Shelby State Community College
Introduction to Patchwork and Quilting
This document is from Shelby State Community College (today: Southwest Community College) to Marilyn Califf. Mrs. Califf was asked to teach an Introduction to Patchwork and Quilting in the Fall on Mondays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. She was paid $15 per teaching hour or a total of $180 for the course. Tuition for this class was $15.00. In the 70’s, it seems like $15/hr is low for teaching at a community college. The Feminist movement was beginning to take off during the 70s, but it seems that women were still highly underpaid, compared to their male counterparts.
Marilyn Califf was an avid teacher and she taught these classes to keep quilting alive and to help others appreciate quilts as much as she did. In addition to her class at Shelby State Community College, she conducted quilting workshops for the Memphis Artist-Craftsman’s Association, lectured on Art for the Memphis Jewish Welfare Fund, and was an instructor in painting for the Peabody Center for Senior Citizens. When she was not teaching, Califf volunteered much of her time at the Suicide and Crisis Center where she counseled people in crisis situations by phone.
Linda C. Brasfield
MSS 130, Box 1, Folder 10
University of Memphis Libraries
July 16, 1974
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"Special Session in Tennessee"
Special Session, Tennessee, 19th amendment, Woodrow Wilson, Albert H. Roberts, William L. Fierson
This article is in <em>The Suffragist,</em> that consist of letters/telegrams from President Wilson to Governor Albert H. Roberts of Tennessee appealing for a special ratification session. Govenor Roberts stated that he owuld comply with President Wilson, in support of the amendment and that a session will be called. the article also has a letter President Woodrow Wilson wrote to acting attorney general William L. Frierson, asking his opinion on the constatutionality of ratification by a special session of Tennessee Legislature. Attorney General responded quickly and stated, "After the Ohio case, this leaves no doubt in my mind taht Tennessee Legislature if called in session, will have the clear power to ratify the amendment not withstanding any provision of the Tennessee Constitution." I chose this article, with these letters because it shows proof of the complication of the state of Tennessee consitution and the Federal constitution. This article also shows the major role President Wilson had in the women's suffrage movement, involving the 19th amendment. He constantly was fighting for their rights and doing everything in his power to help.
<em>The Suffragist</em>
Wilson, Woodrow
Roberts, Albert H.
Frierson, William L.
<em>The Suffragist. </em>June 1920 "Special Session in Tennessee"
The University of Memphis Libraries
June 1920
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"Tennessee, 36th!"
politics, Tennessee, 19th amendment,
"Tennessee--The 36th!" is a article from <em>The Suffragist</em> that was written in September 1920. The article talks about the week's of suspense that gave the final vote for ratification on August 18th. the article mentions Tennessee's intensive state wide campaign under the direction of Miss Sue White, who was the chairman and concentrated their efforts in Nashville. Before Miss White left Washington to head to Nashville, she polled the legislature in both Houses of the legislature for ratificaiton. The members of legislature were convinced that Special Sessions was legal and was ready to vote. However, when the Special Session came alot of the members of legislature changed their mind on their vote for the amendment due to pressure from anti-suffragist. The article goes in detail who changed their mind and who stood firm and resulted in a 48-48 tie. The Speaker of House called the measure to a ratification vote (recall vote) and that Burn stood up and voted in favor of the amendment (based on the letter he recieved from his mother the morning of) which ultimatley made Tennessee pass the ratificaiton and Tennessee became the necessary 36th state to ratify the nineteenth amendment, and winning the women the right to vote.U.S. Secretary of State, Colby Bainbridge certified the results on 28 August 1920.
<em>The Suffragist</em>
<em>The Suffragist</em>. Periodicals. September 1920 "Tennessee--36th!"
The University of Memphis Libraries.
September 1920
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"The Woman's Question", Elizabeth Avery Merriwether in the Memphis Appeal
education, wage equality
This document is a part of a series of letters in which readers of the Appeal wrote in with their opinions about “ The Woman’s Question”, in which the discussion ranged from wage equality (which was the issue that sparked the public debate), what was appropriate work for women, and women’s competency in education and their biological intellectual capacity. Meriwether responded to a “Serratus M.” who wrote into the Appeal stating his opinion that women are not competent teachers in comparison with male teachers and therefore do not deserve equal pay. Meriwether’s counterargument is that women are just as intellectually capable as men. Merriwether used humor in her response to "S.M" and attacked his incorrect use of grammar in his earlier letters to the Appeal and brings attention to the reader that " Yet, if this delightful writer were a teacher, he would expect to be paid one-third more than any woman..." Merriwther's involvement in "The Woman's Question" came about at a time when more women were entering the workforce during the Reconstruction era in the south. Women were looking for more long term employment after the Civil War, as many recognized the need for financial independence. This document represents some of the first stirrings for gender equality.
Appeal Newspaper, Elizabeth Avery Merriwether
Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
Library of Congress
March 26, 1873
Memphis daily appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.), 26 March 1873. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045160/1873-03-26/ed-1/seq-4/>.
"They Say"
Politics, Tennessee, Vermont, 19th amendment
The drawing, "They Say" was published in 1920, in <em>The Suffragist.</em> The drawing illustrates a donkey holding a sign that says Tennesse and an elephant holding a sign that says Vermont. A woman in front of the two is wearing a suffrage sash and is holding a trophy that is that represents the 19th amendment. Tennessee has a sign that says "Dear lady walk upon this" and Vermont has a sign that says, "My fair lady, I implore you to cross to victory upon my rainment." I chose this drawing because it illustrates how Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment and how the legislature of Vermont wanted to become the 36th state that made the amendment pass. But the Governor Clement of Vermont did not allow them to have a Special Session. Which led President Wilson to try to convince Tennessee to have a Special Session, which they did and led Tennessee to becoming the 36th state and became the state that finalized the amendment.
<em>The Suffragist</em>
<em>The Suffragist</em>. Periodicals. July 1920 "They Say"
University of Memphis Libraries.
July 1920
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1956 Christmas Lighting Contest
Civic Life
This letter was sent from the Christmas Lighting Committee to encourage “friends” to enter the City Beautiful Commission’s annual Christmas Lighting Contest. This letter encouraged citizens to “Make Memphis Shine at Christmas Time”. This letter indicated that this contest was for entry into the 1956 Lighting Contest’s Negro Division. The displays were to be judged on beauty and the expression of Christmas spirit. The Contest is co-sponsored by the City Beautiful Commission and the Commercial Appeal.
City Beautiful Commission
Mississippi Valley Collection
The University of Memphis Libraries
1956
Gillespie, P. T.
Gerber, C. C.
Goldsmith, J.
Digital Image © 2015, University of Memphis Libraries Preservation and Special Collections Department. All rights reserved.
Hist4851, Spring 2015
1957 Fire Prevention Week
Civic Life
The Commission Government sent a letter to “the housekeepers of Memphis”, to promote Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 1957. The letter encouraged Memphians to get with neighbors and friends and to check homes and neighborhoods for fire hazards. Residents were asked to clean up any bad conditions, including high grass and weeds and trash in attics, basements, and garages. The letter reminded homeowners that low fire insurance rates were dependent on good citizens to “Keep Memphis the Nation’s Cleanest City”. The letter let residents know that the Fire Department would have speakers available to speak before any group for Fire Prevention Week. The Fire Prevention Parade was held on October 5, 1957 at 11:00 A.M. on Main Street.
Commission Government, Department of Public Works
Mississippi Valley Collection
The University of Memphis Libraries
October 1, 1957
McCormack, Mary
Knott, J. R.
Nelms, T. C.
Henderson, Elaine
Grashot, Miriam
Digital Image © 2015, University of Memphis Libraries Preservation and Special Collections Department. All rights reserved.
Hist4851, Spring 2015
1958 Best Kept and Beautified Alley Contest
Civic Life
The City Beautiful Commission sent a letter to their Representatives to encourage them to participate in the 1958 Best Kept and Beautified Alley Contest. Members were asked to invite all Garden Clubs, P.T.A’s, Civic Clubs and any others to participate in the contest. The city-wide contest began May 5th through August 15, 1958 and was sponsored by the City Beautiful Commission. A Committee of Judges were selected and patrolled the alleys entered in the contest. Only entered alleys would be judged and prized were awarded at the City Beautiful Fall meeting.
City Beautiful Commission
Mississippi Valley Collection
The University of Memphis Libraries
May 2, 1958
Davis, Alice D.
Davis, G.
Digital Image © 2015, University of Memphis Libraries Preservation and Special Collections Department. All rights reserved.
Hist4851, Spring 2015