Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Carpenter Family papers date from 1914 to 1969. The collection consists of a diary, financial documents, educational records, subject files, and miscellaneous printed items belonging to members of the Adam T. Carpenter family of southern Wood County, Ohio; primarily items related to daughter Esther Carpenter and her teaching career.

The records were donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections in April 1992 with the cooperation of Esther Carpenter and Lindy Eynon. There are no restrictions on the research use of this collection and duplication is permitted for purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The collection was processed and the register prepared by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts, in April 1992.

Biographical Sketch

The Adam T. Carpenter Family came to southern Wood County from Pennsylvania around 1908, first to Liberty Township, and in 1914 moved to Montgomery Township. From the start Adam was involved in the oil and gas trade as a small-time producer. He also ran a small dairy farm. The family consisted of his wife, Sarah Christena (Robinson) Carpenter, and four children, Harold T. (born 1899), Mary A. (born 1908 or 1909), Otto (born Aug 5, 1910), and Esther V. (born Sept 29, 1912). Adam was also active in local organizations, being a member of the Montgomery Township Board of Education, and secretary of the Wayne Branch of the Lima Crude Oil Improvement Association.

Esther V. Carpenter, around whom the bulk of the collection is centered, was the youngest child of the family. She attended school in Montgomery Township rural schools and then went to Bowling Green State University, where she got her degree in elementary education in January, 1933. Her earliest teaching positions were in the Montgomery Township schools starting in 1934. In 1944 she was teaching second grade in Elida, Ohio. Finally, she moved into the Fostoria School system, where she taught second grade at Whittier School starting in the Fall of 1944.

Scope and Content

The bulk of the material in the Carpenter Family papers relates to Esther Carpenter's schooling and professional career in elementary education, including an almost complete series of her report cards from elementary school through high school. There are also a few grade books and lesson plan books from her early teaching jobs in the Montgomery Township schools.

The collection also gives a financial picture of the family in the form of a farm ledger from 1915-1920, with information on dairy and oil production from the Montgomery Township holdings; account sheets from Carpenter's Garage and Electrical Service, operating in Prairie Depot; and Adam Carpenter's farm and personal tax forms from 1947-1948. Also included in the Garage account volume are the minutes and membership list of the Wayne Branch of the Lima Crude Oil Improvement Association, of which Adam Carpenter was the secretary.

Other members of the Carpenter Family are represented in minor items, such as 4-H Club notes and a pocket diary kept by Mary A. Carpenter in 1927, and a school souvenir pamphlet of Otto Carpenter from Prairie Depot (Wayne) Village School for 1924.

Series Description

SUBJECT FILES

CLASS RECORD BOOKS
1934-1935, [1937?]
Arranged chronologically
Grade books of Esther Carpenter from Montgomery Township schools, beginning Sept. 1934, giving full class roster and grades for reading, arithmetic, spelling, English, writing, and geography

TEACHER LESSON PLANS
1938-1940
Arranged chronologically
Lesson plans of Esther Carpenter from Montgomery Township schools, beginning Feb. 1938, including daily assignments in reading, arithmetic, English, writing, spelling, and health

NEIL ARMSTRONG DAY
1969
Topical file of Esther Carpenter including program of events, invitation for a reception, and printed materials relating to the Neil Armstrong Homecoming celebration in Wapakoneta, Ohio Sept. 6, 1969

REPORTS

SCHOOL REPORT CARDS
1918-1928 (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
School grade cards of Esther Carpenter from 1st Grade through Junior Year in High School (some missing)

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

DIARY
1927
Pocket diary of Mary Carpenter from Jan 1-July 7, Aug 20-Sept 8, 1927, detailing family matters and daily activities

NOTEBOOK
1923
Record book of sewing projects done by Mary Carpenter as a member of the Sunshine Clothing Club, a 4-H club

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

CARPENTER FARM ACCOUNT LEDGER
1915-1920
Standard account ledger volume, with ads in front for businesses in Prairie Depot, Risingsun, and Hatton. Mostly blank, but sections include monthly dairy record (1915-1920), data on oil sold (1915), and a record of brood stock (1915-1918) Oversize wrapped.

CARPENTER'S GARAGE ACCOUNT SHEETS
1925-1926
Arranged alphabetically
Account sheets from Carpenter's Garage and Electrical Service in Prairie Depot (Wayne) giving name of account, service and charges

GARAGE PARTS RECORD
1925-1927
Memo book with lists of automotive and electrical parts ordered and record of storage charges

ACCOUNT LEDGER (WITH LIMA CRUDE OIL IMPROVEMENT ASSOC. MINUTES)
1937-1946/1930-1931
Account records of Carpenter's Garage from 1937-1946 with some information on oil lease income; in same volume with minutes for the Lima Crude Oil Improvement Association, Wayne Branch

TAX FORMS
1914, 1947-1948
Arranged chronologically
Receipt for Liberty Township property taxes of 1913; U.S. Federal Income tax forms (1040) for 1947-1948 and schedule of farm income (1040 F) for 1948

PRINTED MATERIALS

PAMPHLETS
1924
School souvenir pamphlet from Prairie depot Village School 7th and 8th grade classes, with student roster (including Otto Carpenter)

NEWSLETTERS
10 March 1944
Bulldog Review, published by the journalism class at Elida High School

CERTIFICATES
1935-1937, 1942-1944
Miscellaneous membership cards of Esther Carpenter to County, State, and National educational organizations; also, her automobile registration and ration certificates

Inventory

Box 1

1. Class record books, 1934-1935, [1937?]
2. Teacher lesson plans, 1938-1940
3. Neil Armstrong Day, 1969
4. School report cards, 1918-1928
5. Diary--Mary Carpenter, 1927
6. Notebook--Sunshine Clothing Club, 1923
7. Carpenter's Garage account sheets, 1925-1926
8. Garage parts record, 1925-1927
9. Account ledger/Lima Crude Oil minutes, 1937-1946/1930-1931
10. Tax forms, 1914, 1947-1948
11. School souvenir pamphlet, 1924
12. Elida School newsletter, 10 March 1944
13. Miscellaneous certificates, 1935-1937, 1942-1944

Oversized Wrapped

1. Carpenter farm account ledger, 1915-1920

Manuscripts by Subject | Family Bibliography | Selected Transcripts