Ruth Knarr Yerkey Papers, 1924-1928 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Sharon Brown McConnell

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Collection Overview

Title: Ruth Knarr Yerkey Papers, 1924-1928

Primary Creator: Yerkey, Ruth Knarr (1906-1987)

Extent: 1.0 Folders

Date Acquired: 07/28/1978

Subjects: Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College (1922-1930), Eastern Kentucky University--Alumni and alumnae.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Ruth Knarr Yerkey Papers were donated to the University Archives by Mrs. Yerkey (Mrs. William T. Yerkey) of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky in August 1978. This was a carefully preserved collection consisting of a number of photographs and memorabilia from Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College, 1924-28, the years Mrs. Yerkey was a student here.

This collection is divided into two series: Photographs and Publications/Memorabilia. Descriptions of the series precede the inventories and give more detail of the contents of each. This collection gives a brief composite of Mrs. Yerkey's years as a co-ed from a picture of the freshmen class, 1924, to herself in cap and gown upon her graduation. The Memorabilia series contains items relating to the social and academic climate of Eastern at that time.

Collection Historical Note

Mrs. Ruth Knarr Yerkey, who was known as "Rufy" during her years at Eastern, graduated from Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College in 1928 with a bachelor's degree in history. She also attended the University of Cincinnati, Miami University of Ohio, and the University of Kentucky. She taught for forty-one years in the Newport City Schools, both in the elementary schools and junior high schools.

She was married in 1944 to William T. Yerkey. Following her retirement, they traveled extensively, going around the world. They especially enjoyed the European countries and Alaska. Memories of these jaunts were shared with others through slide presentations. Volunteer work, especially in historic preservation, was also important during these years.

Mrs. Yerkey died on February 4, 1987 at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky where she had spent most of her life.

Subject/Index Terms

Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College (1922-1930)
Eastern Kentucky University--Alumni and alumnae.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Yerkey, Ruth Knarr

Other Note: Photographs were initially numbered with the accession number; however, a decision was made to change to collection number. The database was changed, but the numbers written on the images were not changed.

Box and Folder Listing

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Folder 1

Barcode: 31234013798366

Series 1: Photographs, 1924-1928

This series is comprised of 53 photographs which were taken when Ruth Knarr Yerkey was a student at Eastern. Many of these are snapshots of Mrs. Yerkey and her friends. Some photographs of field trips were taken when her science class went on excursions. Others are of buildings at EKU.

Item 1: Barge party on Kentucky River, 1924: Physical Description: 5x7
Item 2: Class Excursion; Natural Bridge Cave, 1924 Oct 4: Physical Description: 5x7
Item 3: Class Excursion; Lake Reba, 1924 Oct 4: Physical Description: 5x7
Item 4: Class Excursion; Bybee Pottery, 1927 Nov 12: Physical Description: 3x5
Item 5: Nature Study Trip, 1924 Oct 11: West Pinnacle of the Cumberland Mountains; Physical Description: 3x5
Item 6: Nature Study Trip, 1924 Oct 11: Nature study trip with Mr. Smith to East Pinnacle in Cumberland Mountains; Physical Description: 3x5
Item 7: Nature Study Trip, 1924 Oct 4: Group of nature students at a pinnacle rock at Natural Bridge. Includes two girls labeled as Pat and May.; Physical Description: 3x5
Item 8: Botany Class, 1925 Jan: Botany Class that includes seated- Clara Mae, Alexander Ben More, Eunice Livaner, Hazel Frinsel, Elizabeth Riddle, Elizabeth Reenes, 1st Row Standing- Ruth Knarr, Clemie Summay, Martin Skaggs, Rena Clark, Eddyth Jennings, and Virginia Griffith. Top Row- T; Physical Description: 3x5
Item 9: Barge party, 1925 Summer: Barge party on Kentucky River at Boonesborough; Physical Description: 3x5
Item 10: Ray Murphy and Ruth Knarr, 1924-1925
Item 11: Students, 1926: Students sitting on stairs of building including, Mae Cornett, Earl Eads, George, and Beulah Cornelison
Item 12: Students, 1926: Students sitting on stairs of building including, Mae Cornett and Earl Eads
Item 13: Nature study trip, 1924 Oct 4: Nature study trip at Balanced Rock at Natural Bridge
Item 14: Students in cap and gown, 1928: Women in cap and gown including May K. Kenney, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Ruth A. Knarr
Item 15: Freshman Class of 1925, 1925: In front of Roark the Freshman class of 1925
Item 16: Nature Study Class, 1924 Oct 4: Nature study class at Natural Bridge at the station of the foot of the mountain; Physical Description: 3x5
Item 17: Mae Cornett on the steps of Roark, 1926
Item 18: Women on steps, 1924 Fall: Women on steps Norean Mills, Ruth Knarr, Agnes Hays, Estella Martin
Item 19: Federal Building in Richmond, KY
Item 20: May K. Kenney, 1927
Item 21: Bybee Pottery, 1927 Nov 12
Item 22: Central University: Labeled Central University Building, but not at Eastern. May have been mislabeled.
Item 23: Men's Dorm, Memorial Hall
Item 24: Mollie Short, 1926 Sep
Item 25: Roy Murphy and Ruth Knarr on campus
Item 26: Students on Campus, 1925: Students including Anges Hayes, Lloyd Hill, Ruth Knarr, Roy Murphy, and Julia Barberick
Item 27: Burnam Hall, 1925 Mar: Girls standing on Burnam Hall fire escape stairs, including Wayne Richardson, Ruth Knarr, and Norean Mills
Item 28: Agnes Hays and Lloyd Hill on campus, 1925
Item 29: Beulah Cornelison and Ruth Knarr on campus, 1926
Item 30: Mildred Scott, 1926
Item 31: Students in the Ravine, 1927 May: Female students sitting on the grass, includes Ruth Knarr, Nancy Summay, and Hazel True
Item 32: Students in cap and gown, 1927 May: Two graduates in cap and gown, including Nancy Summay and Hope Keeney
Item 33: Lloyd Hamilton; Dewey Hendricks; and L.K. Rice, 1926
Item 34: Estella Martin in cap and gown, 1926
Item 35: Women in front of car, 1927 May: Women standing in front of a car during the Y.U. Breakfast
Item 36: Edna Mullins and Edna Prather, 1925
Item 37: Agnes Hays, 1924 Sep 24
Item 38: Students on Campus, 1927 May: Students on campus, including Martin Skaggs, Ruth Knarr, and Hazel True
Item 39: Burnam Hall, 1928
Item 40: Cloyd Wilson, 1927
Item 41: Students lying on the grass, 1927 May: Nancy Summay and Martin Skaggs lying in the grass
Item 42: Ava Howard, 1927 May: Ava Howard the May queen
Item 43: Old Burnam building, 1927 May
Item 44: Sara Marsh and Ora Kelly in front of the University Building, 1927 Fall
Item 45: Mary Hutchcraft, 1927 May
Item 46: Nancy Summay, 1927-1928
Item 47: Majorie Wilcoxson, 1927 Apr
Item 48: Cloyd Wilson, Ruth Knarr, Martin Skaggs, 1927 May
Item 49: Lucy Wallace, 1927
Item 50: Evelyn Ellison, 1927 Nov 12
Item 51: Ruth Knarr, 1927 Feb
Item 52: Hope Keeney, 1927 Feb
Item 53: Last Sunday of Senior Year, 1928 May: Lawrence Neagers and Ruth Knarr on the last Sunday of Senior year in front of a car

Series 2: Memorabilia, 1924-1928

This series is comprised of post cards of Eastern's buildings and campus, programs from Eastern and local productions, invitations to parties and proms, place cards, a graduation invitation, articles on the illness and death of President T.J. Coates, a journal of about ten pages and lists of names.

Item 54: University Building, Richmond, KY: Creator: C.T. American Art; Physical Description: Postcard
Item 55: First Christian Church, Richmond: Creator: C.T. American Art; Physical Description: Postcard
Item 56: Shakertown Inn: Creator: E.C. Kropp Co.; Physical Description: Postcard
Item 57: Sullivan Hall, Richmond, KY: Creator: C.T. American Art; Physical Description: Postcard

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