.
By Latanya N. Jenkins
Collection Overview
Title: Virginia Kelly Karnes papers, 1910-2006
Primary Creator: Karnes, Virginia Kelly (1909-2006)
Extent: 4.5 Cubic feet
Arrangement:
The Papers are organized into 5 series:
1. Correspondence, 2001 and undated (9 items)
The series includes letters and notes written by or to Virginia Kelly Karnes.
2. Awards and Certificates, circa 1980-2006 (9 items)
The series documents the achievements of Virginia Kelly Karnes. Types of materials include certificates and plaques. Materials in the series are oversized and arranged according to size.
3. Publications and Printed Material, 1935-2006 (4 items)
The series includes a memoir, books, pamphlets, and a DVD. William Karnes wrote about his wife, Virginia, in his memoir My Life and Times.
4. Photographs, circa 1910-2006 (18 items)
The series includes photographs of Virginia Kelly Karnes and her husband, William Karnes. Also included are two group photographs, Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brothers, both circa 1935
5. Artifacts, 1935 (1 item)
The series includes one three-dimensional object, an academic hood.
Date Acquired: 00/00/2007
Subjects: Beatrice Foods Company, Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae, Women's Archives at Purdue University
Forms of Material: Artifacts (object genre), Audiovisual materials, Awards, Certificates, Correspondence, Photographic prints
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Virginia Kelly Karnes Papers (circa 1910-2006; 4.5 Cubic ft.) document the life of Virginia Karnes. Types of materials include correspondence, notes, awards and certificates, printed material, electronic media, photographs, and artifacts.
Biographical Note
Virginia Kelly Karnes (1909-2006), and her late husband Bill were long-time benefactors of Purdue University. Virginia was named the first woman chair of the President's Council of Purdue, as well as being elected to the Mortar Board at Purdue. The Purdue University Libraries honored her by naming the Archives and Special Collections research center for her in recognition of her generosity to the libraries.
A native of Warsaw, Indiana, Virginia Grace Kelly worked at a box factory for three years after graduating from high school, saving enough money to enroll at Butler University in 1929. When the Warsaw Bank closed in 1930, tying up her money, she had to go back to work. In 1932, she resumed her education at Purdue University and graduated in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and did housework at Alpha Chi Omega to pay for her room and board. In 2002, she endowed a financial assistance program for qualifying members of the Alpha Chi Omega attending Purdue.
She met William George Karnes in 1928, and after a nine-year courtship, they were married on May 1, 1937. She became his closest friend, confidant and most valued counsel as he advanced from the position of law clerk to become president and chief executive officer of Beatrice Foods Company in Chicago, Illinois. During Bill's early years at Beatrice Foods, Virginia frequently would travel with him by train from city to city meeting the company's various division managers. They had been married for 63 years when Bill passed away on November 17, 2000.
Virginia Karnes served Rush University Medical Center for fifty years as a member of its Woman's Board (serving as president 1974-1976) and was a member of the Medical Center's Board of Trustees. Her volunteerism and philanthropy were recognized with membership in several of the Medical Center's premier giving groups, including the Anchor Cross Society, Rush Heritage Society, and Board of Benefactors.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions:
No use restrictions.
Physical Access Note:
Collection is located on-site.
Acquisition Source:
Susan Nelson and Charles C. Snyder
Acquisition Method:
Materials were in the custody of Virginia Kelly Karnes upon her death in 2006 when they were donated to the archives by her niece, Susan Nelson, and her attorney and the executor of her estate, Charles C. Snyder
Preferred Citation:
Virginia Kelly Karnes papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Other URL:
http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/karnesvk.pdf
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence, 2001 and undated],
[
Series 2: Awards and Certificates, circa 1980-2006],
[
Series 3: Publications and Printed Material, 1935-2006],
[
Series 4: Photographs, circa 1910-2006],
[
Series 5: Artifacts, 1935],
[All]
- Series 1: Correspondence, 2001 and undated
- Box 8: Correspondence, undated
- Folder 1: Note from President Arthur G. Hansen to Virginia Karnes, thanking her for her service to Purdue, undated
- Box 10: Correspondence, 2001
- Folder 1: Notes written by Virginia Kelly Karnes, circa 2001
- Folder 2: Letter from Virginia Kelly Karnes to Martha Graham, 2001
- Folder 3: Thank you card for donation in memory of William Karnes, 2001
- Folder 4: William G. Karnes memorial service pamphlet, 2001
- Series 2: Awards and Certificates, circa 1980-2006
- Box 5: Awards and Certificates, circa 1980-1987
- Item 1: Sagamore of the Wabash awarded by Governor of Indiana Robert D. Orr, 1987
- Item 2: Board of Governors award for philanthropy and commendable service on behalf of Purdue University awarded by then President of Purdue University Arthur G. Hansen, 1980
- Box 6: Awards and Certificates, 2006 and undated
- Item 1: Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the Purdue University President's Council, signed by President Steven C. Beering, undated
- Item 2: Distinguished Pinnacle Award on behalf of the Purdue University President's Council, signed by President Martin C. Jischke, circa 2006
- Box 7: Awards and Certificates, undated
- Item 1: Purdue University's R.B. Stewart Society certificate, undated
- Box 8: Awards and Certificates, 2000 and undated
- Item 1: Hovde fellow, awarded to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Karnes from the Purdue University President's Council, signed by President Steven C. Beering, undated
- Item 2: Sigma Delta Phi, President's Council, bestowed by Purdue President Arthur G. Hansen, undated
- Item 3: Framed testimonial commemorating Virginia Karnes' sixty-fifth anniversary of graduation from Purdue University, issued by President Steven C. Beering, 2000
- Box 9: Awards and Certificates, 1983-1984
- Item 1: Framed gavel plaque, Chairman, Purdue University President's Council, 1983-1984
- Series 3: Publications and Printed Material, 1935-2006
- Box 10: Publications and Printed Material, 1935-2006
- Item 1: Purdue University yearbook, The Debris, property of Virginia Grace Kelly [Karnes], 1935
- Item 2: Book, Beatrice: From Build Up Through Breakup by Neil R. Gazel. Preface by William G. Karnes. University of Illinois Press: Chicago, 1990
- Item 3: Manuscript, My Life and Times by William Karnes. Unpublished memoir (photocopy). Includes a chapter on William Karnes' relationship with Virginia Karnes, Undated
- Item 4: DVD, President's Council brunch documenting Virginia Kelly Karnes' gift announcement to Purdue University Libraries, 2006
- Series 4: Photographs, circa 1910-2006
- Box 1: Photographs, circa 1970
- Item 1: Virginia Karnes eating at an event, circa 1970
- Item 2: Virginia Karnes, seated, circa 1970
- Box 2: Photographs, undated
- Item 1: Virginia Karnes, seated, undated
- Box 3: Photographs, undated
- Item 1: Virginia Karnes playing golf, undated
- Item 2: Virginia Karnes eating a meal, undated
- Item 3: Virginia Karnes in a suit, seated, undated
- Box 4: Photographs, undated
- Item 1: Virginia Karnes and William Karnes dancing at a formal event, undated
- Box 10: Photographs, circa 1910-2006 and undated
- Item 1: Two babies, unidentified, circa 1910
- Item 2: Virginia Karnes in graduation cap, 1935
- Item 3: Virginia Karnes and William Karnes standing outside of their home with a Purdue University flag and United States flag in front, undated
- Item 4: William Karnes, seated, undated
- Item 5: Virginia Karnes in formal dress, 1996
- Item 6: William Karnes and Virginia Karnes, dressed in formal attire, undated
- Item 7: Virginia Karnes, seated, with a flower in her hair, undated
- Item 8: Virginia Karnes wearing a scarf with brooch, undated
- Item 9: Virginia Karnes, seated, wearing butterfly shirt, circa 2006
- Item 10: Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters, seated and standing outside a house, 1935
- Lists of names, possibly of sorority and fraternity members shown in photos
- Item 11: Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brothers, seated and standing outside a building, 1935
- Phi Psi letter about Virginia Kelly [Karnes]
- Series 5: Artifacts, 1935
- Box 10: Virginia Kelly [Karnes] graduation hood from Purdue University, Bachelor of Science degree, 1935
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence, 2001 and undated],
[
Series 2: Awards and Certificates, circa 1980-2006],
[
Series 3: Publications and Printed Material, 1935-2006],
[
Series 4: Photographs, circa 1910-2006],
[
Series 5: Artifacts, 1935],
[All]
