Kate Martinson papers

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: IWA0084

Scope and Contents

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The collection primarily consists photocopied versions of Kate Martinson's diary, 1872-1916, and a handwritten book of her poems, composed between 1908 and 1941. The materials measure 1 linear inch.

The facsimile of Martinson's diary includes a note indicating that it was recopied by Martinson's daughter Dagmar Martinson Johnson in 1956. Almost each year on October 2, from 1872 until 1893, Kate Martinson wrote about the previous year's activities including a recitation of marriages, births, and deaths in her family. Her diary also includes descriptions of the joys and hardships of life in rural Iowa, including a tender account of the brief life and death of an infant child.

After her marriage in 1897 to Andrew Martinson she resumed writing in her diary, although not with the regularity and depth as previously. Generally it was a report of the comings and goings of their children.

Photocopies of obituaries of Kate and Andrew Martinson are included, as is an original version of an article about Martinson from the Fall 1997 issue of The Iowan.

Dates

Creation: 1872-1956

Creator

Martinson, Kate, 1858-1941 (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

Kate Emily Anderson was born on October 16, 1858 in Rockford, Illinois. At age eleven she moved with her family to a homestead in Dickinson County, Iowa. In 1877 she married George Emerson and had four children, one of whom died in infancy. Kate Martinson managed the couple's home and land in Dickinson and Worth counties for more than twenty years, while George Emerson worked away from home for long periods of time. In 1889, Martinson learned that Emerson had another wife and children, and, though pregnant at the time, sent him away and eventually divorced him. In 1897 she married Andrew Martinson and they and their ten children farmed in the same area. She and Andrew moved to the town of Milford in 1917, where she was active in church affairs and in her favorite pastimes of writing and painting until her death in 1941.

Full Extent

1.00 linear inches

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Facsimiles of a diary and poetry notebook chronicling the late 19th and early 20th century life of an Iowa farm woman including her marriage, childrearing, family farm management, divorce, and remarriage.