By Archives Staff
Title: Virginia Claypool Meredith papers, 1851-2002
Predominant Dates:1920-1940
Primary Creator: Meredith, Virginia Claypool (1848-1936)
Extent: 2.0 Folders. More info below.
Arrangement: Grouped by publication.
Subjects: Agriculture, Purdue University. Board of Trustees, Women's Archives at Purdue University
Languages: English
Mrs. Virginia Claypool Meredith was born in Fayette County, Indiana, November 1, 1848, the daughter of Austin B. and Hannah A. Claypool. She graduated from Glendale College in 1866, and married Henry Clay Meredith in 1870. After her husband's death in 1882, she assumed full charge of his large farm and gained national fame in handling his herds and flocks. Her varied achievements in agriculture, home economics, as a public speaker, organizer, writer, editor, and trustee of Purdue University won her nation-wide recognition as the "Queen of American Agriculture".
President Elliott paid her the following tribute at the time of her death on December 10, 1936:
"Thus, comes to an end a brilliant career of devoted service to the nation, the state, the University, and above all to the advancement of the place of women in our civilization. All who had the privilege of working with her were constantly the beneficiaries of her kindly and farsighted wisdom. She was an ideal University trustee. The best of her life was built into the University she loved so much and served so well."
Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 2 folders
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation: MSF 265, Virginia Claypool Meredith papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
From the Purdue Alumnus:
"Trustees Authorize Economics Building," May 1921,
v. 8, p. 8
"Our New Trustees: Mrs. Virginia C. Meredith,
October 1921, v. 9, p. 9
"Mrs. Virginia C. Meredith Visits Worlds Fair,"
November 1933, vol. 21, p. 9
"Honoring Those Who Have Achieved: Virginia C. Meredith," November 1934, vol. 22,
p. 4 (continued on page 5)
"Queen of American Agriculture Completes Career," December 1936, vol. 24, p. 4 (continued on page 5)
From the Purdue Agriculturalist, "Farm Girl; What Next?"by Mrs. Virginia C. Meredith, vol. 18, no. 6, March 1924, p. 109 (continued on page 118)
From the Trustees Archives, "Virginia C. Meredith, Member of the Board, 1921-1936"
November 1940, no. 1, p. 307 (continued on page 308
From the Purdue Exponent:
"Tippecanoe County Farmers' Institute," January 28, 1897, vol. 8, no. 8, p. 111
"Department Notes - Experiment Station," January 28, 1897, vol. 8, no. 8, p. 105.
"Department Notes - Experiment Station," February 25, 1897, vol. 8, no. 10, p. 133.
"Tribute is Paid to Veterans," November 20, 1923, p. 2 (continued on page 4)
"Agriculturalist Issue Features Rural Life,"
March 12, 1924, p. 2.
"Virginia C. Meredith Society Nominates," April 14, 1927, p. 1
"Virginia C. Meredith Addresses H. E. Clubs,"
October 28, 1927, p. 1.
"Virginia C. Meredith Club Sells Candy," January 11, 1928, p. 2.
"Board of Trustees Approves Many New Staff Appointments," October 18, 1929, p. 1.
"Trustees Visit Union, Pass on Campus Issues," January 10, 1930, p. 1.
"Mrs. Meredith, Trustee, Awarded Signal Honor," February 4, 1930, p. 1
"Mrs. Meredith Will Officiate at Dedication,"October 9, 1934, p. 1 (continued on page 4)
"Mrs. Meredith Ill," November 26, 1936, p. 1.
"Virginia Claypool Meredith Dies: Heart Attack Fatal to University Trustee,"December 11, 1936, p. 1.
"Program Will Pay Tribute to Mrs. Meredith,"
January 13, 1937, p. 1 (continued on page 2).
"Tribute Paid Mrs. Meredith," January 16, 1937, p. 1.
"Meredith Group Arranges Picnic," September 21, 1939, p. 1.
"Meredith Club Sees Effect of Posture," October 20, 1938, p. 1
"University Drops H's, X's, Hall to Get New Names," Summer Edition, 1965, p. 1 (continued on page 12).
From the Lafayette Journal and Courier:
"Mrs. Meredith, Famed Hoosier Leader, is Dead," December 11, 1936, p. 1
Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue file: "Meredith Rites Are Impressive," December 12, 1936, p. 13.
"Ultra Modern 'X' is Show Place," November 10, 1956. From the Magazine section of the Journal and Courier, p. 1 (continued on page 22, 23).
"Residence Halls at Purdue Renamed for Noted Alumni," June 7, 1965, p. 8.
"Residence Halls Named for Contributors to Purdue," October 9, 1965, From the insert "Vista" of the Journal and Courier, p. 6 (continued on page 7, where Mrs. Meredith is).
From Indianapolis Star Newspaper:
"Virginia Meredith, 'Queen of Agriculture,' Dies at Lafayette, Indianapolis News (predecessor of Indianapolis Star), December 11, 1936. [Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue File.]
"Virginia Meredith Dies in Lafayette; Noted as 'Queen of U. S. Agriculture'" Indianapolis Star, December 11, 1936. [Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue File.]
Mrs. Virginia Claypool Meredith, 1848-1936, A Memorial [booklet from her memorial service, held January 12, 1937 in Eliza Fowler Hall at Purdue University]
From the Debris:
Board of Trustees, 1922, p. 15.
Board of Trustees, 1924, p. 30
From the Alumni Directory:
Mrs. Virginia Claypool Meredith, Alumni Record, 1924, p. 8.
From Miscellaneous Publications:
"Mrs. C. Meredith, Honorary President I.F.C."
From The Indiana Club Woman, a publication of the Indiana Federation of Clubs
May-June (year unknown), vol. 9, no. 4
Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue File, Labeled 'October 11, 1938 - From Dean Matthews,' "No. 1 Purdue Woman Still Active at 87" [Unknown Source,
Unknown date]
Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue File, "Virginia C. Meredith"
Article in the Indiana Magazine of History (NOTE: this article is in Faculty binder #57a)
Article by H.S.K. Bartholemew, March 19, 1939, pp. 50-57
Virginia C. Meredith: A Trustee of Purdue University, 1921-1936. Program of the service held in memory of Mrs. Meredith,
January 12, 1937 [Five (5) copies on shelf, one (1) copy in faculty binder #57a]
"Virginia Claypool Meredith, 1848-1936,"
From 'Meeting of the Faculty,' January 25, 1937, 4 P.M., in Stanley Coulter Hall, President Elliott in the Chair. Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue File.
"Purdue University, The Board of Trustees; Relating to: Deaths," From the President's Calendar, January 20, 1937, Item 7104. Article found in the 'Trustees, Board of, M-Z' file of the Purdue File.
"Residence Halls Benefit with Variety of Quarters," [unknown source, unknown date]
Article found in the 'Buildings, Residence Halls; Housing Units, General' file of the Purdue File. Article speaks of Residence Hall X, the previous name of Meredith Hall.
"Information Bulletin Insert," [unknown source, unknown date]. Article found in the 'Buildings, Residence Halls Housing Units, General' file of the Purdue File<.
"The Book of Trustees: Purdue University, 1865-1989. Book compiled and edited by Robert W. Topping, published by Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Copyright 1989 by the Purdue Research Foundation. Mrs. Meredith featured on pages 20, 24-25, 114, 189.
Call no. (Special Collections, Indiana Collection) T6295b 1989
A Century and Beyond: The History of Purdue University. Book authored by Robert W. Topping, published by Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, Indiana, copyright 1988 by the Purdue Research Foundation. Mrs. Meredith featured on pages 169-170
Call no. (Special Collections, Indiana Collection) T6295c
Framed 4-leaf clover, handwritten inside the frame: "This four leaf clover was found on the site of the Purdue Memorial Union Building by Mrs. Virginia C. Meredith just before the ceremonies of June 13, 1922."
Frame is located in the Purdue Memorial Union Archives.
"On the Lookout for a Drouth - II,"
by C. G. Williams, from Ohio Farmer, May 8, 1902, pp. 101.
"The Home and Family," by Florence M. Albright (Mrs. A.B.B.), from Indiana Farmer's Guide, July 17, 1920.
"Summer Dairy Meeting," by C. R. George, from Indiana Farmer's Guide, July 31, 1920.
"World's Fair Women," by Nancy Huston Banks, from Harper's Bazaar, January 21, 1893.
"Magazine Notes," from The Critic: A Weekly Review of Literature and the Arts, May 13, 1893.
"Farmer's Clubs," from Ohio Farmer, November 24, 1898, p. 393.
"Waymarks for Women," from Congregationalist, September 14, 1899, p. 351.
"Mrs. H. C. Meredith, Farm Expert, Dead," from New York Times, December 11, 1936, p. 27.
"Article 2 - No Title"from Massachusetts Ploughman and New England Journal of Agriculture, July 21, 1900, p. 4.
"The Magazines," from Christian Union,
May 13, 1893, p. 929.
"Education for Home-Making," from Congregationalis, April 20, 1901, p.
622
"A Preble Co., O., Institute," from Ohio Farmer, March 17, 1906, p. 315.
"The Southern Ohio Fair," from Ohio Farmer,
October 9, 1975, p. 232.
"Indiana Passing Events,"from New York Times, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, New York Times (1851-2002), p. 7.
"Women As Stock Farmers," by Antoinette VanHoesen Wakeman, from the Chautauquan: A Weekly Newsmagazine, September 1892, p. 736.
Other Sources For Information On Mrs. Meredith:
Photo File
Trustees, Board of
Presidents of the University, Elliott, Edward C.
Agriculture, School of (et. al)
Home Economics, School of (et. al.)
Faculty and Staff
Breeder's Gazette, Mrs. Meredith was the women's editor from 1921-1931, Library has: v. 1-8, 10-125; 1881-1960
Call Number 630.5 B74
Agriculture Extension Staff of the Indiana Farmer's Institute, 1889.
Livestock Production at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Mrs. Meredith was named 'Queen of American Agriculture' here, circa 1880
Information on Henry Clay Meredith, husband, University of Wisconsin
medal for "eminent service to Wisconsin"
1939
University of Minnesota, Organized Home Economics Department, stayed as faculty member for some years.
Glendale College, near Cincinnati, Ohio, Mrs. Meredith's alma mater.
Document originally prepared November 9, 2005 by K. Schosser.
Virginia C. Meredith - A Trustee of Purdue University, 1921-1936, published in memoriam by Purdue University. [2 copies]
