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Catherine Ophelia Babb McGraw Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MC 2310

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains materials by or relating to Catherine Ophelia Babb McGraw and her family, particularly regarding their time living in Altus, Arkansas and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Her diaries date from 1887 to 1924, and contain entries on topics such as travels in the American West, her Christian faith, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, her friends and family, weather, and household accounting. Most diaries contain a mixture of diary entries and other notes and memos.

Also included is family correspondence; publications from the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, of which McGraw was an active member; a family history of the McGraw family; and a poem by McGraw.

Dates

  • ca 1887-1997
  • Majority of material found within 1887-1926

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Catherine Ophelia Babb was born September 16, 1854, in Byhalia, Mississippi. On January 22, 1872, she married Daniel Murdock McGraw. The couple had thirteen children, three of whom died in childhood. In 1879, the family moved to Arkansas, moving around for several years before settling in Altus. Catherine McGraw taught school in both Mississippi and Arkansas, eventually becoming principal of the Altus school; she also wrote articles for the local newspaper, the Altus Albion. McGraw was a leader in the Franklin County branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), and was also active with her church and other community organizations.

She passed away November 18, 1926, of malaria, in Orlando, Florida.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (1 box)

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged by format. Diaries are arranged chronologically; publications are arranged alphabetically by title.

Acquisition Information

The Catherine Ophelia Babb McGraw Papers were donated to the Special Collections Department by Deborah Gordon Engle of Laguna Beach, California, on August 21, 2018. An additional family letter (Box 1, Folder 22) was donated by Engle on September 26, 2018.

Processing Information

Processed by Katrina Windon; completed in August 2018. Updated by Katrina Windon in October 2018.

Title
Catherine Ophelia Babb McGraw Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Katrina Windon
Date
August 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444