Rufus C. and Helen Palmer Dawes Collection, 1870-1941
-
No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
The Rufus C and Helen Palmer Dawes Collection contains family photographs and correspondence from 1870-1941; various diaries kept by Helen or Rufus between 1888 and 1941; scrapbooks made between 1901 and 1928; and material on the Century of Progress exposition. Topical files kept by Mrs. Dawes on her various interests and activities include material on the Woman's Club of Evanston and her war work during 1914-1918. Published books and pamphlets have been cataloged with volumes found in the Charles G. Dawes Collection as Dawes monographs and serials; they may be found in the Northwestern University online catalog and are located in the McCormick Library of Special Collections.
Dates
- 1870 - 1941
- Other: Majority of material found within 1887-1939
Creator
- Dawes, Rufus C. (Rufus Cutler), 1867-1940 (Person)
- Dawes, Helen Palmer, 1869-1941 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.
Biographical / Historical
Rufus C. Dawes, brother of Charles G. Dawes, and his wife, Helen Palmer Dawes, both born and raised in Ohio, moved to Evanston in 1898 and remained active in community, business and social affairs until their deaths. Besides transacting business for Dawes Brothers Incorporated and joining Charles in various banking and real estate ventures, Rufus served as his brother's secretary in 1924 to help draw up the Reparation Commission's plan for German economic recovery and payments to the Allies after World War I. Helen was active in the Evanston Woman's Club, serving as chair of several committees, as well as president from 1913-1917. Rufus served as president and Helen as social chair of the Chicago 1933-1934 Century of Progress Exposition. Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs and ephemera reflect their involvement in this event and other community interests.
Extent
11 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Rufus C. and Helen Palmer Dawes Collection documents both family life and civic activities of Rufus and Helen between 1870 and 1941. They moved to Evanston from Ohio in 1898 and remained active in community, business and social affairs until their deaths. Highlights include Rufus’s work for his brother Charles G. Dawes in assisting with the Reparation Commission’s plan for German economic recovery and payment to the Allies after World War I; and serving as president of the 1933-1934 Century of Progress Exposition. Helen served as social chair of that Exposition and was active in the Evanston Woman’s Club and Library board. Photographs, diaries, correspondence, newspaper clippings and ephemera reflect their involvement in these activities.
Method of Acquisition
All of the material in this collection was given to Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections by members of the Dawes family, Jean Dawes (Mrs. Robert T.) Sherman and Helen Dawes (Mrs. Louis) Watermulder. For additional information on the Century of Progress, see manuscript series LXa, a list of books cataloged at N.U.L., and a large separate scrapbook held by Special Collections. See also the Charles G. Dawes archive for more material on the Dawes family.
Processing Information
Sigrid Pohl Perry, January 1996; February 2012; encoded April 2020.
- Title
- Guide to the Rufus C. and Helen Palmer Dawes Collection, 1870-1941
- Author
- Sigrid P Perry
- Date
- January 1996; February 2012; April 17, 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Library Details
Part of the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections Repository
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635
specialcollections@northwestern.edu