Biography
Biography
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs
creator:
Herbert, Esther
creator:
Doyle, Marvyl
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013-030
Physical Description:
6.4 Linear Feet
3 archive boxes + 3 archive binder-boxes + 1 archive shoebox.
Date (inclusive): 1921-2011
Abstract: Correspondence, photographs, audiocassettes, manuscripts, professional papers, and other materials, 1921-2011, from lesbian
speech pathologist and veteran, Esther Herbert, and her partner, Marvyl Doyle. The correspondence contains letters between
Herbert and Doyle written between 1944 and 1996 with the bulk of the letters being exchanged during World War 2 while they
were stationed separately in the Women's Army Corps. Also included is an extensive collection of photographs documenting their
military service. Among the papers are published materials by both Herbert and Doyle regarding their respective work in speech
pathology and writing composition; as well as a collection of Doyle's poetry. The collection also includes recorded interviews
with Esther Herbert regarding her experience of living as a lesbian in the 1940s and 1950s.
Biography
Esther Herbert was born in Rochester, New York on May 25, 1920. Herbert graduated from Brooklyn College in 1941 and shortly
after, began a Masters Program in Speech Pathology at the State University of Iowa. In 1942, she briefly taught at Boise Junior
High School in Boise, Idaho before joining the army in 1943. For most of the war, she worked in the Women's Army Corps (WAC)
company administrative office, eventually earning the rank of Technical Sergeant. It was during this period that she met her
lifelong partner, Marvyl Doyle.
In 1944, Doyle was transferred to Patterson Field, Illinois, and Herbert began a relationship with Roberta Behr. After the
war, Herbert attended the University of Southern California, earning her teaching credential. She began work as a speech therapist
in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1946 and retired in 1980.
Following the war, Herbert and Behr moved to Playa del Rey. Herbert and Marvyl Doyle reunited in 1955 and continued with their
relationship until Doyle's death in 2001. As of 2013, Herbert lives in Palm Springs, California.
Source:
Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, Coll2013-030, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Biography
Marvyl Doyle was born in Clear Lake, Iowa on May 10, 1921. She graduated from Hampton High School in Hampton, Iowa in 1939
and was later accepted to National Youth America Training Corps to be trained in radio. After completing her training, she
joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942 and became an Advanced Radio Mechanic.
In 1943, she was stationed at San Bernadino Army Airforce Base where she was enlisted in the newly-formed Women's Army Corps
and Esther Herbert. In 1944, Doyle was transferred to Patterson Field, Illinois, but continued a regular correspondence and
close friendship with Herbert until they reunited again in 1955.
In the mean time, while living with her partner Sue Graff, Doyle attended Drake University, graduating in 1950 with both a
master's degree in Reading and Literature. In 1951, after briefly enrolling in a Ph.D. program at Ohio State University, Doyle
moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where she taught at South East Junior High School.
In 1955, Doyle and Herbert reunited and in 1956, Doyle began an Ed.D. program at the University of Southern California. She
graduated in 1961 and taught at several Southern California community colleges before retiring in 1981.
Marvyl Doyle died in May 2001 and is buried in Memorial Park in Joshua Tree, California.
Source:
Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, Coll2013-030, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.
Acquisition
Gift of Esther Herbert, April 23, 2011.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, Coll2013-030, ONE National Gay & Lesbian
Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Jennifer Ansley, April 2013.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises correspondence, photographs, audiocassettes, manuscripts, professional papers and other materials,
1921-2011, from lesbian speech pathologist and veteran, Esther Herbert, and her partner, Marvyl Doyle. The correspondence
contains letters to and from Herbert and her longtime partner Doyle from 1944 to 1968 with the bulk of the letters being exchanged
during World War II, while Herbert and Doyle were stationed separately in the Women's Army Corps. The photographs document
their experiences in WWII as well as their life together after the war. Also included are published and unpublished materials
by both Herbert and Doyle documenting their professional careers; as well as a collection of Doyle's poetry. Herbert also
wrote notes and recorded interviews about her time in the army, as well as her life with Doyle. The collection also includes
papers from Roberta Behr and Sue Graff, friends and former partners of Herbert and Doyle, respectively.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Esther Herbert papers
Series 2. Marvyl Doyle papers
Series 3. Sue Graff and Roberta Behr papers
Series 4. Photograph albums, audiocassettes and DVD
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women veterans
Poetry
Lesbian writings
Speech therapy
Photographs
Correspondence
Lesbian couples
Herbert, Esther
Doyle, Marvyl
United States. Army. Women's Army Corps