Virginia Ellis Jenckes papers
Collection
Identifier: L374
Scope and Contents
The collection consists primarily of correspondences, papers, speeches, clippings, pamphlets, ephemera, and photographs from Virginia Ellis Jenckes’s congressional and nonprofit work nonprofit work in Indiana, Washington, D.C., and France, ranging from 1930 to 1951, regarding her political career and work with the Red Cross, as well as the Agriculture Waste Recovery Project (1933–1943) and other efforts to help farmers during the Depression; flood control on the Wabash and White Rivers; railroads; women’s rights; education; and Communists; and the 1937 Interparliamentary Union.
There are also oversize periodicals, clippings, papers, and a map, ranging from 1929 to 1938 (OBD158).
Correspondents include: J. Edgar Hoover, Louis M. Howe, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
There are also oversize periodicals, clippings, papers, and a map, ranging from 1929 to 1938 (OBD158).
Correspondents include: J. Edgar Hoover, Louis M. Howe, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Dates
- 1918-1951
Creator
- Jenckes, Virginia Ellis, 1877-1975 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Virginia Ellis Jenckes was born November 6, 1877 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. She attended the local public and high schools before attending one year of college. After college, Jenckes was involved in agricultural pursuits from 1912 to 1926. In 1926, She served as secretary of Wabash Valley Improvement Association, serving until 1932. In 1933, Jenckes became the first woman from Indiana to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served three terms until she lost reelection in 1938. Following her congressional run, Jenckes was appointed U.S. delegate to the Interparlimentary Union in Paris, France in 1937. She returned to Washington, D.C., where she lived and worked for the American Red Cross for many years before moving to Indianapolis in 1969. Jenckes eventually returned home to Terre Haute in 1971, where she lived until her death on January 9, 1975.
Source:
Items in the collection.
United States Congress. "Jenckes, Virginia Ellis." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed October 21, 2011. https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=J000077.
Source:
Items in the collection.
United States Congress. "Jenckes, Virginia Ellis." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed October 21, 2011. https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=J000077.
Extent
1.36 Cubic Feet (4 manuscript boxes, 1 large oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection reprocessed and finding aid created 2011/10 by Brent Abercrombie. EAD finding aid created 2018/05/07 by Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid revised 2025/03/28 by Brittany Kropf.
- Agriculture
- Anti-communism -- United States
- Campaign literature
- Clippings
- Communism
- Correspondence
- Depressions -- 1929 -- United States
- Elections
- Flood control -- Indiana
- Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972
- Pamphlets
- Photographs
- Political campaigns -- 20th century
- Politicians
- Politicians -- United States -- 20th century
- Politics and government
- Programs
- Railroads
- Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- United States -- Politics and government
- United States -- Politics and government - 20th century
- United States. Congress. House
- Women politicians
- Women's rights
Creator
- Jenckes, Virginia Ellis, 1877-1975 (Person)
- Title
- Virginia Ellis Jenckes papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
