Summary |
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| Creator: | Thorpe, Marjorie H., 1898-1989. |
| Title: | Marjorie H. Thorpe Papers |
| Dates: | 1884-1976 |
| Size: | 1 box (1 linear foot) |
| Abstract: | The Marjorie H. Thorpe Papers contains her personal texts, photographs and correspondence as well as student and professional papers from her time at Syracuse University and beyond. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives |
Biography
Marjorie H. Thorpe was born May 2, 1898 in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of Emma Mattison and George E. Thorpe, a prominent druggist in the area. As an only child, she was encouraged to follow her interests, which developed into a life-long passion for botany, equal and environmental rights, writing, and books. She was known to be a profoundly giving and supportive member of the community, especially to those she considered close friends and associates, and her generosity reached anyone whose problems touched her heart and mind.
Thorpe received a Bachelor's degree in education from Syracuse University in 1919, which she used to teach French and English. Being a life-long student, she went on to get her Master's degree in Library Science in 1929, also from Syracuse University, where she began working after graduation. Her ability to guide people to ask questions and expand their horizons, as well as her expansive knowledge of books in general, earned a great amount of respect from her colleagues and students. Thorpe was a librarian for Syracuse University and the Christian Brothers Academy from 1929 to 1945 and continued her career at the Syracuse Public Library from 1948 to 1960. In 1962, she began working at Mohawk Valley Community College, until her retirement in 1968. In 1982, she was honored with the title, professor emerita, for her outstanding service to the college.
Thorpe's interests led her to be heavily involved with her community, devoting her time and effort to numerous clubs and associations. She was considered an accomplished poet and writer, being published in a few collections and a member of the Poetry Group of Utica. Thorpe was a founding member of the Syracuse Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, a Quaker denomination, where she stayed an active member the rest of her life. Heavily interested in equal rights, she kept connected to many different women's interests groups, such as the American Association of University Women and the Girl Reserves, and was a voice for racial equality in the 1950s in and around Syracuse.
Thorpe's knowledge of botany, including common and Latin names for many plants, was a boon to the Syracuse Rose Society, where both she and her father were members. They helped build and sustain the Rose Garden in Thornden Park and were awarded by the American Rose Society. Thorpe also was known to lead nature walks in the Adirondacks, where she was imminently comfortable.
With her passing on September 3, 1989, Thorpe was remembered fondly by those she helped and the communities she connected with over her many years of selfless work and care.
Scope and Content Note
The Marjorie H. Thorpe Papers span the years 1885 to 1976, covering nearly all of Thorpe's life, including a few family heirlooms and items pertaining to her years as a Syracuse University librarian.
The Personal Papers series contains a variety of materials, including a scrapbook completed by Thorpe, lantern slides and photographs of Thornden Rose Garden in Syracuse, family photographs, coins and writings. There are a number of notes and a collection of ephemera from her interests and hobbies throughout her life.
The Professional Papers consist of documents from her time working at Syracuse University and throughout her career within the New York State Library system. There is also a sampling of her work that was published and a number of bibliographic notes.
The Student Papers include curriculum material for library school classes that Thorpe took at Syracuse University, as well as some alumni memorabilia that was collected over the years.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders
before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this
collection.
Related Material
A number of Syracuse University publications were removed from the Thorpe Papers and placed into other collections within the Archives.
The Archives holds a clipping file on Marjorie H. Thorpe.
Selected Search Terms
Names
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Marjorie H. Thorpe Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
The Marjorie H. Thorpe Papers were donated to the Archives by Marjorie Thorpe in 1977.
Processing Information
Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and box.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Matthew Isom
Date: 2014
Revision history: