| Creator: | Bryan, Charlotte Lowe, 1867-1948 |
| Title: | Charlotte Lowe Bryan papers |
| Collection No.: | C46 |
| Dates: | 1873-1948 |
| Quantity: | Quantity: .6 cubic feet |
| Abstract: | Charlotte A. Lowe, born September 7, 1867, in Indianapolis, Indiana, was the wife of William Lowe Bryan. The collection consists of personal papers, correspondence, and writings of Charlotte Lowe Bryan in four series: American Association of University Women, 1932-1933, consisting of loan fund reports for the Bloomington chapter; Addresses and presentations, 1929-1937, containing copies of speeches given both by and for Bryan; Correspondence, 1873-1937, containing correspondence both to and from Bryan; and Publications, 1933-1937, consisting of typescripts and galley sheets of articles written by Bryan. |
| Language: | Materials are in English |
| Repository: | Indiana University Archives Herman B Wells Library E460 1320 East Tenth Street Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000 Business Number: 812-855-1127 archives@indiana.edu URL: https://libraries.indiana.edu/university-archives |
Charlotte A. Lowe was born September 7, 1867, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended elementary and high school in Indianapolis and graduated second in her class from Shortridge High School in 1885. She entered Indiana University and graduated with an A.B. in Greek in 1888. In a letter by then-President David Starr Jordan, he wrote, "Her rank in college was the very highest--in many studies higher than any other woman who has graduated from the University." Lowe continued her studies and received her Master of Arts in 1889.
That same year, Lowe also married William J. Bryan, who changed his name to William Lowe Bryan in her honor. In 1902, WLB assumed the presidency of Indiana University, a position he held until 1937. Although quite ill throughout most of her husband's presidency, Charlotte remained an active member of the University community in her role of "First Lady." In addition to numerous other projects and involvements, Charlotte oversaw the design and construction of the Bryan House, which still serves as the President's home on campus today. Charlotte Lowe Bryan died on August 26, 1948.
The papers of Charlotte Lowe Bryan are organized into four series: American Association of University Women, 1932-1933; Addresses and presentation, 1929-1937; Correspondence, 1873-1937; and Publications, 1933-1937.
The American Association of University Women series is small, consisting of only one folder. It is made up of Loan fund reports of the organization.
The Addresses and presentations series includes copies of speeches and presentations both given by and for Bryan, many of them containing Bryan's handwritten notes. The folders are arranged alphabetically.
Arranged alphabetically, the Correspondence series is by far the largest series, containing correspondence both to and from Bryan spanning 1873 to 1948. Additionally, the Lowe family folder contains notes about the Lowe family, including genealogical information. The correspondence from Lora Webster, Janet Ramsay Sims, Elizabeth Pennington, "Nettie", Alice Moore, Mrs. Carl Franzeu and H. E. Cowan are voluminous.
The journal kept by "Lotta" is from 1879, and it is complete and detailed.
In the Publications series, typescripts and galley sheets of articles written by Bryan can be found. Many of them contain handwritten corrections and notes by Bryan. The folders are arranged alphabetically.
Organized into four series: American Association of University Women, Addresses and presentations, Correspondence, and Publications.
This collection is open for research.
Advance notice required.
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[Item], Charlotte Lowe Bryan papers, Collection C46, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Accession 1149
Processed by Dina Kellams.
Completed in 2000.
Correspondence found in the William Lowe Bryan papers were interfiled by C. Harrison Wick, January 2001.