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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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1150 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
bentley.ref@umich.edu

Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988

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Summary

Creator:
Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988
Abstract:
Wife of Chase S. Osborn, leader in the Atlantic Union Movement, and officer in the Atlantic Union Conference, the International Movement for Atlantic Union, and Federal Union, Inc. Correspondence, diaries and other materials concerning her professional interests, especially her work for world peace through international cooperation.
Extent:
40 linear feet
Language:
English
Call Number:
86727 Aa 2
Authors:
Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The Stella Osborn collection was received in multiple accessions. The bulk of the papers were received from her home in Georgia (1958) and her office in Washington D.C. (1972). These materials documenting her entire career were organized into seven series: Biographical; Correspondence; Personal and miscellaneous; Atlantic Union Committee and related; Business and Professional Women's Club; Sound recordings; and Index card files. An extremely active woman with many interests and causes, Stella Osborn continued to add to her papers with a later accession in 1983. Following her death, the executor of her estate and other friends added to the collection with materials which she had retained for whatever reason or which had been in storage. There is obviously some overlap in these later materials and the files received previously. The purpose of the Summary Contents List (see below) is to draw like materials together.

The 1992 accession was more fully described than the earlier papers. This accession includes biographical notes and clippings about Stella Osborn and Chase Osborn. There is, in addition, personal and organizational correspondence, financial and estate records (1970-1988), land deeds for the Osborn holdings in Georgia and Michigan, organizational material for the Federal Union and the Atlantic Union Committee, manuscripts of poetry, prose, and political essays (including some material by Chase Osborn), and Stella Osborn's diaries (1982-87). The collection includes childhood photographs of Stella Osborn and photographs of her parents and grandparents. Two copies of a videotape about the Osborn farm in Georgia, Possum Poke, are included here as well.

Much of this accession documents the last few years of Stella Osborn's life, after her move to a retirement home in Sault St. Marie Michigan, years during which she maintained an interest in people and world peace organizations, and in documenting her own and Chase Osborn's place in history. While the bulk of correspondence here is for 1982, 1983, and 1987, some earlier correspondence is included as well. Of interest to university historians is the topical correspondence file on Robert Frost's visit to Michigan. Stella Osborn's lifelong friendship with Yuki Otsuki is documented by their extensive correspondence, a series of letters beautifully written and presented that recall earlier days, including student life.

The collection contains some material of interest to researchers interested in Chase Osborn, including the series of land transfers and deeds which document Chase and Stella Osborn's extensive holdings in Georgia and Michigan, and their gifts of land to various charities and institutions. Also included is some Chase Osborn correspondence and copies of articles he wrote about his extensive travels in Africa. Chase Osborn's 1938 "Longfellow Birthday Book" contains the birth dates of his ancestors. Several letters from 1936 pertain to Chase Osborn's involvement in the movement to build the Mackinac Bridge.

Of special interest to researchers interested in Stella Osborn and her role in various world peace organizations are her unpublished autobiographical manuscripts and files. Also of interest are her diaries, where she continued to record her ideas about politics and her memories.

Summary Contents Lists
  1. Accessions, 1958 and 1971-1972 [boxes 1-27]
    • Biographical material [box 1]
    • Correspondence, 1916-1982 [boxes 1-13]
    • Personal and miscellaneous
      • Schedules, notes on telephone conversations, various writings [box 14]
      • Personal press releases [box 15]
      • Speeches [box 15]
      • Clippings [box 15]
      • Poetry [box 15]
      • Income tax files [box 15]
      • Diaries [box 16]
      • Student notebooks, account books, etc. (U-M and others) [box 16]
    • Atlantic Union Committee and related [boxes 17-24]
    • Business and Professional Women's Club activities [box 24]
    • Sound tapes [box 25]
    • Card files [boxes 25-27]
  2. 1983 Accession [boxes 28-34]
    • Biographical material [box 28]
    • Correspondence, 1918-1983 [boxes 28-31]
    • Organizations [box 31]
    • Topical file [boxes 31-32]
    • Writings (autobiography, poetry, prose) [box 32]
    • Diaries [box 33]
    • Visual materials [box 34]
  3. 1992 Accession [boxes 35-38]
    • Biographical and Autobiographical Material (including Chase Osborn) [box 35]
    • Correspondence, 1960-1987 [box 35]
    • Financial and Business Affairs, 1920-1985 [boxes 35-36]
    • Peace Organizations, 1970-1983 [box 36]
    • Manuscripts and Research Notes [box 36]
    • Chase Osborn materials, 1913-1949 [box 37]
    • Diaries, account books, day books, 1930-1987 [box 37-38]
    • Card Indices [box 38]
Biographical / Historical:

Stella Brunt Osborn was born on July 31, 1894 in Hamilton, Canada. She finished elementary school in 1908, and subsequently went to work at the age of fifteen as a stenographer. She eventually completed her high school education through night classes in Toledo, Ohio. In 1916 she entered the University of Michigan, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1922. In 1930 she received a master's degree in Medieval English Literature, and in 1978, an honorary Doctorate of Letters, both from the University of Michigan.

In the years 1923 to 1930 she worked as an editor for various publications. In 1931, she became the adopted daughter of Chase S. Osborn, ex-Governor of Michigan, and collaborated with him on five books: The Conquest of a Continent, 1939; Schoolcraft-Longfellow-Hiawatha, 1942; Hiawatha with its Original Indian Legends, 1944; Errors in the U.S. Official Area Figures, 1945; and Northwood Sketches, 1949. On her own Stella Osborn wrote Eighty and on, 1941; A tale of Possum Poke in Possum Lane, 1946; Balsam Boughs, 1949; Jasmine Springs, 1953; Polly Cadotte, 1955; Beside the cabin, 1957; Iron and Arbutus, 1962; and Summer Songs on the St. Mary's, 1982. On April 9, 1949 her adoption was annulled and she then married Chase Osborn.

Since Chase Osborn's death (April 11, 1949), Stella Osborn's main interest has been in a number of international world peace organizations for which she has worked as a volunteer for nearly thirty years. These include the Atlantic Union Committee (founder and chairman, Michigan branch), the International Movement for Atlantic Union (founder of the North American branch; secretary 1958-1965), Federal Union, Inc. (board member, 1962), International Association for Federal Union (founder, honorary vice-president, 1972). She was also active in the Capitol Club of the Business and Professional Women's Club, and was a Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tipton, Georgia. She retired in 1972, but maintained an active interest and correspondence with these organization.

Stella Osborn died in Sault St. Marie in March 1988, where she had moved from Poulan, Georgia in 1980. In the last years of her life, she continued a lively interest in world affairs, actively corresponding with friends and with colleagues from the various peace organizations with which she had been involved.

Acquisition Information:
The collection (donor no. 2668 ) came to the library in several accessions beginning 1958. The last accession was received in 1992.
Accruals:

No further additions to the papers are expected.

Physical Location:
Portions located in offsite storage; prior notification required for access.
Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:
Peace -- Societies, etc.
Social reformers -- United States.
African Americans -- Georgia -- Work.
Boy Scouts.
Clothing and dress.
Dogs.
Dwellings.
Families.
Historical markers -- Indiana.
Interiors.
Living rooms.
Log cabins.
Monuments and memorials.
Motion picture devices -- 1947.
Native Americans -- Michigan -- Arts and crafts.
Prison facilities -- Michigan -- Jackson.
Streets -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Television broadcasting -- United States.
Women.
Women college students -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Formats:
Ambrotypes.
Diaries.
Paintings.
Photographs.
Videotapes.
Names:
Atlantic Union (U.S.)
United Nations.
Bentley Historical Library.
Helen Handy Newberry Residence (University of Michigan)
State Prison of Southern Michigan.
Stylus (University of Michigan)
University of Michigan. Class of 1922.
University of Michigan -- Alumni and alumnae -- Anniversaries, etc.
University of Michigan -- Students -- Social life and customs -- 1911-1920.
Brunt family.
Lee family.
Osborn, Chase S. (Chase Salmon), 1860-
Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988.
Achilles, Theodore C. (Theodore Carter), 1905-1986.
Adams, Paul L. (Paul Lincoln), 1908-
Adenauer, Paul.
Adler, O.
Aly, Bower, 1903-1977.
Ashley, Thomas William Ludlow, 1923-
Baker, Frank C., Mrs.
Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956.
Bartlett, Lynn M. (Lynn Mahlon), 1904-1970.
Beck, Joseph, 1887-
Beeson, Lewis.
Bennett, John B. (John Bonifas), 1905-1964.
Bentley, Alvin M. (Alvin Morell), 1918-1969.
Billotte, Pierre, 1906-
Birrenbach, Kurt, 1907-
Blackwelder, Justin.
Blitch, Iris, 1912-1993.
Block, Herbert, 1909-2001.
Bonisteel, Roscoe O. (Roscoe Osmond), 1888-
Breckinbridge, John Bayne, 1913-
Brown, Clarence J., 1893-1965.
Brown, Garry Eldridge, 1923-1998.
Brown, Prentiss M. (Prentiss Marsh), 1889-1973.
Brucker, Wilber Marion, 1894-1968.
Bumgardner, Eleanor M. (Eleanor Margaret)
Bundy, McGeorge.
Burke, Arleigh A., 1901-1996.
Caldwell, Harmon White, 1899-1977.
Campbell, Albert A.
Capehart, Homer E. (Homer Earl), 1897-1979.
Carlson, Frank, 1893-1987.
Case, James Herbert, 1906-1965.
Chamberlain, Charles E. (Charles Ernest), 1917-2002.
Charlesworth, James C. (James Clyde), 1900-1974.
Church, Frank.
Church, Michael P. (Michael Paul), 1907-
Clark, Frank Monroe, 1915-
Clay, Lucius D. (Lucius DuBignon), 1897-1978.
Cleveland, Harlan.
Clevenger, Raymond Francis, 1926-
Coleman, John Strider, 1897-1958.
Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991.
Corbett, Robert J. (Robert James), 1905-1971.
Cousins, Norman.
Crawford, Fred L., 1888-1957.
Cunningham, Sarah Jane.
Curtis, Thomas B. (Thomas Bradford), 1911-1993.
Dahlberg, Edwin T. (Edwin Theodore), 1892-1986.
Dennis, Don.
Dewey, Thomas E. (Thomas Edmund), 1902-1971.
Diefenbaker, John G., 1895-1979.
Dingell, John D. (John David), 1894-1955.
Dirksen, Everett McKinley.
Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971.
Douglas, Paul H. (Paul Howard), 1892-1976.
Douglas, William O. (William Orville), 1898-1980.
Drury, Newton B., 1889-
Dulles, John Foster, 1888-1959.
Earle, Clifford.
Eddy, Gerald E. (Gerald Ernest), 1907-1977.
Eden, Anthony, Earl of Avon, 1897-1977.
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969.
Elliott, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1874-1960.
Ellrick, Charles Burke, 1908-
Ellsworth, Robert.
Esch, Marvin Lionel, 1927-
Fairclough, Ellen Louks.
Fanget, Louis A.
Farnsley, Charles Roland Peaslee, 1907-
Ferguson, Charles W. (Charles Wright), 1901-1987.
Ferguson, Homer, 1889-1982.
Field, George, 1904-
Findley, Paul, 1921-
Fitzpatrick, John J., 1914-
Fleming, R. W. (Robben Wright), 1916-2010.
Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006.
Ford, Henry, 1917-1987.
Fraser, Donald Mackay, 1924-
Fulbright, J. William (James William), 1905-1995.
Gavin, Leon H.
George, Walter F. (Walter Franklin), 1878-1957.
Gillette, Guy M.
Glick, Brian.
Goldwater, Barry M. (Barry Morris), 1909-1998.
Gordon, Archibald., Sir.
Gore, Albert, 1907-1998.
Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-1966.
Griffin, Robert P. (Robert Paul), 1923-2015.
Griffiths, Martha W. (Martha Wright), 1912-2003.
Gruenther, Alfred M. (Alfred Maximilian), 1899-1983.
Guest, Edgar A. (Edgar Albert), 1881-1959.
Hanes, John W. (John Wesley), 1892-1987.
Hardy, Ralph W.
Hare, James M. (James McNeil), 1910-1980.
Harkness, Douglas Scott, 1903-
Harris, Frederick Brown.
Hart, Philip A. (Philip Aloysius), 1912-1976.
Hartigan, John D.
Hatcher, Harlan, 1898-1998.
Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011.
Heard, Alexander.
Hellyer, Paul Theodore, 1923-
Herter, Christian Archibald, 1895-1966.
Hildebrandt, Herbert W.
Hoffman, Clare Eugene, 1875-1967.
Holbrook, Sabra.
Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972.
Hovde, Frederick L., 1908-1983.
Hughes, Sarah T. (Sarah Tilghman), 1896-1985.
Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.
Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952.
Javits, Jacob K. (Jacob Koppel), 1904-1986.
Jeffries, Edward, 1900-1950.
Johanneson, Alexander.
Johnson, Bird, Lady, 1912-2007.
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.
Kee, John.
Kefauver, Estes, 1903-1963.
Kefauver, Nancy Patterson.
Kelly, Harry F. (Harry Francis), 1895-1971.
Kelsey, William Kline, 1885-
Kessenich, Michiels van., Baron.
Kissinger, Henry, 1923-
Knox, Victor Alfred, 1899-
Lausche, Frank John, 1895-1990.
Lawrence, David, 1888-
Long, Russell B.
Luce, Clare Boothe, 1903-1987.
Lunsford, Frank J.
McAllister, Thomas Francis, 1896-
McCarthy, Eugene J., 1916-2005.
McGee, Gale W. (Gale William), 1915-1992.
McGovern, George S. (George Stanley), 1922-2012.
McGrath, Tom J.
Machrowicz, Thaddeus Michael, 1899-1970.
MacLachlan, James Angell, 1891-1967.
MacLeish, Archibald, 1892-1982.
Macmillan, Harold, 1894-1986.
McNamara, Patrick Vincent, 1894-1966.
Marc, Alexandre.
Marshall, Charles Burton, 1908-1999.
Martin, Paul, 1903-1992.
Mason, Philip P. (Philip Parker), 1927-
Meader, George, 1907-1994.
Meagher, John Patrick, 1922-
Merchant, Livingston T. (Livingston Tallmadge), 1903-1976.
Michener, Daniel Roland, 1900-
Milliken, Helen, 1922-
Milliken, William G., 1922-
Mills, Wilbur D. (Wilbur Daigh), 1909-1992.
Mondale, Walter F., 1928-
Moody, Blair, 1902-1954.
Moore, Arthur J. (Arthur James), 1888-1974.
Moore, Walden.
Morgan, Thomas Ellsworth, 1906-
Morrison, William Angus, 1914-
Morse, Wayne L. (Wayne Lyman), 1900-1974.
Morton, Rogers C., 1914-
Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949.
Murrow, Edward R.
Muskie, Edmund S., 1914-1996.
Nicholson, Patrick.
Nicholson, Robert Lawrence, 1908-1985.
Niehuss, Marvin Lemmon, 1903-2003.
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994.
Norstad, Lauris, 1907-1988.
North, Roy M. (Roy Moses), 1889-1975.
O'Hara, James G.
Oppenheimer, William Henry, 1883-
Osborne, Lithgow, 1892-1980.
Parsons, Geoffrey, 1908-1981.
Pearson, Lester B.
Percy, Charles H., 1919-2011.
Peterson, Elly Maude, 1914-2008.
Pêtrequin, Odette.
Pilcher, John L. (John Leonard), 1898-1981.
Plant, Marcus L., 1911-1984.
Potter, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1916-1979.
Priest, J. Percy.
Quimby, Thomas H. E. (Thomas Howard Emerson), 1918-1998.
Rabaut, Louis Charles, 1886-1961.
Rice, Warner Grenelle, 1899-
Richards, James P. (James Prioleau), 1894-1979.
Riegle, Donald W., 1938-
Roberts, Owen J. (Owen Josephus), 1875-1955.
Robertson, Wishart McLea, 1891-1967.
Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979.
Rockefeller, Winthrop, 1912-1973.
Roijen, J. H. van (Jan Herman)
Romney, George W., 1907-1995.
Romney, Lenore LaFount.
Roosevelt, James, 1907-1991.
Ruppe, Philip E.
Rusk, Dean, 1909-1994.
Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970.
Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-1971.
Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882-1971.
Rutledge, Wiley Blount, 1894-1949.
Sewell, John.
Shawcross, Hartly, 1902-
Shotwell, James Thomson, 1874-1965.
Slosson, Preston W. (Preston William), 1892-1984.
Smith, Allan Frederick, 1911-
Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897-1995.
Spaak, Paul Henri, 1899-1972.
Sparkman, John, 1899-1985.
Spock, Benjamin, 1903-1998.
Stanford, George Alonzo, 1917-
Stanley, Augustus Owsley, 1867-1958.
Stanton, Frank, 1908-2006.
Stason, E. Blythe (Edwin Blythe), 1891-1972.
Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965.
Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1930-
Strauss, Franz Josef, 1915-1988.
Streit, Clarence K. (Clarence Kirshman), 1896-1986.
Sulzberger, C. L. (Cyrus Leo), 1912-1993.
Swainson, John B. (John Burley), 1925-1994.
Taft, Robert A. (Robert Alphonso), 1889-1953.
Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002.
Thomas, Elbert Duncan, 1883-1953.
Thomson, J. A.
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972.
Tunney, James Joseph, 1897-
Tuttle, Elbert P. (Elbert Parr), 1897-1996.
Udall, Morris K.
Udall, Stewart L.
Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981.
Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick), 1884-1951.
Vander Jagt, Guy, 1931-2007.
Vander Velde, Lewis G. (Lewis George), 1890-1975.
Wagner, Rudolph.
Wallace, Richard J.
Walther, G. von.
Warner, Robert M. (Robert Mark), 1927-2007.
Washburn, Abbott McConnell, 1915-
Weltner, Charles Longstreet.
White, E. B. (Elwyn Brooks), 1899-1985.
Wichers, W. C. (Willard C.)
Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975.
Wilgress, Leolyn Dana, 1892-1969.
Williams, G. Mennen, 1911-1988.
Williams, Harrison A.
Wiskemann, Geneva K.
Wolcott, Jesse Paine, 1893-1969.
Woodside, Willson.
Wyatt, Wilson W. (Wilson Watkins), 1905-1996.
Young, Stephen M. (Stephen Marvin), 1889-1984.
Places:
Sugar Island (Mich.)
Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- Streets.
Duck Island (Chippewa County, Mich.)
Ewen (Mich.)
Indiana -- Historical markers.
Jackson (Mich.) -- Prison facilities.
Poulon (Ga.)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open to research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], folder, box, Stellanova Osborn papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

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Collection

Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988
Call Number 86727 Aa 2
Total components 362
Last indexed 2023-12-09