Merriam, Mary W. Papers

Item — Box: Multi-collection Box 7

Identifier: MP-150

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1922-1956

Creator

Merriam, Mary W. (Mary White), 1869-1957 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials within this collection are in English and in Spanish.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and copyright holder. Staff may refuse copying of fragile or at-risk materials.

Materials may be accessed by request at the American Baptist Historical Society. For more information on accessing collections or obtaining copies, visit http://abhsarchives.org.

Biographical / Historical

Merriam was a missionary to Cuba (1903 to 1912), teacher at Benedict College (1921-23, 1925-30) and served as resident director at Spanish American Baptist Seminary of L.A. (1931-1936). She retired to Atherton Baptist Homes, where there is a chapel and meeting room named in her honor. She prepared for ministry by schooling at Almira College, Shurtleff College, Wheaton College, and Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago (class of 1901).

Extent

.2 Linear Feet (5 folders)

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Norma Adams Price, 2006

Related Materials

A sketch of her life appears in Norma Adams Price and Paul A. Adams’ Descendants in Illinois of Lois Richardson Olin and The Hon. Henry Olin, Lt Governor of Vermont 1827-1830 (1992): 82. Reports of her work also appear in the official records of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, held by the American Baptist Historical Society.

File Plan

Folder I. 1920s and 1930s - 12 letters, mostly related to Baptist Missionary Training School (BMTS) class of 1901 letters of Mary Merriam and Alta Ragon which traditionally were sent “round robin” in packets to the various classmates, with each recipient replacing her old letter with a new one when she received the packet and before mailing it on to the next classmate on the list. Folder II - Correspondence from 1930s and 1940s. 14 letters, many in Spanish. Folder III - Correspondence from the 1940s. Folder IV - Correspondence from the 1950s. 10 letters Folder V, Miscellaneous Clippings - Clipping from Tribune ca. August 1948, written on it, “Can you believe it?” and photo and caption of “Negroes lined up at Columbia, S.C. to receive ballots Tuesday as members of their race voted for the first time since 1876 in Democratic party primary elections in South Carolina, AP wire service).

Obituary, clipping, and Wheaton story on William Tait Osborne—related to the family through shared Civil War military service and Wheaton College connection.

Copy photos made from studio portrait of Mary W. Merriam, borrowed from her niece, Norma Adams Price.