Barbara Abel Papers, 1925-1989
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith College Northampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Carrie Baldwin. 2008-07-16
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Barbara Abel Papers
Creation of Barbara Abel Papers
Time of Creation of Barbara Abel Papers
Abel, Barbara
Biographical History for: Barbara Abel Papers
Biographical Note Poem by Barbara Abel, October 16, 1952 Writer, editor, and public relations specialist Barbara Abel was born on January 5, 1895, in Elizabethtown, New York. She was the second daughter of Lucinda Pond and William H. Abel, who worked for the railroad in Chicago. Abel's mother journeyed from Chicago to Elizabethtown, the family's home in the Adirondacks, for the births of both Barbara and her sister. Barbara grew up in Chicago, but spent summers in Elizabethtown among extended family. Educated in the public schools in Springfield, Illinois, and Kansas City, Missouri, Abel started college at Kansas University, then transferred to Northwestern University where she earned a B.A. in 1918. Immediately after college, she worked for the Evanston, Illinois, News Index (1918-19) covering "deaths and women's clubs." In 1920 she became Publicity Secretary for the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Abel joined the staff of the YWCA of the U.S.A. as managing editor of its magazine The Womans Press in July of 1925. She began her regular column "The Press Pussy" in January 1926. An extremely popular humorous look at the YWCA, it was a regular feature of the magazine until December 1944. In addition to this monthly column, Abel wrote a wide variety of pieces for the Womans Press, as well as many skits for use at meetings, conferences, and Conventions. She and her "dearest friend of decades standing," Florence Nichols, also regularly produced delightful cartoons on YWCA themes for the Womans Press. Abel left the National Association in the fall of 1931 to become Publicity Director for the Metropolitan Chicago YWCA. In 1945 she returned to New York City to take the job of Public Relations Director for the Community Chests and Councils of the U.S.A. (CCC) where she edited their magazine Community and developed a similarly beloved column, "The Red Feather." Among her duties at CCC was drafting annual campaign kick-off speeches for the U.S. President and Vice President. She retired from CCC in 1960. One colleague wrote at her retirement, "Now I shall have to resign myself to uninspired and turgid prose, and I don't like the idea at all." In addition to her work for the YWCA and CCC, Abel published "light verse" in The New Yorker and other "leading magazines," and wrote articles for the National Dairy Association. In retirement, Abel and Nichols divided their time between Abel's summer house "Bob-up" in Elizabethtown, and a small New York City apartment where Abel took on the odd freelance writing project. She died in Elizabethtown on May 22, 1966. In a memorial tribute, Abel's friend and colleague Henry W. Kritzmacher, described Barbara as "among the elite who foresaw sophistication in a field where the blunt, outstretched hand was rampant." He characterized her work as "a pinnacle of creative writing art which etched its message in a concise, trenchant comment that tore away sham, and in a wry humor . . . sold by underselling, or spanked by patting fiery heads."
The Barbara Abel Papers came to the Sophia Smith Collection with the YWCA of the U.S.A. Records in 2002. The YWCA received them from Marion O. Robinson in 1977.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Barbara Abel Papers consist of 1.5 linear ft. and are primarily related to her professional life, dating from 1918 to 1989. Types of materials include correspondence, speeches, photographs, press releases, reports, journal and newspaper articles, magazine columns, scripts for skits and plays, speeches, writings, editorial files, and memorabilia. The bulk of the papers date from 1926 to 1960 and consist primarily of scripts for skits and magazine columns for the YWCA and Community Chests and Councils of America. Other files give a sense of Abel's work as an editor an speech writer. Though the biographical materials are scant, her lively personality and wit are abundantly represented in the writings and correspondence.
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions.
Copyright ownership of Barbara Abel's writings is unknown. Copyright to materials authored by persons other than Barbara Abel may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Processed by Maida Goodwin, June 2008
American wit and humor--Women authors--20th century--Sources
lcsh
Charities--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Public relations--History--20th century--Sources
Women journalists--United States--Biography--Sources
Women editors--United States--Biography--Sources
lcnaf
Community Chests and Councils of America--History
Womans Press
Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A.--History--Sources
Community Chests and Councils of America
Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A.
series
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, CORRESPONDENCE, AND PHOTOGRAPHS (1918-1989)
This series contains a small amount of general biographical material, much of it tributes written at the time of Abel's retirement from United Community Funds and Councils of America in 1966; a small amount of correspondence; and some photographs of Abel, Florence Nichols, and of productions of skits written by Barbara Abel.
SERIES II. WRITINGS (1940-1963)
The bulk of the writings in this series are miscellaneous personal pieces, such as poems, songs, and retirement tributes to friends. There are also a couple of general pieces on group work and social service themes. Writings done as part of Abel's work for organizations are in SERIES III.
SERIES III. ORGANIZATIONS (1926-1966)
This series consists of correspondence, and columns, pamphlets, skits, speeches, newsletters, conference proceedings, retirement tributes, and a variety of other pieces written in the course of Abel's work as editor and publicity director for a variety of organizations. Also included are materials related to volunteer efforts on behalf of membership organizations, such as the National Council of Social Work, and a variety of professional organizations and conferences of community welfare organizations. The series is arranged alphabetically by name of the organization.
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS CORRESPONDENCE, AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Biographical materials
General 1918-89, n.d.
Florence Nichols 1927-48, n.d.
Retirement
Correspondence 1960
Party5 Jun 1960
Correspondence, general 1941-60, n.d.
Photographs 1938-60, n.d.
SERIES II. WRITINGS
Poems and songs 1950-63, n.d.
Miscellaneous 1943-61, n.d.
"Friends of the Family," pamphlet for local United Funds and Chests 1961
"Let's Work in Groups! (A Dramatic Monologue with song)" 1947, n.d.
Tributes (mostly poems) to colleagues and friends 1940-61, n.d.
SERIES III. ORGANIZATIONS
Community Chests and Councils of America, Inc./United Community Funds and Councils of America [United Way]
General 1944-61, n.d.
"The Red Feather" column
General 1947-55, n.d.
Copies of column in Community, United Community Funds and Councils of America magazine 1945-55
Correspondence re ending of column 1956-57
Retirement tributes
For Ralph BlanchardFeb 1960
For Lois 1957
Skits
Miscellaneous 1949-58, n.d.
"Follow the Leadership," for Council Leaders Conference 1961
Speeches
Drafts for CCC/UCFC personnel 1958-61
Drafts for President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon 1954-58
Community Welfare Council Leaders Conference: skit, "The Mop Up" 1959
Council of Affiliate Agencies of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies: skit, "Delegate Body (and Soul)" 1948
Council on Foundations, 15th Annual Conference, editing of Proceedings 1964
National Conference of Social Work
"The Clean Up" 1938
"The Gates of Paradise: a light-hearted skit on citizen participation (Volunteer Service to you!)" 1947
"There Oughta Be a Law! (Citizen Participation in Words and Music)" 1948
"Keep It Confidential" and "Let's Make a Study!" 1952
Speech: "On Being and Individual Agency" 1956
National Council on Social Welfare: skit "Careers in Arrears" 1956-57
National Dairy Council: pamphlets 1950-53, n.d.
National Social Welfare Assembly: editing 1954-61
National Social Work Publicity Council, Chicago Chapter: "Frollies" 1935-40, n.d.
United Defense Fund
Skit for staff conference: "Report from Region Eight" 1951
Speech for E.A. Roberts 1953
Welfare Public Relations Council of Greater Chicago: skit, "Well, Well, Welfare!: a comedy skit on Citizen Participation" 1950
YWCA of Chicago
General 1935-44, n.d.
The Tower of B'Abel, publicity department newsletter 1935-44 [incomplete]
YWCA of the U.S.A.
Correspondence 1938-60
Miscellaneous 1930-65, n.d.
"Committee on Space: A World Fellowship Skit with a Sense of Humus" 1959
Follow the Leadership and Other Skits, Womans Press 1938
"The Minute Girls Face the Future" 1965-66
"Mother Earth and Her Children," as given at the conference on the cause and cure of warJan 1931
"The Payoff Cometh" 1946
"Personnel, Inc." 1947
"Portrait of Lucinda," for World YWCA Centennial 1953-55
"The Shoestring Express" and "Where do We Go From Here?," Convention 1949
"Subcommittee on Brass Tacks," Convention 1952
"Void if Detached: a YWCA Membership Skit in One Act" 1951
"Y-olanthe" 1929
Slide script for Convention 1961[see also YWCA of the U.S.A. Records, Slides]
Other writings
Miscellaneous 1928-51, n.d.
"Knife, Fork, and Spoon River Anthologies" (short poems about YWCA staff)n.d.
The Press Pussy: miscellaneous 1942, 1988, n.d.
"The Press Pussy" column for The Womans Press 1926-44
"Personnel-with a Purr" column for The YWCA Magazine 1957-58