Lemme Family papers

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: IWA0260

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Lemme Family papers date from 1970 and 1998 and consist of five items: an undated genealogy of the family; two newspaper clippings; an article in Everybody magazine regarding the opening of the Helen Lemme Elementary School in 1970; and questions and answers concerning Helen Lemme. The questions relating to Helen Lemme were addressed to the Lemme family by students at Lemme Elementary School on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the school's founding.

Dates

Creation: 1970-1998

Creator

Lemme family (Family)

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

Frances Helen Renfrow Lemme, known as Helen Lemme, a civil rights and community leader in Iowa City, Iowa, was born on February 25, 1905 in Grinnell, Iowa. She was a research technician in the Department of Internal Medicine at the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa) and was active in many organizations, including the League of Women Voters of Johnson County and the Iowa City Area Council of Churches.

During the 1930s and 1940s, she and husband Allyn Lemme opened their home to African-American male students (and occasionally to African-American female graduate students) when they were not allowed to live in University of Iowa dormitories. In 1955, Helen Lemme was elected the first Woman of the Year in Iowa City.

Lemme died in a house fire on December 15, 1968. The Helen Lemme Elementary School in Iowa City, Iowa is named in her honor. Helen and Allyn Lemme had two children, Lawrence and Paul.

Extent

0.25 linear inches

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Traces the family history of Helen Lemme, a civil rights activist who was named Iowa City's first Woman of the Year in 1955.

Arrangement

One folder, shelved in SCVF.

Method of Acquisition

The papers (donor no. 362) were donated by Lawrence Lemme in 1996.

Related Materials

League of Women Voters of Johnson County records (IWA): Helen Lemme actively participated in this organization during the 1940s and 1950s. Throughout those decades, she held various positions of leadership, including serving as chair of the Education Department, as a member of the Board of Directors, as local program chair, as second vice-president of the local league, as a delegate to the League of Women Voters' National Convention, as director of Voters Service, and as chair of the Speakers Bureau. For documentation of her involvement, see, for example, annual reports, 1941-1955; Board of Directors files, 1941-1980; and membership lists, 1944-1967.