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Bibliographic Information
- Title
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Josephine Bouton Bleecker collection
- Author
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Bouton, Josephine, collector.
- Pages:
- 7 boxes (3.5 cubic feet)
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Item info:
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1 copy available at Manuscripts and Special Collections.
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MARC Record
Josephine Bouton Bleecker collection
Bouton, Josephine, collector.
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Control Number:
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(OCoLC)1154311712
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Local call number:
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SC23603
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Author:
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Bouton, Josephine, collector.
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Title:
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Josephine Bouton Bleecker collection.
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Publication info:
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$c approximately 1911-1990.
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Quantity:
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7 boxes (3.5 cubic feet)
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Quantity:
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1 extra-large folder (17 items)
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Historical/biog note:
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Josephine Bouton Bleecker was born in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, on August 3, 1898, to Dr. Eugene Bouton (1850-1951) and Elizabeth Rumrill Gladwin (1865-1960). She graduated from Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Jersey, in 1917; she then attended but did not graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University.
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Historical/biog note:
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In the early 1920s Josephine moved to New York City, eventually becoming secretary and assistant to Carolyn Sherwin Bailey who was then editor of American Childhood magazine. Josephine later became the poetry editor of the magazine.
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Historical/biog note:
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In 1927, the Milton Bradley Company published Poems for the Children's Hour, a collection of poems Josephine compiled.
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Historical/biog note:
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Josephine married William Augustus "Bill" Bleecker on September 16, 1927. The couple remained for a time in New York City then travelled for Bill's work, eventually settling in Florida sometime in the mid-1960s. They were married for 54 years until Bill's death in 1981.
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Historical/biog note:
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During World War II, Josephine began a small business selling handmade items such as sunbonnets, bags, and aprons to several New York City department stores. This venture ended about the same time as the war but Josephine continued to be involved in small-craft enterprises throughout her life.
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Historical/biog note:
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Josephine passed away on April 22, 1995, at the age of 96.
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520:
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This collection contains writings as well as other papers, correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, patterns, sheet music, and photographs. Three unpublished autobiographical novellas make up the bulk of Josephine's writing. Also included are two unpublished collections of her poetry, clippings of her published poems and short works, unpublished poems and short works, notes and ideas pertaining to existing writing and unwritten works, and two interviews conducted by Josephine - one with Lillian Leitzel (1892-1931), a circus aerialist, and one with writer and editor E.V. Lucas (1865-1938). There is also a short journal kept by Josephine during a 1925 five-week trip to Europe organized by the University Travel-Study Club of Albany, Albany County, New York.
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520:
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Some of the writings Josephine collected were authored by family members, including a short story by Josephine's mother, Elizabeth Gladwin Bouton, and a genealogical history of her husband William A. Bleecker's family written by her mother-in-law, Emily R. Olssen Bleecker.
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520:
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This collection also contains materials relating to Josephine's membership (1927-1995) in the Pen and Brush, including Josephine's remembrance of Ida M. Tarbell for the organization's memorial for Ms. Tarbell, longtime president of the Pen and Brush. There also are two photographs of Ms. Tarbell in the collection which were contributed by Josephine for the memorial.
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520:
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The correspondence in the collection contains letters from Josephine's family, friends, and several literary agents and publishers, including a large amount of correspondence with publisher Platt & Munk Company concerning the fourth edition of Josephine's book, Favorite Poems for the Children's Hour. Josephine corresponded regularly (ca. 1933-1974) with artist and designer Lydia Bush-Brown Head (1887-1984). Josephine also received several letters and newsletters (1975-1988, n.d.) from Dudley Frasure (1912-1992), a basket maker based in Sherburne, New York, who made Adirondack pack baskets.
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520:
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Other items in the collection are sewing patterns, mostly for bags, some of which were created by Josephine, and some correspondence and records related to her small-bag business; and several photographs, including two autographed photographs of Alfredo Codona (1893-1937), husband of Lillian Leitzel, and two portraits of Mrs. Eleanor Fellowes (1891-?), wife of Air Commodore Peregrine F. M. Fellowes, expedition leader of the first flight over the summit of Mt. Everest (1933).
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Access restriction:
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Open to research.
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Preferred citation:
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Josephine Bouton Bleecker collection from the collections of the New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections, Albany, New York.
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Subject:
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Women artisans
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Subject:
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Women--New York (State)
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Subject:
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Women-owned business enterprises $z New York (State)
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Form/genre terms:
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Sewing patterns aat
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LOCATION:
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Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
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Electronic access:
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https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/sc23603.htm
