Search

Papers of artist and author Alvena Seckar, who spent much of her early life in West Virginia. Includes writings by Seckar, including both autobiographical and fictional writings; photographs, mainly of Seckar, her family, and her artwork; family documents; correspondence; scrapbooks; and other material. Please be aware that parts of the collection have been minimally processed and therefore remain in their original physical and intellectual arrangement.

Correspondence, speeches, business and legal papers, newspaper clippings, and photographs of the founder of Mother's Day. The collection includes papers of Anna's father, Grandville E. Jarvis; the notes and typescript drafts of "Recollections of Ann M. Jarvis, 1833-1905," by Anna Jarvis; and the papers of the Fairmont songwriter, William Lynett. Subjects include Jarvis' efforts to institute Mother's Day on a state basis, and her later protest against the commercialization of the day of remembrance; Jarvis coal and farm lands in Taylor County; real estate holdings in Philadelphia; Quaker City Cab Company; and her activities in the library department of a Philadelphia insurance company. Correspondents include Mrs. W.R. Hearst, Spessard L. Holland, John T. McGraw, John W. Mason, Matthew M. Neely, and Jennings Randolph.

The bulk of these papers deal with Miss Jarvis' work as the founder of Mother's Day, her attempts to persuade state governors to issue proclamations to establish the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, and her later protests against the commercialization of the holiday, as well as the efforts of other organizations to promote Mother's Day.