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Kathryn Kropp Triplett papers

 Collection
Identifier: IWA1188

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Scope and Contents

The Kathryn Kropp Triplett papers date from 2017 and measure 0.25 linear inches. The papers are arranged into one series: biographical.

The Biographical series (2017) consists of a memoir written by Triplett entitled, “My Story: Kathryn ‘Kay’ Triplett,” as well as some papers that include biographical information about Triplett, her husbands, and her immediate family. The memoir includes various pictures from Triplett’s life and provides rich detail into several topics, such as: growing up in rural Iowa during the 1920s, the Great Depression, the University of Iowa, World War II, being a war widow, being a housewife in the suburbs throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and Title IX. The memoir is also prefaced with letters written by Triplett’s sons addressed to their mother.

Dates

  • Creation: 2017

Creator

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

Kathryn Kropp Triplett was born in 1920 to Albert and Jessie Hepperle in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated from high school in 1937 in Rockwell City, Iowa and was the only girl in her class to go on and get a degree from a four-year institution. Hepperle attended the State University of Iowa, now referred to as the University of Iowa, where she majored in Physical Education. Her class for the Physical Education program consisted of 150 men and 13 women. Hepperle graduated from the University of Iowa in 1941.

Following her graduation, Hepperle began working as a Physical Education teacher for the Storm Lake school system in Storm Lake, Iowa. Hepperle married Victor Vargon in 1943, but 5 months following their marriage, Vargon was sent overseas to fight in Africa as a pilot during the second world war. Vargon was killed in action in Tunisia only 17 days after he was deployed. Following her husband’s death, Kathryn Vargon moved to New York City, New York and taught exercise and posture classes at the DuBarry Success School.

In 1945, Vargon met George “Robert” Kropp, whom she married that same year. The two moved to California in 1946 where they had their first son, George Kropp Jr., shortly after they moved. The Kropps went on to have 3 more sons: Alan Kropp, who was born in 1948; David Kropp, who was born in 1951; and Gary Kropp, who was born in 1961. Kathryn and Robert Kropp divorced in 1968 and Kathryn began teaching Physical Education again shortly after.

In 1986, Kropp married John Triplett, one of her former high school sweethearts. They were married until John Triplett’s death in 1998. In 2001, Triplett’s sons took her to Tunisia to finally view Victor Vargon’s grave.

Extent

0.25 linear inches

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Memoir reflecting on the life of a University of Iowa graduate and Physical Education teacher from Fort Dodge, Iowa throughout the 1920s to the 1960s.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers (donor no. 1539) were donated by Kathryn Kropp Triplett in 2017.

Title
Kathryn Kropp Triplett papers
Author
Bailey Petersen
Date
2018
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

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)