.
By Jonathan McConnell
Collection Overview
Abstract
The Helen Schleman papers contains papers, clippings, and photographs documenting Helen Shleman’s life, especially in reference to her professional activities as Purdue Dean of Women (1947–1968) and as an activist and advocate for women’s rights.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Helen Schleman papers (1920–2001; 5 cubic feet) documents the life of Helen B. Schleman from her time as a student at Northwestern University in the 1920s to her death in 1992. Much of the collection documents Schleman’s time at Purdue University as Head of Women’s Residence Halls, Dean of Women, and Dean Emeritus, as well as her military service in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARs) during World War II. In addition to Purdue history, the collection contains Shleman’s collection of newspaper clippings pertaining to the women’s liberation struggle of the 1970s. Types of materials include: personal and professional correspondence, school and employment records, speech notes, published material, newspaper clippings, photographs, pamphlets from professional organizations, and documents about Schleman’s charitable work.
Biographical Note
Helen Blanche Schleman (1902-1992), noted "unapologetic feminist," came to Purdue in 1934 as director of the first women's residence hall, subsequent to the razing of Ladies Hall in 1927. After taking a four-year leave of absence to serve in the Women's Coast Guard Reserve during World War II, Schleman returned to Purdue in 1947 as Dean of Women. She is acknowledged for having fought for women's rights at Purdue, including terminating the curfew for women students and spearheading a freshman conference program for women. Also during her tenure at Purdue, she earned a master's degree in education and psychology. Schleman retired as Dean of Women in 1968 and went on to become founder and first director of the Span Plan, a program which encourages adult students to continue or start their college careers. She remained an active member of the community until her death in 1992. Schleman Hall, which now houses the Purdue's Student Services department, is named in her honor.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Accruals:
Second donation received from Sarah J. Watlington, March 7, 2008.
Alternate Extent Statement:
18 boxes
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Source:
Donation received from Barbara Cook and Sarah J. Watlington
Related Materials:
Helen Schleman had close ties to three other Deans of Women: Dorothy Stratton, Beverley Stone, and Barbara Cook. More photos, correspondence, and other materials relating to Schleman can be found in those collections.
Preferred Citation:
MSF 334, Helen B. Schleman collection, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Finding Aid Revision History:
While processing the Dean of Women Office Records papers, the archivist discovered two cubic feet of speech notes, dated from 1944 to 1988, belonging to Helen Schleman. This material has been organized by date into five manuscript boxes and added to Series 3 of the Helen Schleman papers.
Other URL:
http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/schleman_h.pdf
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Biographical Information, 1921 - 2001],
[
Series 2: Correspondence, 1943 - 1990],
[
Series 3: Speeches and Written Material, 1923 - 1979],
[
Series 4: Personal files, 1950 - 1989],
[
Series 5: Pamphlets and Publications, 1922 - 1988],
[
Series 6: Other Purdue Material, 1955 - 1985],
[
Series 7: Research Files, 1965 - 1992],
[
Series 8: Photographs],
[
Series 9: Artifacts and Oversized Material],
[All]
- Series 1: Biographical Information, 1921 - 2001
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Curricula vitae, retirement, memorial materials, 1941 - 1992
- Folder 2: School records and Purdue placement service, 1924 - 1942
- Folder 3: Coast Guard documents, 1943 - 1944
- Folder 4: USCG service records, 1950 - 1964
- Folder 5: Purdue appointment records, 1946 - 1947
- Folder 6: Citations, honors, and awards, 1921 - 1971
- Folder 7: Interview by Professor Eckles, 23 July, 1970
- Folder 8: Transcript, "Conversation with Three Generations of Deans", circa 1980s
- Folder 9: Clippings, 1923 - 1970
- Folder 10: Clippings, 1971 - 2001
- Folder 11: Diploma, Purdue Doctorate, 1971
- Folder 12: Schleman Hall, Schleman Symposium, and Schleman Award information, 1968 - 2003
- Folder 13: YWCA natatorium information, 1988 - 1990
- Folder 14: Schleman-Hovde Golf Tournament information, 1978 - 1983
- Folder 15: Ephemera
- Includes conference programs, fliers, receipts, etc.
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Will working materials, 1952 - 1978
- Folder 2: Blanche Schleman Estate, 1963 - 1964
- Folder 3: Will, 1978 - 1979
- Folder 4: Will, 1978 - 1979
- Folder 5: Will material, 1978 - 1979
- Folder 6: Land deed and trust agreement, 1980 - 1981
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Honorary degrees, 1970 - 1973
- Information about both Purdue and Valparaiso honorary degrees. Also includes materials relating to a 1973 gift Schleman gave to Valparaiso in support of a music building.
- Folder 2: YWCA Trust documents, 1983 - 1992
- Folder 3: Westminster Villiage materials, 1979 - 1989
- Folder 4: Property dispute documents, 1970 - 1985
- Folder 5: Property dispute correspondence, 1981 - 1984
- Box 19
- Folder 1: "This is Your Life, Helen B. Schleman", 1968
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1943 - 1990
- Box 3
- Folder 6: Personal correspondence, 1945 - 1990
- Folder 7: Purdue correspondence, 1943 - 1962
- Folder 8: Christmas letters, 1985 - 1987
- Box 19
- Folder 2: Miss America Pageant, 1955 - 1959
- Folder 3: Housing correspondence, 1938 - 1959
- Folder 4: Retirement correspondence, 1968
- Series 3: Speeches and Written Material, 1923 - 1979
- Box 3
- Folder 9: Northwestern University school papers, 1923 - 1924
- Folder 10: Your Best Foot Forward working materials, 1954 - 1961
- Includes an early manuscript fragment and correspondence with the publisher
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Your Best Foot Forward working materials, 1954 - 1961
- Includes reviews and correspondence with the publisher.
- Folder 2: Schleman, Helen and Dorothy Stratton, Your Best Foot Forward, 1940
- Folder 3: Group Gold Instruction, 1934
- Folder 4: Mortar Board Quarterly, 1939 - 1960
- Folder 5: Speeches and publications, 1932 - 1964
- Folder 6: Speeches and publications, 1965 - 1968
- Folder 7: Speeches and publications, 1969
- Folder 8: Speeches and publication, 1971 - 1979
- Box 14: Helen Schleman Speech files, 1944 - 1949
- Folder 1: Helen Schleman speech file, 1944
- Folder 2: Helen Schleman speech file, 1946
- Folder 3: Helen Schleman speech file, 1947, 1 of 3
- Folder 4: Helen Schleman speech file, 1947, 2 of 3
- Folder 5: Helen Schleman speech file, 1947, 3 of 3
- Folder 6: Helen Schleman speech file, 1948, 1 of 4
- Folder 7: Helen Schleman speech file, 1948, 2 of 4
- Folder 8: Helen Schleman speech file, 1948, 3 of 4
- Folder 9: Helen Schleman speech file, 1948, 4 of 4
- Folder 10: Helen Schleman speech file, 1949, 1 of 5
- Box 15: Helen Schleman speech files, 1949 - 1952
- Folder 1: Helen Schleman speech file, 1949, 2 of 5
- Folder 2: Helen Schleman speech file, 1949, 3 of 5
- Folder 3: Helen Schleman speech file, 1949, 4 of 5
- Folder 4: Helen Schleman speech file, 1949, 5 of 5
- Folder 5: Helen Schleman speech file, 1950, 1 of 3
- Folder 6: Helen Schleman speech file, 1950, 2 of 3
- Folder 7: Helen Schleman speech file, 1950, 3 of 3
- Folder 8: Helen Schleman speech file, 1951, 1 of 2
- Folder 9: Helen Schleman speech file, 1951, 2 of 2
- Folder 10: Helen Schleman speech file, 1952
- Box 16: Helen Schleman speech file, 1953 - 1960
- Folder 1: Helen Schleman speech file, 1953
- Folder 2: Helen Schleman speech file, 1954
- Folder 3: Helen Schleman speech file, 1955
- Folder 4: Helen Schleman speech file, 1956
- Folder 5: Helen Schleman speech file, 1957
- Folder 6: Helen Schleman speech file, 1958
- Folder 7: Helen Schleman speech file, 1959, 1 of 2
- Folder 8: Helen Schleman speech file, 1959, 2 of 2
- Folder 9: Helen Schleman speech file, 1960, 1 of 2
- Folder 10: Helen Schleman speech file, 1960, 2 of 2
- Box 17: Helen Schleman speech files, 1961 - 1968
- Folder 1: Helen Schleman speech file, 1961, 1 of 2
- Folder 2: Helen Schleman speech file, 1961, 2 of 2
- Folder 3: Helen Schleman speech file, 1962
- Folder 4: Helen Schleman speech file, 1963, 1 of 2
- Folder 5: Helen Schleman speech file, 1963, 2 of 2
- Folder 6: Helen Schleman speech file, 1964
- Folder 7: Helen Schleman speech file, 1965
- Folder 8: Helen Schleman speech file, 1966
- Folder 9: Helen Schleman speech file, 1967
- Folder 10: Helen Schleman speech file, 1968
- Box 18: Helen Schleman speech file, 1969 - 1988
- Folder 1: Helen Schleman speech file, 1969, 1 of 2
- Folder 2: Helen Schleman speech file, 1969, 2 of 2
- Folder 3: Helen Schleman speech file, 1970
- Folder 4: Helen Schleman speech file, 1971
- Folder 5: Helen Schleman speech file, circa 1974
- Folder 6: Helen Schleman speech file, 1977
- Folder 7: Helen Schleman speech file, 1978
- Folder 8: Helen Schleman speech file, 1980
- Folder 9: Helen Schleman speech file, 1984
- Folder 10: Helen Schleman speech file, 1988
- Box 19
- Folder 5: Speech "Education: How it Was", July 16, 1977
- Folder 6: "Current Status of Women", 1964 - 1966
- Folder 7: Your Best Foot Forward research materials, 1 of 2, 1951
- Folder 8: Your Best Foor Forward research materials, 2 of 2, 1951
- Series 4: Personal files, 1950 - 1989
- Box 4
- Folder 9: Barbara Cook File, 1969 - 1987
- Folder 10: Amelia Earhart File, 1975 - 1989
- Folder 11: Jo Ann Fley File, 1982
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Lillian Gilbreth File, 1972 - 1984
- Folder 2: Margaret Habein File, 1950 - 1959
- Folder 3: Beverley Stone File (1), 1970 - 1980
- Folder 4: Beverley Stone File (2), 1969 - 1980
- Folder 5: Beverley Stone File (3), 1978 - 1986
- Series 5: Pamphlets and Publications, 1922 - 1988
- Box 5
- Folder 6: Northwestern University pamphlets, 1922 - 1923
- Folder 7: Northwestern University handbooks, 1920 - 21 and 1923 - 24
- Folder 8: "Three Poems of Robert Liddell Lowe," autographed sheet music, 1966
- Folder 9: Reich, Helen, The College Housemother, 1964
- Folder 10: Cook, Barbara and Beverley Stone, Counseling Women, 1973
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Pamphlets, 1933 - 1961
- Folder 2: SPAR Reunion program, 1988
- Box 19
- Folder 9: The Graduate Journal and correspondence from Professor W.E. Howland, 1958
- Folder 10: "Youth Report" pamphlet, annotated, 1969
- Folder 11: Wellesley Alumni Magazine, 1965
- Series 6: Other Purdue Material, 1955 - 1985
- Box 6
- Folder 3: Gold Medallion Award, 1968- 1983
- Folder 4: Paperwork regarding hous, including gifting it to Purdue, 1975 - 1985
- Folder 5: Purdue President nominations, 1970
- Folder 6: 1981 Salary Study, Purdue Women's Caucus remarks
- Folder 7: Letter to parents of women students, 1955
- Folder 8: Annual Reports and freshman orientation, 1966 - 1968
- Folder 9: 1981 Salary Study
- Folder 10: Report, Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to the Purdue Equal Opportunity Office, May 1972
- Folder 11: Manuscript, "Women at Purdue," and correspondence between Schleman and the administration, March 1980
- Folder 12: TIAA Pension Lawsuit, 1979
- Box 19
- Folder 12: Notes, cards, ephemera, 1968
- Folder 13: General material on SPARS, WACS, and WAVES including Lilian Gilbreth correspondence and Dorothy Stratton correspondence, 1942 - 1945
- Box 20
- Folder 1: University Club, 1 of 2, 1950 - 1954
- Folder 2: University Club, 2 of 2, 1950 - 1954
- Folder 3: University Club, 1953 - 1957
- Folder 4: Women's Residence Hall, 1940
- Series 7: Research Files, 1965 - 1992
- Box 7
- Folder 1: AAUP (American Association of University Professors), 1965
- Folder 2: Alpha Lambda Delta, undated
- Folder 3: Counselors, 1968 - 1979
- Folder 4: IAWS (Intercollegiate Association of Women Students), 1967 - 1972
- Folder 5: Male Chauvinists, 1974
- Folder 6: McCall's New Approach, 1970 - 1971
- Folder 7: Media Presentation, 1969 - 1972
- Folder 8: Michigan (Univ. of) and H.E.W. (Department of Health, Education & Welfare), 1970
- Folder 9: Military (see anti- also), 1971 - 1974
- Folder 10: Ms. Magazine, Gloria Steinem, New Women, Use of Name, 1971 - 1979
- Folder 11: NAWDAC (National Association of Women Deans, Administrator, and Counselors), 1968 - 1969
- Folder 12: NAWDAC (National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Councelors), current, 1970
- Folder 13: Other Universities Women, 1970 - 1971
- Folder 14: Pamphlet, "Barriers to Success", 1969
- Folder 15: Paternity Leave, Maternity Leave, 1972
- Folder 16: Poll Va Slims, 1972
- Folder 17: Position Paper Title IX, NAWDAC, Mortar Board, 1972 - 1973
- Folder 18: Professions, Librarian, Poetry, 1972 - 1976
- Folder 19: Progress!!, 1977
- Folder 20: Protests/Demonstrations, 1970 - 1972
- Folder 21: Public Accommodation, 1971
- Folder 22: Public Office Politics, Political Appointments, 1970 - 1975
- Folder 23: Publications – Conferences (Women), 1975 - 1976
- Box 8
- Folder 1: Psychology/Psychiatry, 1970 - 1971
- Folder 2: Radical Newspapers, 1970
- Folder 3: Recognition (public), 1973
- Folder 4: Religion/Women, 1970 - 1977
- Folder 5: Research, 1969 - 1972
- Folder 6: Helen Schleman File (1), 1968 - 1992
- Folder 7: Helen Schleman File (2), 1960 - 1992
- Includes power of attorny document, will, death certificate
- Folder 8: Sex Objects, 1972 - 1977
- Folder 9: Sex Roles (marriage, motherhood, identity) (1), 1969 - 1975
- Folder 10: Sex Roles (marriage, motherhood, identity) (2), 1969 - 1972
- Folder 11: Sexist Textbooks, 1972
- Folder 12: Single Aged, 1964 - 1971
- Folder 13: Sports, 1967 - 1975
- Folder 14: Statements by Individuals re: Women, 1968
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Task Force -- Women's Rights and Responsibilities, 1969 - 1972
- Folder 2: Title VII (also Womenpower in Action), 1970
- Folder 3: U.N. (and other countries) Women, 1966 - 1976
- Includes a speech delivered by Dorothy Stratton to the U.N.
- Folder 4: Unions, 1973 - 1974
- Folder 5: Union Jobs and Individual Women (1), 1975 - 1979
- Folder 6: Union Jobs and Individual Women (2), 1970 - 1972
- Folder 7: Union Jobs and Individual Women (3), 1967 - 1979
- Folder 8: Volunteer Work
- Folder 9: Wall Street Journal Articles -- Bernice Sandler, 1978
- Folder 10: Women's Agenda, 1975
- Folder 11: Women's Movement, 1970 - 1974
- Folder 12: Womanpower, Workforce, 1944 - 1976
- Box 20
- Folder 5: Indiana Commission on the Status of Women, 1972 - 1973
- Folder 6: Women employment resources file, 1 of 2, 1960s
- Folder 7: Women employment research file, 2 of 2, 1960s
- Folder 8: Clippings, Dean of Women's office, 1968 - 1969
- Folder 9: Altrusa Club, 1 of 2, 1938 - 1959
- Folder 10: Altrusa Club, 2 of 2, 1938 - 1959
- Folder 11: Newspaper supplement, "The National Purpose", 1960
- Series 8: Photographs
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Photograph, portrait of young Schleman, circa late 1920s
- Folder 2: Photographs, 8x10, 1940 - circa 1980
- Folder 3: Photographs from WWII photo album, 1944 - 1945
- Folder 4: Clippings from photo album, 1944
- Folder 5: Photographs, President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped, 1967
- Folder 6: Photographs, 1944 - 1990
- Box 11: Photographs, snapshot size, circa 1910 - 1992
- Series 9: Artifacts and Oversized Material
- Box 12
- Item 1: VHS and DVD recording of Schleman Hall Dedication
- Item 2: Dean Schleman desk nameplate
- Item 3: Gold Medallion Award, 1968
- Item 4: Box containing a Coast Guard ID bracelet, a watch on an engraved silver bracelet, and a bag of military insignia with inventory
- Box 13: Oversize Material
- Folder 1: Special Purdue newspaper publications, 1969 - 2001
- Exponent May 23, 1968, "Hail Purdue '69," "J&C Salutes Frederick L. Hovde," "Purdue University Perspective" all with articles pertaining to Helen Schleman
- Folder 2: Collier's Magazine SPARs cover and large photos of Schleman, 1944 - 1945
- Folder 3: Los Angeles Free Press (Women, Rise Up issue), 1970
- Folder 4: Progressive Women magazine, December 1972 and The New York Times Magazine Women's Lib issue, 1971
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Biographical Information, 1921 - 2001],
[
Series 2: Correspondence, 1943 - 1990],
[
Series 3: Speeches and Written Material, 1923 - 1979],
[
Series 4: Personal files, 1950 - 1989],
[
Series 5: Pamphlets and Publications, 1922 - 1988],
[
Series 6: Other Purdue Material, 1955 - 1985],
[
Series 7: Research Files, 1965 - 1992],
[
Series 8: Photographs],
[
Series 9: Artifacts and Oversized Material],
[All]
