Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 21/7/3
Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947)
Papers, 1878-[ongoing]
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Catt, Carrie Chapman (1859-1947) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1878-[ongoing] |
| extent: | 3.36 linear feet (8 document boxes) |
| collection number: | RS 21/7/3 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research: Boxes 1, 2, and 3. |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, RS 21/7/3, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, suffragist, early feminist, political activist, and Iowa State alumna (1880), was born on January 9, 1859 in Ripon, Wisconsin to Maria Clinton and Lucius Lane. At the close of the Civil War, the Lanes moved to a farm near Charles City, Iowa where they remained throughout their lives. Carrie entered Iowa State College in March of 1877, graduating in November of 1880 (at that time, the school year ran from March through November). She graduated at the top of her class and while in Ames established military drills for women, became the first woman student to give an oration before a debating society, earned extra money as assistant to the librarian, and was a member of Pi Beta Phi. After graduation she became the high school principal in Mason City and then in 1883 the superintendent of Mason City Schools. In this capacity she met Leo Chapman, editor of the Mason City Republican, and they married in February 1885. After her husband's death in 1886, she spent some time in California as a newspaper reporter and then returned to Iowa to begin her crusade for women's suffrage. She was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association from 1900-1904 and from 1915 until its goal was reached. She also formed and was president of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance for many years. When the women's vote was attained in 1920 Mrs. Catt looked ahead and encouraged the formation of a non-partisan group, the League of Women Voters, a group still viable today. Early in her suffrage work she ran into a classmate from Ames, George W. Catt. They were married in 1890 and until his death in October 1905, he supported his wife's work through his engineering company financially and through his personal support of suffrage. Carrie attained much recognition for her work throughout her life and received many awards such as the Chi Omega in 1941, the Pictorial Review Award for her international disarmament work in 1931, and induction into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame. She donated her entire estate to her alma mater, where she was the first woman to deliver the commencement address. She died in March 1947 at her home in New Rochelle, New York. |
Collection description
This collection (1878-[ongoing]) contains biographical data, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, bibliographies, publications, reviews, addresses, awards, scrapbook of tributes, material relating to the Woman's Centennial Congress, artifacts (Including jewelry from India), and her will. Correspondents include E. W. Stanton, A. B. Storms and Maria Roberts. Box 4 consists of original documents that been restricted, photocopies of the items can be found in the other boxes. |
Organization
The collection is organized into two series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Carrie Chapman Catt Collection | 1878-[ongoing] |
| extent: | 2.1 linear feet (5 document boxes) | |
| description: | Series contains biographical data, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, bibliographies, publications, reviews, addresses, awards, scrapbook of tributes, material relating to the Woman's Centennial Congress, artifacts (Including jewelry from India), and her will. Correspondents include E. W. Stanton, A. B. Storms and Maria Roberts. Box 4 consists of original documents that have been restricted, photocopies of the items can be found in the other boxes. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
10 |
Addresses |
1883-1921 |
5 |
3 |
American Association for the United Nations Recognition of Catt's 88th Birthday |
1947 |
5 |
1 |
Awards, Recognitions, and Honorary Degrees |
1921-1940, n.d. |
1 |
7 |
Bibliographies, Publications, and Reviews |
1900, n.d. |
1 |
4 |
Biographical Material |
1880-2006, n.d. |
1 |
8 |
Botany |
1878 |
3 |
8 |
Brochure: "Voices of Influence: Celebrating the Legacy of Carrie Chapman Catt and the 75th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment" |
1995 |
3 |
2 |
Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund |
1897-1907 |
3 |
3 |
Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund |
1909-1937 |
3 |
4 |
Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund |
1942-1943 |
3 |
5 |
Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund |
1947-1972 |
1 |
6 |
Correspondence: Includes E. W. Stanton, President A. B. Storms and Maria Roberts |
1907-1947 |
2 |
3 |
Gift to Iowa State College (University) Library, including her collection about War and Peace and George Catt's collection about engineering |
1947 |
2 |
4 |
Gift to Iowa State College (University) Library, including her collection about War and Peace and George Catt's collection about engineering |
1947 |
2 |
5 |
Gift to Iowa State College (University) Library, including her collection about War and Peace and George Catt's collection about engineering |
1947 |
2 |
2 |
Inventories and Donations |
1922-1971 |
Map |
Case |
Iowa State College Honorary Diploma and Exhibit Posters |
1921, 1960 |
2 |
8 |
Materials received from Pi Beta Phi Fraternity |
1887-1936 |
2 |
9 |
Materials received from Pi Beta Phi Fraternity |
1941-1995 |
| 2 | 10 | Materials related to the naming of Carrie Chapman Catt Hall at Iowa State University | 1989 |
2 |
11 |
National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War |
1935-1936 |
1 |
1 |
News Clippings: General |
1900-1944, n.d. |
1 |
2 |
News Clippings: General |
1947-1977, n.d. |
1 |
3 |
News Clippings: General |
1981-2010, n.d. |
2 |
7 |
News Clippings: Woman's Centennial Congress |
1940 |
3 |
1 |
President Woodrow Wilson Letter to the International Woman Suffrage Alliance |
1918 |
1 |
9 |
Publications about Catt |
1916-2007 |
3 |
9 |
Publications: National 19th Amendment Society Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home Newsletter and Brochures |
2005-2006, n.d. |
1 |
5 |
Register of Carrie Chapman Catt's Papers in the Library of Congress |
1975 |
4 |
7 |
RESTRICTED: Gift to Iowa State College (University) Library, including her collection about War and Peace and George Catt's collection about engineering (photocopy in file 2/3) |
1947 |
4 |
3 |
RESTRICTED: Original Biographical (photocopy in file 1/4) |
1922-1947 |
4 |
4 |
RESTRICTED: Original Biographical (photocopy in file 1/5) |
1907-1941 |
4 |
10 |
RESTRICTED: Original Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund (photocopy in file 3/2 and 3/3 |
1897-1922 |
4 |
9 |
RESTRICTED: Original Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund (photocopy in file 3/2) |
n.d. |
4 |
11 |
RESTRICTED: Original Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund (photocopy in file 3/3) |
1909-1937 |
4 |
12 |
RESTRICTED: Original Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund (photocopy in file 3/4) |
1942-1943 |
4 |
13 |
RESTRICTED: Original Correspondence: George Catt Endowment Fund (photocopy in file 3/5) |
1947-1951 |
4 |
6 |
RESTRICTED: Original Inventories and Donations (photocopy in file 2/2) |
1922-1971 |
4 |
1 |
RESTRICTED: Original Newspaper Clippings (photocopy in files 1/1 and 1/2) |
1900-1971 |
4 |
2 |
RESTRICTED: Original Newspaper Clippings (photocopy in files 1/2 and 1/3) |
1972-1992 |
4 |
14 |
RESTRICTED: Original President Woodrow Wilson Letter to the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (photocopy in file 3/1) |
1918 |
4 |
5 |
RESTRICTED: Original Will of Carrie Chapman Catt (photocopy in file 1/10) |
1945 |
4 |
8 |
RESTRICTED: Original Woman's Centennial Congress (photocopy in file 2/6) |
1940 |
4 |
8a |
RESTRICTED: Original Woman's Centennial Congress: News Clippings (photocopy in file 2/7) |
1940 |
5 |
2 |
Scrapbook of Tributes to Catt |
1916-1927, n.d. |
3 |
6 |
Speeches (typescripts) |
1892-1919 |
3 |
7 |
Speeches (typescripts) |
1921-1939 |
1 |
11 |
United States Postage Stamp of Catt with Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott [photocopy] |
1948 |
2 |
1 |
Will of Carrie Chapman Catt |
1949 |
2 |
6 |
Woman's Centennial Congress |
1940 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Catt Family Correspondence | 1932-1966, undated |
| extent: | 1.26 linear feet (3 document boxes) | |
| description: | Series contains family correspondence, some of it with Catt, but mostly between relatives and friends of the family. The bulk of the letters were written to Catt's niece, Cora June Linn of Fresno, California. When possible the full name of the author is identified. This series also includes several photographs or family members and newspaper clippings of Catt. These materials were purchased in 2014 from Joe and Tracy Conway of Clovis, California. The series is listed alphabetically. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
3 |
10-11 |
Correspondence: Barrie, Miriam to Cora June Linn (52 letters) |
1935-1941 |
3 |
12 |
Correspondence: Boyle, Gretchen (Mrs. Howard Lee) to Cora June Linn (5 letters) |
1935-1941 |
3 |
13 |
Correspondence: Catt, Carrie Chapman (6 letters) |
1935-1941 |
6 |
1 |
Correspondence: Catt, Louisa to Cora June Linn (37 letters) |
1936-1941 |
6 |
2 |
Correspondence: Daltry, Faith (Mrs. Joseph S.) to Cora June Linn (3 letters) |
1934-1942 |
6 |
3-5 |
Correspondence: Donna to Cora June Linn (100 letters) |
1932-1941 |
6 |
6 |
Correspondence: Gerhard, Vera May Linn (sister to Cora June) to Cora June Linn (28 letters) |
1935-1941 |
6 |
7 |
Correspondence: Linn, Don to Cora June Linn (1 letter) |
1936 |
6 |
8 |
Correspondence: Linn, Ellice Edwina to folks (2 letters) |
undated |
6 |
9 |
Correspondence: Linn, Harold Catt to Cora June Linn (16 letters) |
1937-1941 |
6 |
10 |
Correspondence: Linn, Harold Catt to various family (10 letters) |
1938-1942 |
7 |
1-2 |
Correspondence: Linn, Mrs. G. E. (mother of Cora June Linn) to Cora June Linn (43 letters) |
1935-1941 |
7 |
3 |
Correspondence: Linn, Ruhe (sister to Cora June) to various family (21 letters) |
1935-1941 |
7 |
4 |
Correspondence: MacDonald, Nondas (Mrs. W. M.) to Cora June Linn (10 letters) |
1936-1941 |
7 |
5 |
Correspondence: Other friends and family (32 letters) |
1931-1959, undated |
7 |
6-8 |
Correspondence: Others to Cora June Linn (60 letters; 2 letters or fewer from each correspondent) |
1933-1942, undated |
8 |
1 |
Correspondence: Shaw, Esther to Cora June Linn (28 letters) |
1932-1939 |
8 |
2 |
Correspondence: Stanger, Clara "Mickey" (Mrs. Richard H.) to Cora June Linn (10 letters) |
1933-1941 |
8 |
3 |
Correspondence: Tursick, "Chookie" (Mrs. Frank Tursick; sister to Cora June) and family to Cora June and Vera Linn (24 letters) |
1935-1947 |
8 |
4 |
Envelopes (separated from original letters) |
1934-1942 |
8 |
5 |
Ledger booklet for loan: Warton, Stanley and Lois |
1960-1966 |
8 |
6 |
News clippings: Catt, Carrie Chapman |
1938 |
8 |
7 |
Photographs: Ruhe Linn, Hetty, and Frank Tursick family (6 b/w photographs and 4 b/w negatives) |
1937-1938, circa |
8 |
8 |
School paper: "The People of Egypt" |
undated |
8 |
9 |
Tissue paper (possibly separated from original letter) |
undated |