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 2

Graduation Cards, 1924

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 6

Smith College, 1928-1929

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 13

Family Poetry, 1900-1970

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

Box 9, folder 17

Cash Book, 1946-1951

Box 9, folder 16

Cash Book, 1952-1956