Faith Knowler papers

Collection

Identifier: IWA0206

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Scope and Contents

The Faith Knowler papers date from 1936 to 1995 and measure 12.3 linear inches. The papers are arranged in two series: Community involvement and Thesis materials. The papers document Knowler's leadership and participation in Johnson County and Iowa City community activities as well as her academic work at the State University ofIowa.

The Community involvement series (1952-1995 and undated) includes correspondence between Knowler and congressmen on various issues. Reports, press statements and news clippings from Knowler's work with the Johnson County Regional Planning Commission are here, including the texts of radio addresses and notes related to her organization of the Needs of Children and Families in Johnson County Forum in 1979. While Knowler was working with the Commission, she assisted in producing thirteen reports on Johnson County social services, and these are included here.

Several papers presented by Knowler to the Nineteenth Century Club are included and are listed alphabetically by title in the boxlist. Also included are materials from Knowler's years on the boards of the Women's Institute for Community Leadership and Youth Homes, Inc.

The Thesis materials series (1936) consists of a rough draft of Knowler's 1936 master's thesis on social settlements, with numerous handwritten notes and related correspondence.

Dates

Creation: 1936-1995

Creator

Knowler, Faith (1911-2002) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

Faith Knowler was born January 22, 1911 in Muscatine. She married Lloyd Knowler in Des Moines in 1935. She recieved a BA in Sociology from the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa) and an MA from the School of Social Work in St. Louis.

She was an active member of the Johnson County and Iowa City communities for more than forty years. Knowler's involvement in one local group, the Nineteenth Century Club, began in 1952. Over the next forty-two years, Knowler presented original papers on topics from the women's movement to health care policies, from evolution to Tolstoy.

In 1971, Knowler became a member of the Johnson County Regional Planning Commission and served on the Family and Individual Life Subcommittee. In 1979, Knowler was instrumental in organizing the Needs of Children and Families in Johnson County Forum.

During this period, Knowler was a member of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, serving as president from ca. 1973 to 1975 and has served on the board of directors for many years. She and other League members assisted with a daycare study focusing on the needs of working parents and abused, neglected and delinquent children. From this project came a new organization, the Youth Emergency Shelter (later Youth Homes, Inc.). Active in securing the necessary funds and support for this shelter, Knowler also served as a board member from 1971 to 1995. During this time, she worked on the Long-Range Planning Committee and the Personnel Committee.

Another leadership role Knowler took on was that of board member of the Women's Institute for Community Leadership (WICL). Having completed the WICL certificate program in 1975, Knowler served on the Board of Directors from 1976 to 1978. Knowler's interest in community involvement and politics extended to the national level in addition to the local level. She was diligent about letting her representatives in Congress hear her views on many issues, of both personal and professional interest. Faith Knowler passed away in 2002.