
  • Please navigate to collection organization to place requests.

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The B. Jean Strong papers date from 1907-2012 and 14.6 linear feet. The series is arranged in ten series: Biographical, Financial, Family, Travel, Correspondence, Career, Writings, Genealogy, Photographs and Artifacts.

The Biographical series (1925-2012) is organized alphabetically by subject, and includes a baby book, information about her education from grade school to the University of Iowa, resumes, newspaper articles, and more. This series also includes personal reflections written by Strong.

The Financial series (1930-2007) consists of financial records, bank savings books, tax information, and paperwork regarding leases and rental properties.

The Family series (1915-2008) has information about Strong’s parents, Walter and Thelma, including their farm records, passports, family ration books, inheritance, and obituaries. There is also material about Strong’s sister Ruth and her husband John Armstrong.

The Travel series (1940s-2000s) includes passports, itineraries, and several personal writings by Strong.

The Correspondence series (1907-2011) encompasses letters to and from Strong’s mother, as well as other family members, colleagues, and friends. This series includes Christmas cards, end of year letters, postcards, and letters from Strong while she was traveling.

The Career series (1943-2009) includes stories, articles, and photographs from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Center Point Independent, Fortune Magazine, Iowa Illustrated, Life Magazine, the Marion Sentinel, and free-lance opportunities. There are also notes about her published books and information regarding her work at Temple University, Time-Life Books, Truax-Smith Associates, and as a Congressional consultant. Also included are resumes, awards, and personal reflections.

The Writings series (1943-2010) consists of articles and drafts written by Strong, as well as diaries, calendars, and ideas for her memoir. There are also notes, drafts, final copies, and reviews of her books A Prairie Almanac, Never Say Never, and The Marion Library.

The Genealogy series (1936-2008) has information about the genealogy of the Strong family. This series includes photocopies, charts, ancestral lines, and papers on different ancestral families, as well as Strong’s personal research notes. Also includes both volumes of Dwight’s History of the Strong Family, published 1975, and Sketches of the Olivers, 1926-1966, which was published in 1987.

The Photographs series (1901-1964) includes personal family photos, travel photos, including seventeen mounted pictures from Strong’s 1959 trip to Europe, and photos taken for newspaper and magazine articles.

The Artifacts series (1950s) consists of four pairs of gloves Strong wore while in New York City. One pair is black leather, while the other three pairs are long and made of cloth. Two of these three pairs are black while the final pair is nude.

Dates

  • Creation: 1907 - 2012

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 14.6 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository

Contact:
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)