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

 

MILDRED "MICKI" ZELLER (1940-2000)

PAPERS, 1946-2000
11 linear feet and slides

 

Iowa Women's Archives
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Phone: 319-335-5068
Fax: 319-335-5900
E-mail the Iowa Women's Archives

Please cite materials from this collection as follows:
Mildred "Micki" Zeller Papers, Iowa Women's Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.

 


Collection Overview

 
Acquisition:
The papers (donor no.739) were donated by Kathryn Koob in 2001.
 
 
Access:
The papers are open for research, with the exception of Box 34 which is CLOSED.
 
 
Copyright:
Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa.
 
 
Audiovisual:
Two audiocassettes [AC961-AC962] and three video cassettes (V308-V310].
 
 
Photographs:
In Boxes 24-31. Slides in Boxes S2-S9.
 
 
Processed by:

Lisa Mott, 2005. [ZellerMicki.doc]

 

Biography

Mildred “Micki” Joyce Koob was born in Independence, Iowa on July 18, 1940. She was the second child of Elsie Merle Woodward Koob and Harold Frederick Koob, and sister to Kathryn, Mary Jane (Enquist), Vivian (Homeyer), Anabeth (Voigts) and Emogene (Zuck.) The Koob girls were the fifth generation of their family to be raised on a farm in Jubilee, just south of Jesup, Iowa. Micki Koob could not wait to get off the farm and left home after graduating from Jesup High School in 1958. Koob attended the Ray-Vogue School of Design in Chicago, Illinois for two years, followed by another two years at Brunswick, also in Chicago. During her training in Chicago, Koob served as costume designer for the Miami Playhouse and the Philadelphia Playhouse in the Park. Around 1962, Koob went to New York where she worked for Ray Simpson and other major costume shops.

As a girl on the Iowa farm, Koob used to listen to the radio while milking the cows. On one occasion she heard Lowell Thomas talk about Nepal, and from then on she dreamed of going to Nepal. In 1973, Koob had saved enough money to realize her dream and trekked to the base camp on Mt. Everest. Koob’s real passion for traveling was fulfilled after she married Robert (Bob) Zeller in November 1976. Bob Zeller retired soon after their marriage and they traveled the world, being among the first to visit Bhutan when it opened up to outsiders. Both Micki and Bob Zeller were licensed scuba divers, and many of their trips included diving. The Zellers divorced in 1994.

Micki Zeller was diagnosed with cancer in 1996. She did not permit her cancer to interfere with her love of traveling and underwent chemotherapy treatments all over the world before succumbing to the disease on April 12, 2000.

 

Scope and Content Note

The Mildred “Micki” Zeller papers date from 1946 to 2000 and measure 11 linear feet. The papers are arranged in seven series: Biography, Correspondence, Essays, Iran Hostage Crisis, Travel, Photographs and Artifacts. The Biography series contains papers regarding Zeller’s education, her work in costume design, her involvement with the Friends of New Hampshire Music Festival, and her marriage to Robert Zeller. Educational papers include a play Zeller wrote based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. There are also report cards, school programs, diplomas and certificates. Papers regarding Zeller’s career in costume design include letters she wrote while still in high school concerning career opportunities and schools. The bulk of the series consists of Zeller’s diaries, which span the years 1954 to 2000.

The Correspondence series includes a brief correspondence Zeller had with Princess Irene of the Netherlands in 1952, along with letters Zeller received while in high school from friend Norman Hall. There are also letters and cards Zeller received from Bob Zeller during their courtship and marriage. The bulk of the Correspondence series is arranged chronologically and includes letters, cards and emails from family and friends. In addition, there are numerous faxes sent to and received from friends and to arrange many of her travels.

The Essays series consists of multiple drafts of essays Zeller wrote in her later life. Many of the compositions were written when Zeller was taking a creative writing course. These drafts include comments and suggestions from her classmates. Most of Zeller’s essays pertain to her traveling, although there are also writings regarding her experiences with cancer. At least one article, on her adventures diving with white sharks, was published.

The Iran Hostage Crisis series pertains to Zeller’s older sister, Kathryn Koob, one of the fifty-two Americans taken hostage by Iranian dissidents in 1979. The series includes correspondence with family and friends, an interview with Bishop Gumbleton following his 1979 Christmas visit with the hostages, an interview with Koob family members, and a calendar Zeller kept from her sister’s capture in 1979 to the hostages’ release in 1981. This series also contains an audiocassette of a speech Kathryn Koob gave at Nazareth Lutheran Church following her release. There are also magazine and newspaper articles regarding Koob’s release, and photographs of Koob’s homecoming.

The bulk of the Travel series consists of the many diaries Zeller kept over three decades while traveling around the globe. Spanning 1967 to 1999, the travel diaries contain both practical and personal information. [See Appendix for list of countries covered in travel diaries.] The Travel series also contains twenty years of diving logbooks kept by Micki and Bob Zeller, along with notes they both took while taking a sports diving course in 1975. Several of the journeys Zeller took are represented in the sub-series Trips. Correspondence, itineraries, and representative tourist materials may be found in these chronologically organized folders that reflect Zeller’s original files. Of particular interest is the 1973 Mt. Everest trip, followed by twenty-five years of reunions often hosted by Micki and Bob Zeller. The 1989 trip to Cannes, France, includes news regarding the death of Zeller’s mother. Three videocassettes may also be found in the Travel series. The two 1993 videos were taken primarily underwater and show the Zellers diving. The 1992 video is from Indonesia and includes underwater scenes, and native Indonesian dancing, chanting and boating.

The Photographs series includes loose photographs, albums and slides. There are loose photographs of Micki Zeller, Bob Zeller and various family members and friends. There are also loose photographs from Zeller’s travels, some of which are neither identified nor dated. Photograph albums include Zeller’s 1976 wedding album, a 1973 album depicting her Mt. Everest trek, and an album containing examples of her costume designing skills. The bulk of the Photographs series consists of the slides Zeller took during her thirty years of traveling. The slides have been arranged chronologically. Capital letters have been assigned to each trip, with roman numerals representing the original slide show carousels maintained by Zeller. Many of the original slide shows had guides. The guides may be found in Box 26. Copies of the guides may be found in Box 12-15 with Zeller’s corresponding travel diaries.

The Scrapbooks series consists of six scrapbooks. Two represent Zeller’s earlier years: School, 1954-1956, and the Lutheran League Conference, 1955. Travel scrapbooks cover Bhutan and India, Nova Scotia, Iran and Montana. There is also a general scrapbook of miscellaneous undated materials.

The Artifacts series includes Zeller’s 4-H and Cattle Congress ribbons from high school, her valedictorian award, various diving patches and ice skating tags, and items she brought back from her travels, including Tibetan prayer flags, an Australia Railroad wall hanging and various menus.

 

Related Collections

Anabeth Voigts papers
Anabeth Voigts was Micki Zeller’s younger sister. The Voigts papers primarily cover the period when their older sister, Kathryn Koob, was one of the fifty-two American hostages held during the Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981.

The Kathryn Koob papers are held by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa .

Micki Zeller costuming materials, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Micki Zeller's sketches and her other costuming materials are held by Plymouth State College in the Micki Zeller Costume Shop.

 
 

Box List

Box 1                          
  BIOGRAPHY        
   

Resumé, 1964Account book, 1976
Addresses, undated
Baby books, 1940-1944 (2 folders)
Birth, 1940 [cards & telegram]
Birthday calendar, undated
Cancer (“List of Micki’s Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment”), 1996
Certificates, 1979-1989 and undated
Confirmation, 1954
Costume design

     
      General, 1963 and undated
Correspondence, 1958 and 1967
International Ladies Garment Workers Union, 1965-1978
Lecture notes, 1976, 1979 and undated (2 folders)
Silkwork I, 1991
Newspaper articles, 1971 and undated
       
           
Box 2          
     

Date books, 1975-1999 (5 folders)
Diaries, 1954, 1981-1983, 1993-1994 and 1996 (5 folders)

   
           
Box 3          
     

Diaries, 1993-1994, 1996 [CLOSED. Removed to Box 33]
Diaries, 1996-1998 (7 folders)

   
           
Box 4          
      Diaries, 1998-2000 (8 folders)    
           
Box 5          
     

Diaries, 1999-2000
Divorce, 1993-1994 (2 folders) [CLOSED. Removed to Box 33]
Drawings by Micki Zeller, 1997
Education

   
       

Class notes, “Treasures of Ancient China,” 1979
High school graduation, 1958
High school reunion, 1978
Play, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, made into a play by Mildred Koob, undated
Report cards, 1946-1964
School diplomas and certificates, 1953-1955
School programs, 1954 and 1956

     
     

Entertainment journal, 1986-1995
Family

   
       

General, 1964-1989 and undated
Parents’ 50 th wedding anniversary, 1984-1985

     
     

4-H Club, undated
Friends of New Hampshire Music Festival

   
       

4-H Club, undated
Friends of New Hampshire Music Festival

   
          Advisory board and by-laws, 1985-1986 and undated    
               
Box 6              
          Brochures and pamphlets, 1983-1990
Correspondence, 1983-1990
Expenses, Micki Zeller, 1986
Fundraising
   
            Campaigns, 1982-1985
Fashion show, 1984
Dinner projects, 1984-1986 (2 folders)
     
         

Grouse Point Club, 1993 and undated
Honeymoon, 1976
Legal documents, 1969-1987
Lists, 1988-1989 and undated
Marital problems, 1981-1985 [CLOSED. Removed to Box 33]
New Hampshire Charitable Fund, 1985-1990
Notebook, undated
Zeller, Bob

     
           

General, 1983, 1992 and undated
Date books, 1979-1981

   
           
Box 7          
           

Date books, 1982-1986

   
         

Wedding, 1976 (2 folders)
Newspaper articles, 1989, 1995 and undated

     
           
Box 8          
  CORRESPONDENCE      
   

From Norman Hall (friend), 1956-1957
To Micki from Bob Zeller (boyfriend/husband), 1970s and undated
With Hui His Cheng, 1980-1988
With Princess Irene ( Netherlands), 1952
General

     
     

1960s-1970s
1980-1989 (4 folders)
1990-1997 (7 folders)

     
                           
Box 9                          
     

1997-1999 (6 folders)
2000
Undated

     
   

Correspondence record, 1984-1999 (2 folders)

     
                           
Box 10                          
   

Faxes, 1990-1994 (2 folders)

       
                 
 

ESSAYS

             
   

Australia travels, undated
Cancer, 1996 (2 folders)
Notebooks with story ideas and various writings, undated (2 folders)
“Precious Jade,” China, undated
Shark adventures in Australia, 1995-1996 (2 folders)
Travel essays, assorted, undated

       
                           

Box 11

                         
   

Uluru , Australia , undated (2 folders)

         
                           
 

IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS

             
    Interview with Bishop Gumbleton following his 1979 Christmas visit    
      with the hostages, followed by Walter Guthrie interview of Koob family and Kathryn Koob’s former colleague John Burns, undated [shelved with audiocassettes] [AC961]      
   

Calendar, 1979-1981
Correspondence, 1979-1981 and undated (3 folders)
Family Liaison Action Group (FLAG), 1980
Handwritten hostage list, undated
Iran Working Group, undated
Memorial service, 1980
Newspaper articles, 1979-1980
Post-hostage crisis

     
     

Kathryn Koob, guest speaker, Nazareth Lutheran Church, 1981 [shelved with audiocassettes] [AC962]
Kathryn Koob book, 1982 and undated
Magazine articles, 1981 and 1983
Newspaper articles, 1981-1988
Photographs (copies), 1981 and undated [originals in Photographs series]

     
                           
Box 12                          
 

TRAVEL [see Appendix for list of countries covered in travel diaries]

     
   

Diaries, 1967-1977 (6 folders)

       
                           
Box 13                          
   

Diaries, 1977-1981 (6 folders)

             
                           
Box 14                          
   

Diaries, 1980-1983 (3 folders)

             
                           
Box 15                          
   

Diaries, 1984-1989 (5 folders)

             
                           
Box 16                          
   

Diaries, 1990-1991 (5 folders)

             
                           
Box 17                          
   

Diaries, 1991-1994 (5 folders)

             
                           
Box 18                          
   

Diaries, 1994-1999 and undated (8 folders)

       
                           
Box 19                          
   

Diaries, undated
Diving

     
      British Sub Aqua Club qualification record, 1978
Lessons, undated
Log books, 1974-1994 (6 folders)
Sports diving notes, 1975
First day covers, 1987 and 1990
       
                           

Box 20

                         
     

Travel articles, 1978 and undated
Trips

       
       

1972, Far East trip
1973, Mt. Everest

     
          Reunions, 1976-1998 (8 folders)      
        1974-1978, India/Nepal/Bhutan
1976, Israel, Red Sea trip
1976, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
1977, Australia/New Zealand/ Fiji/ Africa
1977-1978, Egypt and the Red Sea
     
                           
Box 21                          
       

1977-1978, Galapagos Islands
1978, Grand Canyon raft trip
1978-1979, Caribbean (Oceanus Cruise/Expedition)
1979-1986, Miscellaneous trips
1980-1981, Brazil and Antarctica (2 folders)

     
         

Falkland slide show and Antarctica

       
       

1981, Istanbul

     
                           
Box 22                          
       

1983, India
1983, Vienna/London
1984, Orient Express
1985, Delta Queen
1985, European trip
1985, Isle of Shoals, Maine
1986, Colonial South cruise
1986, Delta Queen
1986-1987, Thailand
1986-1987, 1988 and 1992-1993, Papua New Guinea
1987, Indonesia
1987, London/Paris/Geneva
1987, Switzerland/Austria
1989, Cannes, France [mother’s death]
1989, Indonesia diving

     
                           
Box 23                          
       

1989, Morocco
1989, Solomon Islands
1990, London/Scotland theater trip
1990, Maine and New Brunswick (including Arcadia National Park)
1990-1991, Fiji and Australia ( Great Barrier Reef)
1991, Australia/Papua/Hawaii
1991, Munich
1991, Scandinavia
1991, Stanford Centennial/Hong Kong/ Sipadan Island Borneo
1991-1992, Vanuatu and New Caledonia
1992, Indonesia
1992, Lake Placid, New York
1993, Indonesia
1994, Australia

     
                           
Box 24                          
       

Undated, Australian Parliament tapestries
Videocassettes [stored with videocassettes]

     
         

1992, Asmat, Indonesia [V308]
1993, MV Telita – Papua, New Guinea [V309]
1993, Ambon to Kupang [V310]

     
                           
 

PHOTOGRAPHS

             
   

Family and friends, 1958-1981 and undated
Travel, 1978-1990 and undated

       
                           
Box 25                          
   

Albums

       
     

Costume design, 1961, 1963 and undated
Mt. Everest trek, 1973
Wedding, 1976

       
                           
Box 26                          
     

Costume design, 1961, 1963 and undated
Mt. Everest trek, 1973
Wedding, 1976

     
   

Slides

             
     

Guides, 1972-1989

             
                           
Box S-3 (trays a-f)                
     

A, 1972-1973, ‘Round the World (I-IV)
B, 1973, Mt. Everest (I-III)
C, 1974, Micronesia – Ponape
D, 1974-1975, ‘Round the World (I-II)

       
                           

Box S-4 (trays a-f)

               
     

D, 1974-1975, ‘Round the World (II-V)
E, 1975

       
       

I-San Diego, Mystic, Nova Scotia, Grand Cayman
II-Grand Cayman
III-Grand Cayman, New York apartment, Stanford, Williamsburg, Disney World, Family

       
     

F, 1975, India – Bhutan (I-III)

       
                           

Box S-5 (trays a-f)

               
     

F, 1975, India – Bhutan (III-IV)
G, 1976, Iran (I-II)
H, 1976

       
       

I-Paris, CSY Sailing, Tall ships
II-Tall ships, Ellis Island, West Point

       
     

J, 1976, Red Sea (I-II)
K, 1977

       
       

I-Mona Island, Dive trip, Tucson, New York walking tour
II- New York walking tour

       
     

L, 1977, Fidji to Seychelles-Mahé/Africa (I-II)

       
                 

Box S-6 (trays a-f)

               
     

M, 1978

       
       

I-Egypt/Galapagos Islands
II-III, Galapagos Islands

       
     

N, 1978, Grand Canyon (I-II)
O, 1978, Bermuda and Corrie’s wedding
P, 1979, China (I-III)
Q, 1980, China – Tibet (I-II)

       
                           

Box S-7 (trays a-f)

               
     

Q, 1980, China – Tibet (II-III)
R, 1980, Oberammergau
S, 1980-1981, Antarctica trip (I-IV)
T, 1981, Grand Cayman [no guide]
U, 1981, Sailing, Istanbul (I-II) [no guides]
W, 1983 [no guides]

       
       

I-Belize
II-Belize, Family, Winter, India Jubilee tour

       
                           
Box S-8 (trays a-f)                
     

Z, 1983, India Jubilee tour (III-V) [no guides]
AA, 1983, Vienna/Orient Express/Paris (I-II) [no guides]
BB, 1984, Costa Rica (I-III) [no guides]
CC, 1984-1985, Vienna/Budapest (I-II)
DD, 1985, Delta Queen ( Cincinnati to New Orleans), (I-II)
EE, September 1985, June 1986, Yosemite [no guide]
FF, 1986-1987, Papua New Guinea (I)

   
               

Box S-9 (trays a-f)

       
     

FF, 1986-1987, Papua New Guinea (I-XI)
GG, 1989, Solomon Islands (I)

       
               

Box S-2 (trays c-e)

       
     

GG, 1989, Solomon Islands (I-II)
HH, 1980 and undated, Miscellaneous “to be sorted, includes family” [no guide]
JJ, undated, Africa [no guide]
KK, 1966, Christmas [no guide]LL, 1968, Easter [no guide]
MM, 1969, Berlin [no guide]
NN, 1981, Kate’s Homecoming [no guide]
OO, 1979-1980, Florida [no guide]
PP, 1985, Koob’s 50 th wedding anniversary [no guide]
QQ, 1954-1972, Family [no guide]

 
               
Box 27        
  SCRAPBOOKS        
   

School, 1954-1956

       
               
Box 28              
   

Luther League Conference, 1955

       
               
Box 29              
   

Bhutan and India, 1975

       
               
Box 30              
   

Nova Scotia, 1975/Iran, 1976
Montana, 1989
Portrait of Micki Zeller, undated

       
               
Box 31              
   

General, undated

       
               
Box 32              
  ARTIFACTS        
   

Australia Railroad wall hanging, undated
Cattle Congress ribbons, 1957
Diving patches, undated
4-H ribbons, undated
Lake Placid skating pass, undated
Menus, undated
Prayer flags from Tibet, undated
Scuba School International (SSI), Gold 500 Diver award, undated
Silver coaster, undated
Summer skating tags, 1998 and 1999

     
               
Box 33              
   

Valedictorian award, 1940

       
               
Box 34              
    CLOSED        

 

APPENDIX
MICKI ZELLER’S TRAVEL JOURNALS

 
  1967, Europe
1971, Italy, Africa
1971, Europe
1972 –1973, Italy/India/Thailand/Indonesia/China/Japan)
1973, Mt. Everest
1974, Micronesia – Ponape
1975, India – Bhutan
1976 –1977, British Virgin Islands/Red Sea Diving Trip/ Mona Island
1977, Fiji to Seychelles-Mahé
1977, Africa
1978, Grand Canyon, West Coast, Canada and Adirondacks
1978, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Peru
1978 –1979, Bermuda, Bahamas and Caribbean sailing trip
1979, Norway, London
1979, China, Guam, Philippines
1980, England, Austria, Germany/Southwestern U.S./ China - Tibet
1980 –1981, Antarctic trip – Brazil, Argentina
1981, Dodecanese sailing trip and Istanbul
1983, Lighthouse Reef dive trip
1983, Vienna, Venice, Orient Express to Paris/ London and India “Palace on Wheels”
1984, Costa Rica, France, Israel/Red Sea/Cairo, Alaska
1985, Boston-Denver-Durango
1984 –1985 ( Vienna, Budapest/Anthony’s Key Dive Resort/Delta Queen
1985 –1986, “Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary trip/Germany, Austria/Switzerland/Montreal/Bermuda
1986 (Delta Queen and Colonial South on the Newport Clipper)
1986 –1987, Papua, New Guinea
1987, Singapore, the Maldives, Bandos Island, Male
1987, London, Switzerland, Paris
1987, Indonesia
1987 –1988, Austria/Australia/M.V. Telita
1989, Yellowstone, Disney World
1989, Morocco, Munich, Geneva, London, Dublin
1989, Soloman Islands and East of Ambon, Indonesia
1990, London, Scotland - Huntington Theater)
1990, Maine and New Brunswick
1990, Fiji and Australia
1991, “M.V. Telita” – Milne Bay, then Sydney, Honolulu, home
1991, Scandinavia
1991, Stanford Centennial/Hong Kong/ Sipadan Island, Borneo
1991 –1992, Christmas in Munich
1992, Vanuatu/Caledonia/Hawaii
1992, United States
1992, Indonesia
1992 –1993, Australia and Papua, New Guinea
1993, drive to Arizona
1993, Indonesia
1994, Australia
1994 Tucson to New Hampshire
1994, London
1994 –1995, Australia and Indian Pacific
1998, China
1996, Indian Pacific
1999, Australia
Unidentified Notebooks, 1982, 1987 and undated
     
               
               

 


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05/2005