A Collection in the
University Archives
Collection Number Archives Acc.
1985.54
Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and
Mary
Special Collections Earl Gregg Swem Library College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8794 USA Phone: (757) 221-3090 Fax: (757) 221-5440 Email: spcoll@wm.edu URL: http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/
Funding:
Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a
grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Processed by:
Special Collections Staff
Repository
Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library,
College of William and Mary
Collection number
Archives Acc.
1985.54
Title
Martha Barksdale Papers,
ca.
1918-1974.
Extent
1.5 linear feet.
Creator
Martha Elizabeth
Barksdale
Language
English
Abstract
Martha Barksdale was a member of
the first class of women to graduate from the College of
William and Mary in 1921, and taught physical education at
William and Mary from 1921 to 1966. Her papers include her
diary, 1918-1919, and photographs of women's athletics and
other student activities.
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any
materials, permission must be obtained from the University
Archivist, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem
Library.
Preferred Citation
Martha Barksdale Papers, University Archives, Swem
Library, College of William and Mary.
Martha Elizabeth Barksdale (1899-1974) was a member of the
first class of women to graduate from the College of William
and Mary, entering in 1918 and receiving her Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1921. She also received a Master of Arts degree from
William and Mary in 1929. She taught physical education at
William and Mary from 1921 until her retirement in 1966. She
was the first woman tapped into the Virginia Alpha Chapter of
Phi Beta Kappa.
The papers include Martha Barksdale's diary for 1918-1919,
recording her experiences as a member of the first class of
women at William and Mary. The bulk of the collection consists
of photographs that document student activities and women's
sports at the college from her student years throughout her
teaching career. The bulk of the photographs date from the
1920s-1940s.
In her diary, Martha Barksdale recorded the events of
her first year at college, as a member of the first
class of women to enter the College of William and
Mary.
Original diary in Box 1, folder 1; photocopy and
transcription in Box 1, folder 2.
Box-folder
1:3
Gymnastic Peoples College Diploma,
1926.
The diploma, from Gymnastic Peoples College in
Ollerup, Denmark, reads: "Martha Elizabeth Barksdale has
successfully completed the six weeks summer course for
American women teachers of physical education and is
hereby endorsed as an exponent of fundamental gymnastics
in America."
Box-folder
1:4
Faculty information form,
1938.
2 pages.
Completed form for Martha Barksdale giving her
department and title; degrees held and other education;
date and place of birth and parents' names; clubs and
fraternities; publications; hobbies; teaching
experience; other positions held.
Box 1
Photo albums.
Photo album (gift to Florrie in 1892) filled with
cartes de visite and cabinet cards; photo album
containing black-and-white photos of family, friends,
and farm scenes, ca. 1910s-1920s.
Box 1
Autograph book of Dorothy Chamings,
1926-1927.
Signed by Dorothy's high school friends.
Boxes 2-3
Photographs, College of William and
Mary.
Each subject folder contains one or several
black-and-white photographs. Almost all are of college
activities and people, especially women's athletics.
They range in date from 1918 to around 1970, but most
date from the 1930s-1950s.
Arranged alphabetically by subject, with one or
several photographs per subject folder. Box 2 contains
"Athletics--Fencing" to "Women's Baseball." Box 3
contains "Women's Basketball" to "Women's Track."