Helen Winifred Pflueger Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, February 23, 2010.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Helen Winifred Pflueger Papers

Dates (inclusive): 1874-1984

Bulk dates: 1911-1979

Collection Number: mssPflueger papers

Creator: Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979.

Extent: 1,326 items in 11 boxes + 3 rolled items

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection contains the papers of seamstress and unpublished novelist Helen Winifred Pflueger (1898-1979) of Sierra Madre, California. The collection contains Pflueger's writings, including two copies of her manuscript "New Paradise Lost," diaries (dating from 1911-1979), correspondence, and ephemera.

Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Helen Winifred Pflueger Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of the Estate of Helen Pflueger via Betty Deming, August 20, 1980.

Biographical Note

Helen Winifred Pflueger (1898-1979), a resident of Sierra Madre, California, was born in Holman, Wisconsin, in 1898, and was deaf from the time of her childhood. She attended the Minneapolis Academy of Music, Drama, and Expression. In 1930, after her father’s death, she and her mother moved to the Los Angeles area. Helen supported herself as a seamstress during the depression. She wrote a novel called “New Paradise Lost,” which was never published. She died in 1979.

Scope and Content

The manuscripts include two complete copies of Pflueger’s book “New Paradise Lost” as well as draft pages and notes for the novel. There are also papers and essays written by Helen in high school and later in life as well as copies of writings and poems by Helen and others.

The diaries span the years 1911 to 1979. The diaries include daily entries with detailed information about Helens’ daily activities: visits to friends, seamstress work, trips taken, etc. She also talks a lot about her religious beliefs and her struggles to be a good Christian.

The majority of correspondence is written by others to Helen but there are a few pieces of correspondence by her (retained copies). There are several letters to and from Rev. Gilbert P. Symons of the Forward Movement of the Episcopal Church and others dealing with her religious beliefs and search for a church to attend. There is also one letter by Edgar Bergen (1941, Apr. 15) in response to a letter Helen wrote to him and “Charlie.” There are also a few letters regarding her book “New Paradise Lost” (1940).

The ephemera includes a variety of material including account books, address books, bank statements, biographical information, financial papers, medical papers, calling cards, church bulletins, dress patterns, family estate papers (including a copy of Helen’s will), greeting cards, newspaper clippings, photographs, school notebooks and a recipe book. Some of the newspaper clippings deal with Sierra Madre, California. There are also three rolled items: two diplomas from the Minneapolis School of Music (1919-1920) and a painting of Helen Pflueger.

Indexing Subjects

Episcopal Church

Subject in Correspondence (1940-1942). Box 8 (6).
Subject in Church Bulletins (1930-1934). Box 10 (9).

Methodist Church (U.S.)

Subject in Church Bulletins (1930-1934). Box 10 (9).

Arrangement

Arranged in the following manner: 1. Manuscripts (Boxes 1-3); 2. Diaries (Boxes 4-7); 3. Correspondence (Boxes 8-9); 4. Ephemera (Boxes 10-11).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979.

Episcopal Church.

Methodist Church (U.S.)

Minneapolis School of Music.

Deaf women -- California -- Archives.

Depressions -- 1929 -- California.

Women -- California -- Archives.

Women in the Episcopal Church.

Sierra Madre (Calif.)

Forms/Genres

Diaries -- California -- 20th century.

Ephemera -- California.

Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century.

Manuscripts -- California -- 20th century.

Additional Contributors

Bergen, Edgar, 1903-1978.

Symons, Gilbert Prower, b. 1879.

Manuscripts

Box 1

Manuscripts, Manning – Pflueger “New Paradise Lost” (1940, Sep. 10)

Folder 1

Manning, Mary and Helen Winifred Pflueger, 1898-1979. “Assignment of Entire Interest in Unpublished Manuscript:” [contract] (1970, Jan. 19). 1 item.

Folder 2

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “Daniel Webster:” [essay] [c.1915]. 1 item.

Folder 3

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Essay for English II class [c.1915]. 1 item.

Folder 4

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Essay for Physiology class (1915, May 26). 1 item.

Folder 5

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, foreword, synopsis, prologue, chapters 1-6 (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item. With note.

Folder 6

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 7-12] (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item.

Folder 7

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 13-18] (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item.

Folder 8

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 19-23] (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item.

Folder 9

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 24-28] (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item.

Folder 10

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 29-33] (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item.

Folder 11

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 34-37, epilogue] (1940, Sep. 10). 1 item.

Box 2

Manuscripts, Pflueger “New Paradise Lost” [1940] – “What Church-Going Means to Me”

Folder 1

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, prologue, chapters 1-6] [1940]. 1 item.

Folder 2

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 7-16] [1940]. 1 item.

Folder 3

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 17-27] [1940]. 1 item.

Folder 4

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 28-33] [1940]. 1 item.

Folder 5

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, chapters 34-37, epilogue] [1940]. 1 item.

Folder 6

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “New Paradise Lost:” [novel, miscellaneous draft pages] [1940]. 4 items.

Folder 7

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Note about diaries [after 1937]. 1 item.

Folder 8

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Speech for basketball team [1917]. 1 item.

Folder 9

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “Valedictory to the Class of ’17:” [speech] (1917). Typewritten with author’s handwritten edits. With “Class History” by Helen Winifred Pflueger, 1898-1979. 2 items.

Folder 10

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Untitled essay beginning, “From ‘It Occurred to Me’” [after 1941]. With note. 2 items.

Folder 11

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. “What Church-Going Means to Me:” [article] (1940, Oct. 4). Includes letter by Helen Winifred Pflueger, 1898-1979 to “Dear Sir.” 2 items.

Box 3

Manuscripts, Schoch – Poems

Folder 1

Schoch, Emma. “The Story of the Iron Pot:” [manuscript] (1917). Incomplete with draft pages and notes. 7 items.

Folder 2

Thompson, Wandalee. “Opinions of Wandalee Thompson after reading ‘New Paradise Lost’” [before 1970]. 1 item.

Folder 3

-----. Miscellaneous Writings: Titles, A-D [undated]. 23 items.

Folder 4

-----. Miscellaneous Writings: Titles, E-L [undated]. 26 items.

Folder 5

-----. Miscellaneous Writings: Titles, M-W [undated]. 24 items.

Folder 6

-----. Miscellaneous Writings: Untitled [undated]. 23 items.

Folder 7

-----. Poems [undated]. 121 items.

Diaries

Box 4

Diaries, 1911-1949

Folder 1

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1911, Jan. 1-June 19). 1 item.

Folder 2

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1918). 1 item.

Folder 3

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1918-1919). 1 item.

Folder 4

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1929). 1 item.

Folder 5

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1930). 1 item.

Folder 6

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1932, Jan. 1-Sep. 5). 1 item.

Folder 7

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1932, Sep. 5-Dec. 31). 1 item.

Folder 8

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1933, Jan. 1-Apr. 15). 1 item.

Folder 9

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1933, Apr. 18-Sep. 5). 1 item.

Folder 10

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1933, Sep. 6-Dec. 9). 1 item.

Folder 11

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1933, Dec. 9-1934, Feb. 25). 1 item.

Folder 12

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1934, Feb. 26-May 25). 1 item.

Folder 13

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary ([1934], Mar. 6-Oct. 5). 1 item.

Folder 14

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1934, May 26-Aug. 10). 1 item.

Folder 15

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1934, Aug. 11-Oct. 8). 1 item.

Folder 16

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1934, Oct. 10-Dec. 5). 1 item.

Folder 17

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1934, Dec. 6-1935, Jan. 26). 1 item.

Folder 18

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1935, Jan. 27-Feb. 28). 1 item. Beginning of diary includes dates 1934, Oct. 10-Nov.22, and 1935, Jan. 9-10.

Folder 19

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1935, June 15-Aug. 22). 1 item.

Folder 20

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1935, Aug. 23-Oct. 29). 1 item.

Folder 21

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1935, Oct.30-Dec. 31). 1 item.

Folder 22

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1936, Jan. 1-Feb. 23). 1 item.

Folder 23

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1936, Feb. 24-Apr. 25). 1 item.

Folder 24

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1936, Apr.26-June 7). 1 item.

Folder 25

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1936, June 8-Aug. 29). 1 item.

Folder 26

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1936, Aug. 30-Nov. 15). 1 item.

Folder 27

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1936, Nov. 16-Dec.31). 1 item.

Folder 28

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1937-1941). 1 item.

Folder 29

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1942-1946). 1 item.

Folder 30

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1947). 1 item.

Folder 31

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1949). 1 item.

Box 5

Diaries, 1950-1959

Folder 1

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1950). 1 item.

Folder 2

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1951). 1 item.

Folder 3

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1952). 1 item.

Folder 4

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1953). 1 item.

Folder 5

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary [1954?]. 1 item.

Folder 6

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Food Diary ([1954], May 31-Aug. 29). 1 item.

Folder 7

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Food Diary (1954, Oct. 14-1955, Mar. 11). 1 item.

Folder 8

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Food Diary ([1955], Mar. 17-May 27). 1 item.

Folder 9

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1955). 1 item.

Folder 10

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1956). 1 item.

Folder 11

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary ([1957], Mar. 2-June 5). 1 item.

Folder 12

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1958). 1 item.

Folder 13

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1959). 1 item.

Box 6

Diaries, 1960-1969

Folder 1

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1960). 1 item.

Folder 2

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1961). 1 item.

Folder 3

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1962). 1 item.

Folder 4

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1963). 1 item.

Folder 5

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1964). 1 item.

Folder 6

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1965). 1 item.

Folder 7

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1966). 1 item.

Folder 8

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1967). 1 item.

Folder 9

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1968). 1 item.

Folder 10

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1969). 1 item. In fragile condition.

Box 7

Diaries, 1970-1979

Folder 1

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1970). 1 item.

Folder 2

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1971). 1 item.

Folder 3

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1972). 1 item.

Folder 4

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1973). 1 item.

Folder 5

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1974). 1 item.

Folder 6

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1975). 1 item.

Folder 7

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1976). 1 item.

Folder 8

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1977). 1 item.

Folder 9

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1978). 1 item.

Folder 10

Pflueger, Helen Winifred, 1898-1979. Diary (1979). 1 item.

Correspondence

Box 8

Correspondence, 1874-1959

Folder 1

Correspondence (1874-1899). 19 items. Includes two newspaper clippings.

Folder 2

Correspondence (1909-1919). 41 items.

Folder 3

Correspondence (1920-1929). 23 items.

Folder 4

Correspondence (1930-1934). 30 items.

Folder 5

Correspondence (1935-1939). 30 items.

Folder 6

Correspondence (1940-1942). 48 items.

Folder 7

Correspondence (1943-1949). 30 items.

Folder 8

Correspondence (1950-1959). 44 items.

Box 9

Correspondence, 1960-1984

Folder 1

Correspondence (1960-1966). 22 items.

Folder 2

Correspondence (1967). 42 items.

Folder 3

Correspondence (1968-1969). 42 items.

Folder 4

Correspondence (1970-1984). 53 items.

Folder 5

Correspondence: incomplete and undated [undated]. 56 items.

Folder 6

Correspondence: incomplete and undated [undated]. 46 items.

Folder 7

Correspondence: letters or recommendation for Helen Winifred Pflueger, 1898-1979 (1926-1957). 5 items.

Ephemera

Box 10

Account Book – Greeting Cards

Folder 1

Account Book (1958-1964). 1 item.

Folder 2

Address Books (1922-1972). 4 items.

Folder 3

Autograph Album (1907). 1 item.

Folder 4

Bank Statements and Information (1974-1979). 19 items.

Folder 5

Biographical Information (1879-1951). 23 items.

Folder 6

Book: “Learning to Pray of the Man of Prayer” by Charles W. Pflueger (1930). 1 item.

Folder 7

“Books Read” Notebook (1938-1967). 1 item.

Folder 8

Calling Cards (1870-1936). 18 items.

Folder 9

Church Bulletins (1930-1934). 6 items.

Folder 10

Drawings and Paintings (1906-1913). 22 items.

Folder 11

Dress Patterns, etc. (1933-1951). 49 items.

Folder 12

Family Estate Papers, Wills, etc. (1888-1974). 9 items.

Folder 13

Financial Papers (1957-1979). 18 items.

Folder 14

Greeting Cards, Floral Cards, etc. (1881-1957). 31 items.

Box 11

Invitations – School Notebooks

Folder 1

Invitations, Announcements and Programs (1881-1925). 13 items.

Folder 2

Medical Papers (1961-1979). 51 items.

Folder 3

Minneapolis School of Music Recital Programs (1919-1923). 12 items.

Folder 4

Miscellaneous Ephemera (1875-1978). 54 items.

Folder 5

Newspaper Clippings (1908-1967). 97 items.

Folder 6

Photographs and Negatives ([c.1900]-1978). 50 items.

Folder 7

Recipe Book (1881-1933). 1 item.

Folder 8

School Notebooks (1909-1912). 4 items.

Rolled Items

Folder 1

Painting of Helen Pflueger [undated]. 1 item.

Folder 2

Diploma: Helen Pflueger, Minneapolis School of Music (1919, June 13). 1 item.

Folder 3

Diploma, post graduate: Helen Pflueger, Minneapolis School of Music (1920, June 11). 1 item.