Marjorie Butters memoir

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: IWA1430

Scope and Contents

The Marjorie Butters papers date from 1999 and measure 0.25 linear inches (1 folder). The collection contains a spiral bound memoir, “A Patchwork Quilt of Memories,” written by Butters. The memoir covers Butters’ childhood in rural South Dakota, her family’s move to Iowa during the Great Depression, the death of her first husband, the birth of her two daughters and death of her second daughter to cystic fibrosis, life as a grandmother, and reunions with her sisters. Included in the memoir are also poems by Butters and others, drawings by Butters, and photographs to accompany the stories.

Dates

Creation: 1999

Creator

Butters, Marjorie Mae (1924-2017) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

Copyright status for collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner.  Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Archives as the source of the material. For further information, visit the Special Collections and Archives website.

Biographical / Historical

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Marjorie Mae Havens was born in 1924 in rural Todd County, South Dakota to Susie Ekleberry Havens and Alfred Havens. She was one of seven daughters. In 1937, the family moved to Marshalltown, Iowa for better conditions during the Great Depression. Soon after moving to Iowa, the family joined the Nazarene Church, and the five oldest Havens daughters, who became known as the “Havens Girls”, sang on a radio program put on by the church. Havens graduated from Montour High School in 1942.

After graduating from high school, Havens attended the Iowa Teacher’s College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She completed a 12-week teaching program and became certified to teach in rural one-room schoolhouses. She taught in various schools across Poweshiek County and Tama County until Iowa closed all one-room schoolhouses in 1966.

In 1945, Havens began writing letters to Tom Yandell, a former high school classmate and member of the Marine Corps who was serving in the Southern Pacific theater during WWII. After he returned, the two were engaged and later married in 1951. He passed away from a construction accident at work in 1952. She remained close with the Yandell family after her husband’s passing.

She met her second husband Russel “Dean” Butters at the Marshall Printing Company, where they both worked. They got married in 1956 in Iowa City and had two daughters, Susan and Andrea. Andrea passed away at the age of 16 from cystic fibrosis.

Beginning in 1987, Butters and her sisters began coordinating “Havens Sisters” reunions for every other year. She gave talks about her life at various women’s clubs across the state. She remained active in her church and sang in the choir for decades.

Majorie Butters passed away in 2017.

Full Extent

1 linear inch

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Wife, mother, and country schoolteacher who grew up in rural South Dakota and moved to the Marshalltown, Iowa area during the Great Depression. The collection contains a memoir written by Butters about her childhood, family, and life in Iowa.