Maria Kromminga papers

Collection

Identifier: IWA0144

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The Maria Kromminga papers date from 1897 to 1921 and measure 6 linear inches. The papers are arranged in three series: Obituary, Diaries and Photographs. The papers document Kromminga's daily life in rural eastern Iowa at the turn of the twentieth century.

The six volumes of Diaries (1897-1921) describe Kromminga's and other family members' routine activities. Most entries give accounts of the visits of family and friends as well as accounts of the weather and its effect on Kromminga's mood. At the end of the second volume is a tally of egg production and sales for the years 1900 and 1902. The sixth volume lists items received from the Sears and Roebuck catalog. There are also various farm records, many from 1920 to 1921.

There are four Photographs (1902-1921 and undated) the collection, one of Maria Kromminga ca. 1915 and two of her son, Raymond Oscar Kromminga, from 1902 and ca. 1921. Also included is a photocopy of an undated family photograph of Maria Kromminga, her parents, two brothers, sister and brother-in-law.

Dates

Creation: 1897-1937

Creator

Kromminga, Maria Margaretha, 1874-1937 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been retained by the donor and her heirs.

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

Maria (Mary) Margaretha Kromminga, the second child of Folkert Kromminga and his wife Margaretha, was born on February 3, 1874, in Castle Grove Township, Jones County, Iowa. She received eight years of education in a rural school. Kromminga lived her whole life with her parents on a farm near Monticello, Iowa. She never married but had a son, Raymond Kromminga, whom she raised alone. After working on the farm each day Maria Kromminga wrote in her diary by lamplight. She seldom wrote about her feelings but kept a record of her daily activities. Maria Kromminga died in January 1937 after catching bronchial pneumonia on New Year's Day.