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COLLECTION Identifier: A-159

Papers of Clara Mortenson Beyer, 1911-1965

Overview

Correspondence, diary, reports, etc., of Clara M. (Clara Mortenson) Beyer, labor law specialist.

Dates

  • 1911-1965

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Access Restrictions:

Access. Collection is open for research. An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright. Copyright in the papers created by Clara Mortenson Beyer is held by the President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Schlesinger Library. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.

Copying. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.

Extent

9.17 linear feet ((22 file boxes) plus 1 oversize folder, 1 folio+ folder)

Scope and Contents

The papers of Clara Mortenson Beyer contain correspondence, a diary, articles, reports, business records, pamphlets, clippings, and photographs from her professional and personal life. Also included is family correspondence and papers of Otto S. Beyer. Materials are arranged in five series.

Series I, Personal papers, 1911-1963, contains biographical and family materials. The series consists largely of Beyer's corresponcence with her sons Morten, Donald, and Richard. Files are arranged chronologically.

Series II, Professional papers, 1913-1965, contains personal and profession correspondence, arranged chronologically. The designation "personal" on many letters refers to the file in which they were to be kept; letters marked personal were filed Beyer's personal file of her professional papers, while others were sent to the National Archives. It does not refer to the subject of the letters.

Series III, Professional papers, 1917-1964, contains personal and professional correspondence, reports, and pamphlets. Files are arranged alphabetically, retaining Beyer's original arrangement. The designation "personal" on many letters refers to the file in which they were to be kept; letters marked personal were filed Beyer's personal file of her professional papers, while others were sent to the National Archives. It does not refer to the subject of the letters.

Series IV, Professional papers, 1918-1964, contains speeches, reports, pamphlets, articles, reviews, a diary documenting a trip to Asia, photographs, newsclippings, business records, and reference materials.

Series V, Papers of Otto S. Beyer, 1928-1955, contains correspondence, articles, and speeches by and about Otto S. Beyer.

Additional Description

BIOGRAPHY

Labor specialist Clara Mortenson Beyer was born April 13, 1892, near Middletown, Lake County, California. She was the sixth daughter of Morten Mortenson and Mary Frederickson. Her parents were Danish immigrants, and when her father died at an early age, her mother worked as an unskilled laborer. She received a BS from the University of California in 1915 and an MS from the same university in 1916. She stayed at California from 1915 to 1917 as an instructor and then moved to Bryn Mawr to become an instructor in labor economics from 1917 to 1918.

Beyer began her government career in the labor field in 1918. At this time she served as executive assistant on the War Labor Policies Board. From 1919 to 1921 she was executive secretary for the D.C. Minimum Wage Board. On July 30, 1920, she married Otto Sternoff-Beyer. They had three children; Morten, Donald, and Richard.

Beyer came to the United States Department of Labor in 1928, where she served as economist for the Children's Bureau until 1931. She then became director of the industrial division from 1931 to 1934, and from 1934 to 1957 she was associate director of the Bureau of Labor Standards. From 1957-1958, Beyer was acting director of the Bureau of Labor Standards.

After her retirement from the Department of Labor in 1958, Beyer was continually active in labor related government projects. In 1958, she became technical assistance program advisor for the International Cooperation Administration. In 1961, she went to the Agency for International Development as an advisor in labor law administration.

From 1938-1953 Beyer attended the International Labor Organization's annual conferences as a United States Government Advisor. Her other interests included the National Consumers League, the National Child Labor Committee, the League of Women Voters, the Overseas Education Fund, and the McLean Civic League.

Clara Mortenson Beyer died in Washington, DC, on September 25, 1990.

Physical Location

Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number: 913

The papers of Clara Mortenson Beyer were deposited with the Schlesinger Library in July, 1965 by Clara Mortenson Beyer.

Related Material:

There is related material at the Schlesinger Library; see Clara M. Beyer Additional Papers, ca.1900-1991 (MC 1003), and Interviews of the Women in the Federal Government Oral History Project, 1981-1983 (OH-40).

CONTAINER LIST

  1. Box 1: 1-25
  2. Box 2: 26-40
  3. Box 3: 41-51
  4. Box 4: 52-62
  5. Box 5: 63-76
  6. Box 6: 77-93
  7. Box 7: 94-107
  8. Box 8: 108-119
  9. Box 9: 120-134
  10. Box 10: 135-157
  11. Box 11: 158-176
  12. Box 12: 177-191
  13. Box 13: 192-208
  14. Box 14: 209-219
  15. Box 15: 220-237
  16. Box 16: 238-254
  17. Box 17: 255-266
  18. Box 18: 267-283
  19. Box 19: 284-295
  20. Box 20: 296-310
  21. Box 21: 311-329
  22. Box 22: 330-347

INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS

  1. Edith Abbott 36, 52, 54, 61, 62
  2. Grace Abbott 36, 39-41, 43, 44, 46, 48, 116-127, 268
  3. Arthur J. Altmeyer 34-36, 78, 81, 88, 90, 92, 109, 113, 148
  4. Mrs. Arthur J. Altmeyer 34-36
  5. Mary Anderson 39, 45, 92, 117
  6. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Angerman 72-74, 76, 77, 91
  7. Dorothy Bardos 90
  8. Helen Bary 41, 44, 48, 53, 62, 63, 117, 216
  9. Donald Beyer 17-21, 63, 68
  10. Morten Beyer 11-15
  11. Otto S. Beyer 8, 9, 57
  12. Richard Beyer 23-30, 65
  13. Ruth Blandford 67, 75
  14. Eleanor Bontecou 58
  15. Elizabeth Brandeis (see Raushenbush)
  16. Louis D. Brandeis 40, 44, 52-55
  17. Mrs. Louis D. Brandeis 40, 56, 117, 268
  18. Sophronista Breckenridge 40
  19. Dr. J. Douglas Brown 57, 74, 88, 97
  20. Lucile J. Buchanan 58, 79, 112, 113, 160, 172
  21. Rep. Clarence Cannon 54
  22. Mrs. May Carmody 33, 54, 57, 74, 86, 90
  23. Oscar Chapman 97, 218
  24. William Chenery 40, 58, 65, 97, 117
  25. Alice Cheyney 51-53, 57
  26. Elizabeth Christman 104, 117, 238
  27. Gordon R. Clapp 62, 65, 69, 71, 73, 77, 97, 238
  28. Ansel R. Cleary 220, 256, 260, 279
  29. Eleanor Coit 62, 63, 175
  30. Rosa Cueto Coll 68, 71, 74, 79, 85, 256
  31. Petro America Pagan de Colon 68, 71, 74, 79
  32. Edward Corsi 78, 259
  33. H. Croly 37
  34. Mrs. Robert Dahl 63, 112-115
  35. John A. Davis 69
  36. Democratic National Committee 86, 88
  37. Mary (Molly) Dewson 36, 38, 40, 41, 43-49, 51-55, 58, 61-66, 67, 70-73, 78, 80, 83-86 88-92, 107, 108
  38. Courtney Dinwiddie 39-42, 44
  39. Helen Gahagan Douglas 68
  40. David Dubinsky 105
  41. Mary Dublin 52, 53
  42. Sentor F. Ryan Duggy 43
  43. Eleanor Dulles 57
  44. Martin Durkin 105
  45. Mary L. Dyckman 105
  46. Lena Ebeling (see Tugman)
  47. Edward A. Egan 63, 65-68'
  48. India Edwards 88
  49. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Eliel 42, 50, 51, 75
  50. Dr. Martha M. Eliot 81
  51. G. B. Erskine 257-260
  52. Frank Fenton 60, 62, 174, 240
  53. Mrs. Paul Flexner 41, 48, 55, 188, 189
  54. Felix Frankfurter 33, 37, 38
  55. John Frey 108, 110, 249, 252
  56. Leslie Ganyard 70, 74, 77, 79, 80, 81, 92
  57. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Z. Gardiner 72, 73, 82, 90, 157, 158
  58. Virginia Gildersleeve 37
  59. Anne Godwin 77, 83, 85, 87, 92, 94
  60. Arthur Goldberg 88
  61. Clinton S. Golden 104, 240
  62. Charles J. Goldmark 44
  63. Jonathon Goldmark 48
  64. Josephine Goldmark 44, 45, 49, 52, 62, 118
  65. Pauline Goldmark 36, 44, 45, 48, 52, 55, 62, 63, 69, 73, 117-119
  66. Mrs. Samuel Gompers 41
  67. Roger Grant 79, 157, 158, 288
  68. William Green 107, 119, 172, 174, 249
  69. Ernest Gruening 72
  70. Dr. and Mrs. Luther Gulick 77, 251
  71. Florence Hancock 64, 65, 68, 69, 73, 74, 77
  72. John Hanna, Jr. 43, 46, 51, 63, 79, 85
  73. Powers Hapgood 58
  74. Ruth Scandrett Hardy 35, 48, 51, 57, 61-63, 65, 66, 75, 85, 92, 94, 96, 108, 114, 193, 233
  75. Mrs. J. M. Helm 97
  76. Elinore Herrick 39, 73
  77. Senator Lister Hill 80
  78. Sidney Hillman 49
  79. Mrs. Mary Hutchinson 33-36, 45, 47, 56, 57, 61, 64, 65, 68, 71 74, 76, 86, 88, 90-92, 94
  80. Emily H. Huntington 44, 46, 75, 78, 80, 85, 93, 112
  81. Harold Ickes 107, 250, 254
  82. Miss Jay (Frances Perkins' secy) 235,- 240, 251, 252
  83. Harold S. Kaufman 89-91, 128
  84. Florence Kelley 118
  85. John F. Kennedy 88
  86. Clark Kerr 90
  87. Leon Keyserling 92
  88. Mary La Dame 43, 44, 50, 57, 60 96, 110, 111, 240, 251
  89. Senator Robert M.LaFollette, Jr. 49, 248
  90. Julia Lathrop 39, 117-119
  91. League of Women Voters- Overseas Education Fund 89, 91-93
  92. Percy Maxim Lee 93, 94
  93. Katharine F. Lenroot 50, 52, 95, 108, 116-121, 167, 172
  94. Charles H. Logan 51, 54, 56, 60, 61, 67, 68, 71, 79, 82
  95. Carol Reigelman Lubin 66, 69, 74, 208
  96. Isador Lubin 55, 79
  97. Dorothy McAllister (Mrs. Thomas) 33, 51, 63, 71
  98. Beatrice McConnell 45, 108, 206, 219, 288
  99. Mrs. Arthur W. MacMahon 33, 117-119
  100. Frank Mankiewicz 95
  101. Emily Sims Marconnier 76-79, 82, 83
  102. Mrs. Luis Munoz Maria 68
  103. Alpheus T. Mason 58
  104. Lucy R. Mason 47, 49, 52, 54, 56, 62, 68
  105. Marian L. Mel 49, 51, 52, 65, 96, 111, 187, 189
  106. Arthur S. Meyer 59
  107. Frieda S. Miller 37, 44, 52-54, 59, 69, 241
  108. Helen Hill Miller 42
  109. Arthur E. Morgan 47
  110. Mary Rice Morrow 33, 57, 77-79
  111. David Morse 65, 71, 97, 157, 165
  112. Senator Wayne Morse 63, 93, 97
  113. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mortensen 56, 85, 92
  114. Teodoro Moscoso 68
  115. H. R. Mussey 294
  116. National Consumers League 77, 85, 88, 89, 91, 192
  117. National Women's Trade Union League of America 117
  118. New York Women's Trade Union League 109
  119. A. M. Northrop 40
  120. Mary T. Norton 35, 51, 61, 65, 66, 67, 70, 72, 78, 85
  121. Dr. Emil Paluch 63
  122. Robert P. Patterson 99, 106
  123. William F. Patterson 48, 53, 242, 251, 252
  124. Frances Perkins 33, 34, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 50-53, 62, 65, 70 73, 79, 82, 85, 86, 87, 96, 97, 100, 104, 106-111, 198, 199, 203, 224, 238, 239, 241, 244-246, 249 254, 267, 317
  125. Esther Peterson 91
  126. Carl Raushenbush 61, 66, 67, 79
  127. Elizabeth Brandeis Raushenbush 39-45, 50, 51, 55, 62, 67, 68, 74, 76, 79, 80-83, 85, 86, 90, 92, 94
  128. Floyd W. Reeves 239, 241, 251-254
  129. Don Richberg 42
  130. Carol Riegleman (see Lubin
  131. Emil Rieve 104
  132. Josephine Roach 41, 52
  133. Eleanor Roosevelt 48, 97, 240
  134. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 48, 51, 251, 253
  135. Helen Ross 33, 36, 63, 65, 85-87, 94
  136. Cleo Russo 66, 67, 69, 76
  137. Senator Leverett Saltonstall 63
  138. Ruth Scandrett (see Hardy)
  139. Gertrude Schermerhorn 79, 219
  140. Rose Schneiderman 50, 54, 64, 66, 105
  141. Anne Schwellenbach 63
  142. L. B. Schwellenbach 101, 174, 206, 218, 219, 245, 260
  143. Edwin Seligman 37
  144. Mr. and Mrs. Forrest H. Shuford 58, 62, 65, 66, 72, 77, 80, 165, 259
  145. Fernando Sierra Berdecia 72, 73, 74, 76, 79, 82, 83, 85-87, 169, 208, 222
  146. Sumner Slichter 63, 66, 69
  147. Hilda W. Smith 62, 71, 110, 172
  148. "Sophie" 88, 91, 94
  149. John W. Steelman 63
  150. Beatrice M. Stern 52, 63, 67, 69, 79, 85-87, 89, 91-93
  151. Louise Stitt 46, 80, 88
  152. Anna Lord Strauss 33
  153. J. W. Studebaker 240, 245, 249, 250, 251
  154. Arthur Sweetser 54
  155. Mrs. John F. Thomas 66
  156. M. Carey Thomas 4, 37
  157. Florence Thorne 52, 54, 67, 73, 108, 175, 258, 241
  158. Joseph Tone 46, 62, 79, 80, 82
  159. D. W. Tracy 53, 59, 61, 63, 110
  160. R. G. Tugwell 218
  161. Mrs.W. H. Udall 42
  162. U.S. Department of Labor 88, 90, 91, 93
  163. Mary Van Kleeck 37,
  164. Miriam Van Waters 39, 268
  165. Luz Vilarino 63-65, 68, 69, 71, 79, 81, 88, 219, 220, 221
  166. Mrs. R. Gordon Wagnet 36, 46, 62, 65, 67, 77
  167. L. M. Walling 109, 218-221, 258, 259
  168. Lillian Wald 119
  169. Robert Watt 48, 50, 52, 54, 55, 57, 70, 96, 241
  170. Margaret Weisman 50, 52, 53,
  171. Charl Ormand Williams 60
  172. J. Aubrey Williams 250, 251
  173. Edwin E. Witte 80, 84
  174. Leo Wolman 43
  175. Ralph Wright 76, 79, 83, 158, 159, 288
  176. Mrs. Thomas Wolf 65
  177. Charles Yeomans 51, 65, 66, 251
  178. Gertrude Folks Zimand 68, 75-79, 105, 118, 128
  179. V. A. Zimmer 47, 97, 105, 111, 218, 238, 239, 248, 252, 255 256, 260

Processing Information

Processed: August 1969

By: DMD
Link to catalog

Subjects

Related Names

Administrative Information

Title
Beyer, Clara M. (Clara Mortenson). Papers of Clara Mortenson Beyer, 1911-1965: A Finding Aid
Author
Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
Language of description
eng
EAD ID
sch00451

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository

https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/schlesinger-library

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