Finding aid of the Dorothy C. Putnam and Lois Mercer Papers
Coll2008-038
Loni Shibuyama
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Dorothy C. Putnam and Lois Mercer papers
creator:
Putnam, Dorothy C.
creator:
Mercer, Lois
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2008-038
Physical Description:
3.9 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1914-1988
Abstract: Photographs, correspondence, typescripts, newspaper clippings, a trophy and scrapbooks relating to Dorothy C. Putnam (1895-1991)
and her partner of 50 years, Lois Mercer (1894-1989), bookkeeper for ONE, Inc. The majority of the materials document Putnam's
life and family from her adolescence as a horseback mail carrier in Oregon; her activities as the first licensed female chauffeur
in California; her wins in economy-run driving races in the 1920s; and her service in the Women's Ambulance and Transport
Corps of California (W.A.T.C.C.) and U.S. Air Force during World War II. Materials also document Lois Mercer's service in
the U.S. Air Force during World War II; her contribution to ONE, Inc., from 1953; Putnam and Mercer's community activism;
and their 50 years of life together in Los Angeles.
Physical Description: 1 archive carton + 1 archive box + 2 flat archive cartons + 1 trophy.
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE
National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright
holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Dorothy C. Putnam and Lois Mercer papers, Coll2008-038, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Acquisition Information
Donation of Dorothy Putnam and Lois Mercer, date unknown.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, June 20, 2008.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Biography
Dorothy "Dot" Crocker Putnam was born in Massachusetts on October 15, 1895, the daughter of Frank Wright Putnam and Elle Crocker
Putnam. She is a descendant of American Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam, and claimed to be a cousin of Amelia Earhart
(although the relationship may have been to Earhart's husband, George Putnam). As a young woman, Putnam was a horseback mail
carrier in Oregon. She later moved to Los Angeles, where she developed an interest in automobiles. In 1918, she became the
first licensed female chauffeur in California, her clients including Carole Lombard, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable. In addition,
she also won a number of driving contests in Los Angeles during the 1920s. During World War II, she served in the Women's
Ambulance and Transport Corps of California (W.A.T.C.C.), and later the Air Force, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant.
After retiring from the Air Force, she became the first female senior truck driver for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
Lois Mercer was born in California on February 12, 1894. In 1928, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a bookkeeper
for an insurance company. In the 1930s, she met Dorothy Putnam, who was her partner for over 50 years. During World War II,
Mercer, with Putnam, joined the W.A.T.C.C., and later the Air Force, rising to the rank of Corporal. In 1953, Mercer became
bookkeeper at ONE, Inc., where she continued to work part-time until she retired in 1986 at the age of 92.
Putnam and Mercer lived in Los Angeles throughout their 50-year partnership. Lois Mercer died on January 6, 1989, Dorothy
Putnam in March 1991.
Source: Dorothy C. Putnam and Lois Mercer Papers, Coll2008-038, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection comprises scrapbooks, photographs, typescripts, clippings, miscellaneous material and a trophy from Dorothy
C. Putnam and Lois Mercer. Each of the scrapbooks includes photographs, clippings, correspondence, notes and miscellaneous
typescripts documenting Putnam and Mercer's lives from the 1910s through the mid-1980s. Materials document Putnam's ancestry;
her career as the first licensed female chauffeur and mechanic in California and her subsequent service as an Air Force lieutenant;
her participation in driving contests; Mercer's contribution to ONE, Inc.; her involvement in the Republican Party; their
shared community activism; and their 50-year partnership, which began in Los Angeles in the 1930s. Also included is a trophy
Putnam won in the Ladies Driving Contest organized by the Motor Car Dealers Association of Los Angeles in 1922.
Note: Scrapbooks should be handled with care as the glue holding the photographs to the pages has become brittle and many
of the photographs are loose.
Related Material
A VHS videotape of an interview by Dorr Legg with Lois Mercer and Lt. Dorothy Putnam, April 27, 1986, is currently (June 2008)
deposited with the Outfest Legacy Project at the University of California at Los Angeles.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lesbians
United States. Air Force -- Officers -- Women
Putnam, Dorothy C.
Women's Ambulance and Transport Corps of California, Inc.
One, Inc
Putnam, Dorothy C.
Mercer, Lois
ONE Institute of Homophile Studies
Mercer, Lois
Scrapbooks and Photo Albums
Putnam (Dorothy) photographs, sample
Box 1, Folder 1
Album #1
circa 1910 - 1969
Physical Description: 126 photographs : b&w , col.
Box 1, Folder 2
Album #2
circa 1910 - 1945
Physical Description: 167 photographs : b&w.
Box 1, Folder 3
Album #3
1914 - 1981
Physical Description: 132 photographs : b&w , col.
Box 2, Folder 1
Album #4
circa 1915 - 1943
Physical Description: 143 photographs : b&w , col.
Box 3, Folder 1
Album #5
1918 - 1946
Physical Description: 31 photographs : b&w.
Box 1, Folder 4
Album #6
circa 1937 - 1975
Physical Description: 84 photographs : b&w , col.
Box 3, Folder 2
Album #7
1963 - 1976
Physical Description: 109 photographs : col.
Box 3, Folder 3
Photo Album of Lois Mercer & Dot Putnam
1975 - 1988
Physical Description: 170 photographs : b&w , col.
Box 1, Folder 5
Album #8
1981 - 1984
Physical Description: 21 photographs : col.
Miscellaneous Photographs
Box 2, Folder 2
Dorothy Putnam (found loose)
1916 - 1942
Physical Description: 6 photographs : b&w.
Box 2, Folder 3
Dorothy Putnam Photo and Clipping (framed)
circa 1943
Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w.
Box 2, Folder 4
Family Photos
circa 1910 - 1920
Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w.
Box 2, Folder 5
Family Photos
circa 1982 - 1986
Physical Description: 7 photographs : col.
Box 3, Folder 4
Frank Wright Putnam
Undated
Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w.
Box 4
Y.W.C.A. City Conference
1919
Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w.
Box 2, Folder 7
Correspondence and Related Clipping About Dorothy Putnam
1983 - 1985
Box 2, Folder 8
"Motor Pool" Air Force Maywood, California
1943
Box 2, Folder 9
Newspaper Clippings about Tressa Prisbrey
1982
Box 2, Folder 10
National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund Certificate of Recognition to Lois Mercer
1988
Box 2, Folder 11
ONE Institute Material
1982 - 1986
Box 2, Folder 12
Ronald Reagan and Republican Party Memorabilia
1984 - 1986
Item 1
Ladies Driving Contest Trophy from the Motor Car Dealers Association in Los Angeles
May 1922
