The papers consist of correspondence, diaries, subject files, and manuscripts. The documentation is varied and informative. Described in letters, diaries and clippings are important family events and daily concerns from the Dexters' early adulthood through the 1970s. Subject files begin in the 1930s and pertain to many aspects of the Dexters' academic and community interests through the 1970s. Manuscripts representing a wide range of topics and literary forms also begin with work from the 1930s. Several are closely related to correspondence and subject files. Among the manuscripts are drafts and notes for Nathaniel Dexter's History of Northland College.
Snapshots recording the Dexter and Harmon families' summer activities, trips and family gatherings from the turn of the century through the 1950s make up most of the photograph collection. It also includes portraits of Nathaniel and Harriet Dexter taken at many points in their careers, and a number of publicity photographs of Harriet Dexter's public honors during the 1970s. Several small groups of photographs picture several community events in the Chequamegon region before 1930.
The DEXTER FAMILY PAPERS series combines correspondence, clippings, diaries and household financial records. The Correspondence and Clippings are arranged chronologically. This subseries, some packets of which were found among the photographs and subject file folders, describes events before the Dexters' marriage, including Harriet Harmon's year in China; her two years in Columbus, Ohio; and the Dexters' betrothal. Correspondence also describes their adoption of Beatrice and Raymond Dexter. Two files of letters partially document the period 1937-1942. The Dexters' later years are described in Harriet Dexter's letters to her family, which include letters written following Nathaniel Dexter's last lengthy illness and death, and Margueritte Harmon Bro's final illness. Other correspondence traces the Dexter family genealogy from colonial times through recent years.
The Diaries illustrate some of the Dexters' personal observations and concerns early in their careers. Included are Nathaniel Dexter's diary during his year of study at the University of Wisconsin; Harriet Dexter's diary during her year of teaching and travelling in China; a travel diary from a 1931 trip to Yellowstone Park, and a home-made collection of recipes received from friends in Carlinville, Illinois.
The Property and Finances subseries includes Nathaniel Dexter's research and correspondence for a barn construction project at Seeley; some personal property records; and the Dexters' long correspondence with the Social Security Administration concerning payment of benefits.
The Displaced Persons subseries follows the Dexters' negotiations with church relief agencies to bring an immigrating Eastern European family to the Seeley farm in the early 1950s. There is an exchange of letters with each family who considered the placement, and finally correspondence continuing for several years with the families who did reside together on the farm for a year. An article by Nathaniel Dexter describes the Dexters' experience with this last group.
The Dexters spent the academic year 1961-1962 teaching at Haigazian College in Beirut and then travelled through the Mideast and Europe. The subseries includes correspondence with Haigazian's president, John Markarian, exploring common interests and arranging their appointment as visiting faculty, as well as Margueritte Bro's letters to the Dexters from Beirut before their arrival there, and the Dexters' letters-to American friends throughout the year. Itineraries and travel: diaries are also included.
NATHANIEL DEXTER'S SUBJECT FILES are organized in four subseries. The General Subject Files include clippings, notes from Northland College discussions on academic standards, and miscellaneous correspondence. The Civilian Conservation Corps material consists of workshop ideas and plans, and evaluation materials that express Dexter's philosophy of education during the 1930s.
The Community Development and Adult Fundamental Education subseries is largely correspondence from the years 1956-1959, while Dexter headed a Northland College sponsored, federally-funded, regional development project. He corresponded with state and federal agencies, and with other northern Wisconsin residents interested in local economic development through small business enterprises. There is also information on fundamental education programs at denominational colleges in other parts of the country, and correspondence with E. L. Kirkpatrick, founder of the national Rural Life Association. Conference papers and programs, and research reports constitute the rest of the subseries.
The Development of Local Products subseries also originated as part of the Fundamental Education project. It includes information requests, replies, brochures, and research reports concerning local resources that might contribute to local economic growth through small business development. The products most extensively researched are peat moss and local clays. Food processing and packaging enterprises related to local agriculture are also discussed.
Much of the NATHANIEL DEXTER MANUSCRIPTS series consists of a carbon copy of The History of Northland College, Dexter's initial proposal for the project, typed drafts, notes and discarded anecdotes. Two articles based on Dexter's CCC Camp work describe his educational philosophy. There are also two later articles, “Rebuilding the Small Community” and “Valley Folk,” and some Philosophic Comments which Harriet Dexter valued and saved. “Tania Mania” is a musical comedy script and score. “Hymn to the Rising Sun” is a song written jointly by the Dexters. The folder of Poems includes drafts as well as final copy.
HARRIET DEXTER'S SUBJECT FILES also have been organized topically. They describe her professional interests and community involvements. Course Syllabi and Teaching Materials include outlines of courses on the Old and New Testaments, American literature and world literature. There are also lecture notes and selections to be used as readings.
Northland College Administrative Activities include clippings and programs for the Northland College Dames, for the dedication of Dexter Library, and for alumni activities. Clippings and congratulatory letters, many recalling past associations with the college, commemorate Harriet Dexter's honorary degree and her appointment as Acting President.
The Community Activities subseries gives particularly good documentation of the work of the Wisconsin Humanities Committee Northwest Regional Advisory Panel and its 1974 Conference on Human Values and Taxation. Also well represented is the Ashland branch of the American Association of University Women. Other materials pertain to the Ashland-Bayfield Counties Arts Council, and the Northwest Wisconsin Library System. A file of clippings and Mrs. Dexter's letter of thanks describe her receipt of the VFW Outstanding Citizen of the Year award.
The Church Activities and Religious Talks segment represents Harriet Dexter's involvement in these pursuits by minutes and reports from various church committees, as well as annotated programs from many Sunday worship services. Notes for public talks on religious themes explore the role of the church in social action and world peace concerns, the individual Christian's mission in the modern world, and the changing role of women in a Christian society.
Among Mrs. Dexter's Manuscripts are the texts and illustrations for two children's stories, eight short articles and fictional pieces, the outline of a book on daily social responsibilities, and background material for a proposed biography of a longtime Madeleine Island resident. There are also some letters from Margueritte Bro, and stories of missionaries related to their joint creative interests.
The Publishing subseries consists of royalty statements received in 1963 for Harriet Dexter's four books, and many reviews of What's Right with Race Relations. The Clippings include reflective nature columns by Lois Nestel, which appeared in the Cable Commentator, and a variety of news clippings.
The photograph series are selections made from a collection of prints about five times their number. Although organized in subject-defined groups, most of the prints are not individually identified. Only the subseries “Family Pictures” and the regional interest series represent original groupings as received with the collection; all other groups were compiled from smaller packets in the collection from which many duplicates were removed. Negatives, most on nitrate-base film, are stored at the State Historical Society's Visual Materials Archive. Some photographs of more general thematic interest have been copied and/or added to the Visual Archives collection. The photographs not retained with the collection have been returned to the Dexter family.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HARMON AND DEXTER FAMILIES are organized in six subseries, numbering about 230 prints altogether. Many of the prints are fragile or beginning to deteriorate. The subseries “Family Pictures” contains prints gathered and labeled by Harriet Dexter. It shows family members, family homes, and friends.
Harmon Family photographs include snapshots and informal portraits taken during summer activities, and at such events as graduations and weddings. The photographs document recreation, dress, and family relationships during the 1890s through 1920s. The Dexter Family photographs, portraying Nathaniel Dexter's immediate family, span the 1930s through 1950s.
The Portraits subseries consists of studio portraits and publicity photographs, informal portrait groups, and snapshots of the Dexters in professional and recreational activity. Nathaniel Dexter is shown as a student, a young minister, and a CCC camp officer. His community work, teaching, and pottery workshop activities are also pictured. Harriet Dexter is shown as a student, teacher, and administrator, and in community activities. The subseries includes a wedding-day snapshot, and a Northland College faculty portrait. The time period represented is the 1920s through 1970s. Newsclippings in various manuscript and subject files contain related images.
The Immediate Family group pictures Beatrice Dexter Massey and Raymond Dexter from childhood through young adulthood in informal and studio portraits. Beatrice Massey's children, their grandparents and parents are shown in individual and group portraits taken during the 1950s. The variety and continuity are comparable to the Harmon Family subseries.
The Displaced Persons subseries includes individual and family portrait photographs of Eastern European immigrant families, which were provided to prospective sponsors by church relief agencies. It also includes photographs from refugee artist Nora Drapce's visit to Northland College which show her paintings in the background, and group portraits taken at the Seeley farm with the Kojevny, Kousmenko, and Kazacionok families. The Dexter Family Papers series contains related material.
Some photographs of more general thematic interest have been copied and/or added to the Visual Archives collection, including photographs related to Nathaniel Beach Dexter and Harriet Harmon Dexter, their family, friends, colleagues, and displaced persons from World War II, circa 1890-1960, including Seeley, Wisconsin schoolchildren; and the Kousmenko, Kojevny, and Kazacionok families, immigrants to the United States under the Displaced Persons act of 1948.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CHEQUAMEGON REGION include the mortgage-burning ceremony at the Cable Congregational Church; logging operations on Outer Island, claimed to be the last large operation there, 1930; a large Homecoming celebration in Seeley, 1926; an album recording young people's activities on Madeleine Island, 1901-1910; and participants in the 20th annual Superior Convention of Congregational Churches, held in 1916. The album and the logging photographs are in fragile condition.
Photographs of student activities at Northland College, circa 1930-1955, include craft shops and products, the college kitchen and dining halls, physical training, and other scenes related to college involvement in World War II home front activities.
