Part 1 (Mss 484, Audio 620A, EA 001): Original Collection, 1966-1979
Physical Description: 0.4 cubic feet (1 archives box), 14 tape recordings, and 1 film 
Scope and Content Note

The papers of Lea Heine consist of a tape-recorded autobiography supported by manuscripts and other tape recordings concerning her VISTA experiences. Though the greatest quantity of material concerns VISTA, Mrs. Heine's earlier life is described at length and with candor in the autobiography. Her observations on the turmoil of post-World War I Germany and of the stern social setting of that time are revealing. Her comments on the United States pertain to racial attitudes, the Great Depression, the Prohibition Era, the seamier side of the entertainment world, the American South, and Madison, Wisconsin. Also included is a taped interview with Jim Cavanaugh, a Society staff member, clarifying points in the autobiography, and an indexed abstract he prepared summarizing the autobiography and the interview.

The manuscripts in the collection include clippings primarily from Wisconsin papers about Mrs. Heine's VISTA experiences, diaries she kept while in Florida and Lancaster, booklets drawn by her pupils, printed copies of Me and drafts of unpublished writings, and other papers.

Besides the autobiography and interview, the tapes contain her interview on the Today show and her later reflections on that appearance, an interview on Norma Simpson's WHA radio program Accent on Living, and “talks with young people on a street corner in Jacob's Hollow [Lancaster].” The single film in the collection is a home movie shot by Mrs. Heine in Jacob's Hollow in the summer of 1968.

Abstract of Autobiography and Interview (620A/1-11)

Clippings about Lea Heine, 1967-1969

Diaries, 1966 June 21 - 1967 May 12

Lancaster, South Carolina, Papers, 1966-1968

General Papers

Pupils' Booklets

Mimeo Materials primarily regarding Community Action Programs

Writings

General and Me (includes correspondence on Me)

What Do A Butterfly Eat?

Burs, Band-Aides and Butterflies

, Post-1967 Miscellany

Tape Recordings
Physical Description: Cassette tapes 

Autobiography, 1976
Note: See abstract in Folder 1.

Cavanaugh Interview with Lea Heine, 1977
Note: See abstract in Folder 1.

Today Show Interview, 1969 May 23
Physical Description: 9 minutes, 10 seconds 

Later reflections by Lea Heine on that interview
Physical Description: 38 minutes, 15 seconds 

Interview on Norma Simpson's WHA radio program Accent on Living, undated
Physical Description: 30 minutes 

Jacob's Hollow street corner talks
Physical Description: 60 minutes 

Home movies, 1968
Physical Description: 1 reel; circa 250 feet; silent; color; 8 mm archival positive 
Scope and Content Note: Home movies shot by Lea Heine in Jacobs Hollow in the summer of 1968. Shots of schoolhouse, children, dump, community center(?), homes, family groups. One sequence of a picnic where the children receive books; another sequence contrasts new suburban ranch homes with the older run-down homes of the area.

Part 2 (M2007-104, Audio 620A): Additions, 1966-2006
Physical Description: 0.6 cubic feet (2 archives boxes) and 4 tape recordings 
Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1966-2006, consisting of disassembled scrapbooks, draft of a memoir, and 4 cassette recordings. The scrapbooks include photographs of Heine, colleagues, family and friends, and notes from students in Lancaster, South Carolina. Other materials include general correspondence, photographs and newspaper articles relating to her work with VISTA in Lancaster, and correspondence and records regarding her printed booklet, Me, and Hattie Mae Clark, the girl who illustrated the booklet. The tape recordings correspond with the memoir draft (Folder 75). The memoir and recordings document her childhood in Europe to her late adult years in Madison, Wisconsin. Materials relating to a return trip to Lancaster as well as general newspaper articles are also included.

Scrapbook

Memoir

Biographical information and correspondence, 1980-2000

Vista, 1966

Ella McDow, “My Book”

Scrapbook, 1969

Vista Volunteer interview, 1969

Me

Drawings

Manuscript

Submission, rejection letters

Correspondence from readers

Financial records

Today show news

VISTA Lancaster photos

Cureton family correspondence and photos

Lancaster visit, 1986 May

Tape Recordings

Memoir
Physical Description: 4 cassette tapes