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Polly Ely papers

 Collection
Identifier: IWA0829

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Scope and Contents

The Polly Ely papers date from 1937 to 2008. The papers are arranged in ten series: Biographical, Correspondence, Education, Organizations: General, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, Global Cedar Rapids, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Nations, Artifacts, and Audiovisual.

The Biographical series (1937-2008) contains material from throughout Ely's life, from swim meet ribbons and items from her time at Mount Holyoke College to her obituary, including a journal and materials from her participation in various organizations. Also included are wall calendars kept by Ely over a 25-year period, as well as a weekly at-a-glance pocket calendar.

Many aspects of Ely's life are represented in the Correspondence series (1942-2008): personal and family life, church activities, and the outpouring of sympathy upon her death. The folder of political correspondence from the 1970s contains responses to letters Polly and John Ely wrote to Iowa congressmen on such varied issues as cuts to social programs, the Indochina War, and President Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon.

The Education series (1935-2001) is largely comprised of detailed notes Ely took during for her coursework at Mount Holyoke College and beyond. Also in this series are textbooks, college events memorabilia, and alumnae reunion materials.

The Organizations: General series (1962-2005) includes material related to the American Red Cross and Women for Peace, as well as resources on arms control and disarmament, including a chronology of events during the critical cold war years of 1961 and 1962. Material concerning Ely's work with RESULTS, a citizens' lobbying organization dedicated to eradicating hunger and poverty, is also included in this series. Completing the series are handbooks, notes, and other resources from workshops Ely attended.

The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission series (1963-2000) contains a history of the group and annual reports, as well as a brief filed on behalf of the complainant in a wrongful termination case centered on the question of whether alcoholism should be considered a disability under Cedar Rapids municipal code.

The Global Cedar Rapids series (1989-1995) concerns this charitable and educational organization Polly and John Ely helped found to promote discussion of international affairs and global citizenship.

The Unitarian Universalist Association series (1869-2007) contains handwritten notes and other material related to Ely's life as a member and leader of the Unitarian Universalist Peoples Church of Cedar Rapids. A history of Peoples Church is included.

The United Nations series (1966-1995) contains assorted Iowa United Nations Association-related materials, including nationally published booklets on issues such as peace and the status of Native American women, business papers and correspondence, and fundraising campaign information.

The Artifacts series (1981-2007) includes awards received by the Elys, among them the 2007 Louise Noun Civil Liberties Award presented by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union.

The Audiovisual series (1988-2007) consists for the most part of audio and video recordings relating to RESULTS and the Results Educational Fund. Also included is a recording of the an Easter service at Peoples Church and a 1990 videotape of interviews about the history of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.

Dates

  • Creation: 1937-2008

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

Shirley "Polly" Mathews Ward Ely, peace and civil rights activist, was born in 1920 to Nathaniel F. and Grace Mathews Ward of Worcester, Massachusetts. After earning a degree in zoology from Mount Holyoke College in 1941 and doing graduate work at Wellesley College, she married Cedar Rapids native John M. Ely, Jr., in 1942. The couple lived in New York City before settling in Iowa.

Polly Ely worked on behalf of numerous causes. She helped to found the first Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, the Iowa Medical Aid Fund, and the Iowa City chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. She protested the Vietnam War and worked with Women for Peace, was active in Iowans Against the Death Penalty and the United Nations Association, and was a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In later years she lobbied for RESULTS, an organization dedicated to ending poverty.

A longtime member of Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist (UU) of Cedar Rapids, Polly Ely served in the following capacities over the years: congregation president, director of religious education, and UU church camp chaperone. She was also active in Prairie Star District, the UUA's regional organization.

Polly Ely died of breast cancer in 2008.

Extent

4.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Peace and civil rights activist who was a longtime member of Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist in Cedar Rapids.

Method of Acquisition

The Polly Ely papers (donor number 1218) were donated by Martha Goralka in 2010.

Author
Maggie Halterman
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)