Isabel Lawrence Papers

4.84 linear feet

This collection contains records and items related to Isabel Lawrence, faculty member and first female president of St. Cloud State University, acting or permanent. Items in this collection date from approximately 1879 to 1950, the majority of which were created between 1890 and 1920. The first two series contain documents that belonged to Lawrence and were kept by former faculty member and friend of Lawrence, Albertina C. Anderson. The papers contain drafts of articles and addresses by Lawrence, some of her personal notes on several topics including developmental psychology and literature, and writings by students and other faculty members that may have come into her possession. The third series contains articles of clothing that belonged to Lawrence and were kept by Mrs. Blanche Anderson.

These records are arranged in four series:

Series 1: Records Created by Isabel Lawrence

This series contains a variety of typed and handwritten records. Much of it is drafts of essays, articles, and addresses by Lawrence discussing child and adolescent development and teaching methods, including a handwritten draft of a commencement address. Other records include personal notes on developmental psychology, literature, teaching methods, and lesson plans.

Series 2: Records Created by Other Writers

This series contains records that were not created by Lawrence but likely came into her possession and were found in the same donation. Records include, but are not limited to, writings by 1897 graduates Benhof E. Benhardus and Vernon E. McCombs, criticisms by faculty of practice teachers in St. Cloud State's model school, and records from other normal schools and teachers colleges in New York and Chicago.

Series 3: Clothing Belonging to Isabel Lawrence

This series contains clothing belonging to Isabel Lawrence that had been kept by Mrs. Blanche Anderson and were transferred to the University Archives by Mrs. Alice Wick, wife of former SCSU president Robert Wick. Included here are two dresses, a mesh top-coat, a fur handwarmer, five pieces of lace, and a 1987 letter from then University Archivist Marie Elsen to Blanche Anderson.

Series 4: Tribute and Other Material

This series contains mostly material related to Lawrence's retirement from St. Cloud State in May 1921. Letters were solicited from alumni and most letters received were bound into two volumes.  Other letters were left loose.  The bound letters are organized by graduating class and give tribute to Lawrence.  The letters congratulate Lawrence upon her retirement, share memories of her when the alum had attended St. Cloud State, and updates on their own lives.  There is a folder with Lawrence's 1936 obituary and other tribute material related to her death.

These records are arranged in three series.

Series 1: Records Created by Isabel Lawrence

Records are in alphabetical order and ordered chronologically as it applies.

Series 2: Records Created by Other Writers

Records are in alphabetical order and ordered chronologically as it applies.

Series 3: Clothing Belonging to Isabel Lawrence

Items are contained in one box and arranged by item type.

Series 4: Tribute and Other Material

Items are arranged in chronological order.

Records are located at 30E.7b-c and MC 218A storage area.

There are no access restrictions.

Permission to publish, quote, and reproduce must be secured from the copyright holder.

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The paper records of series 1 and 2 were acquired through a donation by John H. and Lindy Anderson on July 22, 2014. The records were kept by Albertina C. Anderson, John's great aunt, at the St. Cloud home she shared with Lawrence. Albertina Anderson, an 1896 graduate of St. Cloud State born in 1876, was a St. Cloud State faculty member from 1905 to 1944. She lived with Isabel Lawrence while they were both faculty members, and there is evidence Anderson moved in with Lawrence when she entered St. Cloud State as a student in 1892. They lived at 417 2nd Avenue South. Anderson still lived at that address when she retired in June 1944. She died in January 1964.

The articles of clothing in series 3 had been kept and preserved by Mrs. Blanche Anderson of Mesa, Arizona before coming into the possession of Mrs. Alice Wick, wife of University President Robert Wick. University Archivist Marie K. Elsen received them from Mrs. Wick in early November 1987.

Material in series 4 was part of the original faculty/staff/alumni collection in University Archives. That collection was processed and finished in 2015. Material that was in scope for that collection was removed, including material in this series.  That material was then added to this collection in September 2020.

Records of the St. Cloud State Alumni Association, 1874-2006. Includes Isabel Lawrence's will and records relating to her estate.

St. Cloud State University Oral Histories, 1974-2017. An interview of 1917 graduate Ruth Dahlquist discusses Isabel Lawrence among several other topics.

Processed by Kyle Imdieke November 2018. University Archivist Tom Steman added material in September 2020.