Inventory of the Mary Nolf Diaries and Correspondence Collection SPC.2018.051
Lindsay Anderson
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
January 30, 2020
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Mary Nolf Diaries and Correspondence
Creator:
Nolf, Mary
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2018.051
Physical Description:
1 box
Physical Description:
.42 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1831-1939
Date (bulk): 1880-1910
Abstract: The Mary Nolf Diaries and Correspondence collection contains diaries, autograph books, and a calendar book that mostly belonged
to Mary Nolf, as well as correspondence, such as letters and postcards between Mary, her siblings, family members, and possibly
friends.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Nolf Family History
This collection pertains to three sisters (Mary, Angeline or Angie, and Margaret or Maggie) who moved from Pennsylvania to
Pasadena, California after receiving an inheritance of land from their deceased parents. Their brother William and his wife,
Marie, remained in Pennsylvania. Angie married a man named Martin E. Geibel in 1910 and Mary and Margaret, who remained unmarried,
moved in with them in their Pasadena home where they lived out the rest of their lives.
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Lindsay Anderson in 2020.
Scope and Contents
The Mary Nolf Diaries and Correspondence Collection (1831-1939) contains .42 linear feet of diaries kept by Mary Nolf written
between 1889-1912; as well as letters mostly written to Mary by her sisters, brother, friends, and other relatives. Also included
in this collection are autograph books; a calendar book; postcards; letters written to Angie, Margaret, William and more;
and other ephemera. Major events are briefly mentioned in the diaries and letters, such as the sisters attending a lecture
given by Susan B. Anthony on women's rights in 1905, witnessing Glenn Curtiss and Louis Paulhan's flight during the Los Angeles
International Aviation Meet at what was Dominguez Park in 1910, and attending the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
in 1893.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Related Materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
1910 Los Angeles International Aviation Meet at Dominguez Field
Diaries
Correspondence
Autograph albums
Geibel, Angeline Nolf
Nolf, Margaret
Nolf, William
Geibel, Martin E.
Series I: Diaries, Autograph and Calendar Books
1831-1912
1881-1912
Physical Description: 7 folders
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Diaries, Autograph and Calendar Books series comprises of Mary Nolf's seven diaries, one calendar book and one autograph
book and her sister Angie Nolf Geibel's two autograph books. Three of Mary's diaries also have ephemera, such as newspaper
clippings, pressed flowers, a negative, flyers and more, tucked between the pages.
box 1, folder 1
Mary Nolf Diaries (1/4)
April 1, 1889 - April 24, 1904
April 1, 1889 - December 14, 1891
December 15, 1891 - March 12, 1899
March 23, 1899 - April 24, 1904
Scope and Contents
This folder includes three small diaries, in which the first diary dates from April 1, 1889 - December 14, 1891, the second
diary dates from December 15, 1891 - March 12, 1899 and the third diary dates from March 23, 1899 - April 24, 1904.
box 1, folder 2
Mary Nolf Diary (2/4)
May 5, 1904 - December 3, 1906
Biographical / Historical
In her August 1, 1905 entry, Mary wrote about visiting the Venice Auditorium to hear a lecture on women's rights given by
Susan B. Anthony and another lecture on "the new man" given by someone named Anna Shaw.
Scope and Contents
Includes the diary and items folded between the pages, such as newspaper clippings, a small photograph of a young man, pressed
flowers, a 3.5 x 3.5 black and white negative of presumably two women, a flyer for an event about war ships, a hand-written
note, a piece of cloth, a letter, a ticket and more.
box 1, folder 3
Mary Nolf Diary (3/4)
December 4, 1907 - September 4, 1909
Scope and Contents
Includes the diary and items folded between the pages, such as a pressed flower and leaves, a feather, a stamp, newspaper
clippings, hand-written notes, pieces of fabric and lace and more.
box 1, folder 4
Mary Nolf Diary (4/4)
September 11, 1909 - June 3, 1912
Biographical / Historical
In her January 18, 1910 entry, Mary briefly wrote about the time when she and her sister Margaret went to Dominguez Park where
they witnessed Glenn Curtiss and Louis Paulhan's flight at the Los Angeles International Aviation Meet.
Scope and Contents
Includes the diary and items folded between the pages, such as pressed leaves, hand-written notes, newspaper clippings, and
stamps.
box 1, folder 5
Mary Nolf Calendar Book
1885
box 1, folder 6
Mary Nolf Autograph Book
July 31, 1831 - June 20, 1896
1880-1886
box 1, folder 7
Angie Nolf Geibel Autograph Books
1881 - 1886
1881 - 1884
1884 - 1886
Scope and Contents
Includes two autograph book in which the first autograph book dates from 1881-1884 and the second autograph book dates from
1884-1886.
Series II: Correspondence and Papers
1885-1939
1885-1904
Physical Description: 26 folders
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Correspondence and Papers series mainly comprises of letters and postcards written between Mary, her sisters, family members
and possibly friends and also includes a receipt, cards, an invitation, a recipe, empty envelopes and blank postcards.
box 1, folder 8
Letters to her sisters, from Margaret Nolf
June 21, 1890 - November 14, 1891
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters.
box 1, folder 9
Letters to her sisters, from Angie Nolf Geibel
September 8, 1894 - October 21, 1896, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes four letters.
box 1, folder 10
Letters to his sisters, from William Nolf
December 23, 1904, November 23, 1906
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters.
box 1, folder 11
Letters to her sisters-in-law, from Marie Nolf
October 30, 1903, February 2, 1904
Scope and Contents
Includes two leters.
box 1, folder 12
Letters to Mary Nolf, from Margaret Nolf
April 16, 1888, September 11, 1893
Biographical / Historical
In her letter dated September 11, 1893, Margaret wrote about her visit to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago with
her their sister Angie. She wrote about Lincoln Park, flowers, animals and lagoons.
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters.
box 1, folder 13
Letter to Mary Nolf, from Angie Nolf Geibel
September 8, 1893
Biographical / Historical
In her letter, Angie wrote about her visit to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago with their sister Margaret. She
discussed activities that they did and complains of long lines and crowds. The stationary she used also happens to be from
the ladies reading and writing room.
box 1, folder 14
Letter to Mary Nolf, from William Nolf
April 3, 1890
box 1, folder 15
Letters to Mary Nolf, from Aunt Margaret Bohler
February 10, 1884 - January 9, 1892
Scope and Contents
Includes three leters.
box 1, folder 16
Letter to Mary Nolf, from Uncle P.R. Bohler
September 27, 1885
box 1, folder 17
Letters to Mary Nolf, from John L. Gibbin
July 27, 1888, November 17, 1889
Biographical / Historical
John L. Gibbin was Mary's cousin.
Scope and Contents
Includes two leters.
box 1, folder 18
Letters to Mary Nolf, from Indiana R. Loomis
July 12, 1888, April 21, 1904
Biographical / Historical
Indiana R. Loomis was Mary's cousin.
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters.
box 1, folder 19
Letter to Mary Nolf, from unnamed aunt or uncle
January 11, 1889
box 1, folder 20
Letter to Mary Nolf, from Emma
August 21, 1887
box 1, folder 21
Postcards to Mary Nolf
February 5, 1910 - February 21, 1910
Scope and Contents
Includes three postcards from different friends or acquaintances.
box 1, folder 22
Letter to William Nolf, from Aaron Nolf
August 6, 1900
box 1, folder 23
Letters to unknown, from William Nolf
circa 1890 - 1910
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters
box 1, folder 24
Letter to Marie Nolf, from Aunt Margaret Bohler
November 23, 1897
box 1, folder 25
Letter to Margaret Nolf, from Bella
February 8, 1898
Biographical / Historical
Bella was a Margaret's cousin.
box 1, folder 26
Letter to Angie Nolf Geibel, from Mary Nolf
March 10, 1895
box 1, folder 27
Letter and postcard to Angie Nolf Geibel, from Martin E. Geibel
September 30, 1919, August 21, 1932
Biographical / Historical
Martin E. Geibel was Angie's husband.
box 1, folder 28
Angie Nolf Geibel receipt
April 4, 1939
box 1, folder 29
Martin E. Geibel invitation and cards
February 22, 1933, undated
box 1, folder 30
Letter to unknown, from Colleta
September 16, 1906
box 1, folder 31
Letters to unknown, from unknown
circa 1880 - 1910
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters.
box 1, folder 33
Empty envelopes and blank postcards
February 5, 1888 - October 26, 1896, undated
