IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
ESTHER VER MEER (19XX- )
PAPERS, 1991-1998
1 linear inch
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ACQUISITION: |
The papers (donor no. 586) were
donated by Esther Ver Meer in
1999. |
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ACCESS: |
The papers are open for research. |
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COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright has been retained by the donor. |
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PROCESSED BY: |
Doris Malkmus, 1999. [Ver
Meer.doc] |
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Biography
Esther
Ver Meer farmed with her family near Leighton, Iowa during her school
years. She graduated from high school
and married Owen Ver Meer in 1965. They
began raising hogs as soon as they married, Esther Ver Meer doing most of the
farrowing (care of newborn hogs). They
raised three children on their 475 acre, 100 hog farm. She joined the Farm Bureau, but became more
active in the Iowa Porkettes, the women’s auxiliary of the Iowa Pork Producers
Council. She held several positions as
officer in the Mahaska County Porkettes and later served as treasurer of the
Iowa Porkettes. She organized political
action committees to monitor agricultural bills in the state legislature. In 1991, the Iowa Pork Congress appointed
her Iowa Porkette of the Year.
In
1992, the United States Department of Agriculture appointed Ver Meer to a
three-year term on the National Pork Board, a group that disbursed advertising
funds collected from pork sales. She
was one of the first women on the board.
She was reappointed in 1995 and become vice president of the board in
1996 and president the following year.
Ver
Meer has been active in her church and has played the organ for many
years. Recently, she has found great
satisfaction in working with the terminally ill.
Scope and
Content Note
The
Esther Ver Meer papers date from 1991-1998 and measure 1 linear inch. They consist of correspondence and published
materials. The majority of the
collection relates to her nomination to the National Pork Board. Her personal papers consist of letters of
appointment regarding her various positions.
The published pieces include newspaper and magazine articles about Ver
Meer and her farming activities.
SCVF Description
Folder 1 Ver
Meer, Esther