Matlack Family papers, 1879 - 1997

Biographical Note:
Henry William Matlack was a professor of music at Grinnell College beginning in 1901. Merta Rebecca Johnson was his student and they married in 1903. In 1922 Henry was named alumni secretary of the college; he died in 1936. Merta was active in many community activities including the League of Women Voters and Entre Nous, was a determined gardener and expert weaver. In 1936 she was a local supervisor for the Consumer Purchases Study, a WPA project and continued working with area families on nutrition and housekeeping into the 1940s. She lived until 1968 in the family home at 1510 East Street in Grinnell.

They had six children, all of whom attended Grinnell College: David Johnson, Mary Westgate, Margaret Westgate, Jane Fairbanks, Laura Wolcott, Helen Constance. David remained a Grinnell resident his entire life; the daughters all moved away, married, and led active lives; eventually they all returned to Grinnell. Laura moved into the family home and lived there until her death in 1997. (See attachment: Matlack Family Tree for additional information about the children, their spouses, and offspring.)

Provenance: Received from Derrith R. Wieman, January 1998 through August 1998.

Quantity: 45 boxes (188 linear feet) + two oversize items

Scope and Content Notes:
The collection includes a variety of materials belonging to several family members that were found in Laura's house after her death: legal papers; personal calendars of Merta, David, and Laura; papers of Henry and Merta from their professional careers; and family correspondence and other personal papers. They provide a glimpse into the activities of this fascinating Grinnell family.

The family papers generally include legal papers, information about genealogy, photos, correspondence, and miscellaneous items. Noteworthy items include "My Family's History" by Helen M. Hatch, "A Christmas Memoiry" by Margaret M. Kiesel, and numerous editions of "The Maggie Gazette and Intelligence," a family newsletter written and published by Margaret M. Kiesel. The family correspondence is extensive, and gives a good look into the family members' lives.

Henry's papers include music that he wrote, church programs when he was organist, articles that he wrote on a variety of music-related issues, articles and talks on education (some written during his time as Alumni Secretary), and files of historical material from the Alumni Office.

Merta's papers include programs, reports, and yearbooks of organizations to which she belonged including Entre Nous, Uncle Sam's Club, and Congregational women's groups. Her professional papers include memos, time sheets, correspondence from her tenure with the Consumer Purchases Study and miscellaneous other activities. There are also items from Merta's college years, including papers and notebooks. " Go to College" and "The Education of Merta Johnson Matlack as told by herself" give a glimpse into what a woman's education was like around the turn-of-the-century. Gust Johnson's papers include newspaper clippings, letters, report cards, and other miscellaneous stuff.

David's papers include a birth certificate, newspaper clippings, programs from events in Grinnell, correspondence and calenders.

Laura corresponded with Art Department colleagues, other Grinnell College graduates from her class, and with Edith Sternfeld, a former art professor at the college. The remainder of Laura's papers contain material relating to her weaving and to organizations in which she was active including the League of Women Voters, Peace Links, and weavers' groups. Noteworthy items include letters and SGA minutes in response to Kent State killings and closing of Grinnell College, miscellaneous items regarding convocation of 1967 when Martin Luther King Jr spoke at Grinnell College and the Wiemans hosting Benjamin Mays at the 1967 convocation, "Recollections of My Husband, Henry Nelson Wieman," and "The History of Architecture ... Grinnell Iowa," 1949. Henry N. Wieman's papers include correspondence and newspaper articles, He was a professor of philosophy who taught at several notable universities. The bulk of Henry N. Wieman's papers are at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

There are also items from the four remaining Matlack siblings: Mary Davenport, Margaret Kiesel, Jane Rutherford, and Connie Wieman; Merta's parents, Gust and Elma Johnson; Laura'/s husband, Henry N. Wieman; and Maggie's mother-in-law, Anna Kiesel. Correspondence to the Matlack sisters and other papers of theirs are included. Stories about the birth of Connie (born on Christmas day) are especially charming. Anna Kiesel's items include photos, programs, and correspondence. She and Gust Johnson have papers in German and Swedish, that give a glimpse into the ethnic communities of the mid-west in the 19th Century.

There are four boxes of oversize materials that include records, artwork, certificates, photos, music, and correspondence.

Suggested citation: Matlack Family papers, Grinnell College Libraries, Department of Special Collections, Grinnell, Iowa. Ms.01.46.

Related Materials:
An interview with Laura is in the Kara Bakken collection (Ms. 01.36). Many historical essays about Grinnell College and alumni written by Margaret are in Margaret's papers.(Ms 01.49)

Series Description:
Series 1 - Items about the whole Matlack family
Generation 0 - Gust C. and Elma Johnson
Generation 1 - Henry and Merta Matlack, Allen and Elma Majors
Generation 2 - David Matlack, Keith and Mary Davenport, Paul and Maggie Kiesel, Jane Rutherford, Henry and Laura Wieman, Robert and Connie Wieman, Henry Nelson Wieman's children
Generation 3 - Jeff Rutherford, Jane Wieman, Henry Matlack Wieman, Derrith Matlack Clark, Margaret Wieman, and Ana Wieman
Series 2 - Henry William Matlack
Series 3 - Merta Johnson Matlack
Series 4 - David Johnson Matlack
Series 5 - Laura Matlack Wieman
Series 6 - Matlack Sisters (Mary Matlack Davenport, Margaret Matlack Kiesel, Jane Matlack Rutherford, Helen Constance Matlack Wieman)
Series 7 - Oversize items Box Listing

Series 1: Items from the whole Matlack family
Box1: Family legal papers
Matlack family photo, ca. 1953
"The family of William Henry Wieman and Alma Morgan Wieman"
Powers of attorney
Kiesel, Margaret M. Estate
Kiesel, Paul F. Estate
Kiesel Apartment
Kiesel, Ferdinand J.--Estate
Matlack, Henry W.--Estate
Wieman, Henry N.--Estate
Miscellaneous items

Box 2: Matlack and Wolcott Family Genealogy and Archives
Historical information about Matlack and Wolcott Family in England and America
"My Family's History" Wolcott, Matlack, Brush, and Bellows by Helen M. Hatch
Family letters - originals and xeroxes
Correspondence with Helen Hatch about family history
Correspondence with Ross A. Matlack Jr. about family history
Correspondence with William M. Seaman about family history
Correspondence with James O. Hall about family history
Newspaper clippings of extended family
Family tree and other family lists

Box 3: Items from immediate Matlack family in general
Small binder from Des Moines Weavers Guild
Handkerchief with wedding dates on front cover
Matlack birthday book
The Maggie Gazette and Intelligencer
The Wieman Inquirer
A Christmas Memoir by MMK
Original Manuscript from carol "Connie" by Harry Matlack
Correspondence with Gertrude Jacobs about Harry Matlack
The Mayflower Log
Newspaper clipping and church program
Matlack Family History by MMK
Family home at 1510 East St., Grinnell

Box 4: Family Photos
Photos of family members through four generations
Photos of extended family
Photo of house at 1510 East St., Grinnell
Unknown photos

Box 5: Christmas cards and wish lists

Box 6: Family Correspondence
To 1st generation from 1st and 2nd generations, excluding to Merta from Maggie, Laura, or Connie

Box 7: Family Correspondence
To Merta from Maggie

Box 8: Family Correspondence
To Merta from Laura

Box 9: Family Correspondence
To Merta from Connie

Box10: Family Correspondence
To 0, 1st, and 3rd generations from 0, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations

Box 11: Family Correspondence
To 2nd generation from 0, 1st, and 2nd generations

Box 12: Family Correspondence
To 2nd generations from 2nd (extended) and 3rd generations

Box 13: Family Correspondence
To Laura from 1st generation

Box 14: Family Correspondence
To Laura from 2nd generation

Box 15: Family Correspondence
To Laura and Harry Wieman from 1st, 2nd (extended) and 3rd generations

Box 16: Family Correspondence
Sympathy notes about: Laura W. Matlack (HWM's mother), G. C. Johnson, Henry W. Matlack, Merta J. Matlack, and David J. Matlack

Series 2: Henry William Matlack
Box 17: Henry W. Matlack
Alumni organization, historical
Correspondence with Harry Downer, 1932
Alumni Office budget, 1930-32
"George Frederick Handel: An exponent of the English language"
Articles (4 folders)
Article: "Higher Education"
Talks
Paper
Department of Music
Congregational Church Choir
Personal (incl. correspondence with Pres. Main), 1908-34
The Poweshieks (organization)
Music (2 folders)
Article and short biography on HWM
Order forms from Sears-Roebuck

Box 18: Henry W. Matlack
List of music HWM played at two churches in Ohio in 1890s
Journal from 1928

Box 19: Henry W. Matlack
Notebooks of Henry's when he was a student at Oberlin College
Miscellaneous notebooks
Two accounting books

Series 3: Merta Johnson Matlack
Box 20: Merta J. Matlack
Consumer Purchases Study, 1936
Interim report of plans for a study of consumer purchases
Memoranda (6 folders)
Reports on sampling and editing
Travel
Forms, memoranda
Montezuma maps and names
Poweshiek County map
"Differential Depression Effects on Families of Laborers, Farmers, and the Business Class a survey of an Iowa Town" by Laetitia M. Conard
Merta's hospital expense policy

Box 21: Merta J. Matlack
Consumer Purchases Study, 1936:
Editing instructions
Instructions
Memoranda
Pay sheets
Memoranda, Bowman
Miscellaneous (2 folders)
MT 20 (shorthand notes)
Menus: Brooklyn, Searsboro, ca. 1942
Old food material
Institutes of International Relations, American Friends Service Comm., 1938
Survey clippings, 1950 (Greater Grinnell Community Survey)
Merta's information on food and gas rations
Report of Poweshiek Co

Box 22: Merta J. Matlack
Receipt book (money received from children), 1945-65
Ration books, World War II
9 calendars, 1906, 1946-61 (include information on weather, meetings, expenses)
4 address books
Alumni award, 1959
Correspondence, 1935-67
Art Study Club programs, 1918-19, 1920-21
Entre Nous programs & By-Laws, 1917-63
Library Committee, 1956
The On-To-You Club
Uncle Sam's Club: Articles of Incorporations, 25th Anniversary celebration,
1927, 1941
First annual report of the Social Service League, 1912-13
Yearbooks, Women's Association of the First Congregational Church, 1930-44
Grinnell Fellowship of Congregational Christian Women, 1948-9, 1950-1
Yearbooks. Grinnell Fellowship of Congregational Christian Women, 1956-66

Box 23: Merta J. Matlack
Correspondence, etc on class reunions (Grinnell College 1904)
Church programs
Information on planning an Old Homes Week in Grinnell
College papers
"Go to College" by MJM published by MG&I
The Education of Merta Johnson Matlack as told by herself
Merta's nomination for Mother of the State (1961)
Artwork from Merta’s children
Quilting
High School
Speech
Matlack - Majors Hand weaving
MJM & HWM's anniversaries
Knitting
Biography of Merta
Thank-you cards from third graders who visited MJM
Various financial materials from the church
Insurance forms and correspondence regarding Merta's final illness and funeral expenses
Newspaper clippings
Building block catalogs

Box 24: Merta J. Matlack
Notebooks relating to her work, late 1930s-early 1940s

Box 25: Merta J. Matlack
Calendars, 1949, 1951-69

Box 26: Merta J. Matlack
Autograph Album to and about Elma and Merta Johnson
Volunteer service medals
Notebook of MJM's with botany and a play
Remembrance book from MJM’s funeral
Merta's notebook on government
Notebook from Grinnell
Financial Journals
Audio Recording from 4/2/68 for Entre Nous

Box 27: Merta J. Matlack
Correspondence with people outside her family, 1900s - 1964

Box 28: Mr. and Mrs. Gust C. Johnson (MJM's parents)
Newspaper clippings
Letters
Program from high school commencement
Report cards
Business cards
Visitors Tickets from Republican Congression Convention, 1894
Quilting pieces

Series 4: David Johnson Matlack
Box 29: David J. Matlack
Photograph from newspaper
Birth certificate
Program from recital in Herrick Chapel
Programs from funerals from friends and acquaintances
Newspaper clippings
Mail from Veterans Administration Center about life insurance
Writing from childhood, high school commencement programs, and death announcement in Church Greeting
Correspondence with people outside of his family

Box 30: David J. Matlack
Personal Calenders 1965-6, 1970-4, 1983
Army discharge papers
Financial notebooks

Series 5: Laura Matlack Wieman
Box 31: Laura M. Wieman
Entre Nous Club history, 1991
Iowa Federation of Hand weavers and Spinners, 1973
League of Women Voters, 1947, 1953-4
League of Women Voters, notes, 1960-3, 1968-9
Midwest Weaver's Conference, 1970
Peace Network, 1988-9
United Nations Assn. 1972, 1991-3
Peace Links photos - Identification
Peace Links photos, 1993-4 (#1-22)
Peace Links photos, 1990-3 (#22-41)
Des Moines Weavers Guild, 1966-79
Letters and SGA minutes in response to Kent State killings and closing of Grinnell, 1971
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Grinnell
Bulletin of the Poweshiek Meteor and Marching Society
Memorial Service programs
" Magent" by Thomas Hornsby Ferril
Weaving Workshop, 1972, Brent Warsinski, Laura Wieman
Misc. items about convocation of 1967 and Wiemans hosting Benjamin Mays

Box 32: Laura M. Wieman
Artwork from college
Recipes, anecdotes, questions
Matchbooks and toothpicks
"Recollections of My Husband, Henry Nelson Wieman"
Childhood
Awards
Weaving
Correspondence regarding Mary Matlack Davenport's collection of Edward Gorey works being sold
Correspondence with Edith Sternfeld, 1969-88
Weaving correspondence
Japanese prints
Newspaper clippings
Exhibitions, publicity, craft associations
Notes (during final illness?)

Box 33: Laura M. Wieman
"History of Architecture ... Grinnell, Iowa", 1949
Weft compositions
GHS class reunions
Lists from GHS class reunions
Correspondence from GHS class reunions
Photos from GHS class reunions
Newspaper clippings from GHS reunions

Box 34: Laura M. Wieman
Receipts and bills
HNW's insurance
Membership cards
Address book
Correspondence concerning financial matters

Box 35: Laura M. Wieman
Calendars: 1949-51, 1953, 1962, 1964-67, 1969

Box 36: Laura M. Wieman
Calendars: 1975-90, 1992, 94, 1997

Box 37: Henry N. Wieman
University Courts residents spring 1965 and fall 1965
Editorials in Center for Creative Interchange by HNW
Newspaper articles about HNW
Correspondence

Box 38: Laura M. Wieman
Correspondence between Laura and Harry

Box 39: Laura M. Wieman
Correspondence between people outside the family, undated; 1940s-70s

Box 40: Laura Matlack Wieman
Correspondence with people outside the family, 1980s-90s
Series 6: Matlack Sisters (Mary Matlack Davenport, Margaret Matlack Kiesel, Jane Matlack Rutherford, and Helen Constance Matlack Wieman)

Box 41: Matlack Sisters and Anna Kiesel
Mary M. Davenport
Drawings, cards, programs
Two travel diaries from Mary M. Davenport
Margaret M. Kiesel
High school commencement, cards
Anna Kiesel (MMK's mother-in-law)
Photos and programs
Jane M. Rutherford
Letters, newspaper article, programs
Obituary & memorial book for Jane M. Rutherford
Helen Constance M. Wieman
Letters
Stories about birth of Helen C. M. Wieman

Series 7: Oversize Items
Box 42: Oversize items
Laura's weaving notebook
Photo of living room at 1510 East St., Grinnell
Recordio Message for 1510 & Associates from Laura recorded June 5, 1943
Two unmarked records
Recordio Message to D. J. Matlack, Pvt from Laura, postmarked June 18, 1943
The Spoken Theology of Henry Nelson Wieman, a record
Copy of Christmas Carol, woodblock by Laura
Wedding certificate for Gust C. Johnson and Elma Westgate
High school diploma for Gust C. Johnson
Photo of MJM by Henry Wilhelm, 1966
Two certificates of Henry's
Music composed by Henry
Photograph of Grinnell High School class of 1931

Box 43: Oversize items
Play about Iowa College and Grinnell University
Music by Henry Matlack
Music by other composers

Box 44: Oversize items
Scrapbook of Henry Matlack's containing photographs and concert programs

Box 45: Oversize items
Postcards from 1900s and 1910s to Anna Kiesel (MMK's mother-in-law) and Paul Kiesel (MMK's husband)
Oversize File
Chart: Food Costs, 1939
Chart: Poweshiek County Social Services Administration, 1930s-40s

Items Separated:
Booklets from the First Congregational Church, Grinnell, "History of Iowa College" (typescript) by Ephraim Adams, and a paper written by Mrs. H.W. Herron were put in the Iowa Room pamphlet collection.

Items Discarded:
Newspaper clippings (cartoons, puzzles and games, prizes and contests) from the Des Moines Register and the Chicago Daily News plus duplicates of some Consumer Purchases Survey memoranda were discarded. All of Merta's cooking pamphlets (from government agencies, educational institutions, and food-related businesses) were transferred to the Szathmary Collection at the University of Iowa Special Collections Department.

Processed by Leslie Czechowski, March 1998; June 1998, and Emily Burke September 1998 to October 1999.