Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Inventory

Introduction

The Jesse and Florence Currier Collection covers the years from 1906 to 1977, and mainly documents the careers of husband and wife. The collection includes such files as the personal and professional correspondence of the Curriers, samples of Jesse's writing, newspaper clippings, and several files on the Curriers' activities and awards they received. Jesse's scrapbook, a family photo album and loose photographs of family, friends, and activities at Bowling Green State University are also included, as well as various ephemeral materials.

The collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections in August 1995 with the cooperation of Lois White of Bowling Green, Ohio. The literary and property rights of the collection have been dedicated to the public, and duplication is permitted for scholarly research purposes. There are no restrictions on the use of this collection. The register was prepared in April 1996 by Christie Batt, undergraduate intern in history.

Biographical Sketch

Jesse Jewett Currier, a Delaware, Ohio, native was born in Madison County on December 14, 1906. He graduated from Carroll High School in Carroll, Ohio, in 1925. Jesse received his bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1931 and his master's degree from Ohio State University in 1937. He worked as a feature writer for the Columbus Dispatch and served as a correspondent for several other Ohio newspapers from 1932-1937. Mr. Currier was also the director of adult education courses for the Delaware, Ohio, Public Schools from 1935 to 1937. By 1937, he was a journalism professor at Ohio State University.

On December 21, 1936, Jesse married Florence K. Liebendorfer, who was born in Delaware, Ohio, in approximately 1909. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1931. Florence had taught English and journalism at Willis High School until she married Jesse.

In 1940, Jesse became the first director of the journalism program at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, and was instrumental in establishing the journalism major there in 1946. In addition to his directorship duties, he also taught journalism courses, served as publicity director, and supervised student publications at the University. Mr. Currier also wrote a book entitled "The Beginnings of Ohio Journalism" in 1942. He served as the executive secretary of the Northwestern Ohio Newspaper Association for a time later in life, and in February of 1967, the organization gave him an Outstanding Service Award. On May 20, 1966, the student journalists at Bowling Green State University honored Jesse for twenty-five years of service. He resigned as director of the journalism department in early 1967, but continued to teach until health considerations forced him to stop during the spring of 1969. Jesse Currier died on July 22, 1969. Prior to his death, Jesse donated money to the B.G.S.U. Foundation, and the first scholarships given in his honor were awarded in 1971. With a generous donation in 1973, Florence Currier permanently established the scholarship fund in her husband's memory. The B.G.S.U. division of the Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honor society also named itself the Jesse J. Currier Chapter in honor of the late journalism program director in 1971.

Florence Currier began her career at Bowling Green State University in 1942. Mrs. Currier was a house mother for the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, and she and Jesse served as resident counselors there until 1947. Florence was instrumental in bringing additional national sororities to campus as well as establishing the Panhellenic Council. Mrs. Currier was appointed Dean of Women in 1949, a position which she held until her retirement in 1963. In addition to creating the first handbook for female students, Florence was credited with developing residence hall activities and establishing the counselor system for those halls. Mrs. Currier also founded the Association for Women Students, as well as establishing and serving as the advisor of Cap and Gown, a senior female honorary that evolved into the Mortar Board. To honor her upon her retirement in 1963, the University created the Florence Currier Award. Florence also received the Honorary Alumnus Award from the B.G.S.U. Alumni Association in 1975, becoming only the fourth person to receive the honor up to that point in the University's history. For a time after retirement, Mrs. Currier moved back to Delaware, Ohio, but eventually returned to Bowling Green. She died on August 18, 1995, in the Otterbein-Portage Valley Retirement Center in Pemberville, Ohio.

Scope and Content

The Jesse and Florence Currier Collection very adequately documents the professional careers of both husband and wife. The newspaper clippings provide a great deal of information about the professional lives of the Curriers. Although most of the articles relate to retirement or service awards, these materials do an excellent job of summarizing the activities and achievements of Jesse and Florence during their entire careers. The documents concerning Florence's Honorary Alumnus Award demonstrate the impact of her contributions at Bowling Green State University. The large collection of articles and research materials for the Columbus Dispatch "You Ought to Know About" series provide a sample of Jesse's work in journalism early in his career. Further representations of his work are provided by course work at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as an additional undated paper presentation and newspaper article.

The collection also contains the professional and personal correspondence of Jesse and Florence Currier both as individuals and as a couple. With the exception of the letters between Jesse and Frank E. Pollard, which deal with the publishing of Jesse's thesis, these documents are very scattered, and for this reason, provide little significant insight into the work and leisure activities of the couple.

A scrapbook that dates from 1906 to 1969 documents the life and activities of Jesse Currier from childhood to the end of his life through photographs and various ephemeral materials. However, the scrapbook contains little information for time period between the mid-1930s to the late 1950s. Jesse's diary from 1926 gives a brief glimpse into his activities as a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. The collection also contains a family photo album and loose photographs of the Curriers, relatives, friends, and University life. However, most of the photographs are unidentified. Jesse Currier's funeral book relates the names of family members and friends. A small file records Florence's activities with the Shakespeare Round Table. Her work to permanently establish a scholarship fund in her husband's name is also documented. The collection provides little other information on Florence's life outside of work.

The collection is completed by various documents including several certificates and appointment books.

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE
1963, 1969, 1971, 1974-1975, 1977, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Includes the correspondence of Jesse and Florence Currier with a number of different individuals, which contain information about their personal relationships and leisure activities.

PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE
1955, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1965-1966, 1969, 1973-1974, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Contains correspondence from several university presidents and various other individuals concerning matters such as salary, service recognition, and the President' Club. Several items written by Florence as Dean of Women are also included.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM DR. JOSEPH A. DEL PORTO
April 29, 1971; May 5, 1971.
Arranged chronologically
Includes a letter to Florence Currier about Journalism week at B.G.S.U and the naming of the Kappa Tau Alpha chapter after Jesse, as well as a copy of a letter to L.J. Horton of Murray State University containing similar information.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN JESSE CURRIER AND FRANK E. POLLARD
1940-1942, 1946, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Contains letters concerning the publishing of Jesse's thesis in the Ohio Newspaper as well as more informal correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE CURRIERS AND FRANK J. PROUT
1951, 1955, 1960, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Includes such items as personal correspondence from Prout to both Jesse and Florence and a letter Jesse wrote for the Prout Recognition Dinner.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM WORLD WAR II SOLDIERS TO THE CURRIERS
1944-1945, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Contains information on such topics as the activities of the B.G.S.U. yearbook and military life.

SUBJECT FILES

MATERIAL RELATED TO THE HONORARY ALUMNUS AWARD GIVEN TO FLORENCE CURRIER
1975, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains correspondence from the Director of Alumni Affairs, congratulatory letters from various individuals, a banquet program, and a related news clipping.

JESSE J. CURRIER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND MATERIALS
(1971), 1973-1975, 1977, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Includes correspondence to and from Florence about the scholarship fund, scholarship recipient announcements, and related news clippings.

SHAKESPEARE ROUND TABLE MATERIALS
September 7, 1965; March 12, 1968; March 17, 1968.
Arranged chronologically
Includes a Shakespeare quiz, a literary analysis entitled "Shylock: A Type,", and the correspondence of Florence Currier with a prospective banquet speaker.

ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MATERIALS FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH "YOU OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT SERIES"
1934-1936, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically by first correspondence with each individual.
Includes such items as questionnaires, correspondence with various individuals, photographs and negatives, and the articles written by Jesse Currier in relation to his series of profiles on interesting Ohioans.

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

ARTICLES AND PAPERS WRITTEN BY JESSE CURRIER
n.d.
Includes a newspaper article about a faculty play at Bowling Green State University as well as a paper entitled "Ho, Every One That Thirstest."

DIARY OF JESSE CURRIER
1926 (scattered entries).
Daily entries include information on such topics as Jesse's daily activities, course work at Ohio Wesleyan University,and his work in the chemistry lab.

ENGLISH 209 COURSE WORK BY JESSE CURRIER
1928-1929 (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Includes a page out of an assignment notebook, articles written by Jesse, newspaper clippings written by others, quizzes, a blue book, and miscellaneous homework assignments.

TERM INVESTIGATION; "A COMPARISON OF NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION AND CIRCULATION SCHEMES IN ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES"
June 1939.
Consists of a paper written by Jesse Currier for his Journalism 623 class at Ohio State University comparing the circulation histories, methods, and trends in England and the United States. Also includes several tables and a bibliography.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

JESSE CURRIER'S CONTRACT WITH BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
March 23, 1964; April 14, 1964.
Arranged chronologically
Includes correspondence from the Dean of the College of Business Administration about the contract as well as a copy of the actual document for the 1964-1965 academic year.

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

APPOINTMENT BOOKS OF JESSE AND FLORENCE CURRIER
1956, 1957, 1966.
Arranged chronologically
Includes such information as the dates of Florence's important activities 1956 and 1966 and those of Jesse in 1957.

FUNERAL BOOK OF JESSE CURRIER
1969.
Includes the names of those attending visitation and grave side services, as well as those donating memorials.

NEWS CLIPPINGS OF THE CURRIERS
1960, 1963, 1965-1967, 1971-1972, 1975, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Contains articles on such topics as awards the Curriers received, their activities, and Florence's retirement.

SCRAPBOOK OF JESSE CURRIER
1906-1969 (scattered)
Includes photographs, programs, news clippings, several pieces of correspondence, and various ephemeral materials documenting Jesse's life.

PRINTED MATERIALS

CERTIFICATES
1922, 1929, 1931, 1940, 1943, 1978, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Contains certificates received by Jesse and Florence Currier including Jesse's Master of Arts diploma, Florence's teaching certificate, and several fraternity memberships.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHS
1942-1943, 1945, 1959, 1966, 1967, n.d. (scattered)
Arranged chronologically
Contains loose photographs of Jesse and Florence, their family, and friends, as well as photographs taken at Bowling Green State University and those of the banquet where Jesse was honored for his 25 years of service at the University. An oversized picture from that banquet is also included.

PHOTO ALBUM
1935-1939, n.d. (scattered)
Includes black and white photographs of Jesse and Florence, their family, vacations, scenery, their home in Delaware, Ohio, and a variety of other subjects.

Inventory

Box 1

Folder

1. Personal Correspondence to Jesse and Florence Currier n.d.
2. Personal Correspondence of Florence Currier, 1963, 1971, 1974-1975, 1977, n.d. (sc)
3. Personal Correspondence of Jesse Currier, March 12, 1969, March 26, 1969
4. Professional Correspondence to Jesse and Florence Currier July 26, 1955
5. Professional Correspondence of Florence Currier, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1973-1974, n.d. (sc)
6. Professional Correspondence of Jesse Currier, July 8, 1957, May 31, 1966, July 18, 1969
7. Correspondence from Dr. Joseph A. Del Porto, April 29, 1971, May 5, 1971
8. Correspondence Between Jesse Currier and Frank E. Pollard, 1940-1942, 1946 (sc)
9. Correspondence Between the Curriers and Frank J. Prout 1951, 1955, 1960, n.d. (sc)
10. Correspondence from World War II Soldiers to Jesse and Florence Currier and Others, 1944-1945, n.d. (sc)
11. Material Related to the Honorary Alumnus Award Given to Florence Currier, 1975, n.d.
12. Jesse J. Currier Memorial Scholarship Fund Materials, (1971), 1973-1975, 1977, n.d. (sc)
13. Shakespeare Round Table Materials, September 7, 1965, March 12, 1968, March 17, 1968
14. Articles by Jesse Currier for the Columbus Dispatch "You Ought to Know About" Series, 1936, n.d.
15. Research Materials for "You Ought to Know About" 1934-February 1936 (sc)
16. Research Materials for "You Ought to Know About" April 1936-May 1936 (sc)
17. Research Materials for "You Ought to Know About" June 1936
18. Research Materials for "You Ought to Know About", July 1936-September 1936 (sc)
19. Research Materials for "You Ought to Know About" October 1936, n.d. (sc)
20. Miscellaneous Articles and Papers Written by Jesse Currier n.d.
21. Diary of Jesse Currier, 1926
22. English 209 Course Work by Jesse Currier, 1928-1929
23. Term Investigation: "A Comparison of Newspaper Circulation and Circulation Schemes in England and the United States", June 1939
24. Jesse Currier Contract with Bowling Green State University, March 23, 1964, April 14, 1964

Box 2

Folder

1. Appointment Books of Jesse and Florence Currier, 1956, 1957, 1966
2. Funeral Book of Jesse Currier, 1969
3. Xeroxed News Clippings of Florence Currier, 1960, 1963, 1975, n.d. (scattered)
4. Xeroxed News Clippings of Jesse Currier, 1965-1967, 1971-1972, n.d. (scattered)
5. Scrapbook of Jesse Currier, 1906-1969 (scattered)
6. Certificates of Florence Currier, July 2, 1931, 1978
7. Certificates of Jesse Currier, 1922, 1929, 1940, 1943, n.d. (scattered)
8. Photographs of the Curriers and Their Family and Friends, 1942, 1959, n.d. (scattered)
9. Photographs from Bowling Green State University, 1942-1943, 1945, 1967, n.d. (scattered)
10. Photographs from Jesse Currier 25-Year Service Recognition Banquet, n.d.
11. Photographic "Christmas Newsletter", 1945

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