Women's Manuscript Collections:
A Guide to Resources in the University of Louisville's Archives and Records Center

Browse by Source/Type of Material:

The University of Louisville's Archives and Records Center has many collections that shed light on women's lives in Louisville through history. This Guide highlights these materials, and provides a starting place for research.

These resources may also be browsed in alphabetical order.

Manuscript Collections

Gerta Bendl (1931-1987) Papers, 1957-1987 (bulk 1970-1987)
15.5 linear feet
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Gerta Bendl was a neighborhood activist and politician. Bendl served as a Louisville, Kentucky, alderman from 1970 to 1975 and as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1975 to 1987. The collection's focus is on Bendl's political career and consists of a scrapbook, memorabilia, and research files.

Emma Smith Ratterman Branch (1894-1987) Papers, 1922-1928
.10 linear foot
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Republican Emma Smith Ratterman was the first female elected to the Louisville Board of Council. (From 1851 to 1929 Louisville was governed by a bicameral government consisting of the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Council.) She represented the First Ward from November of 1921 until the Council was disbanded in 1929. She also served as president of the Council from 1927 to 1929, the first woman to hold that position. Ratterman's first husband, Raymond G. Ratterman, who she married in 1915, died in 1932. She later married William Branch who also preceded her in death. This collection consists of a few pieces of correspondence, clippings, and printed material relating to the political career of Emma Smith Ratterman Branch.

Natalia Brodschi (1910-1986) Papers within the George Brodschi Papers, 1928-1982 (bulk 1948-1958)
1.25 linear feet
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Natalia Brodschi and her husband, George, met in Romania as college students and immigrated to the United States in the 1940s. Natalia Brodschi's papers within the collection consist of some of her literary writings, legal papers, diplomas, birth certificates, academic records and naturalization records. Some of the papers are written in Romanian.

Evelyn (1871-1972) and Edward Bush Papers, 1903-1972
.75 linear feet
Evelyn Bush was an osteopath who entered her profession when she disagreed with doctors' prognosis for her son Edward, who was born with cerebral palsy. When her son's condition was declared hopeless, she enrolled in the School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, graduating in 1903. She moved to Kentucky upon graduation. The collection consists of Bush's obituary, and ninety-six lantern slides of osteopath cases used in her practice. Also included are her son's reminiscence of stories of his birth and his mother's reaction to his handicap.

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Floyd Smith Carpenter Papers, 1905-1961 (bulk 1913-1922)
1 linear feet
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Floyd Smith Carpenter was born around 1896. He grew up in Pewee Valley, Kentucky and graduated in 1917 from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana. He then worked as an engineer for the Louisville Gas and Electric Company. The personal papers of Floyd Smith Carpenter contain approximately 600 letters to him from his family (most of the letters were from women) concerning events going on in the neighborhood, high school, and Rose Polytechnic Institute.

Virginia Chance Papers, 1958-1969
.75 linear feet
Virginia T. Chance was a pioneer in early childhood education as the founder and director of Mrs. Chance's Community PreSchool in Louisville, Kentucky. The collection includes three scrapbooks maintained by Chance and photographs, correspondence, brochures, clippings, and memorabilia from the school. There are also publications and correspondence relating to the Southern Association on Children Under Six, in which Chance was an active member.

Lillie Foell Clar (1884-1972) Papers, 1890s-1940s (bulk 1900-1920)
3 linear feet
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Lillie Foell Clar taught penmanship in the Louisville, Kentucky, schools. Clar's papers describe her lifetime, especially her early years. Included are school notes and several of her early textbooks from the 1890s and early 1900s, postcards dating from the early 1900s to the early 1940s and some correspondence, photographs, and articles.

Craik-Lord-Stitzel Family (Elizabeth Lord Stitzel, Emma Stitzel, Emma Lou Wheeler, Julia Lord) Papers, 1818-1950 (bulk 1905-1932)
3 linear feet
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The papers of the Craik-Lord-Stitzel family document the personal lives of its women members. The domestic front activities of an active family are detailed in the correspondence. Some of the activities mentioned in the letters are Red Cross knitting, canteen work, and weekend dances for Camp Taylor soldiers during World War I.

The Conference on Women's Health Care Issues, Louisville, Kentucky, 1983-1996
1.25 linear feet
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The Conference on Women's Health Care Issues, Inc. was organized in mid-1983 and incorporated in January 1984 as a completely volunteer organization to conduct conferences and otherwise educate the public about women's health care issues. Conferences on women's health issues were held in Louisville consecutively from 1983 to 1991 and covered a wide range of health issues and concerns. The conference organizers met for the last time in 1993 and the financial books were closed in 1996. This collection consists of all organizational papers, minutes, financial records, correspondence, mailing lists and conference programs of the Conference on Women's Health Care Issues, Inc., which existed from 1983 to 1993 for the purpose of presenting conferences and other educational forums on women's health care issues.

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Transcript of Mary Craik, et al. v. The Minnesota State University Board, et. al., United States District Court, District of Minnesota, Sixth Division, 1981
1.75 linear feet
Educational psychologist turned fiber artist Mary Craik was born in Louisville in 1924. In 1947 she left Louisville, and at age 27 returned to school, eventually earning a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Iowa in 1968. That same year she took a position at St. Cloud State University (Minnesota). In 1976 Craik was passed over for the position of chair of the Psychology Department after being considered the top candidate. She sued the university and others in U.S. District Court, alleging class-wide and individual sexual discrimination in employment. In 1981 the defendants were held to be not guilty of unlawful discrimination as to class or to individuals. Upon appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit in 1984, the lower court's decision was reversed in part. As a result of this successful lawsuit brought by Mary Craik, lump sum payments were ordered for female faculty members who were victims of discrimination and the university was under court supervision to rectify discriminatory practices against women faculty.

Returning to Louisville in 1990, Craik used her money from the settlement to set up a scholarship fund for women students with financial need at the University of Louisville, with preference given to single parents, full-time students, or women pursuing Women's and Gender Studies degrees. In 2006 Mary Craik donated a copy of the entire transcript of the 1981 trial to the University of Louisville Archives and Records Center. Although court decisions are fairly easy to find at law libraries, the entire transcript of a case is rare. In this instance, the transcript was used for research by the attorneys for other female faculty members in later class action suits.

Agnes Snyder Crume (1921-?) Papers, 1938-1988 (bulk 1938-1946)
.575 linear feet
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Agnes Snyder Crume served as senior editor of the Louisville magazine in the mid-1980s. The papers primarily consist of letters dating from 1938 to 1946 between Agnes Snyder and John Crume, who she later married. Other materials include clippings of stories that Agnes Crume wrote as a reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal, personal correspondence of the Crumes, and articles written by Agnes Crume for Louisville magazine.

Allene Curry, (1924-?) Diaries, 1937-1992
.2 linear feet, 2 reels
Allene Curry, a Taylor County, Kentucky, farmer and housewife, began writing in five-year diaries in 1937 at the age of thirteen. The collection consists of eleven volumes of five-year diaries on microfilm dating from 1937 to 1992. The diaries document Curry's interests and family life in rural Kentucky.

Laura Miller Derry, (1905-1993) Papers, 1883-1992 (bulk 1937-1988)
30.375 linear feet
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Laura Miller Derry, a Louisville attorney, was the first female to represent a client before a United States Army court-martial. Derry also compiled the Digest of Woman Lawyers and Judges (1949). She was an active member of the National Association of Women Lawyers. The collection documents Derry's personal life and law practice.

Eva Rice Gaunt Papers, 1890-1919
.25 linear feet
Eva Rice Gaunt attended Bryant and Stratton Business College in Louisville, Kentucky in 1901. The collection documents life in Louisville at the turn of the twentieth century. The collection consists of playbills, clippings, memorabilia, and some personal photographs.

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Jennie S. Green and Ella Green in the Green Family Farm Records, 1831-1965 (bulk 1890-1965)
61 linear feet
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The Green family farm started as a homestead and developed into a major mercantile enterprise. The family was involved in farming, lumbering, milling, banking, general store keeping and stock breeding. In the 1940s Jennie S. Green inherited full ownership of the business when her three brothers died. Jennie Green ran the operations until her death in 1965. The collection includes correspondence between Jennie Green and family members, and the business records of the farm, store, and mill. There is also an extensive photographic collection that documents farm operations and family life in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century.

Green Street Baptist Church Records, 1844-1994
3 linear feet
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The Green Street Baptist Church, one of Kentucky's oldest black churches, was founded in 1844 by George Wells as an offshoot of the First Baptist Church and was originally named Second African Church, which was later changed to the Second Colored Church. The present name was adopted around 1860. The collection contains minutes documenting membership, policy changes and disciplinary methods; correspondence; newspaper clippings; photographs; the sesquicentennial celebration book and calendar, 1844-1994; and programs noting anniversaries in 1978, 1980, and 1981, and the celebration of Women's Day in 1978.

Christine Hesse (1921-1995) Papers 1936-1966
.50 linear feet
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Native Louisvillian Christine Hesse was one of two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hesse. She joined Dun & Bradstreet as secretary upon graduating from Shawnee High School in 1939 and worked her way up to researcher before retiring. Hesse was active in her church and the community, including the Republican Women's Association, the American Business Women's Association, the American Bell Association, and the Order of the Eastern Star. Her hobbies included writing poetry and articles for small local and trade publications. Hesse never married, although the World War II correspondence reveals at least two quite interested suitors. After her father's death, Hesse cared for her mother and two aunts. Hesse died in Louisville in November 1995. This small collection includes samples of Hesse's poetry, her diaries and other personal writings, and her World War II correspondence with five different soldiers, at least two of who appeared to be serious beaux.

Tina Hester Papers, 1994-1999
.50 linear foot
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Tina Hester was a feminist activist who lived in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1990s. The collection includes information from various feminist groups of which Hester was a member or involved; topical files of printed material, news clippings, correspondence, and notes on political topics or events; and campaign materials and information files on various candidates for local and state elected offices.

Mariam Sidebottom Houchens (1904-1985) Papers, 1938-1987
2.5 linear feet
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Mariam Sidebottoms Houchens was married to longtime University of Louisville administrator John Houchens. She actively participated in the university community and was a longtime member of the University of Louisville Women's Club. The materials include genealogical information, clippings, unpublished and published writings, and materials relating to various clubs and organizations to which she belonged.

Anna Hubbard (1902-1986) Papers, 16.75 linear feet in the 34.25 linear foot Harlan and Anna Hubbard Papers
34.25 linear feet
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Anna (Eikenhout) Hubbard, a librarian, married writer/artist Harlan Hubbard when he was forty-three and she was forty. Together they embarked on an unorthodox and simple "back-to-nature" lifestyle. They built a houseboat and floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. Their travels were documented by Harlan in Harlan Hubbard Journals, 1929-1944, Shantyboat On The Bayous, Payne Hollow, and Shantyboat Journal. Upon their return to Kentucky, they built a remote homestead on the Ohio River, where they lived for the rest of their lives. The collection contains correspondence between Anna and Harlan, financial and legal documents, printed materials, photographs and ephemera. Also included are Anna Hubbard's papers created prior to their marriage, her personal educational records and notes, along with diaries and journals, her literary productions, and pre-1943 memorabilia.

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Selma Jacob Papers, 1987-1996
1 linear foot
Selma Jacob, author, businesswoman, and arts promoter, was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1905. She and her husband Hyman Jacob owned Chilton Jewelers on Fourth Street for many years. They later managed a jewelry concession at 14th and Jefferson streets. She operated the business on her own for four years following her husband's death in 1980. Jacob had a lifelong interest in the arts, but it was only after her retirement that she made a name for herself as a writer, motivational speaker, and founder and director of several writing and acting groups. She served as a catalyst and nurturer of other writers and actors. She established the Cherokee Roundtable in 1986 and wrote the group's monthly newsletter, as well as other newsletters for other arts groups. She was also a longtime supporter various theater groups in the area. Jacob wrote and produced several plays locally. In 1995 her first book, Once You're Over the Hill, You Begin to Pick Up Speed!, appeared. She was working on a second book when she died in 1996. The Selma Jacob Papers consist largely of the literary material from her later retirement years, concentrating in the years from 1987 to 1996. About .3 linear feet of the collection is personal information in the form of legal documents, printed material or memorabilia.

Helen Laird Papers, 1959-1977
Volume: 1 linear feet
Helen Laird served on the Board of Directors of the Family and Children's Agency from 1958 to 1977. The papers relate to the activities of the agency and included are reports, budget materials, minutes, and informational pamphlets.

League of Women Voters Records, 1920-1984 (bulk 1920-1980)
50.5 linear feet
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The League of Women Voters in Louisville was formed in November 1920, when the Woman Suffrage Association and School Election League merged. The records include administrative materials, audits, annual reports, publications, reference files, minutes, clippings, correspondence, and program files arranged by subject.

Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing Student Records, 1915-1977
1 linear foot
The Louisville Training School for Nurses, connected with the City Hospital was chartered through the efforts of Louisville philanthropist Jenny Casseday and opened in 1887, just fourteen years after the first training school for nurses in the United States was established. Following a disagreement with the school's board and closure of the school in 1894, the Louisville Board of Public Safety immediately opened a new school at the hospital. First-year students from the previous school finished at the new school. In 1942 Louisville and Jefferson County merged their public health services under the Louisville/Jefferson County Board of Health and took control of the hospital, now named Louisville General Hospital (LGH). The school's name was accordingly changed to the Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing (LGHSN). The school was racially integrated in 1954 and admitted its first male student in 1964. In 1958 it received national accreditation. In 1967, the LGHSN graduated its last class. This collection consists of over 1100 final grade reports for graduates of the LGHSN, dating from 1915 to 1967. There are also two grade books from the LGH Nurse Aid Training School, documenting over 650 students in that program from 1969 through 1977. All student records are restricted and require permission of the University Archivist for use.

Louisville Girls High School Alumnae Club Records (1903-1988, 1919)
1.6 linear feet
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The Louisville Girls High School was established part of the original charter creating the city of Louisville with "education of females" to be a responsibility of the city. The first Louisville Female High School opened in 1856 on Green Street (now Liberty) and shortly thereafter moved to the corner of Center and Walnut Streets. A new site on First Street was dedicated in 1864 and served as the Louisville Female High School until 1898 when the enrollment outgrew the old facilities. Combined with branch girls' schools of Eastern and Western and the Commercial High Schools, Louisville Female School then moved to Fifth and Hill Streets. The school formally changed its name in 1903 to the Louisville Girls High School and continued to grow rapidly. Other girls high schools opened in 1924 (J. M. Atherton High School for Girls) and 1929 (Shawnee Girls High School), but LGHS continued to grow. In 1934, the Reuben Post Halleck Hall was dedicated on nine acres at Second and Lee Streets. It served as Louisville Girls High School until the last class graduated in 1950; at that time, it became coeducational and changed names to DuPont Manual. This small collection (1.6 linear feet) features histories, mementos, yearbooks, photographs and newspaper clippings associated with the Louisville Girls High School and its Alumnae Club.

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MacDowell Music Club Records, 1931-ongoing
9.10 linear feet
The MacDowell Music Club was founded in 1923 and named after the American composer Edward MacDowell. Though apparently not restricted to female membership, historically, the majority of its members have been women. The club sponsors scholarships and assists young people's attendance at music camps. The collection contains minutes, correspondence, scrapbooks, and photographs.

Margaret Merrick Papers, 1990-1997
.5 linear feet
Margaret T. Merrick lives in Louisville and is an active member of the Friends of the Louisville Free Public Library and the Friends of the Iroquois Branch Library. This collection of papers dating from 1990 through 1997 documents her participation in both organizations, including her term on the Board of Directors of the Friends from 1993 to 1998, serving as president from 1994 to 1995 and secretary from 1996 to 1998. She was also chair of the Friends of the Iroquois Branch from 1997 to 1999. The collection includes by-laws, minutes, financial reports, printed material, and correspondence. Some years there is material on the annual Author's Dinner and/or the semi-annual Book Sales.

Lois Morris (1919-1989) Papers, 1920-1988 (bulk 1955-1988)
10.75 linear feet
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Lois Morris was a former Louisville, Kentucky, alderman and a civil rights leader. Morris was a prominent member of Louisville African American society and served on the desegregation committee for the Jefferson County schools. Morris' papers are arranged in eight series: biographical; correspondence; political; financial; clubs/groups social civic; organizations political; reference; and scrapbook material.

National Organization for Women (NOW), Jefferson County Chapter Organizational records, circa 1986-2001
5.875 linear feet
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The National Organization for Women, Jefferson County Chapter was founded in the late 1960s and early 1970s working on issues such as equal pay, promotion and treatment on the job; rape prevention, medical and police treatment of rape victims, including counseling thereafter; and abortion availability and counseling. Many of the early meetings were held at the Jefferson Community College, but membership drew heavily from working women and faculty and students at nearby colleges. This collection includes organizational records (minutes, financial records, and correspondence) publications, reference files, chapter newsletters, meeting notice flyers and post cards, occasional agendas, articles and letters to editors regarding upcoming meetings, and memorabilia.

Oak Park Woman's Club Records, 1952-1998
4 linear feet
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The Oak Park Woman's Club was founded in 1953 as a neighborhood women's organization in Jeffersonville, Indiana, with the purpose of bringing together women of the community to help each other and promote the welfare of the local area. The members worked on civic and social issues, holding fundraisers such as rummage sales, card parties, and an annual Christmas bazaar and auction. Money raised was distributed to charitable organizations and used to fund scholarships in southern Indiana. It appears that the group disbanded in 1998. This collection includes copies of by-laws, financial records, minutes, correspondence, reports, and scrapbooks from 1952 through 1998 which document the activities of the Oak Park Women's Club.

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Edith Oldham (1923- ) Papers, 1923-1995 (bulk 1975-1995)
1.75 linear feet
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Edith Oldham was a Jefferson County, Kentucky, school teacher. The collection contains genealogical information, photographs and Oldham's literary productions: poems, short stories, essays, and observations.

Presbyterian Community Center Records, 1900 ca.-1960s
12 linear feet
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The original Presbyterian Colored Mission was started as a small Sunday School in 1898. The activities expanded over the years and included sewing classes, manual training, cooking classes, playgrounds and activities for old age groups. This collection includes annual reports, correspondence, photographs, minutes, reports of audits, programs, and scrapbooks of news clippings and printed materials.

Pro-Choice Coalition of Kentucky Records, 1989-2000
1.75 linear feet
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After coming together in 1989 as a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Court's Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services decision, the 28 member organization had strong and active participation from state affiliate groups. The Pro-Choice Coalition of Kentucky was an umbrella group which rallied to protect the reproductive rights of Kentucky women with help from groups such as the American Association of University Women, the American Civil Liberties Union, Business and Professional Women, and the League of Women Voters, the National Council of Jewish Women, the National Organization for Women, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Planned Parenthood, and many others. The PCCK had active participation in the Kentucky legislation where the Coalition's member organizations provided volunteers who traveled to the capitol frequently to meet with legislators to discuss strategies. The Pro-Choice Coalition of Kentucky disbanded in 2005 due to organizational issues. This 1.75 linear foot collection consists mostly of financial records with a small amount of correspondence and published materials concerning the beliefs and bylaws of the organization.

Rebecca and Mary Shoppe Records, 1944-1947 (bulk 1944-1946)
.5 linear feet
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The Rebecca and Mary Shoppe was a women's apparel shop owned by two women, Rebecca Aldridge and Mary K. Shuster. The shop was located in the Brown Building at Fourth and Broadway in Louisville, Kentucky. The collection contains financial records for the shop, deposit slips, invoices, inventories, ledger books, licenses, tax forms, a lease, and petty cash records.

Cleda Ruddell (1891-1988) Papers, 1864-1975
5 linear feet
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Cleda Ruddell, a native of Indiana, was an only child who never married. Her collection includes the correspondence of her mother, Estelle. One letter, dated in January 1864, was written by Cleda's uncle who was fighting against the Confederate Army in Tennessee. Also present in the collection are correspondence, diaries, financial records, photographs, and family Bibles.

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Swagar Sherley Papers, 1880-1941
27 linear feet
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Swagar Sherley was an attorney in Louisville and a United States congressman from 1903 to 1919. On a 1905 congressional party trip to the Orient (known as the Taft Party), he met Mignon Critten, a companion of Alice Roosevelt. They married in 1906. The Swagar Sherley papers include a diary kept by Mignon during the trip, correspondence and family memorabilia.

Smith Family Papers, 1897-1978
9.25 linear feet
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The Smith family were influential members of Louisville's black community. Verna Smith was a member of the National Housewives League and served the Democratic Party on the local and national level. She was the first black president of a local Democratic club and the first black woman to be a co-captain of a precinct. Charlotte Smith McGill was married to Hughes McGill, a member of the Kentucky legislature. At his death in 1970, Charlotte consented to serve out his unexpired term. In 1971 she was elected to the first of three full terms on her own. The collection contains correspondence, financial and legal documents, scrapbooks, and photographs.

Emilie Strong Smith Papers, 1953-1980
1.25
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Emilie Strong Smith was a supporter of the performing arts in Louisville. The collection document three of Smith's endeavors: the Chamber Music Society; the Lee Luvisi Fund, to support a prominent local pianist; and the Save the Playhouse campaign.

Eva Sesmer and Herbert Mitchell Snyder Papers, 1908-1978
1 linear feet
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Eva Sesmer Snyder of Louisville, Kentucky was a Russian emigre. She was a World War I Army nurse, teacher of United States citizenship and the Russian language, a relief nurse during the 1937 flood and author of several poems and articles. Her writings dealt largely with items of local interest, her husband's work as a local pharmacist, and patriotic themes. The papers include correspondence, photographs, financial documents, literary productions and memorabilia. See also collection at Kornhauser Health Sciences Library.

Alice Speed Stoll Papers (1914-1945, incomplete)
.25 linear feet
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This small collection of papers was found at an auction and then given to the University Archives. There was nothing to identify the papers as a whole, but most of the items have some reference to prominent Louisvillians Alice Speed Stoll or her husband Berry Stoll, including correspondence addressed to one or both of them. Alice Speed Stoll was the daughter of William S. Speed, president of the Louisville Cement Company and founder of the Louisville Collegiate School. Berry Stoll was the vice-president of Stoll Oil Refining Company and the son of its president, Charles C. Stoll. The Stolls were in the national news following the much-publicized kidnapping of Mrs. Stoll in October 1934, but nothing in this collection refers to the kidnapping. This incomplete collection dates from 1914-1945, with much of the material undated.

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Jean Brandeis Tachau Papers, 1900-1976
.1 linear feet
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Jean Brandeis Tachau was a social worker for the Children's Protection Association in Louisville during the 1920s. In 1933 Tachau helped establish the Kentucky Birth Control League along with a clinic, the forerunner of Planned Parenthood in Louisville. Tachau was the niece of United States Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis. The collection consists of a seventy-one-page typescript reminiscence of visits to Louisville by her uncle, life on family farms in eastern Jefferson county, the growth of classical music in Louisville, and her role in social welfare activities, including the birth control movement.

Towle Family Papers, 1915-1954 (bulk 1939-1943)
.5 linear feet
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Ralph Towle was a real estate agent and a Republican alderman in the 1920s. The core of the collection is the papers of his daughter Virginia. Virginia's papers include her letters home from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, and descriptions of her efforts to join the WAVEs and her acceptance into the WACs during World War II. Also included is correspondence between Virginia and some of her friends.

United Service Organization, Louisville Service Club Inc. Records, 1942-1977
3.25 linear feet
The United Service Organization provides wholesome entertainment for armed services men and women. While the organization is not limited to women, historically the majority of the volunteers have been female. The records include correspondence, USO publicity, minutes, audits, volunteer lists, attendance records and diary, financial records, and photographs.

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Walls-Atkins Family Papers, 1866-1980 (bulk 1927-1965)
3.75 linear feet
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Murray B. Atkins Walls was a leader in the struggle for integrated facilities, open housing, and civil rights in Louisville, Kentucky, from the mid-1930s through the mid-1970s. The material consists of clippings, civic and personal correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, texts of speeches, newsletters, programs, and awards and citations. Some family genealogy and a small amount of papers of her husband, Dr. John H. Walls, is also included.

Ruth Wareing Papers, 1951
.25 linear feet
Ruth Wareing graduated from the Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She later worked as a registered nurse at General Hospital and Humana Hospital. Wareing donated the nurse's pin issued by Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1951.

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Louise Weiller (1904-1996) Papers, 1897-1994
17.5 linear feet
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Louise Weiller was a radio personality, author and a founding member of the Louisville Ballet. Weiller hosted two radio programs, wrote numerous newspaper and newsletter columns, and was frequent speaker to various organizations. This collection documents the lives of Louise Weiller and her daughter Connie, particularly Louise's career, hobbies and interest in Eastern philosophy and religions.

Rebecca Westerfield (1950- ) Papers, 1964-1992
13.75 linear feet
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Rebecca Westerfield served as a Jefferson County Circuit Court judge from 1987 to 1992. She also co-chaired the Kentucky Task Force for Gender Fairness in the Courts. These papers primarily document her legal career and also include some material about professional and civic organizations to which she belonged.

Young Women's Christian Association of Louisville Records, 1911-1979
54.25 linear feet
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The Young Women's Christian Association of Louisville was started in 1912 with programs focusing on religious studies, physical fitness and education. Over the years the programs grew to meet the changing times. Some examples include summer camps, a hostess house for Camp Taylor during World War I, special training programs during the 1930s, and teenage parenting programs and spouse abuse programs in the 1970s. The records include legal documents, constitution and bylaws, board of directors and various committee minutes, correspondence, printed and published material, photographs, and financial records.

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University of Louisville-related Papers and Records

American Home Economics Association Records, 1950-1976
.25 linear feet
These are records of the University of Louisville student chapter of the American Home Economics Association. The group's goal was to "promote understanding between school and home." The club hoped to help female students learn more about their majors. The records include clippings, photographs, a ledger, and publications.

Blake Beem (1891-1976) Papers, 1935-1961
.5 linear feet
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Blake Beem worked at the University of Louisville's medical (later health sciences) library, and was a member of the Kentucky Library Association, the Medical Library Association, and the American Library Association. The collection includes material relating to Beem's retirement in 1961. There are also Kentucky Library and Medical Library Association certification materials, biographical materials, and photographs. There is additional material at Kornhauser Health Sciences Library.

Sherrill Brakemeier Papers, 1949-1971
.25 linear feet
Sherrill Brakemeier, University of Louisville cheerleading sponsor, donated a sports and cheerleading scrapbook. The scrapbook contains photographs and newspaper clippings of University athletics and cheerleading activities during 1949 and 1971. There are also articles from the campus newspaper covering related activities such as homecoming festivities.

Charlotte Wimp (1985-1991) and Donald Butler Papers, 1911-1981 (bulk 1912-1917)
2.5 linear feet
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Charlotte Wimp Butler attended the University of Louisville from 1912 to 1917 and was a member of the women's basketball team. The collection consists of correspondence from friends serving in World War I, correspondence regarding Girls High School and the University of Louisville, and women's basketball memorabilia.

Ruth Wilson Cogshall (1899-1988) Papers, 1918-1980 (bulk 1918-1949)
2.375 linear feet
Ruth Wilson Cogshall attended the University of Louisville. During her student days she was active with University of Louisville Players, a campus theater group. After graduation she continued participating in local amateur theater. The collection contains correspondence, literary productions, print material, photographs and a scrapbook reflecting her activity in the amateur theater.

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Davidson Family Papers, 1946-1972
1.25
Jane Foot Davidson was the wife of the University of Louisville's twelfth president, Philip G. Davidson. Jane Davidson was an active participant in her husband's administration, which spanned the years 1951 to 1968, and she was closely involved with the Dames Club and the Campus Newcomer's Club. Jane Davidson's papers within the family's collection consist of correspondence with family members, photographs, and clippings about her family.

Carol W. Dowell Papers, 1950-1987 (bulk 1966-1971)
4.25 linear feet
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Carol W. Dowell was the first female political science professor at the University of Louisville. Dowell's papers include correspondence, class outlines, departmental documents, and records of her professional activities.

Elizabeth Hall Papers, 1950-1952
.25 linear feet
Elizabeth Thompson Hall was a student at the University of Louisville in the 1950s and editor of The Cardinal student newspaper. The papers include programs from dances, concerts and theater, and newspaper clippings relating to the university, including a report of a 1951 student protest over a tuition increase. There are also photographs of campus buildings, student activities, and the Cardinal staff and facilities.

Sue Hall Papers, 1923-1986 (bulk 1940-1949)
1.5 linear feet
Sue Hall was a professor in the University of Louisville's Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. The collection consists of scrapbooks about university personnel; programs, clippings, and university memorabilia, including the university's sesquicentennial anniversary program; and items relating to John Taylor's inauguration as university president.

Mary Jo Fink Herz Papers
6.25 linear feet
Mary Jo Fink Herz was born in Kenton, Ohio, in 1916 and received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She taught French at the University of Louisville from 1942 to 1979 and is believed to have been the first female tenured professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. Known to her students as Dr. Fink, while at UofL, she founded the French Players, a group that produced plays by French playwrights. Fink died in 1995 at the age of 79 and was survived by her husband, professor emeritus of music history, Gerhard Herz, who died in 2000.

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Mariam Sidebottom Houchens (1904-1985) Papers, 1938-1987
2.5 linear feet
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Mariam Sidebottoms Houchens was married to longtime University of Louisville administrator John Houchens. She actively participated in the university community and was a longtime member of the University of Louisville Women's Club. The materials include genealogical information, clippings, unpublished and published writings, and materials relating to various clubs and organizations to which she belonged.

Ruth Lee Koch, 1898- Papers, 1923-1965 (bulk 1923-1937)
.25 linear feet
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Ruth Lee Koch served as assistant and secretary to the dean of the Speed Scientific School of the University of Louisville. Koch also held the post of head of the university's purchasing department from 1924 to 1935. She became UofL's cashier in 1935, remaining in that position until her retirement in 1964. The papers include a history of Speed School researched by Koch and other material she collected relating to the school.

Sara Landau (1890-1986) Papers, 1893-1986 (bulk 1910-1986)
38 linear feet
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Sara Landau joined the faculty of the University of Louisville in the 1920s and became an associate professor of economics in 1927. She later held faculty positions at Roosevelt University and Berea College, retiring from Berea in 1964. After retirement she continued to participate in the projects of the American Association of Women, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the League of Women Voters. This large collection has been divided into eleven series: biographical and genealogical; diaries; financial; correspondence; literary production; teaching records; contract research; reference; scrapbook; photographs; and audio material.

Florence Daisy McCallum Papers, 1913-1916
.5 linear feet
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Florence Daisy McCallum was a member of the University of Louisville women's basketball team from 1915 to 1916. The collection includes a scrapbook relating to the team from 1913 to 1916, a journal written in 1913 and 1914, and a 1916 graduation book.

Althea Stephens Parmenter ([1900]-1997) Papers
2.50 linear feet
Althea Stephens Parmenter was born in [1900] in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Agnes Scott College (Georgia) and a master's degree in English from the University of Louisville in 1962, studying creative writing under Dr. Harvey Curtis Webster. In 1963, her story "The Old Masters," won national honors and war published in Prize College Stories by Random House. She retired from teaching piano in 1980 after sixty years of instructing, including teaching at Logan College (Russellville, KY) and National Park Seminary (Maryland). The collection includes some correspondence, miscellaneous personal and printed material, along with photographs and artwork. The bulk of the collection is made up of manuscript materials from her writings, including several revisions of a novel, The Voyage of the Golden Plover, some short stories, and poetry.

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Mary Katherine Bonsteel Tachau (1926-1990) Papers, 1950-1990 (bulk 1965-1990)
25.5 linear feet
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Mary Katherine Bonsteel Tachau was a noted constitutional historian, professor of history, feminist, and civil rights activist. She taught at the University of Louisville from 1958 until her retirement in 1990. During her tenure she served as university ombudsman, chair of the university's committee on the Status of Women, first female chair of the Department of History, first female chair of the university faculty senate, and a member of the university's Board of Trustees. She also served as historical advisor to the United States Senate Watergate Committee and worked with the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution. The papers document her career as a historian, educator and activist.

Eleanor Turner Papers, 1972-1972
.5 linear feet
Eleanor Turner was employed by the University of Louisville from 1932 to 1972. She served as administrative assistant to UofL presidents Philip Davidson (1951-1968) and Woodrow Strickler (1968-1972). The collection consists of memorabilia relating to her retirement in 1972.

University of Louisville Department of Athletics, Women's Basketball Records, 1975-1989
1.75 linear feet
Women's basketball is one of the oldest intercollegiate sports at the University of Louisville. In the 1910-1911 season, the U of L women played their first intercollegiate game against Transylvania University. This collection documents the women's basketball team in the years 1975 through 1989. The collection includes yearbooks, media guides, scorebook, and videotapes of UofL women's basketball program and games.

University of Louisville School of Nursing Records, 1920-1989
43.05 linear feet
The University of Louisville School of Nursing was fully accredited in 1979. Before that it had been subordinate to the School of Medicine. While not limited to women, historically, the majority of the students have been women. The records contained in the collection include student papers, The Main Vein newsletter, faculty minutes, T.G.I.F. newsletter, course outlines, grade roster books, and catalogs.

University of Louisville Women's Club Records, 1932-ongoing
7.5 linear feet
The University of Louisville Women's Club is a social and charitable organization composed of faculty wives, female faculty members and supporters of the university. The collection includes the club's bylaws and constitution, minutes, scrapbooks, photograph albums, membership lists, financial records, and publications.

Women Who Write
.25 linear feet
A women's writing group was organized at the University of Louisville in May 1972 to read and respond to each other's work. The group eventually disbanded, but in August 1993, a member of the original group agreed to revive the organization. Within a year they produced a collection of poetry and prose entitled Women Who Write. By 1995 the group was based out of the Women's Center at the university. In 1997 the organization held its first annual poetry and short story contest, with the winning entries being published in the annual edition of Women Who Write. This collection consists of the nine published volumes of Women Who Write, beginning with Volume I in 1994.

Bonnie Magruder Zeiser Papers, 1916-1981 (bulk 1916-1955)
.3 linear feet
Bonnie Magruder Zeiser graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Louisville in 1921. Zeiser created this scrapbook, which contains material dealing with her membership in the U of L players in the late 1910s, and miscellaneous letters and clippings on the Little Theater Company and the Macauley Picture Collection. Also included is a brief reminiscence, written about 1981, of her years in amateur theater in the University's Playhouse from 1914 to 1938.

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Oral Histories

Oral History Center interviews, 1968-ongoing
1900+ interviews
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The Oral History Center contains over 1900 taped recollections of university personnel, students, civic leaders, laborers, and business executives, dating from 1968 to the present. More than 500 of the taped interviews are with women subjects.

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Reference Files

Reference Files
The University Archives and Records Center keeps vertical reference files on a variety of topics relating to the university and to Louisville and the surrounding area. Files that document women's experiences at the University of Louisville include but are not limited to:

Files that document women's experiences in the Louisville area include but are not limited to:


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Secondary Sources

Student Papers from courses at the University of Louisville, 1943-1987


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