PAPERS, 1899-1994
(1920-1968)
2 linear feet
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ACQUISITION: |
The Metcalf Kelly papers (Donor File
255) were donated by the Alberta Kelly estate in 1995.» |
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ACCESS: |
The papers are open for research. |
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COPYRIGHT: |
»Copyright has been transferred to the |
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PHOTOGRAPHS: |
»In |
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PROCESSED
BY: |
Heather
Ritchie, 1995. |
Biography
Alberta
Metcalf Kelly was born in
She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1920 at the
State University of Iowa (now the
Her teaching career included instructing high school in
Metcalf Kelly married William Kelly in 1923 whom she met
during her college days in
In 1940, Metcalf Kelly began her lifelong pursuit of
involvement in the Democratic Party, beginning at the precinct level and
extending her activity to local, state and national party politics. She served as the Vice-President of the
Muscatine County Democratic Central Committee of Iowa. From 1944 to 1953, she served as First District
Committeewoman of the State Central Committee.
In 1953, she was elected to the Democratic National Committee by
delegates to the 1952 national Democratic convention. The national committee's role includes
fundraising for the party, searching for and training of potential candidates,
as well as coordinating and writing the party platform. Metcalf Kelly remained on the national
committee until 1968. Between 1948 and
1968, she attended the Democratic National Conventions as a delegate or in
other capacities. She also participated
in various national meetings and functions of the Democratic Party.
Metcalf Kelly died in 1994 in her hometown of Nichols.
Scope and Content Note
The papers date from 1899 to 1994 and measure 2 feet. The papers
are arranged in three
series: Personal life, Professional
life, and Family. The papers reveal Metcalf Kelly's role as a
national figure within Democratic party electoral
politics during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Personal life (1899-1994) series includes scattered correspondence,
personal legal documents and a scrapbook of Metcalf Kelly's life while
attending college in the 1920s. This
series also contains early family photographs.
The second series, Professional life (1922-1968), focuses
upon Metcalf Kelly's work in the Democratic Party seen primarily in newspaper
clippings and photographs of her with national political figures such as Harry
Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Hubert Humphey. Some papers and artifacts of interest in the
collection include an original signature of Margaret and President Harry Truman
(Professional life, Truman Presidential train, 1948), the program from
President John Kennedy's famous birthday celebration (Professional life, Dinner
and event programs, 1958-1964), and the badges from each National Democratic
Convention between 1948 and 1968 (Professional life, National Democratic Party,
Badges, National Convention, 1948-1968).
The collection lacks evidence of her
political views and unique contributions.
Unfortunately, Metcalf Kelly regularly purged her correspondence files
(Professional life, Correspondence, 1953-1977).
One of the few examples of her political beliefs is a handwritten
addition to the party platform calling for federal funding of public schools
(Professional life, Platform amendment, 1958). Despite this absence, the
collection shows her constant effort and long term devotion to party activities
for which she gained national recognition within electoral politics.
The Family (1908-1977)
series consists of memorabilia and photographs of Metcalf Kelly's immediate
family members. The bulk of this series
incorporates clippings and photographs of Clarence Metcalf, Metcalf Kelly's
brother, focusing upon Metcalf's national work on the Iowa Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation State Committee (ASCS) during the 1960s.
Box no. Description
Personal life
Birth certificate, 1899
Early years
photographs, undated
Funeral guest book, 1994
Marriage certificate, 1923
Correspondence, 1934-1977
(scattered)
Plays, undated
School years
Diplomas
1920, 1936
1905, 1912, 1915, 1917, and
1920 [shelved in map case]
Report cards and
transcripts, 1914-1917, 1935
State teacher's certificate,
1920, 1934
Scrapbook, 1901?-1923
[oversize: in box 3]
World War I essay, 1980
Professional life
Teaching memorabilia, 1922,
1957
Iowa Democratic Party
Iowa Democratic Party
memorabilia, 1953 and undated
Iowa State Conventions,
1940, 1956
Truman Presidential train,
1948
National Democratic Party
Badges
National Convention,
1948-1968, [oversize: in box 4]
Inaugural Committee, 1961
[oversize: in box 4]
Commemorative plaque,
undated [oversize: in box 4]
Christmas cards, 1959-1977
and undated
Correspondence, 1953-1977
(Hubert Humphrey)
Dinner and event programs,
1958-1964
National Democratic
conventions, 1948-1964
Newspaper clippings,
1944-1964 and undated (Eleanor Roosevelt)
Box 2
Paralysis Drive, 1940-1941
Photographs, 1948-1968 and
undated (Harry Truman)
Platform amendment, 1958
Speech, 1940
Family
Hawkins, Ina (mother), 1933
and undated
Metcalf, Berton,
(father)
1921-1957 (scattered)
Funeral guest book, 1957
Metcalf, Clarence, brother
Personal records, 1908-1977
and undated (scattered)
Correspondence
Personal, undated
Professional, 1963-1968
Funeral guest book, 1977
Mementos, 1908-1977 and
undated (scattered)
Iowa Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation State Committee (ASCS)
Speeches, 1961-1962 and
undated
Conference bulletins,
1962-1968 and undated
Agricultural certificate
recognition, 1968
Newspaper clippings,
1959-1963
Photographs
Personal, undated
Political, undated
Relatives
Family tree, undated
Photographs, undated
Laughlin, Levi?, undated
Metcalf, Melissa, (paternal
grandmother) 1920
Box 3
Oversize
Personal life
School years
Scrapbook, 1901?-1922
Box 4
Oversize
Professional life
National Democratic Party
Badges
Inaugural Committee, 1961
National Convention,
1948-1968
Commemorative plaque,
undated