Nellie Suydam Cowley papers
Finding aid prepared by Reajinae Jenkins and Aleia McDaniel, Student Processing Assistants.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2015
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Nellie Suydam Cowley papers
Date (inclusive): 1861-1945, undated
Date (bulk): 1892-1945
Collection Number: MS 158
Creator:
Cowley, Nellie Suydam
Extent:
1.67 linear feet
(4 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: This collection contains diaries, correspondence, photographs, publications, and other material pertaining to Nellie Suydam
Cowley, an average citizen who spent much of her life in Glendora, California. Her diaries and writings are based on what
she considered to be her "ordinary" life and the "ordinary" events that encompassed it. While much of the material pertains
to Glendora there is also material that documents her time in Arizona. Includes Cowley's diaries which depict the everyday
happenings of her life in California and Arizona over a span of fifty-three years, photographs of her family, friends, residences,
and travels, and her published poems and short stories. Also includes documents such as mortgage and stock certificates pertaining
to her financial dealings.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Nellie Suydam Cowley papers (MS 158). Special Collections & University Archives,
University of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Purchased in 1983.
Processing History
Processed by Reajinae Jenlins and Aleia McDaniel, Student Processing Assistants, 2015.
Processing of the Nellie Suydam Cowley papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside
as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded
by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts
Curator.
Biographical Note
Nellie Suydam Cowley was raised in both Southern California and Arizona. She grew up filled with a love for books that eventually
led to her love of writing. Nellie chronicled her life and dreams through her diaries and letters. As one of two children,
Nellie and her family moved to California in 1885 where she spent the majority of her life in the city of Glendora. Her writings
are based on what she considered her "ordinary" life and the "ordinary" events that encompassed it. Cowley had dreams of becoming
a writer and going to college but ultimately was never able to achieve these goals. Unable to become a writer, Nellie became
a printer and in 1913 set up a printing shop in Arizona with her husband Harry Cowley. After the death of her mother, the
failure of the printing shop, and the dissolution of her marriage Nellie relocated to Glendora, California. She continued
to write stories, some of which were published; participate in civic events; and completed twenty-nine diaries detailing her
life before dying of cancer in 1946.
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection contains diaries, correspondence, photographs, publications, and other material pertaining to Nellie Suydam
Cowley and her life in Glendora, California and Douglas, Arizona. Includes Cowley's diaries which depict the everyday happenings
of her life in California and Arizona over a span of fifty three years, photographs of her family, friends, residences, and
travels, and her published poems and short stories. Also includes documents such as mortgage and stock certificates pertaining
to her financial dealings.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series as follows:
- Series 1. Writings, circa 1875-1945
- Series 2. Photographs, 1861-1913
- Series 3. Financial documents, 1886-1906
- Series 4. Publications, 1902-1949, undated
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Cowley, Nellie Suydam
Douglas (Ariz.)
Glendora (Calif.)
Genres and Forms of Materials
Clippings (information artifacts)
Diaries
Photographs
Series 1. Writings
circa 1875-1945
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains diaries, correspondence, and other material documenting the life of Nellie Suydam Cowley from 1892-1945
in California and Arizona. The diaries depict the everyday happenings of Cowley's life over the span of fifty three years
while the correspondence provides a first hand account of Cowley's personal and business dealings.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 1, Box 2
Diaries of Nellie Suydam Cowley documenting her everyday life and ordinary events in Glendora, California and Douglas, Arizona
1892-1945
Box 3, Folder 6
Correspondence to Nellie Suydam Cowley from various individuals
1910-1938
Box 4
Keepsake album containing autographs and handwritten notes
circa 1875
Series 2. Photographs
1861-1913, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs documenting the personal life of Nellie Suydam Cowley. All photographs are black and white
and include images of her family, friends, residences, and travels.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 3, Folders 1-3
Photographs of Nellie Suydam Cowley's family and friends
1887-1913
Box 3, Folder 4
Wedding photograph of Harry and Nellie Suydam Cowley (includes press clipping)
undated
Box 4
Photograph album of Nellie Suydam Cowley's family and friends
1861-1897
Series 3. Financial documents
1886-1906
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains certificates, notes, and other material pertaining to the financial dealings of Nellie Suydam Cowley.
Includes mortgage certificates and deeds from various individuals in Glendora, California from the late nineteenth to early
twentieth century and handwritten notes detailing price lists and receipts.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 3, Folder 5
Mortgage, deed, and stock certificates
1886-1906
Box 3, Folder 5
Handwritten notes including price lists and receipts
1886-1906
Series 4. Publications
1902-1949, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains publications written or collected by Nellie Suydam Cowley. Includes published poems and short stories
written by Cowley as well as newspaper clippings on a variety of topics. An interview with Keith Suydam detailing the history
of the Suydam family is also included.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 3, Folder 7
Poems and short stories published by Nellie Suydam Cowley (photocopies)
1902-1927
Box 3, Folder 8
Newspaper clippings on a variety of topics
undated
Box 3, Folder 9
Typescript of an interview with Keith Suydam by Helen Bettin regarding the Suydam family
circa 1940-1949
Box 3, Folder 10
Brochure and program on Glendora, California
circa 1921, 1937