Iowa Women's Archives
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa

CHARLENE "MAC" EBLEN (1925- )

PAPERS, 1965-2003
5 linear inches

Collection Overview

Biography

Charlene “Mac” Eblen, homemaker and English professor, was born Charlene Wilma Osborn in 1925 in Wichita, Kansas, to Blanche Osborn. In 1929, Blanche Osborn married Fred T. McFadden. Afterwards, Charlene Osborn was known as Charlene Wilma McFadden, though she was not legally adopted by Fred McFadden until the age of sixteen. When she was adopted, Charlene McFadden dropped her middle name “Wilma.” Charlene McFadden graduated from East High School in Wichita, Kansas, in 1942 and went on to attend Wichita University, where she earned a BA in English in 1945. While at Wichita University, McFadden met Roy Eblen; they married in 1945 and had three children: Kathy, Rick, and David. In 1957, the family moved to a farm outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, so that Roy Eblen could begin work on a doctorate in speech pathology at the University of Iowa. After Roy Eblen received his PhD in 1960, he took a job at the University of Northern Iowa in the speech pathology department and the family moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Roy Eblen headed the clinic which now bears his name, the Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic. He died in 1998.

While Charlene “Mac” Eblen spent most of her children’s growing up years as a homemaker, she taught English briefly at both Wichita University and the University of Northern Iowa. After her children had grown, Eblen became a professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa. From 1967 to 1992, she taught Freshman Composition and Essay, as well as technical and report writing to seniors.

Scope and Content Note

The Charlene “Mac” Eblen papers date from 1965 to 2003 and measure 5 linear inches. The papers are arranged alphabetically and consist of Eblen’s journals, correspondence, gardening calendars, and writings.

The bulk of the collection consists of Eblen’s journals. After assigning her freshman classes the task of keeping a journal as a way of becoming comfortable with writing, Eblen decided that she should keep a journal as well. The travel journal aboard the STS “Lord Nelson” consists of notes taken aboard a ship designed to accommodate the physically handicapped.

The correspondence includes a family history written by Eblen to her children in the form of letters, “Round Robin” letters with her husband’s relatives, and letters concerning Eblen’s trip to Russia in 2000.

The special occasion greetings are congratulatory flyers written by Eblen to family and friends for occasions such as birthdays and graduations. The miscellaneous writings contain materials related to Eblen’s work at the University of Northern Iowa, as well as a gardening article she wrote.

Box List

Box 1

Correspondence

1989-2003 “Family Matters,” 1995

Curriculum vita, 1990 Gardening calendars, 1995-1996 Journals

1976-1995 (3 folders) Loose pages, 1979-1995 Travel

Aboard the STS “Lord Nelson,” 1989 Mexico, 1978-1979

Remarks honoring colleague Norman C. Stageberg, 1997 Writings

“Commitment to Writing: A Sourcebook for Faculty across the Disciplines,” 1990 Special occasion greetings, 1992-1996 and undated “Two Men of Business” essay, 1965 Miscellaneous, 1983-1994 and undated

 

general information | history and mission | collections | reference services | news and events | home

For more information about this collection contact the Iowa Women's Archives.

Iowa Women’s Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City IA 52242.
Copyright © 2005. The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.
Please send comments to: lib-women@uiowa.edu
URL: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa 

This page created June 2006.