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.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
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