Dorothy Elderdice (1892-1979) Papers, 1903-1987 | McDaniel College

By Victoria A. Childs, Barbara O'Brien

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Collection Overview

Title: Dorothy Elderdice (1892-1979) Papers, 1903-1987

Predominant Dates:1903-1930, 1948-1979

ID: MS/2009.4

Primary Creator: Elderdice, Dorothy (1892-1979)

Extent: 4.5 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Series, genre, chronological

Date Acquired: 00/00/1967. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: American Association of University Women, Emerson College of Oratory, Historical Society of Carroll County, Idaho Technical Institute, McDaniel College, National Council of Defense (U.S.), Wesley Theological Seminary, Western Maryland College, Westminster Theological Seminary (Westminster, Md.), Women - Cancer, Women - Politics, Women - Politics - Civil Rights, Women - Religion, Women - Rights, Women - War - Vietnam War 1961-1975, Women - War - World War I, Women - Writers - Pageants

Languages: English

Abstract

Papers and diaries of Dorothy Elderdice (1892-1979).

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection primarily consists of diaries, letters, photographs, awards, poetry, play notes, play lists, and a few of her pageants. Dorothy’s diaries are sporadic in the beginning, but at that time they are more detailed regarding her personal relationships with friends, and family. After 1948 the diaries feature social issues pertinent to the civil rights movement, equal rights for women, and human rights. She also continued to write about her friends and her daily life. Her last entries are about dealing with her final illness, cancer.

Most of the papers and diaries came to the college's archives shortly after she died. Dorothy wrote of diaries from when she was in Florida and Idaho, however these diaries were not received with her papers and diaries. There are also a number of years for which no diaries have been located (1931-1947). The early diaries were borrowed by the local American Association of University Women for transcription in the early 1980s and returned. Condolence letters sent to Ms. Shipley were sent on to the college’s archives at a later date. There was also a file from college president Ralph John’s office placed with her papers. This file is kept separately from her papers. Photographs were placed in two folders in Box 8. Pages were removed from two early diaries which had rusted metal binder rings. The pages were placed in order in file folders and the binders that held the pages were placed in envelopes and then with their respective pages.

Subject/Index Terms

American Association of University Women
Emerson College of Oratory
Historical Society of Carroll County
Idaho Technical Institute
McDaniel College
National Council of Defense (U.S.)
Wesley Theological Seminary
Western Maryland College
Westminster Theological Seminary (Westminster, Md.)
Women - Cancer
Women - Politics
Women - Politics - Civil Rights
Women - Religion
Women - Rights
Women - War - Vietnam War 1961-1975
Women - War - World War I
Women - Writers - Pageants

Administrative Information

Repository: McDaniel College

Accruals: Diaries and papers were aquired in 1981

Alternate Extent Statement: 9 document cases

Access Restrictions: Unrestricted

Use Restrictions:

Copyright: McDaniel College may hold copyright to sections of this material.

McDaniel College makes no representation that it is the owner of any copyright or other literary property in the materials contained in its archives and special collections, (b) that in providing access to or permitting the reproduction of any such materials, McDaniel Archives does not assume any responsibility for obtaining or granting any permission to publish or use the same, and (c) that the responsibility (i) for determining the nature of any rights, and the ownership or interest therein, and for obtaining the appropriate permissions to publish or use and (ii) for determining the nature of any liabilities (including liabilities for defamation and invasion of privacy or publicity) that may arise from any publication or use, rest entirely with the researcher.

Copying: Papers may be copied in accordance with the Archives' usual procedures.

Physical Access Note: Photographs are kept in cold storage. Please notify Archives 24 hours in advance to research photographs.

Acquisition Source: Dorothy Elderdice and Dorothy Elderdice Estate

Acquisition Method:

Medals were given to the college by Dorothy Elderdice in 1967 for the college's Centenniel Anniversary.

Papers and diaries were bequeathed to the college as part of Dorothy Elderice's estate and received by the college in 1981.

Appraisal Information:

Dorothy Elderdice, in later diaries, mentions annual diaries for 1930-1948. These diaries were not in her papers when they were donated to the college. An attempt to find them was conducted by the Carroll County Branch of the Association of University and College Women in 1980 and none for this period were found.

See Series 7-8

Separated Materials:

Western Maryland College, Bachelor of Arts diploma in RG34, box B00076.

Photographs in freezer.

Related Materials: For more information please see http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/peace/DG001-025/DG001JAddams/series04.html.

Preferred Citation:

Dorothy Elderdice (1892-1979) Papers, MS 2009.4, McDaniel College Archives, Westminster, MD.

See:

http://libguides.hoover.mcdaniel.edu/content.php?pid=86700&sid=2698436

Finding Aid Revision History: Rewritten in 2010 by Barbara O'Brien 2011 folder level description by Megan McCole

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Diaries, 1903-1979],
[Box B00086: Unpublished Manuscripts],
[Box B00087],
[Box B00088],
[Box B00373: Photographs, Bulk 1911],
[Box B00549: Literary Society Pins and Award Medals, 1908 - 1917],
[All]

Series 1: Diaries, 1903-1979

Boxes 1-6

Box B00080

B00080

Folder F0000883: Diary 1, 1903-1928: This diary provides insight into the education of a female in the early 20th century. Newspaper clippings on pages 74, 117, and 129 relating to the events discussed. Missing pages 17 and 18.
Folder F0000884: "My Commencement", 1907: Descriptions of classmates, including Dorothy Elderdice, were written by Edith May Lippy. Pages 3-10,13-20, 23-92, and 111-124 appear to have been cut out.
Folder F0000885: Diary 2, 1915-1920: This folder contains the binder but not the pages from this diary.
Folder F0000886: Diary 2 - Columbus Trip, 1915-1920: Postcards, newspaper clippings, and photographs from a trip.
Folder F0000887: Diary 2 - L1-9, 1915-1920: Description of her trip to Columbus, Ohio with postcards and a program from the National Convention of the Young People's Union.
Folder F0000888: Diary 2 - L10-15, 1915-1920: A continuation of the previous folder's description of Elderdice's trip to Columbus, Ohio.
Folder F0000889: Diary 2 - L16-21, 1915-1920: These pages are interrupted by the inclusion of a letter to Elderdice's brother Latimer, as well as photographs and newspaper clippings. These papers conclude her written description of the trip.
Folder F0000890: Diary 2 - L22-27, 1915-1920: These pages detail various programs Dorothy Elderdice gave in Maryland as well as detailing a trip to New York.
Folder F0000891: Diary 2 - L28-35, 1915-1920: Photographs including some women from the YWCA.
Folder F0000892: Letter from Leland Powers School, August 29, 1917: Letter written to Reverend Edgar T. Read regarding Dorothy Elderdice.
Folder F0000893: Papers: These papers include a letter from "Betsy Ross" encouraging young girls to help make bandages, two letters written by Dorothy to her mother as well as one to her father, a program, and a photocopy of a newspaper clipping.
Folder F0000894: Diary 3, 1924: This diary begins in January of 1924 and is much more faithfully kept than the previous ones. Most of the entries discuss work on plays.
Folder F0000895: Letter, January 3, 1924
Folder F0000896: Diary 4 - Binding, 1924-1925: This folder contains the binding of Dorothy Elderdice's diary. The pages can be found in the following folders.
Folder F0000897: Diary 4 - L1-14, 1924-1925: Dorothy Elderidce includes a section she calls "Experience of a Gentile in a Jewish Girl's Camp," which details her experience at a camp for Jewish women. At the end of these pages, Elderdice includes her feelings on several nationalities including, Italians, Chinese, Russians, as well as the Jews from New York and from the camp.
Folder F0000898: Diary 4 - L15-26, 1924-1925: These pages include a newspaper clipping detailing the murder of a man in Westminster, MD.
Folder F0000899: Diary 4 - L27-33, 1924-1925: Includes a newspaper clipping.
Folder F0000900: Diary 4 - L34-47, 1924-1925: Dorothy Elderdice describes her experience with ether after a surgery to fix her arm in L38-39.
Folder F0000901: Diary 4 - L48-54, 1924-1925: These pages are blank.
Folder F0000902: Diary 4 - L55-66, 1924-1925: Newspaper clipping L57. These pages appear to be notes from throught the year: notes concerning the Christmas play, expenditures, lists, etc. A piece of paper with a ditty to Dorothy Elderdice. C.O.A.N Room Inventory. Adresses of Avant Club. Schedule of Clubs - C.O.A.N.

Box B00081

B00081

Folder F0000903: Diary 5 - Binder, 1925-1930
Folder F0000904: Diary 5 - L1-10, 1925-1930: This diary begins when Dorothy Elderdice goes to West Palm Beach, Florida and is mostly focused on her actions regarding her Drama Institute.
Folder F0000905: Diary 5 - L11-22, 1925-1930: Includes text of a speech Dorothy Elderdice gave for a Y.W.C.A. Drive at Wagg Memorial Church (L17-21).
Folder F0000906: Diary 5 - L23-33, 1925-1930: Letter to John Temple Graves regarding a desire to find solitude in Florida (L23-32). L33 is verse entitled "The Bark Temple".
Folder F0000907: Diary 5 - L34-41, 1925-1930: These pages continue detailing Dorothy Elderdice's work in Florida.
Folder F0000908: Diary 5 - L42-52, 1925-1930: These pages begin with January 1, 1927 but quickly skip ahead to August after Dorothy Elderdice has moved from Florida back to Westminster.
Folder F0000909: Diary 5 - L53-59, 1925-1930: L56 is titled "Facts and Interpretations," Radio- Fosdick October 26, 1930. L57-58 - "Settlement Houses," Jane Addams. L59 - "What is Real?" Jane Addams, p69.
Folder F0000910: Diary 5 - L60-75, 1925-1930: These pages do not follow the typical diary style that has been followed so far.
Folder F0000911: Diary 5 - Letter from Charles E. Read, March 11, 1978
Folder F0000912: Diary 6 - Travel Diary, 1930: This travel book details Dorothy Elderdice's trip abroad.
Folder F0000913: Diary 6 - Travel Diary: These loose pages include newspaper clippings, letters, postacards, a piece entitled "Oberammergau in Kaleidoscope", as well as photographs from the trip.
Folder F0000914: Diary 7, 1929-1930: This diary has two entries on each page, one from 1929 and one from 1930, each only a few lines long. Blank entries from June 26 -August 26, 1930 when she was in Europe.
Folder F0000915: Diary 8, 1948: A daily calendar that appears to have been written in religiously.
Folder F0000916: Diary 9, 1949: Dairy from 1949 is blank from July 7-September 2 while Dorothy Elderdice is away. A few newspaper clippings of obituaries.

Box B00082

B00082

Folder F0000917: Diary 10, 1950
Folder F0000918: Diary 11, 1951
Folder F0000919: Diary 12, 1952
Folder F0000920: Diary 13, 1953
Folder F0000921: Diary 14, 1954
Folder F0000922: Diary 15, 1955
Folder F0000923: Diary 16, 1956
Folder F0000924: Diary 17, 1957
Folder F0000925: Diary 18, 1958
Folder F0000926: Diary 19, 1959
Folder F0000927: Letter from inside of 1959 diary, September 201959

Box B00083

B00083

Folder F0000928: Diary 20, 1960: Newspaper clippings of an obituary on March 31, a wedding on June 11, program clipping from Jane Addams Luncheon on September 17.
Folder F0000929: Diary 21, 1961: Obituary of Dorothy Elderdice's sister-in-law clipped form newspaper on August 28, a clipping on September 5.
Folder F0000930: Christmas Letter, 1961
Folder F0000931: Diary 22, 1962: Diary is blank from July 6-26 while Dorothy Elderdice is in Mexico, a few entries regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis, although they are not long ones.
Folder F0000932: Diary 23, 1963: A newspaper clipping on August 28 relates that Dorothy Elderdice participates in the March on Washinton for Jobs and Freedom, the entries from November 22-26 relate to the reaction to the assassination of John F. Kennedy,
Folder F0000933: Memorabilia, 1963: Map to Gettysburg on Program for "Vignettes"
Folder F0000934: Diary 24, 1964
Folder F0000935: Diary 25, January-July 1965: March 14th's entry details how Dorothy Elderdice met Lyndon B. Johnson.
Folder F0000936: Diary 26, July-December 1965: This book is used as Dorothy Elderdice's journal while she is in Europe for a pageant from July 19- August 19. The journal is continued after the trip ends. Although the cover states that the diary ends on December 31st, there are entries for January 1-3, 1966 as well.
Folder F0000937: Diary 27, 1966
Folder F0000938: Diary 28, 1967
Folder F0000939: Papers, 1967: A newspaper clipping from October 30 "Individual Thought Stressed by Bishop," a hand drawn map, a program from WMC's play "The Trial," and a paper for a Catholic mass.

Box B00084

B00084

Folder F0000940: Diary 29, 1968: Dorothy Elderdice comments briefly on the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and the riots that followed in Baltimore (April 7,8,10,), newspaper clipping of obituary on May 2, comments on the assassination of Robert Kennedy, a clipping about a film shown by Renee Taylor, several other newspaper clippings apparently missing.
Folder F0000941: Diary 30, 1969: Comments on watching the moonwalk.
Folder F0000942: Papers, 1969: Copy of verse from newspaper, ad for Stratmore Hall.
Folder F0000943: Diary 31, 1970: Inclusion of a guest list on May 20, 100th commencement of WMC on June 7.
Folder F0000944: Diary 32, 1971: Entries mentioning the Super Bowl, Apollo 14 launch, moonwalk and return, bombing at the Capitol - March 1, anti-war crusade - May 3, Moon landing - July 31, splashdown - August 7, most of the entires from August 23-October 14 deal with Latimer Elderdice's illness and his death on October 15.
Folder F0000945: Diary 33, 1972: April 27 - splashdown of Apollo 16, May 15 - shooting of Governor Wallace, June 22 - Storm Agnes, September 1-2 - "racial conflicts" mentioned.
Folder F0000946: Diary 34, 1973: May 22-June 4 - pages blank while Dorothy Elderdice is abroad.

Box B00085

B00085

Folder F0000947: Diary 35, 1974: July 24-30, August 6m 8 - President Nixon's impeachment trial and resignation.
Folder F0000948: Diary 36, 1975: Much of Dorothy Elderdice's time was spent working on various Bicentennial projects for the county.
Folder F0000949: Diary 37, 1976: The majority of the entries from the first half of the year are spent discussing the bicenntenial costumes and celebrations that Dorothy Elderdice is involved in. November 11 - newspaper clipping about Elderdice's wish to leave her costumes to the Carroll County School District.
Folder F0000950: Diary 38, 1977
Folder F0000951: Diary 39, 1978: Much of June and July are taken up by the work Dorothy Elderdice was doing to process the turn over of her costume business to the Carroll County Players. Dorothy Elderdice had surgery to remove a tumor on September 13. Many of the entries for the next several months are dealing with her recovery.
Folder F0000952: Diary 40, 1979: August 29 - Last entry, stating that Dorothy Elderdice will be leaving the hospital two days later. Dorothy Elderdice dies on October 1.