.
Collection Overview
Title: Lena M. Elkin Papers, 1905-1986
Predominant Dates:1928-1937
ID: RG 09/9.18
Primary Creator: Elkin, Lena M.
Extent: 4.0 Boxes (General)
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as follows:
1. Correspondence; 2. Personal/Biographical and Publications; 3. Weaving
Subjects: Berea, (Ky.), Berea College, Berea College -- Faculty, Hand weaving -- Appalachian Region -- History., Handweaving -- Patterns., Hand weaving., Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (S.D.) -- History., Students, college -- Berea College, Vocational education -- Florida -- Ocala -- 1930-1950., Women -- Education -- Florida -- Ocala -- 1930-1950.
Languages: English
Abstract
Lena M. Elkin was born in Berea, Kentucky October 24, 1904 and attended Berea College Training, Berea College Grammar School, Berea College Normal, Berea College High School, and Eastern State Teachers College.
Weaving was extremely important in Ms. Elkin’s life. During the 1930s she taught weaving for two summer terms at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and another summer at University Of Florida Extension Service’s Camp Roosevelt at Ocala. She was production supervisor for Berea’s Fireside Industries from 1940 to 1970. She died in Berea on July 27, 1992.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
These are the correspondence, papers, photographs, publications, weave drafts and pattern samples of Lena M. Elkin, a loom weaver and instructor at Berea College and elsewhere.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog
Access Restrictions:
Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.
Use Restrictions:
There are no restrictions on use of this material other than federal copyright regulations.
Preferred Citation:
[Item], Lena M. Elkin Papers, Special Collections & Archives, Berea College, Berea, KY.
Processing Information:
Finding guide updated 2016. Updated Jan 2021.
Finding Aid Revision History:
Updated 2016.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by College Archive Record Group:
[
College Archive Record Group 9.18],
[All]
- College Archive Record Group 9.18
- Series 1: Correspondence
- This series consists of letters Ms. Elkin received from family and friends while at Camp Roosevelt, Pine Ridge, and Berea College along with those from yarn and weaving companies. The Camp Roosevelt and Pine Ridge files describe the work she did there and also include pamphlets detailing the activities of each school. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject, chronological there under.
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Camp Roosevelt 1936-1937
- Folder 2: Fireside Industries 1932-1969
- Series 2: Personal/Biographical and Publications
- This series consists of school papers, family and personal memorabilia, addresses, photographs, poems, and miscellaneous items. The school papers consist of notes and exercises in biology, English, history, and math. There is a group of educational aids, which were created during her school years at Berea. The addresses are those of relatives and friends. Family and personal memorabilia include; two diplomas of Elizabeth Elkin, various receipts, and other memorabilia. Photographs are primarily of Berea school friends. There are three poems, one, which is, “The Tapestry Weaver.” Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject, chronological there under. This series also contains handicraft magazine, weaving catalogs, and various pamphlets from yarn and weaving companies. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject, chronological there under.
- Box 1
- Folder 3: Personal, 1924-1986
- Folder 4: Pine Ridge, South Dakota, 1936-1937
- Folder 5: Yarn and Weaving Companies, 1928-1937
- Folder 6: Yarn and Weaving Companies Publications, 1928-1969
- Folder 7: Addresses, n.d.
- Folder 8: Biology Notes and Exercises
- Folder 9: Educational Aids
- Folder 10: English Essays, 1930
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Family and Relatives, 1922-1965
- Folder 2: History Essays: North Dakota
- Folder 3: Math Notes and Exercises
- Folder 4: Miscellaneous
- Folder 5: Personal Memorabilia, 1923-1928
- Folder 6: Photographs, n.d.
- Folder 7: Photograph Scrapbooks, n.d., 1924
- Folder 8: Poems: North Dakota
- Folder 9: Handcrafts and Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, 1957-1967
- Folder 10: Weaving Catalogs 1905-1964
- Folder 11: Yarn and Weaving Co.
- Series 3: Weaving
- This series consists of weaving lessons, blank weave drafts, card patterns, student exercises, notes on weaving history and technique, miscellaneous notebooks, weave drafts and pattern samples. Of particular interest are numerous examples of weave drafts detailing how to set up the loom in order to make q pattern. There are also finished patterns, some of which have the weave draft with it. There are numerous examples of yarn and thread that are used in the loom. There are also addresses for various yarn and weaving company and a blueprint of a loom. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject, chronological there under.
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Academic Exercises
- Folder 2: Blank Weaving Drafts
- Folder 3: Essentials of Weaving, 1932
- Folder 4: Card Patterns, n.d., 1954-1968
- Folder 5: History and Techniques
- Folder 6: Ledger 1935
- Folder 7: Miscellaneous
- Folder 8: Notebooks, n.d.
- Folder 9: Pattern/Yarn Samples: A-C, n.d., 1928-1969
- Folder 10: Pattern/Yarn Samples: D-L, n.d.
- Folder 11: Pattern/Yarn Samples: M, 1969
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Pattern/Yarn Samples: N-U, n.d.
- Folder 2: Pattern/Yarn Samples: U-Z, n.d.
- Folder 3: Weave Drafts: A-L, n.d., 1943-1964
- Folder 4: Weave Drafts: M-Z, n.d., 1938
- Folder 5: Weave Drafts: Untitled, n.d.
- Item 1: Oversized Weaving Pattern Sample
- Peach with maroon
- Item 2: Oversized Weaving Pattern Sample
- Blue
- Item 3: Drawing of Loom, May 1937
- Designed and drawn by Harvey Meyer, by type designed by Anna Ernberg, Berea, KY
- Folder 12: Pattern/Yarn Samples: M, 1969
Browse by College Archive Record Group:
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College Archive Record Group 9.18],
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