%eadnotat; ]> 5124pisc An Inventory of the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers, 1906-1979 Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 1984 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000. ENG Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers, 1906-1979 FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 1984 Descriptive Summary Schlesinger Library Papers, 1906-1979 RG 5/124 Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979) 7 boxes; 3.5 linear ft. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979) was born into an extended Quaker family who lived for generations in Clarke and Loudon counties, Virginia. She moved beyond the Virginia Quaker community to a career in the women's movement, first as a campaigner for women's suffrage (1917-1920), then as an educator and political activist in Virginia (1920-1928) and finally as a research economist for the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor (1928-1956). During her retirement years, Pidgeon became active in Quaker affairs. The collection contains personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979), including family and other correspondence and papers relating to her activities as student, suffragette. and in her professional and organizational work.

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399

Phone: (610) 328-8496 FAX: (610) 690-5728

 BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979) was born into an extended Quaker family who lived for generations in Clarke and Loudon counties, Virginia. She moved beyond the Virginia Quaker community to a career in the women's movement, first as a campaigner for women's suffrage, 1917-1920, then as an educator and political activist in Virginia, 1920-1928, and finally as a research economist for the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, 1928-1956. During her retirement years, Pidgeon became active in Quaker affairs.

Time-line MARY ELIZABETH PIDGEON 1890 Born, August 2, Wadesville, Clarke County, Virginia, daughter of Lewis Pidgeon (1859-1951) and Susan Talbott Williams Pidgeon (1860-1942). 1904-1906 Attended school at Waterford, Virginia. 1906-1909 Attended George School, Pa., graduating in 1909. 1909-1913 Attended Swarthmore College, received B.A. (English) in 1913. 1914-1916 Teacher, Media Friends School, Media, Pa. 1917-1920 Field Secretary, National American Woman Suffrage Association, located principally in New York, South Dakota, Virginia, and North Carolina. 1920-1926 Director, Bureau of Citizenship Education, Extension Division, University of Virginia. 1921 Chairman, Executive Committee, Virginia Governor's Conference on Governmental Efficiency. 1920-1928 Chairman, Efficient Government Committee, Virginia League of Women Voters. 1922-1928 Executive Secretary, Virginia Women's Council of Legislative Chairmen of State Organizations. 1924 M.A. (Political Science), University of Virginia. 1925 Studied at Fédération Universitaire Internationale, Geneva, Switzerland. 1926-1927 Fellow in Political Science, University of Chicago (candidate for Ph.D.) 1928 Appointed Assistant Editor, Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 1930-1956 Director, Division of Research, Women's Bureau; retired in 1956. 1967 Moved from Washington, D.C. to Friends House, Sandy Spring, Md. 1979 Died at Friends House, Sandy Spring, Md. SCOPE AND CONTENT

Researchers should note that additional Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon papers which originally were part of the same collection were given to Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College in 1983 by the same donor who gave the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers to Radcliffe College in 1982. This larger collection also contains personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon as well as family papers and is named the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Family Papers, RG 5/123. The collections are administered as two separate collections. However, the checklists for both collections refer to related material.

The collection contains chiefly personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979), including family correspondence and papers related to her professional and organizational life

 Arrangement

The collection is divided into seven series:

Biographical and pictorial Family correspondence Other writings Diaries, finances and notes School papers Professional and organization work Miscellaneous printed material ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Accession information

On indefinite loan from the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College, 1984.

 Provenance

The collection was given by Mary-Susan Robare, niece of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, to Radcliffe College in 1982. Other related papers in the same collection were given to Friends Historical Library, designated the Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Family Papers. RG 5/123. The collection at the Schlesinger Library was transferred to Friends Historical Library in 1984 to reunite the two parts of a single collection in one depository, but they were processed and catalogued separately since they belong to two different institutions.

 Access

Collection is open for research.

 Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

 Preferred Citation

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers, RG 5/124 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

 Processing information

Processed by Jane Knowles of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe College. Received in three cartons. Arrangement and order retained when transferred to document boxes at FHL, and stored with other Record Group 5 collections. Checklists for the two collections are cross-indexed.

 SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings: Researchers are advised to search by subject and author, when applicable.

College students -- United States Education -- Pennsylvania Peace Peace -- Religious aspects -- Society of Friends Quakers -- Virginia Quakers--Diaries--20th century Quakers--Social life and customs Quakers--Social service Quakers--Suffrage Quakers--Politics Quakers--Education Suffrage -- New York Universities and colleges -- Pennsylvania Voting -- United States Voting -- Societies, etc. Women -- Suffrage -- New York (State) Women --Suffrage -- Virginia Women -- Suffrage -- Societies, etc. Women, Quaker -- Virginia Women and peace Women in politics -- United States Women in politics -- Societies, etc. Bucks County (Pa.) --Education -- Schools Indiana -- Education -- Universities and colleges Pennsylvania -- Education -- Universities and colleges Swarthmore (Pa.) -- Education - Universities and colleges Virginia -- Churches and religious affairs -- Quaker Virginia -- Education -- Universities and colleges Virginia -- Family and personal papers Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Virginia -- Politics and government Labor bureaus Related Material

Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Family Papers, RG 5/123

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below:

 Ser. 1. Biographical and pictorial

For related material, see also Pidgeon Papers. The relevent series in the Pidgeon Papers is indicated where appropriate.

 1 1 Photographs of family and friends.

Photograph celebrating victory of woman suffrage in New York State, removed to PICTURE COLLECTION: Oversize - Miscellaneous - Woman Suffrage. See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 21.

 2 Biographical 1

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

 1 3 Memberships identification cards, etc

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

 1 4 Clippings programs, and miscellaneous material re: MEP

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

 Ser. 2. Family correspondence, 1906-1979 1 5 Letters by MEP to her parents, Susan Talbott (Williams) and Lewis Pidgeon 1906-1913

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

 1 6 Letters by MEP to her parents on suffrage campaign 1917-19

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

 1 7 Letters by MEP to her parents 1925 and 1939-1941

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

 1 8 Letters from parents to MEP 1918 and 1929-1939

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 8

 1 9 Letters to Susan Pidgeon (not by MEP) 1922-1923

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

 1 10 Susan Pidgeon's bank account, driver's license, etc 1930-1943

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 5

 1 11 Letters following the death of Susan Pidgeon 1943

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

 1 12 Letters following the death of Susan Pidgeon 1943

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3

 1 13 Correspondence of Dorothy Everett (Pidgeon) Berry, mostly with Susan and Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon 1908-1979

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3, 10

 1 14 Letters from Hannah Conrow (Williams) Tomlinson to Susan and Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon 1934-1960

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3, 10

 2 15 Condolence letters on the death of Rebecca R. Pidgeon (aunt) 1942-1943

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

 2 16 Other family correspondence 1908-1979

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 3, 10

 Ser. 3. Other correspondence of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, 1909-1979

For below, see also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10.

 2 17 Letters received 1909-1934 2 18 Letters from Louise Lawton 1915 2 19 Correspondence concerning job searches 1927-1929

Includes telegram from Mary Anderson offering MEP a position at the Women's Bureau, February 8, 1928.

 2 20 Letters from Rachel Ryan 1935-1947 Letters received by MEP, 1936-1968 2 21 Letters received by MEP 1936-1943 2 22 Letters received by MEP 1946-1967 and 1974 2 23 Letters received by MEP 1977 2 24 Letters received by MEP 1978 3 25 Letters received by MEP 1979 3 26 Christmas cards n.d.and unidentified material, etc. Ser. 4. Diaries, finances and notes of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, 1936-1968 3 27 Engagement books, book list 1936, 1940, 1941, 1967, 1968

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 9

 3 28 Financial bills and receipts

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 18

 3 29 Notes

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 20

 Ser. 5. School papers, 1913-1979 3 30 George School, reunions 1959-1979

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 13

 3 31 Swarthmore College 1913, 1979

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 14

 Ser. 6. Professional and organizational work, 1913-1972 New York State Woman Suffrage Party, 1915-1917

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 14

 3 32 Correspondence and reports 1915-1917 3 33 Releases 1916-1917. 4 34 Releases, resolutions, bulletins 1916-1917 4 35 Virginia Good Road Association 1921

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

 4 36 University of Virginia, Extension Division 1922-1923

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 15

 Virginia League of Women Voters

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

 4 37 Correspondence (including with Belle Sherwin) 1922-1926 4 38 Correspondence and related material 1927-1928 4 39 National League of Women Voters, printed material

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

 4 40 Virginia Council of Administrative Women in Education 1922-1924 4 41 Virginia Women's Council of Legislative Chairmen of State Organizations 1923-1929

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 16

 Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, 1913-1956

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 17

 4 42 Bulletins, planned and written by MEP 1930-1937 4 43 Reports and bulletins 1937-1938 bound volume, interleaved 5 44 Inserts removed from "Women in the U.S.” 1937 5 45 Publications 1940-1941 5 46 Bulletins, 1942-1956 5 47 Publications written under the direction of MEP 1941-56 5 48 Research Division, writings describing its work 1929-1939 ms. and clippings 5 49 Publications by and about the Women's Bureau 1913-1954 6 50 Memos and correspondence (includes Mary Anderson) 1928-1956 6 51 Reports concerning equal pay for women 1945 6 52 Reports, clippings, about women in Congress 1924-1955 53 Notes, studies 1940s 6 54 National Council for the Prevention of War 1928

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 19

 Women's Centennial Congress, 1940 6 55 Correspondence, program, committees 6 56 Publicity 6 57 Correspondence and printed material 6 58 Printed proceedings (and inserts) 6 59 Other printed material and reports on the Congress Society of Friends, 1948-1972 6 60 Notes, programs, newsletters, mostly concerning Baltimore Yearly Mtg. 1948 and 1966-1967

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10, 19

 7 61 Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C., newsletters, programs, etc. 1970-72

See also Pidgeon Family Papers, Ser. 10

 Women Strike for Peace, newsletters, releases, clippings, 1962-1967 7 62 Women Strike for Peace 1962 7 63 Women Strike for Peace 1963 7 64 Women Strike for Peace 1964 7 65 Women Strike for Peace 1965 7 66 Women Strike for Peace 1966-1967 7 67 Memo (official publication of WSP) 1962-1967 7 68 Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, 1965

Includes letter by MEP which appeared in Change.

 Ser. 7. Miscellaneous printed material and clippings about women, 1904-1964 7 69 The Outlook, Women's Number 1904, 1928-1947 and other publications

See also Oversize.

 7 70 Madeleine Doty articles “Women of Many Lands” in Good Housekeeping 1918, and n.d. 7 71 Clippings about women 1940s Oversize in Chart Case: Posters, clippings, and other printed material 1917, 1946, 1964