Elsalyn Palmisano Women’s History Papers
RECORD GROUP: Special Collections
RECORD SERIES #: 6300.01
SERIES: Elsalyn Palmisano Women’s History Papers
DATES: 1723-2005, (bulk 1962-1980)
VOLUME: 4 cubic feet
The Elsalyn Palmisano Women’s History Papers are the direct result of Palmisano’s lifelong interest in women’s issues. At the Women’s Center at Brookdale Community College, she set up the library and amassed a significant women’s history collection and subsequently developed a related curriculum with a special focus on women’s role in the history of Monmouth County. As librarian at the Monmouth County Historical Association, Palmisano expanded its collection and wrote a number of pamphlets on various topics. She also developed several slide presentations on subjects relating to Monmouth County history. When the Historical Association received the papers of longtime Keyport resident Vera Conover, Palmisano conducted further research on the Conover/Seabrook family, unearthing significant materials on local history and on the Temperance and Women’s Suffrage movements. While working with the Keyport Historical Society to catalog and preserve these materials, she also became interested in women’s rights activist Alice Paul and researched her role both in the suffrage movement and in the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment. Much of Palmisano’s work on women’s history was funded by New Jersey Historical Commission grants.
See the guide to the Elsalyn Palmisano Preservation Papers for further biographical information on Palmisano.
Materials in this collection are primarily the result of research funded by grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission and a course taught by Elsalyn Palmisano at Brookdale Community College. Major themes include Keyport history, Molly Pitcher, American Bicentennial, Monmouth County History, Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Women’s Suffrage, and the Women’s Movement. The collection is arranged in four series:
I. Women in Early Monmouth County
II. Legacy of the Seabrook Women
III. Alice Paul
IV. The Women’s Center at Brookdale Community College
The Monmouth County Women series includes materials on women of the Revolutionary War period, the Battle of Monmouth, Molly Pitcher, and the American Bicentennial. Also included are original Brookdale Community College course materials from “Move Over, Molly.”
Seabrook Women materials consist of personal histories of the three individual women, as well as the history of their family homestead (the “Spy House”) and their family’s involvement in the settlement of Keyport and in the local steamboat industry. Also included are materials on the family’s involvement with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Women’s Suffrage movement, and the Keyport Literary Club.
Alice Paul materials include histories of the Women’s Suffrage movement, plans for her centennial celebration and display materials featured on Monmouth County Archives and History Day.
The Women’s Center materials consist of items relating to the formulation, administration and daily operation of the center.
Types of materials include course materials; book jackets; correspondence; newsletters; photocopied and/or typewritten documents; newspaper and magazine clippings; academic papers; lecture cards; research notes; bibliographies; book excerpts; pamphlets and booklets; videotapes; color slides and photographs; and display signage. The Seabrook series includes a slide presentation housed in its original slide projector tray.
Some items, including all newspaper clippings, have been photocopied for preservation purposes; these photocopies have been substituted for original materials as necessary. Some items are photocopies of 18th and 19th century documents and publications; dates in the container list reference the date of the original material.
This collection is open to researchers.
The Palmisano Women’s History Papers are arranged in four series:
- Women in Early Monmouth County
- Legacy of the Seabrook Women
- Alice Paul
- Women’s Center at Brookdale Community College
The first series is arranged in original order; in some cases, the contents of original folders have been split into several folders for space reasons. The second series is arranged by subject; contents are in original order. The third series is arranged by subject. The fourth series is arranged by subject; contents are in chronological order, except for folder containing the administrative handbook, which is in its original order. Oversize material is stored in one flat box arranged in series order. Photographs (prints, slides, and negatives) are stored separately. Folder contents are in original order and folders are arranged by series. Contents of a slide carousel tray are in original order.
Use of the Palmisano Papers is unrestricted. See shelf list for folder headings. Some audiovisual materials require VHS or carousel slide projection.
Monmouth County Archives
125 Symmes Drive
Manalapan, NJ 07726
Phone: 732-308-3771
This collection was donated to the Monmouth County Archives by Elsalyn Palmisano in January 2013 (Accession 2013-01).
Finding aid created by Lisa Iannucci on February 5, 2014. Updated November 7, 2014.
Box |
Folder | Title | Date |
1 | 1 |
Women in Early Monmouth: Notes and Correspondence | 1975-1978 |
1 | 2-3 | :Women in History (General Activities and Notable Women) | 1974-1977 |
1 | 4 |
:Women in History (General Activities and Notable Women) | 1894-1978 |
1 | 5-6 | : Women’s History – Manuscript Repositories | 1972-1980 |
1 | 7 | : Women History Conferences | 1974-1979 |
1 | 8 |
: Women in History Quizzes | 1975-1977 |
1 | 9 | : Samplers – Women in Monmouth County (MCHA) | 1975-1977 |
1 | 10 | : Women in Union County | 1976 |
1 | 11 | : Women’s Historical Research | 1979-1983 |
1 | 12 | : Portraits (MCHA) County Women, 1750-1850 | 1944-1977 |
2 | 13 | : N.J. and Monmouth County Historical Association | 1776-1978 |
2 | 14 | : Newsletter clippings (copies from Palmisano’s home newspaper) | 1977-1979 |
2 | 15 | : Monmouth County NOW (Aug. 26, 1977 Activities-Script) | 1909-1977 |
2 | 16 | : Women in County Lecture – Session II | 1977 |
2 | 17 | : Women and War in New Jersey and Boston (Bibliography) | 1976 |
2 | 18 | : Godey’s Lady Book – Pictures Women’s Dress (1800-1900) (Catalog – Allen House) | 1977-1978 |
2 | 19 | : Book Reviews and Bibliographies | 1974-1981 |
2 | 20 | : Ladies of Trenton Broadside, July 4, 1780, and Sentiments of American Women | 1780-1977 |
2 | 21 | : Freehold Ladies’ Seminary (G. Mezey paper) | 1851-1976 |
2 | 22 | : Exhibits, Films, Plays, Guides to Manuscripts | 1975-1983 |
2 | 23 | : Diary of Eliza Chadwick Scott (A. Morton for A.A.U.W.) | 1976 |
2 | 24 | : Campfollowers (K. Philbrick) (includes photos) | 1976-1977 |
2 | 25-26 | : Molly Pitcher | 1723-2001 |
2 | 27-28 | : New Jersey Women in History | 1940-1979 |
2 | 29-30 | : Revolutionary War – Women’s Activities [folder 1] | 1930-1976 |
3 | 31 | : Women in Early Monmouth County (M. Rush) | 1831-1978 |
3 | 32 | : “Move Over, Molly,” Fall 1976 – Brookdale Community College |
1976 |
3 | 33 | : New Jersey Historical Commission Grant Application for “Move Over, Molly,” 1977 | 1977-1978 |
3 | 34 | : Conference NJEA – Nov. 30, 1977 | 1977 |
3 | 35 | : “Women in Early Monmouth” Course Materials – Master Copies | 1977-1978 |
3 | 36 | : “Women in Early Monmouth” – Course Packet with course handouts | 1977-1978 |
3 | 37 | : Newspaper Clippings on Elsalyn Palmisano | 1977-1978 |
3 | 38 | : Miscellaneous | 1962-1980 |
3 | 39 | : Multimedia | 1977 |
3 | 40 | Legacy of the Seabrook Women: Conover, Vera, includes photos | 1952-1979 |
3 | 41-42 | : General Keyport History & Steamboats | 1877-1979 |
4 | 43 | : Keyport Literary Club | 1892-1979 |
4 | 44 | : NJHC Grant Applications | 1979-1980 |
4 | 45 | : Seabrook, Annie (Mrs. William Conover), photos | 1870-1979 |
4 | 46 | : Seabrook, Theresa W., photos | 1883-1979 |
4 | 47 | : Women’s Suffrage | 1888-1917 |
4 | 48 | Alice Paul: Alice Paul NOW | 2000 |
4 | 49 | : Archives Day Materials | 1977-2000 |
4 | 50 | : Book Excerpts | 1920-1921 |
4 | 51 | : Centennial Symposium Evaluation Materials | 1984-1985 |
4 | 52 | : Flyers and Pamphlets | 1999-2005 |
4 | 53 | : Newspaper Clippings | 1909-2004 |
4 | 54 | : Women’s Suffrage Research | 1919-2005 |
4 | 55 | : Photographs | 2000, undated |
4 | 56 | : Videotapes (Includes copies of cover art) | 1996-1998 |
4A | 1 | The Women’s Center at Brookdale Community College
: Administrative |
1974-1976, undated |
4A | 2 | : Administrative handbook | 1974-1975 |
4A | 3 | : Bibliographies | 1974-1979, undated |
4A | 4 | : Correspondence | 1974-1979, undated |
4A | 5 |
: Newsletters | 1974-1991 |
4A | 6 | : Newspaper clippings | 1974-1978, undated |
4A | 7 | : Promotional | 1974-1977, undated |
4A | 8 |
: Reports | 1975-1979 |
4A | 9 |
: Subject heading lists | 1974-1979 |
5 | 57 | Photographic Materials | 1976-1977 |
5 | 58 | : “Move Over Molly” Lecture Slides – Molly Pitcher | 1972-1977 |
5 | 59 | : “Move Over Molly” Lecture Slides – Camp followers | 1976-1977 |
5 | 60 | : Lecture Slides – M.C.H.A. Museum Portraits | 1977 |
5 | 61 | : Slides – Sites Relating to Other County & N.J. Woman | 1974-1977 |
5 | 62 | : Slides – “Remember the Ladies” Exhibit, N.Y. Historical Society | 1977 |
5 | 63 | : Slides – Women’s Dress – Allen House Exhibit | 1977 |
5 | 64 | : Slides – Women’s Samplers – M.C.H.A. Collection | 1977 |
5 | 65 | : Unusual and Duplicate Slides | 1958-1979, undated |
5 | 66 | : Seabrook Women Photos & Negatives | 1979 |
5 | 67 | : Alice Paul Photos | 2000, undated |
5 | 68 | : Slide Carousel Tray – Seabrook Women | 1979 |
OVERSIZE BOX
1 | 1 | Women in Early Monmouth: N.J. and Monmouth County Historical Association Manuscript Sources |
1776-1787 |
1 | 2 | : Monmouth County NOW | 1919-1970 |
1 | 3 | : Book Reviews and Bibliographies | undated |
1 | 4 | : Exhibits, Films, Plays, Guides to Manuscripts | 1975 |
1 | 5 | : Molly Pitcher | 1977, undated |
1 | 6 | : New Jersey Women in History | circa 1978, undated |
1 | 7-8 | : Revolutionary War-Women’s Activities | 1972, undated |
1 | 9 | : NJ Historical Commission Grant Application:
“Women in Early Monmouth” Course Materials- |
1978, undated |
1 | 10 | : Newspaper Clippings on Elsalyn Palmisano | 1977-1978 |
1 | 11 | : Miscellaneous papers | 1976-1978 |
1 | 12 | Legacy of the Seabrook Women | 1973-circa 1979 |
1 | 13 | Alice Paul: Archives Day Materials | 1994-2005 |
1 | 14 | : Centennial Symposium Evaluation Materials | 1985-1994 |
1 | 15 | : Newspaper Clippings | 1977-1979 |
1 | 16 | : Women’s Suffrage | 1922-2005 |