Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 21/7/24
Alda and Elmina Wilson
Papers, 1902-2010, undated


Descriptive summary

creator:

Wilson, Alda (1873-1960) and Elmina (1870-1918)

title:

Papers

dates:

1902-2010, undated

extent:

1.13 linear feet (1 document box, 1 half-document box, and 1 card file box)

collection number:

RS 21/7/24

repository:

Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Alda and Elmina Wilson Papers, RS 21/7/24, Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

Elmina T. Wilson was born September 29, 1870 in Harper, Iowa, the daughter of John Chesney and Olive Eaton Wilson. She attended Iowa State earning a B.S. (1892) degree in Civil Engineering and an M.S. (1894). She was the first woman to receive a Civil Engineering degree at Iowa State. Elmina taught at Iowa State from 1892 to 1904, serving as an Assistant of Civil Engineering (1892-1897); Instructor of Civil Engineering (1898-1902); and as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering (1902-1904). In 1904 she moved to New York City and accepted a position with the James E. Brooks Company, where she worked for 5 years. She then worked for Purdy and Henderson (1907-1912) and as a structural engineer (1912- ) by John S. Browne. Elmina twice traveled abroad to study engineering and architecture and was also active in the women's suffrage movement. She died on June 2, 1918 after an extended illness.

Alda H. Wilson was born September 20, 1873 in Harper, Iowa, the daughter of John Chesney and Olive Eaton Wilson. She attended Iowa State earning a B.S. (1894) in Civil Engineering. From 1897-1898 she pursued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alda worked for architectural firms in Chicago (1895-1897, 1898-1903) and New York (1904-1918). She served as the Superintendent of the Women's Drafting Department at the Iowa Highway Commission, now known as the Iowa Department of Transportation, from 1918-1921. From 1928-1947, she was the companion of Carrie Chapman Catt (Iowa State College, 1880), noted woman suffragist. Alda died July 25, 1960.

 

Collection description

This collection (1903-2010, undated) contains biographical information, postcards, sketchbooks and a diary. The biographical information relates to Alda and Elmina, while the postcards and sketchbooks on European architecture, were collected on their trips to Europe. The diary was kept by Alda during her 1903 trip to Europe with Elmina. The collection also contains dozens of blank postcards depicting in photograph and illustration many of the buildings of Europe as they appeared shortly after the turn of the century.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information - Alda

1904-2010

1

2

Biographical information - Elmina

1904-2010

1

3

Postcards received from friends

1904-1914, undated

1

4

Sketchbooks (2) of European architecture (Alda)

1902-1904

1

5

Sketchbooks (2) of European architecture (Alda)

1903-1904

1

6

Sketchbooks (2) of European architecture (Alda)

1904

1

7

Sketchbooks (2) of European architecture (Alda)

1904

1

8

Sketchbooks (2) of European architecture (Alda)

1904, 1908

1

9

Sketchbook (1) of European architecture (Alda)

1908

1

10

Sketchbook (1) of European architecture (Alda)

1912-1913

2

1

Sketches of architectural details (Alda)

undated

2

2

Travel diary of trip to Europe (original)

1903

2

3

Travel diary of trip to Europe (photocopy)

1903

3

 

Postcards (blank)

1903-1914