LYDIA PAULSON:
An Inventory of Her Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Paulson, Lydia, 1899-1975. | |
| Title: | Lydia Paulson papers. | |
| Dates: | [circa 1902]-1975 (bulk 1922-1975). | |
| Abstract: | Diaries and photographs of Lydia Paulson, a housekeeper, nanny, clerk, and seamstress in the Minneapolis area. | |
| Quantity: | 1.0 cubic feet (3 boxes). | |
| Location: | P2325: See Detailed Description section for shelf locations. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Lydia Adolphina Paulson was born December 6, 1899, the daughter of Swedish immigrants Kate and Andrew Paulson. She was born and raised in the rural community of Dassel, Minnesota and moved with her father to Minneapolis in 1930. She worked as a nanny and as a housekeeper for her father before taking up employment with her brother-in-law, Oscar Gravell, at Country Club Tailor Shop (later known as Country Club Tailors & Cleaners), at 45th Street and France Avenue South in Edina. She worked at this job until 1963, when she was laid off at age 63. Paulson died in 1975 at age 75.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
Paulson's papers consist primarily of diaries, which she kept off and on from 1922 until a few months before her death in 1975. The diaries describe her work, family and social life, including references to many restaurants and cafes, stores, radio and television shows, and current events. Accompanying most of the diaries are typed notes summarizing their contents written by Paulson's great niece, Jeanette Servin.
The papers also include a small collection of photographs depicting Paulson at various ages and one photograph of Paulson and her employer, Oscar Gravell, and other colleagues at her workplace of many years, Country Club Tailors & Cleaners.
ARRANGEMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Lydia Paulson Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,357; 15,489; 15,988
Processing Information:
Processed by: Lara D. Friedman-Shedlov, January 1999
Catalog ID number: 09-00320558
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2325 | 1 | Background information. | |||||||||
| Includes biographical information written by Paulson's great niece, Jeanette Servin. | |||||||||||
| Photographs, undated [early 1900s - 1960s]. 8 photographs. | |||||||||||
| Includes one portrait and several snapshots of Paulson taken at different ages. Two picture her with her sister Merriam. Also included is one photograph of Paulson with her employer, Oscar Gravell, and other workers at her workplace of many years, Country Club Tailors & Cleaners. | |||||||||||
| Diaries, 1922, 1930, 1932-1933, 1939, 1942, 1961-1964. 11 volumes. | |||||||||||
| Includes notes summarizing contents written by Jeanette Servin for all years except 1964. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2325 | 2 | Diaries, 1965-1970. 6 volumes. | |||||||||
| Includes notes summarizing contents written by Jeanette Servin for 1966-1975. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2325 | 3 | Diaries, 1971-1975. 4 volumes. | |||||||||
| Includes notes summarizing contents written by Jeanette Servin. | |||||||||||
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Dry cleaning industry -- Minnesota.
- Swedish Americans -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
- Working class women -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
- Women employees -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
- Places:
- Minneapolis (Minn.) -- Social life and customs.
- Persons:
- Paulson family.
- Servin, Jeanette.
- Organizations:
- Country Club Tailors & Cleaners (Edina, Minn.).
- Types of Documentation:
- Diaries.
- Photographs.
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