C. Eleanor Spears papers , 1915-1951

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Spears, C. Eleanor, 1876-1959
Title
C. Eleanor Spears papers
Dates
1915-1951 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.5 linear feet, (4 containers, 1 folio, and 1 package)
Collection Number
Coll 096
Summary
C. Eleanor Spears (1876-1959) was a writer, suffragist, and a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). The collection consists largely of collected printed material relating to suffrage (1915-1930) and temperance, (1918-1947), and to a lesser degree socialist politics and the Christian Science religion, and also includes general correspondence, manuscripts, diaries, and address books.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)

Historical NoteReturn to Top

C. Eleanor Spears (1876-1959) was born in Long Island, New York. She wrote in collaboration with her husband, Raymond Spears, and was very active in the suffrage movement and in the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists largely of collected printed material relating to suffrage (1915-1930) and temperance, (1918-1947), and to a lesser degree socialist politics and the Christian Science religion, and also includes general correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, diaries and address books.

The correspondence is from the years 1918-1951. There is one folder of manuscript material, one diary from 1938, and also address books.

The rest of the collection is organized by topic.

Suffrage material (1915-1930) includes correspondence, campaign and political information, pamphlets, press releases, statements by prominent national and New York male figures (including Theodore Roosevelt) about their reasons for supporting women's suffrage, and informational bulletins.

Women's Christian Temperance Union (1918-1947) material includes leaflets, pamphlets, tracts, and official publications.

There are more topical files containing additional printed material regarding topics such as tobacco, marijuana, politics and religion. Political material includes sample ballots for two elections, and Spears' Socialist Party card from 1932.

There are folders containing newspaper clippings and topics include World War II rationing.

Also included in the collection are scrapbooks, postcards (1920s), a snapshot of Mussel Shoals (c. 1900) and an editorial cartoon about the photographer Lindburg of Inglewood, CA (1910s). The scrapbooks contain additional newspaper clippings, calling cards, programs, and other mementos. Photographs have been removed from their original placement in the collection for preservation reasons and are stored separately under the call number PH068.

A later addendum contains personal correspondence, two diaries, two scrapbooks, and manuscript material.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Christian Science
  • Socialism--United States
  • Socialist parties
  • Suffragists--United States
  • Temperance--United States
  • Women--Suffrage--United States
  • Women--United States--Social conditions--20th century
  • Women--United States--Societies and clubs

Personal Names

  • Spears, C. Eleanor, 1876-1959
  • Spears, C. Eleanor, 1876-1959
  • Spears, C. Eleanor, 1876-1959
  • Spears, Raymond S. (Raymond Smiley), 1876-1950

Corporate Names

  • Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Geographical Names

  • United States--Politics and government--1901-1953
  • United States--Social conditions--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings
  • Correspondence
  • Diaries
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Pamphlets
  • Scrapbooks
  • Tracts (documents)