Ivy Leone Chamness papers, 1885-1973, bulk 1925-1935
A Guide to the Papers at the Indiana University Archives
Electronic finding aid encoded by Ryan K. Lee
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Chamness, Ivy Leone.
TitleIvy Leone Chamness papers, 1885-1973, bulk 1925-1935
Collection No.
C239
Extent
1 cubic foot (3 boxes)
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
Ivy Chamness was a teacher, editor and a
writer, and was actively involved on many committees. Her papers demonstrate that her
life revolved around education through copies of her editorials, her personal
correspondence, minutes from various committees upon which she served, journals from her
travels, and various documents relating to her work here at IU pre and
post-retirement.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Advance notice is required.
Biographical Note
Ivy Leone Chamness was born on 3 December 1881, in Hagerstown, Indiana. She attended
Hagerstown High School and graduated in 1900. She then attended Indiana University in
Bloomington and graduated with an A.B. in journalism in 1906. Upon graduation Chamness
taught high school in Carlisle and Newcastle, as well as Wayne County, Indiana, from
1906-1911. She relocated to Indianapolis where she served as a proof reader and
editorial assistant in the law department of Bobbs-Merill Company from 1911-1914.
Upon her return to Bloomington in 1914, Chamness became Assistant Editor of University
Publications at IU, a position she held from 1914-1917. She would become Head Editor of
University Publications in 1917. During that time Chamness also served as Assistant
Editor of the
IU Alumni Quarterly. She was promoted to
Associate Editor in 1919 and finally Editor in 1921. She served in this position until
1938. Chamness then worked as Associate Editor of the magazine, now called the
Indiana Alumni Magazine, until her retirement in 1952. In her
spare time she was a contributor to a variety of newspapers and periodicals.
Aside from her career, Chamness was actively involved in community and national affairs.
She served as President of the American Association of University Women (Bloomington
Branch) from 1922-23, the Women’s Faculty Club and Theta Sigma Pi Alumnae in
Bloomington. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters and the Indiana
Historical Society.
Ivy Chamness received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award upon her
retirement in 1952 and was named Emeritus Editor of University Publications at IU the
following year. She was recognized by the AAUW in 1968 with the establishment of a
national fellowship; the organization described Chamness as a “gracious, charming,
treasured acquaintance and friend.” She died at her home in Bloomington on 28 May 1975
and was buried in her home town of Hagerstown, Indiana.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into seven series: Correspondence, Class of 1906 reunion,
Journals, Subject files, Writings, Realia, All-University Committee on Names.
Scope and Content Note
This collection, of Correspondence, Journals, Writings, Programs, has been organized
into seven series: Correspondence, Class of 1906 reunion, Journals, Subject files,
Writings, and Realia, All-University Committee on Names.
The Correspondence series, 1921–1973, includes Chamness’ personal correspondence from
her early years at IU until her death. The holiday cards to Ivy and her sister, Gracie,
feature intricate and beautiful illustrations. These have been arranged
chronologically.
The Class of 1906 reunion series spans 1916-1933, consists of information Chamness
collected in her capacity as class representative for IU’s graduating class of 1906.
There were two reunions held in 1931 and 1933. This series has been arranged into two
sub-series of correspondence and class lists. The correspondence sub-series contains
letters Chamness wrote to individuals from major fields and also letters she encouraged
recipients to send to other majors for the reunion that she collected. These items have
been divided into folders and are arranged alphabetically by recipient. Other
correspondence concerns acceptances and regrets for being unable to attend the events.
Class lists sub-series consists of Chamness’s notes on attendees and non-attendees for
the reunions.
The Journals series contains Chamness’s notes and thoughts about her travels. Her
journals from 1960-1966 are particularly detailed, as she wrote almost everyday. These
diaries include a detailed narrative about her excursion to Europe in the summer of
1960. This series is arranged chronologically and spans 1895-1966.
Subject files, 1885-1966, encompass programs Chamness collected from various events, as
well as maps she saved and religious booklets, which have illustrations similar to the
holiday cards in the Correspondence series. There are several items relating to the
death of President William Lowe Bryan in 1955. The programs feature published speeches
by President William Lowe Bryan. Also included are a program for the 50th anniversary
celebration for Theta Sigma Phi and one for a tour of historical homes in Monroe County.
This series has been arranged in general chronological order.
The Writings series spans 1905–1928 and includes Chamness’s own writings on genealogy,
reviews, editorials, histories and a published copy of Chamness’s undergraduate thesis.
There are two reviews written by Chamness, detailing two books,
Le Docteur Pascal and an untitled work by “Miss Woodbridge.” Both are
undated, but Chamness indicates they are for class. The genealogies are lists of names
and dates, while the histories offer more coherent narratives about Indiana history.
Editorials include Chamness’s typed rough draft and the printed newspaper copy. As most
of these items are undated, each sub-series has been arranged in general chronological
order. The thesis was written in 1928 to fulfill her journalism requirement at IU. It is
150 pages in length and provides a detailed explanation of the format, arrangement and
publication of editorials in the catalog of the National Association of State
Universities.
The Realia series contains three items, all dating from 1952. The first is a certificate
of appreciation presented to Chamness in 1952 upon her retirement. The other two items
are small metal plates with Ivy Chamness’s name engraved on them.
The All-University Committee on Names series contains Chamness’ notes and minutes from
the Committee from 1954 until 1972. The minutes provide detailed information about the
meetings and the process of selecting names for the IU campus buildings. Among the names
Chamness approved were Bryan Hall and Ballantine Hall, as well as residence halls John
W. Foster Quadrangle and Paul V. McNutt Quadrangle.
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Indexing Terms
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online
catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the
catalog using these terms.
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Separated Material
Gracie Chamness’s high school diploma was separated and stored with the Archives
oversized items.
Photograph of William Adkins transferred to Archives Photographs Collection.
Related Material
For further information about Chamness’s professional career, see Collection C84.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession 0910
Usage RestrictionsThe donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University.
For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Ivy Leone Chamness papers, Collection C239, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Processing InformationProcessed by Anne Pederson and Thomas Bongiorno.
Completed in 2005.
Series:
Correspondence, 1921-1973
Box 1
A-Z, 1921-1973
Holiday cards to Ivy, Gracie Chamness, undated
Series:
Class of 1906 Reunion, 1916 –1933
Subseries:
Correspondence, 1916 –1933
Box 1
Alumni Day, 22 Apr. 1931
Chemistry Majors, Nov. 1930- Mar.
1931
Economic Majors, Nov. 1930-Mar. 1931
Education Majors, Nov. 1930- Jan.
1933
English Majors, May 1916- Apr. 1933
French Majors, Nov. 1930- Feb. 1933
Geology Majors, Nov. 1930- Jun. 1931
German Majors, Nov. 1930- Feb. 1933
History Majors, Nov. 1930- Feb. 1933
Latin Majors, Nov. 1930- Feb. 1933
Law Majors, Nov. 1930- Jan. 1933
Mathematics Majors, Nov. 1930- Jan.
1933
Zoology Majors, Jan. 1933- Feb. 1933
General Correspondence
A-L, Nov. 1930- May 1933
M-Z, Nov. 1930- Jun. 1933
Subseries:
Class lists, 1931-1933
Box 1
General A-Z, 1931-1933
Series:
Journals, 1895-1966
Box 1
Jul. 1895- Aug. 1951
Jul. 1960-Aug. 1960
Mar. 1960-Jun. 1963
1963-1966
Travel Notes, 1906-1964
Series:
Subject files, 1885-1966
Box 1
Programs, 1952-1966
Maps, 1885-1964
Box 2
Religious books, undated
Series:
Writings, 1905-1928
Box 2
Genealogy, undated
Reviews, 1905-ca.
1910
Editorials, ca. 1920-ca.
1925
Editorial,
"The War Debts and the Way
Out"
by Daniel W. Snepp, undated
Histories, ca.
1940-1967
Chamness, Ivy Leone.
A Study of Editorial
Matters in the Catalogs of the Members of the National Association of State
Universities.
Bloomington, IN: R.L. Cosler Co., 1928.
Series:
Realia, 1952
Box 2
Certificate of Appreciation, 1952
Bronze name plate, undated
Metal broach, hairpiece (?), undated
Series:
All-University Committee on Names, 1954–1972
Box 3
Agendas for various meetings, Jul. 1969-Nov.
1972
Minutes, notes for meetings, May 1957-Mar. 1972;
undated
Names for Buildings—lists, suggestions, Apr.
1957-Jul. 1971;
undated
(2 files)
General correspondence, Nov. 1954- Feb.
1974