Guide to the Marjorie Armstrong Family Papers
Finding aid was created by Russell Michalak, 2009
Ella Strong Denison Library
Scripps College
1090 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, California 91711
Phone: (909) 607-3941
Fax: (909) 607-1548
Email: denison@libraries.claremont.edu
October 2009
Descriptive Summary
Title: Marjorie Armstrong Family Papers
Creator:
Armstrong, Marjorie
Dates: 1809-1974
Extent: 13 boxes
Repository:
Claremont Colleges. Library.
1090 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, California 91711
Abstract: Marjorie Armstrong (1907-1991) graduated from Pomona College (1938) and was director of the Mary B. Eyre School from
1936-1939. Correspondence written to Armstrong from her mother, Sarah Louise Armstrong, makes up a substantial portion of
the collection. Also included are her school and college ephemera and records from Claremont High School, Pomona College
and Smith College; diaries of both mother and daughter (1929-1973); correspondence and documents from the courtship and marriage
of Sarah Louise Armstrong (née Peet) and Dr. Frank T. Armstrong, D.D.S; and some material related to William W. Peet, a prominent
missionary and relative of Sarah Louise and Marjorie Armstrong.
Collection Number: D19xx.619_armstrong.ead.xml
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English
Physical Location: Ella Strong Denison Library, Scripps College, Claremont University Consortium.
Information for Researchers
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research with permission from Ella Strong Denison Library staff.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with Scripps College. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact Ella Strong Denison
Library staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Marjorie Armstrong Family Papers. Ella Strong Denison Library, Scripps College, Claremont, California.
Acquisition Information
Unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Laura Irmer for Archival Studies 311, Claremont Graduate University, Spring 2009.
Accruals
No addition to the collection is anticipated.
Biography of Marjorie Armstrong
Marjorie Ruth Armstrong was born April 5, 1907 and passed away in July 1991. Her parents were Sarah Louise Armstrong, née
Peet, (1880-1973) and Frank T. Armstrong (1870-1914); the two were married on September 28, 1904. Her mother was both a teacher
and an artist and her father was a dentist. With her mother and younger brother George Bennett Armstrong (1909-?), she moved
to California from Iowa in 1921 and the family settled in Claremont in 1922. She graduated from Claremont High School in
1924. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Pomona College and she received her B.A in 1928. While at Pomona College
she was a member of the Women's Glee Club. Following her graduation from Pomona College, she attended Smith College in New
Hampshire and received an M.A in Early Childhood Education in 1929. From 1936-1939 she served as director of the Mary B.
Eyre School, a model nursery school, at Scripps College. It appears that she never married. Throughout her life, she was
highly active in early childhood education, specifically in the state of California and was involved in the founding of several
nursery schools. She appears to have been highly involved in the church and was likely a supporter of missionary activities,
specifically with an organization by the name of Christian World Missions. In addition a relative on her mother's side was
William W. Peet, a prominent member of the missionary community, specifically in the 'East.'
Sources for Biographical note: Hand written document of family history in box 11, folder 11, as well as Ken Counselman's,
"The Mary B. Eyre Children's School: An Administrative History," PhD diss., 1986
Scope and Contents of the Collection
This collection covers the time period from circa 1809-1974. The collection is divided into two series: Marjorie Armstrong
Papers; and Sarah Louise Armstrong Papers. The general organization of each series is in descending order: record type and
within that whenever possible arranged alphabetically and then chronologically. The oldest item in the collection is a family
record book from circa 1809. A primary component of the collection consists of letters written to Marjorie Armstrong by her
mother Sarah Louise Armstrong with the bulk of this from 1960-1969. Other correspondents are represented in the collection
as well, but without the same frequency observed in the correspondence from mother to daughter. Of note in terms of correspondence,
there are letters relating to the courtship between Dr. Frank T. Armstrong, D.D.S and Sarah Louise Armstrong (née Peet) from
circa 1904. Additionally, there are journals belonging to both Marjorie Armstrong and her mother. These range in date from
1929-1973 and help document each woman's day-to-day life. The collection also includes assignments completed by Marjorie
Armstrong in the course of her education, as well as ephemera related to graduating from the secondary and higher education
institutions she attended. Other items of interest include the marriage of certificate of Marjorie Armstrong's parents and
the father's certificate upon receiving his degree in dentistry from Northwestern University.
Series Arrangement
The Marjorie Armstrong Family Papers have been divided into two series: the papers of Marjorie Armstrong and the papers of
her mother Sarah Louise Armstrong. The Marjorie Armstrong Papers are further divided into three sub-series: correspondence;
school and personal records; and diaries. The following are the sub-series for the Sarah Louise Armstrong Papers: correspondence;
family records; and diaries. Within these two series, the materials are grouped by record type and chronologically whenever
possible within these groupings. Additionally, in the correspondence, the letters are arranged alphabetically by sender and
within this chronologically. The suggestion for this organization was taken from the limited organization given the collection
by its record creator. The correspondence was roughly grouped together in a suitcase belonging to Marjorie Armstrong, the
diaries were grouped together in one box, and the family and school papers were together in another box. The majority of the
letters in this collection were bundled/grouped by Ms. Armstrong by year. This bundling allowed for the assignment of a year
to certain letters that were not accompanied by an envelope with postmark. In terms of the correspondence, the date on the
letter is given preference to the postmark date. When the letter is not dated but has an envelope complete with postmark
this is the date used. Eight of the letters from Marjorie Armstrong's correspondence and one letter from Sarah Louise Armstrong's
correspondence were too long for a letter-sized document box and have accordingly been moved to a legal-sized document box.
This is also noted in the relevant sections on the container list of this finding aid. There also several letters addressed
to both Marjorie and Sarah Louise Armstrong. These letters have been filed with the correspondence of Sarah Louise Armstrong.
Series 1 Marjorie Armstrong Papers
Subseries 1.1 Correspondence
Subseries 1.2 School and Personal Records
Subseries 1.3 Diaries
Series 2 Sarah Louise Armstrong Papers
Subseries 2.1 Correspondence
Subseries 2.2 Family Records
Subseries 2.3 Diaries
Related Material
Ken Counselman, "The Mary B. Eyre Children's School: An Administrative History," PhD diss., 1986. Contains interesting biographical
material on Ms. Armstrong, specifically in relation to her employment by the Mary B. Eyre School of Scripps College.
William Wheelock Peet and Louise Jenison Peet, No Less Honor, Private Printing: Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1939. A biography
of WilliamWheelock Peet.
Subject Headings
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection
Armstrong, Marjorie
Armstrong, Sarah Louise
Pomona College
Smith College
Women's studies
Western Americana -- 1900-1999
diaries
Series 1
Marjorie Armstrong papers,
1809-1974
Subseries 1.1
Correspondence,
1913-1974
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence to Marjorie Armstrong. Primary correspondent is her mother, Sarah Louise Armstrong.
Box 6, folder 4
Armstrong, Catherine,
1967
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 6, folder 5
Armstrong, Frank T.,
1913
Scope and Content Note
1 postcard.
Box 6, folder 6
Armstrong, George Bennett,
1953-1969, undated
Scope and Content Note
7 letters.
Box 6, folder 7
Armstrong, Jon and Jeanne,
1963, 1966, undated
Scope and Content Note
4 letters.
Box 1, folder 1
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
ca. 1913
Scope and Content Note
3 postcards, 2 letters.
Box 1, folder 2
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1958-1962
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for circa 1961 September 5).
Box 1, folder 3
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1962-1963
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for 1963 May 6).
Box 1, folder 4
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1963
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Box 1, folder 5
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1963
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 1, folder 6
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1963
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 1, folder 7
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1963-1964
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Box 1, folder 8
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1964
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 2, folder 1
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1964
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 2, folder 2
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1964
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 2, folder 3
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1964
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 2, folder 4
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1964-1965
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Box 2, folder 5
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Box 2, folder 6
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 2, folder 7
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 3, folder 1
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for 1965 June 2)
Box 3, folder 2
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 3, folder 3
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965-1966
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 3, folder 4
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1966
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Box 3, folder 5
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1966
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 3, folder 6
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1966
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 3, folder 7
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1966
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 4, folder 1
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1966-1967
Scope and Content Note
11 letters. Letter from 1967 July 11 includes Letter dated 1967 January 16 from Marziola Pignatari of "Opera Montessori" in
Italian.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for circa 1967 June 24).
Box 4, folder 2
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1967
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Box 4, folder 3
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1967
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 4, folder 4
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1968
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 4, folder 5
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1968
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for 1968 February 16).
Box 4, folder 6
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1968
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Box 4, folder 7
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1968
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 5, folder 1
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1968-1969
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 5, folder 2
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1969
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 5, folder 3
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1969
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Box 5, folder 4
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1969
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 12, folder 5
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1960-1969
Scope and Content Note
8 letters.
Note
Oversized.
Box 5, folder 5
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
ca. 1964
Scope and Content Note
14 letters.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for 1 letter circa 1964)
Box 5, folder 6
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1965-1967
Scope and Content Note
16 letters.
Box 5, folder 7
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
1968-1969
Scope and Content Note
14 letters.
Box 6, folder 1
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
Undated
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Note
(See also box 12, Folder 5 for [no year] June 9)
Box 6, folder 2
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
Undated
Scope and Content Note
13 letters.
Box 6, folder 3
Armstrong, Sarah Louise,
Undated
Scope and Content Note
12 letters.
Box 6, folder 8
Hall, Mrs. John,
Undated
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 6, folder 9
[Hall?], Nela,
1974
Scope and Content Note
1 letters.
Box 6, folder 10
Mikami, Ikuko,
1968
Scope and Content Note
4 letters, 1 postcard.
Box 6, folder 11
Ratschat, Ingrid,
1957-1969
Scope and Content Note
5 letters. Includes letters from sponsored child and sponsorship material from Save the Children Federation, Inc. Two of
the sponsored child's letters are in German and are accompanied by English translation.
Box 6, folder 12
Updike, Mrs. [?],
1908
Scope and Content Note
1 postcard.
Box 6, folder 13
surname], Elizabeth,
1928
Scope and Content Note
1 card.
Box 6, folder 14
surname], Sarah,
1909
Scope and Content Note
1 postcard.
Box 6, folder 15
Miscellaneous Envelopes and utility bills
Subseries 1.2
School and Personal Papers,
1917-1929
Scope and Content Note
Contains records and ephemera related to Marjorie Armstrong's school career. These are related to attendance Claremont High
School, Pomona College, Smith College and various other schools attended.
Box 10, folder 1
Claremont High School,
1922-1924
Scope and Content Note
Includes her High school Diploma, Newspaper clippings related to her graduating class, Draft of graduation speech she gave
entitled "World Wide Vision".
Box 10, folder 3
Pomona College,
1924-1928
Scope and Content Note
Includes class of 1928 graduation programs and Marjorie Armstrong's acceptance letter to school.
Box 10, folder 4
Pomona College Art Appreciation Notebook,
1928
Box 10, folder 5
Pomona College Assignments and Glee Club,
1924-1928
Box 12, folder 1
Pomona College Scrapbook-Loose Material,
1924-1928
Box 12, folder 2
Pomona College Scrapbook,
1924-1928
Box 10, folder 7
Miscellaneous School Records,
1917-1919
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photograph that might possibly be of Marjorie Armstrong and report cards.
Box 10, folder 8
Miscellaneous personal records and ephemera
Subseries 1.3
Diaries,
1929-1972
Box 7, folder 1
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1929
Box 7, folder 2
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1930-1934
Box 7, folder 3
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1935-1938,1940
Box 7, folder 4
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1941-1945
Box 7, folder 5
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1946-1949
Box 7, folder 6
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1951
Box 7, folder 7
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1961
Box 7, folder 8
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1962
Box 7, folder 9
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1963
Box 7, folder 10
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1964
Box 7, folder 11
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1965
Box 7, folder 12
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1966
Box 7, folder 13
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1967
Box 7, folder 14
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1968
Box 7, folder 15
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1969
Box 7, folder 16
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1970
Box 7, folder 17
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1971
Box 7, folder 18
Marjorie Armstrong Diary,
1972
Series 2
Sarah Louise Armstrong Papers,
1897-1969
Subseries 2.1
Correspondence,
1897-1969
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence is from a variety of senders. Of especial interest are the courtship letters between Sarah Louise and Frank
T Armstrong. Represented are postcards sent by Marjorie Armstrong to her mother, during a brief separation in 1913. Also,
a prominent individual represented in the correspondence is William W. Peet.
Box 11, folder 1
Armstrong, Frank T. (recipient),
1904
Scope and Content Note
5 letters.
Box 11, folder 2
Armstrong, Frank T. (sender),
1904
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Box 11, folder 3
Armstrong, Jeanne,
1969
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Box 11, folder 4
Armstrong, Jon,
1963, undated,
Scope and Content Note
15 letters.
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters addressed to Sarah Louise Armstrong and Marjorie Armstrong, as well as letters signed from Jon and Jeanne
Armstrong.
Box 11, folder 5
Armstrong, Marjorie,
circa 1913, circa 1969
Scope and Content Note
7 postcards, 8 letters.
Box 12, folder 4
Armstrong, Marjorie,
circa 1913, circa 1969
Scope and Content Note
7 postcards, 8 letters.
Box 11, folder 6
Peet, [J?].W.,
1897
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 11, folder 7
Peet, Mary,
1913-1914, undated
Scope and Content Note
1 letter, 2 postcards.
Box 11, folder 8
Peet, William W.,
1927-1942
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 11, folder 9
[no surname], Elizabeth,
undated
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Scope and Content Note
Letters are addressed to both Sarah Louise Armstrong and Marjorie Armstrong.
Box 11, folder 10
Miscellaneous Senders, A-Z,
undated
Scope and Content Note
11 letters.
Subseries 2.2
Family Records,
1809-1970
Scope and Content Note
Includes material related to Frank T. Armstrong's graduation from Northwestern University Dental School, Sarah Louise and
Frank T. Armstrong marriage certificate, a typed copy of a suicide note from an unnamed male member of the Armstrong family.
Box 11, folder 11
Family Documents and Ephemera,
1896- 1960
Scope and Content Note
Includes clippings on William W. Peet, materials related to Frank T. Armstrong's graduation from Northwestern University Dental
School, Frank T. Armstrong and Sarah Louise Armstrong's wedding book, and a handwritten document with a brief history of the
Armstrong family.
Box 11, folder 12
Miscellaneous Family Ephemera,
circa 1900-circa 1950
Scope and Content Note
Includes clippings on William W. Peet, materials related to Frank T. Armstrong's graduation from Northwestern University Dental
School, Frank T. Armstrong and Sarah Louise Armstrong's wedding book, and a handwritten document with a brief history of the
Armstrong family.
Box 11, folder 14
Unsigned Suicide note,
1936 August 11
Subseries 2.3
Diaries,
1929-1973
Scope and Content Note
The two cash books included give insight into Sarah Louise Armstrong's income and expenditures. Listed is the amount she
received for some of her paintings.
Box 8, folder 1
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1929
Box 8, folder 2
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1931
Box 8, folder 3
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1932
Box 8, folder 4
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1934
Box 8, folder 5
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1935
Box 8, folder 6
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1936
Box 8, folder 7
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1937
Box 8, folder 8
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1938
Box 8, folder 9
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1939
Box 8, folder 10
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1942
Box 8, folder 11
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1943
Box 8, folder 12
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1944
Box 8, folder 13
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1945
Box 8, folder 14
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1946
Box 8, folder 15
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1947
Box 8, folder 16
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1948
Box 8, folder 17
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1949
Box 8, folder 18
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1950
Box 8, folder 19
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1952
Box 8, folder 20
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1953
Box 8, folder 21
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1954
Box 8, folder 22
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1955
Box 8, folder 23
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1956
Box 8, folder 24
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1957
Box 9, folder 1
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1958
Box 9, folder 2
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1959
Box 9, folder 3
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1960
Box 9, folder 4
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1961
Box 9, folder 5
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1962
Box 9, folder 6
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1963
Box 9, folder 7
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1964
Box 9, folder 8
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1965
Box 9, folder 9
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1966
Box 9, folder 10
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1967
Box 9, folder 11
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1968
Box 9, folder 12
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1969
Box 9, folder 13
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1970
Box 9, folder 14
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1971
Box 9, folder 15
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1972
Box 9, folder 16
Sarah Louise Armstrong Diary,
1973