Finding aid to the Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, 1921-2011
Coll2013-030
Jennifer Ansley
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
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: Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs
creator:
Herbert, Esther
creator:
Doyle, Marvyl
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013-030
Physical Description:
6.4 Linear Feet
3 archive boxes + 3 archive binder-boxes + 1 archive shoebox.
Date (inclusive): 1921-2011
Abstract: Correspondence, photographs, audiocassettes, manuscripts, professional papers, and other materials, 1921-2011, from lesbian
speech pathologist and veteran, Esther Herbert, and her partner, Marvyl Doyle. The correspondence contains letters between
Herbert and Doyle written between 1944 and 1996 with the bulk of the letters being exchanged during World War 2 while they
were stationed separately in the Women's Army Corps. Also included is an extensive collection of photographs documenting their
military service. Among the papers are published materials by both Herbert and Doyle regarding their respective work in speech
pathology and writing composition; as well as a collection of Doyle's poetry. The collection also includes recorded interviews
with Esther Herbert regarding her experience of living as a lesbian in the 1940s and 1950s.
Biography
Esther Herbert was born in Rochester, New York on May 25, 1920. Herbert graduated from Brooklyn College in 1941 and shortly
after, began a Masters Program in Speech Pathology at the State University of Iowa. In 1942, she briefly taught at Boise Junior
High School in Boise, Idaho before joining the army in 1943. For most of the war, she worked in the Women's Army Corps (WAC)
company administrative office, eventually earning the rank of Technical Sergeant. It was during this period that she met her
lifelong partner, Marvyl Doyle.
In 1944, Doyle was transferred to Patterson Field, Illinois, and Herbert began a relationship with Roberta Behr. After the
war, Herbert attended the University of Southern California, earning her teaching credential. She began work as a speech therapist
in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1946 and retired in 1980.
Following the war, Herbert and Behr moved to Playa del Rey. Herbert and Marvyl Doyle reunited in 1955 and continued with their
relationship until Doyle's death in 2001. As of 2013, Herbert lives in Palm Springs, California.
Source:
Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, Coll2013-030, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Biography
Marvyl Doyle was born in Clear Lake, Iowa on May 10, 1921. She graduated from Hampton High School in Hampton, Iowa in 1939
and was later accepted to National Youth America Training Corps to be trained in radio. After completing her training, she
joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942 and became an Advanced Radio Mechanic.
In 1943, she was stationed at San Bernadino Army Airforce Base where she was enlisted in the newly-formed Women's Army Corps
and Esther Herbert. In 1944, Doyle was transferred to Patterson Field, Illinois, but continued a regular correspondence and
close friendship with Herbert until they reunited again in 1955.
In the mean time, while living with her partner Sue Graff, Doyle attended Drake University, graduating in 1950 with both a
master's degree in Reading and Literature. In 1951, after briefly enrolling in a Ph.D. program at Ohio State University, Doyle
moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where she taught at South East Junior High School.
In 1955, Doyle and Herbert reunited and in 1956, Doyle began an Ed.D. program at the University of Southern California. She
graduated in 1961 and taught at several Southern California community colleges before retiring in 1981.
Marvyl Doyle died in May 2001 and is buried in Memorial Park in Joshua Tree, California.
Source:
Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, Coll2013-030, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Acquisition
Gift of Esther Herbert, April 23, 2011.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle Papers and Photographs, Coll2013-030, ONE National Gay & Lesbian
Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Jennifer Ansley, April 2013.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises correspondence, photographs, audiocassettes, manuscripts, professional papers and other materials,
1921-2011, from lesbian speech pathologist and veteran, Esther Herbert, and her partner, Marvyl Doyle. The correspondence
contains letters to and from Herbert and her longtime partner Doyle from 1944 to 1968 with the bulk of the letters being exchanged
during World War II, while Herbert and Doyle were stationed separately in the Women's Army Corps. The photographs document
their experiences in WWII as well as their life together after the war. Also included are published and unpublished materials
by both Herbert and Doyle documenting their professional careers; as well as a collection of Doyle's poetry. Herbert also
wrote notes and recorded interviews about her time in the army, as well as her life with Doyle. The collection also includes
papers from Roberta Behr and Sue Graff, friends and former partners of Herbert and Doyle, respectively.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Esther Herbert papers
Series 2. Marvyl Doyle papers
Series 3. Sue Graff and Roberta Behr papers
Series 4. Photograph albums, audiocassettes and DVD
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women veterans
Poetry
Lesbian writings
Speech therapy
Photographs
Correspondence
Lesbian couples
Herbert, Esther
Doyle, Marvyl
United States. Army. Women's Army Corps
Esther Herbert papers Series 1.
1937-2011
Series Description
This series consists of correspondence, publications, diplomas and certificates, military records, and professional papers
of Esther Herbert. Among the materials in this series are Herbert's own notes regarding the contents of the collection. The
correspondence is comprised mainly of letters to and from Herbert and her partner, Marvyl Doyle, with the bulk of the letters
being composed during World War II. The publications and professional papers are concerned with Herbert's work as a speech
pathologist and membership in the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Arrangement
Esther Herbert's notes about this collection are at the beginning of this series. The remaining folders are arranged chronologically
with undated files at the end.
Box 1, Folder 1
Herbert's notes about the collection
2011
Box 1, Folder 3-18
Correspondence, Esther Herbert and Marvyl Doyle
1944-1968
Physical Description: [16 folders]
Box 1, Folder 19-21
Correspondence, Sue Graff and Marvyl Doyle
February-September 1956
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 1, Folder 22
Correspondence, family
1953
Box 2, Folder 1-2
Correspondence, general
1944-1996
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 5
Diplomas and certificates
1937-1977
Box 2, Folder 6-10
Publications on speech pathology
1949-1971
Physical Description: [5 folders]
Box 2, Folder 12
Professional records
1963-1977
Marvyl Doyle papers Series 2.
1921-1997
Series Description
This series contains manuscripts, notebook journals, publications, and personal papers of Marvyl Doyle. Her personal papers
include her birth certificate, military discharge records, and employment contracts. The manuscripts consist primarily of
Doyle's unpublished poems and college papers. Her dissertation for the Doctoral Program in Education at the University of
Southern California is also included in this series. The publications are concerned with Doyle's poetry, as well as later
work as a reading and composition instructor and include a pamphlet series that Doyle co-wrote, titled "Lessons for Self-Instruction
in Basic Skills." Note that Doyle correspondence can be found in Series 1: Esther Herbert papers.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged chronologically.
Box 3, Folder 1
Personal papers
1921-1977
Box 3, Folder 3-4
Poems
1943-1997
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 7
Poetry journals and anthologies
1949-1956
Box 3, Folder 8-14
Notebooks
circa 1952-1974
Physical Description: [7 folders]
Box 3, Folder 15
Lecture notes, Remedial and Diagnostic Reading
1954
Box 2, Folder 11
Gotham Book Mart Pamphlet
1956
Box 3, Folder 16-17
Dissertation
1961
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 18-21
Publications on writing instruction and reading comprehension
1962-1979
Physical Description: [4 folders]
Box 3, Folder 22
Miscellaneous notes and writings
Undated
Sue Graff and Roberta Behr papers Series 3.
1925-2007
Series Description
This series comprises personal papers, property records, and books belonging to Herbert's lifelong friends, Sue Graff and
Roberta Behr. Included in these materials are the military discharge records, diplomas and certificates, and art work of Sue
Graff. The series also consists of clippings, pamphlets, and photographs regarding Zaca Lake, a property once owned by Behr.
The books included in the series are in reference to Patience Worth, a spirit that allegedly contacted Behr's stepmother,
Pearl Curran.
Arrangement
Books regarding Patience Worth have been placed at the end of this series. The remaining folders are arranged alphabetically.
Box 2, Folder 14
Roberta Behr manuscript
Undated
Box 2, Folder 13
Sue Graff papers
1946-1999
Box 2, Folder 18
Zaca Lake property papers
1970-2007
Box 2, Item 15
The Case of Patience Worth, by Walter Franklin Prince, University Books
1964
Box 2, Item 16
The Pot Upon the Wheel, by Patience Worth, Patience Worth Publishing
1927
Box 2, Item 17
Patience Worth: A Psychic Mystery, by Casper S. Yost
1925
Photograph albums, audiocassettes and DVD Series 4.
1943-1993
Herbert (Esther) and Marvyl Doyle photographs, sample
Series Description
This series includes photographs albums, photographs and slides that document the lives of Esther Herbert, Marvyl Doyle, and
friends and family from 1943 through 1993. The bulk of the photographs document the women and their time in the Women's Army
Corps. This series also includes seven audiocassettes of interviews with Esther Herbert; as well as one DVD, titled "Playa
del Rey," which includes a slideshow of images of Herbert's home in Playa del Rey, California.
Arrangement
Photographs and slides are at the beginning of this series, followed by recorded interviews on audiocassettes, and one digital
photograph slideshow on DVD.
box-binder 4
Photograph album 1
1943-1951
Scope and Contents
Includes 179 black and white photographs and 40 color postcards.
box-binder 4
Photograph album 2
1944-1945
Scope and Contents
Includes 132 black and white photographs.
box-binder 5
Photograph album 3
1943-1951
Scope and Contents
Includes 218 black and white photographs.
box-binder 6
Photographs and slides found loose
1944-1993
Scope and Contents
Includes 46 slides and 152 photographs.
Box 7, Item AC1824-AC1829
Herbert interview, with Ellie Dozier
2006
Physical Description: 6 audiocassettes.
Box 1, Folder 2
Herbert's notes about the interview with Ellie Dozier
2006
Box 7, Item AC1830
Herbert interview, with Joseph Hawkins
2011
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette.
Scope and Contents
Ellie Dozier, Dan Luckenbill, and Toshhide Kawai are also present during this interview.
Box 7, Item 1
"Playa Del Rey, 1946-1961"
Undated
Physical Description: 1 DVD.
Scope and Contents
Slideshow of Herbert's home in Playa del Rey and Ballona Creek, California.