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Edna Twamley Papers, 1911-1985
Collection Overview
Title: Edna Twamley Papers, 1911-1985
ID: OGLMC1162
Primary Creator: Twamley, Edna (1879-1966)
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 05/00/1988
Subjects: University of North Dakota - Alumni, University of North Dakota - Benefactors, Women's History
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Edna M. Twamley was born October 31, 1879 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was the daughter of James and Mary Elizabeth (Hawkins) Twamley. James Twamley was one of the founders of the University of North Dakota and a member of its first board of regents.
Edna Twamley graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1898 and entered UND the following fall. According to the 1964-65 edition of Who’s Who in America, “since her father lived nearby, she was prohibited by University rule from living on campus in the single dormitory available.” Therefore, she transferred to the University of Minnesota following the 1899-1900 school year and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902.
Following graduation, she returned to Grand Forks to teach at Grand Forks Central. She taught English and American Literature, and was involved with the girls basketball team. She also began taking summer courses at Columbia University in New York City, eventually graduating with a Master of Arts degree. Her thesis, "The Western Sketches of Caroline Mathilda (Stansbury) Kirkland" appeared in the 1915 edition of the Bulletin, a publication of the Michigan Historical Commission. In 1914, she took a position at UND, teaching in the School of Education and the University High School. Following the death of her father on December 2, 1916, Edna moved to New York to teach at Morris High School in New York City.
Although she lived in New York, Twamley was a frequent visitor to UND, even enrolling in summer classes in 1951. On June 8, 1958, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts, although she remained a member of the class of 1902. In 1960, the University announced it was planning to build a new administration building to be named in honor of James Twamley. Edna Twamley presented an additional $200,000 to the University, from the estate of her deceased brother, James Frederick Twamley. This allowed for the construction of the fourth floor. Edna Twamley provided additional personal funds to add the carillon. When Twamley Hall was formally dedicated May 31, 1963, Edna delivered an address in honor of her father. Edna Twamley died December 20, 1966 in Newburgh, New York.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Mary Margaret Frank, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation (88-1588) and November 1990 (91-1764)
Separated Materials: Eight photographs were separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets. An audiotape recording of Edna Twamley's speech at the dedication of Twamley Hall was separated and added to the Audiotape Collection.
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item) Edna Twamley Papers. OGLMC 1162. Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in November 2013.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Photograph 1: Edna Twamley, undated],
[Photograph 2: Edna Twamley, undated],
[Photograph 3: Edna Twamley with Mabel, Mary Margaret and Townsley French, August 1935],
[Photograph 4: Edna Twamley and Mabel French, August 1935],
[Photograph 5: Edna Twamley’s house, Coldenham, New York, August 1935],
[Photograph 6: Edna Twamley, November 1959],
[Photograph 7: Edna Twamley’s dog, “Big Joe”, December 1961],
[Photograph 8: Edna Twamley at the Dedication of Twamley Hall, May 31, 1963],
[Cassette Tape 2043: Recording of Edna Twamley’s address at the Dedication of Twamley Hall, May 31, 1963],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Photocopied pages from The Forx (Grand Forks Central High School Annual), 1911
- Folder 2: Correspondence to Mabel French, 1912
- Folder 3: The Western Sketches of Caroline Mathilda (Stansbury) Kirkland by Edna Twamley. Reprinted from Volume 39 (1915) of the Bulletin (Michigan Historical Commission)
- Folder 4: Correspondence to Mary Margaret and Richard Frank, 1954, 1957, 1959, undated
- Folder 5: University of North Dakota Alumni Review, September 29, 1960 and July 5, 1961
- Folder 6: Materials from the Dedication of Twamley Hall and the Carillon (Includes programs and partial transcript of Twamley’s address), May 31, 1963
- Folder 7: University of North Dakota College of Education Record, January 1965
- Folder 8: Obituary, 1966
- Folder 9: Notice of Probate in the Last Will and Testament of Edna Twamley, January 16, 1967
- Folder 10: “Edna Twamley’s Legacy” by Mary Margaret Frank in Plainswoman, May 1985