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Christie York papers

 Collection
Identifier: IWA0701

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Scope and Contents

The Christie York papers date from 1950 to 2001 and measure 5.3 linear feet. The Christie York papers are rich in information about a variety of topics, including daily life in Iowa, the graduate school experience at the University of Iowa, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics policies. The papers are arranged in the following series: Personal Information, Correspondence, Academic Papers, Family History Project, Professional, and Artifacts and Photographs.

The Personal Information portion of the Christie York papers consists mainly of biographical information about Christie York and her family. This segment of the collection contains records from Christie York's grade school and high school years, childhood drawings, and Girl Scout artifacts. The scrapbook from Christie York's senior year of high school is included in this portion of the collection, but is stored with the oversized materials in the Iowa Women's Archives. Personal information concerning members of the York family is also included in this series. These folders contain a variety of information, including school records of Christie York's sisters, detailed information about injuries caused by a drunk driver that Christie York's sister Faye York Broer sustained, art work from the Broer children, and articles written by Allison York. Records of Christie York's marriage and divorce are also in this series, as well as information about Raymond A. Smith's criminal records and trial for armed robbery. This portion of the collection also contains income tax records dating from 1982 to 1997.

Correspondence makes up the bulk of this collection, and is divided into two sub-series: Family Correspondence and Friends and Miscellaneous Correspondence. The family correspondence is organized by individual, with correspondence with York's closest relatives, i.e. her immediate family, at the beginning of the series. Within these letters is more information concerning the injuries suffered by Christie York's sister Faye York Broer as a result of a car accident with a drunk driver in 1985. These letters also shed light on daily life during the 1980s and 1990s, both in rural and urban settings in Iowa. Letters from Raymond A. Smith, Christie York's ex-husband, provide information about Iowa's penitentiary system, specifically Fort Madison and Anamosa, parole hearings, and Islam in the Iowa prison system. The letters and cards from Christie York's friends are organized by individual as well, with the letters of Sue Peabody, Nancy Turner, Kim Porter, and David Simpson removed until 2020 due to donor restrictions. Within the friends correspondence is discussion concerning yearly "best movie" lists, Iowa City/Cedar Rapids life, and Christie York's return to graduate school. Examples of wedding invitations, greeting cards, and graduation announcements from the 1970s through the 1990s are included in correspondence from both family and friends.

The Academic Papers series is rich in information about the graduate school experience in the University of Iowa's history department. This collection contains examples of student work, professor's comments, research and class notes, as well as peer-reviewed papers. Also included are a copy of Christie York's master's essay, syllabi from York's teaching assistant positions, comments written to her students, and pamphlets and correspondence pertaining to conferences moderated by Christie York. The papers are mostly from classes at the University of Iowa and are centered in such areas as United States Social History, History of Science, and Women's History. This series is divided into three main areas: Undergraduate Work, Graduate Work, and Teaching and Working in the University of Iowa History Department.

The Family History Project was completed as part of Christie York's undergraduate work at the University of Iowa. This series contains the research that York compiled for her paper, as well as a finished copy of the paper. Included in this series is the survey York distributed to her relatives, genealogical information about her family, and local history information about the What Cheer, Iowa area.

The Professional series contains information about Christie York's employment as a laboratory technician at Cargill in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and as a pharmacy technician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). Included are certifications obtained by York throughout her career, information about job searches, transcripts, and a copy of York's curriculum vitae (CV). This series also contains a collection of memos sent through electronic mail at the UIHC pharmacy. These e-mail memos contain information about pharmacy technician duties, UIHC policies, and worker relationship within the UIHC pharmacies.

The Artifacts and Photographs series includes Christie York's high school diploma and her degrees from Ellsworth Community College, The University of Indiana, and the University of Iowa. Photographs include those from her Family History Project as well as snapshots of friends and family, which make up the bulk of the photographs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1950-2001

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

Christie York was born on March 12, 1950 to Phyllis and Phillip York. She had three sisters, Faye, Merry, and Allison (Merry and Faye are twins). In 1968 Christie graduated from Iowa Falls High School, and went on to begin her college education at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. After receiving an Associate's Degree from Ellsworth Community College in 1970, Christie York enrolled at Indiana University. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Indiana University in 1972.

After completing her degree at Indiana University, Christie married Raymond A. Smith in March 1976. The marriage ended in divorce in 1981. During their marriage, Raymond was imprisoned in the Iowa penitentiary system for armed robbery. Further information about Raymond A. Smith's incarceration and trial is included with the personal information about Raymond A. Smith in the Biographical Information series of the Christie York papers.

From 1972 to 1988, Christie York worked at Cargill Corn Starch and Syrup in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She began working as a junior chemist and later worked as a process lab technician. In 1988, she began working as a laboratory assistant at San Labs in Cedar Rapids. At this time, Christie York was also a Teaching Assistant at the University of Iowa and an instructor at Kirkwood Community College. In 1982 Christie York entered the University of Iowa and received her Bachelor's Degree in History in 1984. She continued her studies in the University of Iowa History Department, receiving her Master's Degree in History in 1988. York entered the Ph.D. program in History at the University of Iowa. During her years in the University of Iowa History Department, Christie York also served as a Teaching Assistant, Representative to the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, and the Graduate Student Senate.

In 1990, Christie York was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award. In 1993, Christie York began working as a Pharmacy Technician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). While employed at UIHC, Christie York was a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 12, serving as a local union steward. She also worked on revising the UIHC policies on tardiness and sick leave.

In 1999, Christie York was diagnosed with Lou Gherig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). She died on October 13, 2001 from complications of the disease.

Extent

5.30 Linear Feet

Photographs in Box 13 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

University of Iowa graduate and laboratory assistant who was active in student government and served as a steward in AFSCME Local 12.

Method of Acquisition

The Christie York papers (donor no. 703) were donated by Christie York in 2000.

Author
Stacy Ross, 2001.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

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)