Title: Ruth Dunham Cortell Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1892-1965

Creator:

• Cortell, Ruth Dunham

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 11

Quantity: 2.8 cubic ft. (8 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Ruth Dunham Cortell (1902-1965) was a Wisconsin native who was a professional musician and educator. She worked as an organist at local theatres such as the Regent, Princess, Juneau, and Rainbow Theatres. As an educator she taught at, what is known now as, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). She was a past chapter president of the Wisconsin Education Association and a member of the National Education Association. She wrote numerous articles in national education publications about teaching and educational ideas.

Note:

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Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0011

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Ruth K. Dunham was born January 31, 1902 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Fred and Catherine Dunham. Fred was an ironworker in Milwaukee and Catherine was from Fond du Lac. Ruth graduated from the Wisconsin College of Music in Milwaukee (now known as the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music), where she studied piano and earned a teaching certificate in 1922. Afterwards she worked as an organist at local theatres such as the Regent, Princess, Juneau, and Rainbow Theatres. After almost ten years as a professional musician she went back to school to study teaching and attended the local Milwaukee campus of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. She graduated with a degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1933. After graduation she became a social studies and history teacher at Milwaukee School of Vocational and Adult Education, also known as Milwaukee Vocational and Adult Schools (MVAS). Founded in 1912, MVAS underwent a variety of name changes until in 1969 it became Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). Ruth taught at MVAS/MATC from 1933 to approximately 1963. In 1949 she married Albert M. Cortell, owner of Cortell Tree and Shrub Service in Milwaukee. She was a past chapter president of the Wisconsin Education Association and a member of the National Education Association. She wrote numerous articles in national education publications about teaching and educational ideas. In the 1950s, did post-graduate work at UW-Madison in Social Studies and History. She was a strong advocate of teaching civics, history, and social studies. She passed away April 24, 1965 in Milwaukee.

The collection includes personal letters, photographs, pamphlets, university papers and her thesis, along with newspaper clippings and magazine articles on political, social, educational and civics topics. There are typewritten and handwritten notes on educational techniques, theories, and general topics. Class curricula, syllabi, and notes for her Current History class and others are also represented. Also included are transcripts and documents of a State of Wisconsin investigation regarding B.E. Buckman and Co.

More detailed scope and content notes of each series are provided in the contents list.

The collection is arranged into the following series:

1. Personal, 1934-1962, undated
2. Publications, 1892-1964, undated
3. Teaching, 1935-1965, undated
4. Writings, 1929-1965, undated

The series are arranged alphabetically. Within each series, folders are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Ruth Dunham Cortell Papers, 1892-1965, Collection 11. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated in 1965 by the Estate of Ruth Dunham Cortell. The materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Inventory by Jeffrey K. Carlin-Bartel, Volunteer Archivist, 2012. Processed by Casey Lapworth, 2018.

	Series: 1: Personal, 1934-1962, undated Scope and Content Note: This series contains correspondence, some photographs, and investigation materials. Also included is a record of her work history and a few miscellaneous items.
	B.E. Buckman Company Investigation
Box   8 Folder   1	Correspondence and documents, 1934-1937
Box   8 Folder   2	Miscellaneous, undated
Box   1 Folder   1-3	Transcripts, 1937
Box   1 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1950-1960
Box   1 Folder   5	Miscellaneous, Undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Personal record, 1948
Box   1 Folder   7	Photographs, 1962
	Series: 2: Publications, 1892-1964, undated Scope and Content Note: This series contains printed booklets and pamphlets not pre-arranged into the other series.	⇧
	Civic Leader
Box   1 Folder   8	1948-1962
	Teacher edition
Box   1 Folder   9	American Observer, 1956-1964
Box   1 Folder   10	Junior Review, 1952-1963
Box   1 Folder   11	Weekly News Review, 1957-1961
Box   8 Folder   3	Civic Training, 1950-1953
Box   8 Folder   4	Civic Training, Teacher edition, 1953-1956
Box   1 Folder   12-13	Education, 1937-1964
Box   2 Folder   1	Milwaukee 100 Photogravures, 1892
Box   2 Folder   2	National Council for the Social Studies, How To Do It Series, 1960-1961
Box   2 Folder   3	Problems in American Life series, 1942-1944
Box   8 Folder   5	Wisconsin Men in Caricature, undated
	Series: 3: Teaching, 1935-1965, undated Scope and Content Note: This series is largely arranged into subjects indicated by the creator and then broken down by material type: clippings, notes and/or publications. Materials designated as notes may include handwritten or typed notes, note cards, typed bibliography lists or other miscellaneous items.	⇧
	Class curricula
	Current affairs education
Box   2 Folder   4	Clippings, 1951-1958
Box   2 Folder   5	Notes, undated
Box   2 Folder   6	Publications, 1938-1954
	“Current History”
Box   2 Folder   7	Assignments, 1956-1962
	“How to”s
Box   2 Folder   8	Clippings, 1953-1962
Box   2 Folder   9	Notes, undated
Box   2 Folder   10	Photographs, Undated
Box   3 Folder   1	Publications, 1935-1962
	MVAS course history
Box   3 Folder   2	Course outlines, 1953-1955
Box   3 Folder   3	General, 1936-1957
Box   3 Folder   4	Information units, 1950-1957
Box   3 Folder   5	Tests, 1955-1957
Box   3 Folder   6	“Current Problems”, 1945-1946
Box   3 Folder   7	Tests and assignments, MVAS, 1956-1958
Box   3 Folder   8	Tests, national, 1949-1952
Box   8 Folder   6	Discussion pamphlets, undated
	Press research
Box   3 Folder   9-12	Clippings, 1937-1965, undated
Box   4 Folder   1	Columnists – clippings, 1948-1963
Box   4 Folder   2	Notes, 1937-1961
Box   4 Folder   3	Publications, 1955-1965, undated
	Propaganda research
Box   8 Folder   7	Clippings, 1937-1950
Box   4 Folder   4	Clippings, 1937-1950
Box   4 Folder   5	Miscellaneous, undated
Box   4 Folder   6	Notes, 1954
	Publications
Box   8 Folder   8	1938-1952
Box   4 Folder   7	1939-1945
Box   4 Folder   8	Propaganda Analysis, 1937-1940
	Teaching Research
Box   4 Folder   9-10	Clippings, 1949-1965, undated
	Editorial cartoons
Box   8 Folder   9	Clippings, 1950-1963
Box   4 Folder   11	Clippings - Jay N. “Ding” Darling, 1962
Box   4 Folder   12-13	Notes, 1954-1961
	Methods
Box   4 Folder   14	Clippings, 1949-1950
Box   4 Folder   15	Notes, undated
Box   4 Folder   16	Publications, 1947-1949
	New language
Box   5 Folder   1-3	Clippings, 1950-1965, undated
Box   5 Folder   4	Notes, 1957-1962
Box   5 Folder   5	Publications, 1937, 1950
Box   5 Folder   6	Newsletters, 1952-1964
Box   5 Folder   7	Newspapers in the classroom, Undated
Box   5 Folder   8	Notes, 1951-1963
	Publications
Box   5 Folder   9-10	General, 1947-1963
Box   6 Folder   1	Social studies, 1949-1961
Box   6 Folder   2	Symbolism, 1946-1964
	Series: 4: Writings, 1929-1965, undated Scope and Content Note: This series includes mainly typewritten materials written by Ruth. The materials are mainly papers she wrote at the university level, specifically her thesis work and accompanying research. There are some of her published writings as well as some miscellaneous papers authored by others.	⇧
Box   8 Folder   10	Published, 1949-1956
	University
Box   6 Folder   3	Education 29, 1959
Box   6 Folder   4	History 212, 1959
Box   6 Folder   5	Miscellaneous, undated
Box   6 Folder   6	Present mindedness in Medieval times, 1961
Box   6 Folder   7	Presentism, 1959
Box   6 Folder   8	Other authors, undated
Box   6 Folder   9	Thesis, undated
	Thesis Research
Box   7 Folder   1-5	Clippings, 1948-1962, undated
Box   7 Folder   6	Clippings – “Quackery” articles, 1950-1965
Box   7 Folder   7	Notes, 1929-1962
Box   7 Folder   8-9	Publications, 1944-1962, undated
Box   7 Folder   10	World Affairs program, 1962