Alison Comish Thorne papers, 1925-2003
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Alison Comish Thorne papers
- Dates
- 1925-2003 (inclusive)19252003
- Quantity
- 14 boxes, (7 linear feet)
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 216
- Summary
- This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Alison Comish Thorne pertaining to her time as a USU professor and equal rights advocate.
- Repository
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Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
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No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Biographical Note
Alison Comish Thorne was born May 9, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Newel H. and Louise Larson Comish. Her scholarly pursuits began at the age of sixteen when she entered Brigham Young University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics and Education in 1934. Thorne received a Master's degree in Consumption Economics at Iowa State University in 1935. She then pursued doctoral studies at the University of Chicago during 1935-36, before receiving her Ph.D. in 1938 from Iowa State University in the field of Consumption Economics. Her mentors, Elizabeth Ellis Hoyt and Margaret G. Reid, worked with Thorne to help her become the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in this field from ISU. Thorne married D. Wynne Thorne on August 3, 1937 in Salt Lake City.
After the completion of her graduate work, Thorne filled various instructor positions at Colorado State University, Iowa State University, and finally Utah State University. At USU she was given the title of lecturer from 1964 through the 1980s by both USU's Department of Sociology and the Department of Home Economics and Consumer Education. Due to anti-nepotism laws, Thorne was not allowed to secure a faculty position since her husband was already a faculty member. (Wynne Thorne served as USU's Head of Agronomy, Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Vice President of University Research.) This setback did not keep Thorne from establishing a solid reputation as a scholar. Thorne played a key role in the founding of the Women's Studies Program at USU and served as a chair in the Women's Studies Committee from 1977-1989. In addition, Thorne's devotion to increasing the opportunity for women can be seen in her involvement in the Women's Center, the Committee on the Status of Women, as well as the Women and International Development committee.
Moreover, Thorne gave many early feminist speeches, including "Let the Dishes Wait" (1949) and "Leave the Dishes in the Sink" (1973). These speeches encouraged women to focus more on personal hobbies, interests, education, and family rather than maintaining a "perfect" home. As result of her influential work, Thorne has been the recipient of many awards, such as Utah State University's Distinguished Service Award (1982), Woman of the Year for the Utah Chapter of the American Association of University Women (1967), and Utah Governor's Award for Volunteer Service (1980). She was also the author of numerous articles and books, including Women in the History of Utah's Land-grant College (1985), Visible and Invisible Women in Land-grant Colleges (1986), Vision and Rhetoric in Shakespeare: Looking Through Language (2000), Leave the Dishes in the Sink: Adventures of an Activist in Conservative Utah (2002), and Shakespeare's Romances (2003).
Thorne was active in many organizations during her retirement, such as the Utah State Historical Society, the Utah State Women's History Association, and the National Women's Studies Association. Thorne died in 2005 in Logan, Utah.
Content Description
This thirteen-box collection contains the papers of Alison Comish Thorne and spans the period from 1925 to 2003. The collection contains Thorne's correspondence (1932-2000), professional papers, research papers, unpublished and published writings, autobiographical writings, papers concerning Thorne's involvement in the campaign for ERA, papers concerning USU's Women's Studies Program, Thorne/Comish family papers, and a batch of papers concerning Elizabeth Hoyt (Thorne's mentor at ISU). Thorne's correspondence (amounting to thousands of letters) documents her life as a college student, her feminist and ERA work, her university service, her service in Cache Valley's "Communities Against Poverty" program, as well as additional topics. Of particular interest are Thorne's unpublished writings concerning "Let the Dishes Wait" (1949) and "Leave the Dishes in the Sink" (1973), writings which challenged stereotypical perceptions of a woman's role in society.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the The Papers of Alison Comish Thorne must be obtained from the Special Collections and archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: Alison Comish Thorne papers USU_Coll Mss 216, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations: USU_Coll Mss 216, USUSCA.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
The materials in this collection have been organized topically and chronologically reflecting their original order. Researchers should be aware that in addition to the identified boxes of correspondence, many of Thorne's subject files and research files also contain correspondence relative to the file's specific topic.
Preservation Note
Box 1, folder 14 contains a compact disc.
Acquisition Information
Donated in three batches, the first two by Alison Thorne in 1992 and 2002, and then by the family of Alison Thorne in 2005.
Related Materials
USU Special Collections and Archives also contains a small collection of Thorne's photographs. Those interested in viewing these materials should inquire with Special Collections' photograph curator. Special Collections also contains the professional papers of Alison's husband, Wynne Thorne catalogued as COLL MSS 299: D. Wynne Thorne Papers.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Biographical Papers, Thesis and Dissertation, Writings, and Other, undated
Folder 14 contains a compact disc of correspondences
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Description: Vita and biographical informationDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Autobiographical notesDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Thorne's grade transcripts from BYUDates: 1930-1939Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: College papers, miscellaneousDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Newspaper clippings about ThorneDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Newspaper clippings kept by ThorneDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: Thorne's Ph.D. dissertation; "Evaluations of Consumption in Modern Thought"
ISU.
Dates: 1938Container: Box 1, Folder 7 -
Description: Thorne's MA thesis, "Credit Facilities Extended by the US Government for Home Ownership and Modernization"
ISC.
Dates: 1935Container: Box 1, Folder 8 -
Description: Publications and writings of ThorneDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: "Women Mentoring Women in Economics in the 1930s," ThorneDates: 1994Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: "A Quick History of Agronomy Wives," ThroneDates: 1990Container: Box 1, Folder 11
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Description: Cache Valley Migrant CouncilDates: 1960-1979Container: Box 1, Folder 12
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Description: Summary of Thorne's family correspondence, by ThorneDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 13
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Description: CD-Rom with Thorne's correspondenceDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 14
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Description: Personal papers and notes, miscellaneousDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 15
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Thorne's Outgoing Correspondence, 1932-1938
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1932-1933Container: Box 2, Folder 1
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1934Container: Box 2, Folder 2
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1935Container: Box 2, Folder 3
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1936Container: Box 2, Folder 4
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1937Container: Box 2, Folder 5
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1938Container: Box 2, Folder 6
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Thorne's Outgoing Correspondence, 1939-1976
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1939Container: Box 3, Folder 1
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1940-1941Container: Box 3, Folder 2
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1942-1944Container: Box 3, Folder 3
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1945-1947Container: Box 3, Folder 4
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1950-1954Container: Box 3, Folder 5
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1957Container: Box 3, Folder 6
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1959-1960Container: Box 3, Folder 7
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1961-1962Container: Box 3, Folder 8
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1963-1965Container: Box 3, Folder 9
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1966-1969Container: Box 3, Folder 10
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1970-1973Container: Box 3, Folder 11
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1974-1976Container: Box 3, Folder 12
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Thorne's Outgoing Correspondence, 1977-1999
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1977-1979Container: Box 4, Folder 1
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1980-1982Container: Box 4, Folder 2
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1983-1985Container: Box 4, Folder 3
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1986-1989Container: Box 4, Folder 4
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1990-1993Container: Box 4, Folder 5
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1994-1997Container: Box 4, Folder 6
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Description: Outgoing correspondenceDates: 1998-1999Container: Box 4, Folder 7
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Thorne's Incoming Correspondence, 1935-1999
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Description: Incoming correspondence, A-MDates: undatedContainer: Box 5, Folder 1
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Description: Incoming correspondence, N-Z.Dates: undatedContainer: Box 5, Folder 2
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Description: Incoming correspondence, Hoyt, ElizabethDates: 1950Container: Box 5, Folder 3
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Description: Incoming correspondence, Hoyt, ElizabethDates: 1969-1971Container: Box 5, Folder 4
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Description: Incoming correspondence, Hoyt, ElizabethDates: 1971-1973Container: Box 5, Folder 5
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Description: Incoming correspondence, McKay, GunnDates: 1971Container: Box 5, Folder 6
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Description: Incoming correspondence, Thorne, WynneDates: 1935-1949Container: Box 5, Folder 7
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Description: Incoming correspondence, Thorne, WynneDates: 1974-1978Container: Box 5, Folder 8
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Description: Incoming correspondence, unidentified sendersDates: undatedContainer: Box 5, Folder 9
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Autobiographical notes and papers used for Thorne's autobiography, undated
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Description: Ch 1; The 1920s; Growing UpDates: undatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 1
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Description: Ch 2; The Great Depression and College YearsDates: undatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 2
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Description: Ch 3; Producing Babies and BooksDates: undatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 3
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Description: Ch 4; The Search for ValuesDates: undatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 4
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Description: Ch 5; Conformity and CreativityDates: undatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 5
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Description: Ch 6; Social Justice; The 1960sDates: undatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 6
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Autobiographical notes and papers used for Thorne's autobiography, undated
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Description: Ch 7; Feminist Straws in the Wind; The 1960sDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 1
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Description: Ch 8; Activism in the 1970sDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 2
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Description: Ch 9; The Women's Movement at USUDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 3
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Description: Ch 10; Widening the Reach of the Women's MovementDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 4
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Description: Ch 11; The University: Women and HistoryDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 5
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Description: Ch 12; Gathering Up Loose EndsDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 6
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Description: Appendix, Biography of Wynne ThorneDates: undatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 7
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Thorne's Writings and ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) Papers, undated
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Description: "Let the Dishes Wait," by ThorneDates: 1949Container: Box 8, Folder 1
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Description: "Leave the Dishes in the Sink," by ThorneDates: 1973Container: Box 8, Folder 2
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Description: "Leave the Dishes in the Sink," speech by ThorneDates: 1992Container: Box 8, Folder 3
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Description: ERA in Utah fileDates: 1970-1979Container: Box 8, Folder 4
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Description: ERA meeting in Houston fileDates: 1977Container: Box 8, Folder 5
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Description: "Hands Across the Valley" meeting papersDates: 1970-1979Container: Box 8, Folder 6
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Thorne's Papers Concerning the CAP (communities against poverty) War on Poverty Program in Cache Valley, undated
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Description: CAP War on Poverty, meeting minutes, by-laws, membership records and other (removed from a three-ring binder)Dates: 1960-1969Container: Box 9, Folder 1
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Thorne's Papers Concerning the CAP War on Poverty Program in Cache Valley, 1960-1979
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Description: Files; CAP War on Poverty papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 1
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Description: Files; CAP War on Poverty papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 2
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Description: Files; CAP War on Poverty papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 3
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Description: Files; CAP War on Poverty papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 4
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Description: Files; CAP War on Poverty papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 5
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Thorne's Subject Files, undated
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Description: International Women's Conference in Salt Lake City papersDates: 1970-1979Container: Box 11, Folder 1
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Description: International Assoc. for Feminist Economics papersDates: 1990-2003Container: Box 11, Folder 2
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Description: Whittier Community Center (of Logan) filesDates: 1990-1999Container: Box 11, Folder 3
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Description: Women in International Development papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 11, Folder 4
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Description: Women and Gender Institute papersDates: 1985Container: Box 11, Folder 5
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Description: Unitarian-Universalism papersDates: undatedContainer: Box 11, Folder 6
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Description: USU Women's Studies Program papersDates: 1990-2003Container: Box 11, Folder 7
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Description: USU Women's Studies Program papers,(contains reports and meeting minutes)Dates: 1990-2000Container: Box 11, Folder 8
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Description: USU Extension Service and Utah Science papersDates: 1970-1979Container: Box 11, Folder 9
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Thorne Family Papers, 1941-1960
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Description: Correspondence of Kip ThorneDates: 1943-1951Container: Box 12, Folder 1
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Description: "A Life of Joy: The Autobiography of New H. Comish"Dates: 1959Container: Box 12, Folder 2
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Description: "Snowflake Girl," by L.L. ComishDates: 1960Container: Box 12, Folder 3
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Papers of Elizabeth Hoyt given to Thorne., undated
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Description: Draft of "Consumers' Demand," by Hoyt,Dates: 1935Container: Box 13, Folder 1
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Description: Hoyt's notes, writings, syllabi, and additional papersDates: 1930-1950Container: Box 13, Folder 2
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Description: Publications and writings by HoytDates: undatedContainer: Box 13, Folder 3
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Description: Publications and writings used by Hoyt for her researchDates: 1925-1951Container: Box 13, Folder 4
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Subject Files, Misc. Notes and Letters., undated
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Description: Mormons for the Equal Rights AmendmentDates: undatedContainer: Box 14, Folder 1
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Description: Women's MovementDates: undatedContainer: Box 14, Folder 2
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Description: Migrant WorkersDates: undatedContainer: Box 14, Folder 3
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Description: Thorne's friends at Utah State UniversityDates: undatedContainer: Box 14, Folder 4
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Description: Misc. notes, comments, and lettersDates: undatedContainer: Box 14, Folder 5
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Biographical Papers and Writings
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Description: Vitae MaterialsDates: 1973-2002Container: Box 15, Folder 1
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Description: USU ContractsDates: 1954-1986Container: Box 15, Folder 2
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Description: Speech on early careerDates: Oct 1, 1998Container: Box 15, Folder 3
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Description: Centennial Lecture, revisedDates: 1988Container: Box 15, Folder 4
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Description: USU CentennialDates: 1988Container: Box 15, Folder 5
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Description: College CataloguesDates: undatedContainer: Box 15, Folder 6
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Description: Faculty Honor LectureDates: 1985Container: Box 15, Folder 7
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Description: Women's leadership school speechesDates: 1961Container: Box 15, Folder 8
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Description: Home economics and feminismDates: 1987Container: Box 15, Folder 9
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Description: Early home economicsDates: undatedContainer: Box 15, Folder 10
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Addendum: Thorne's Subject Files
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Description: Faculty women's leagueDates: undatedContainer: Box 16, Folder 1
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Description: Governor's committee on status of women in UtahDates: 1963-2002Container: Box 16, Folder 2
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Description: Logan school boardDates: 1961-1967Container: Box 16, Folder 3
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Description: President's commission on status of womenDates: 1963, 1965Container: Box 16, Folder 4
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Description: Women's community work in the 1960s and 1970sDates: undatedContainer: Box 16, Folder 5
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Description: Utah urban-rural task force, 1971Dates: 1971Container: Box 16, Folder 6
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Equal rights amendments--Utah.
- Feminism--Utah.
- Mormons--Utah--History
- Women's studies--Utah.