The Ward M. Canaday Center

for Special Collections

The University of Toledo

Finding Aid

Marzouela Graver Diaries, 1934-1988

MSS-283

Size: 3 linear feet

Provenance: Received from Judy Sikorski

Access: Open

Collection Summary: Collection consists of the diaries of Marzouela Graver, of Toledo, Ohio, and Bay City, Michigan. The diaries detail daily activities of Graver for these years: 1934, 1941-1950, 1952, 1954-1957, 1959-1988.

 

Subject: Social Life and Customs; Women

 

Processing Note: Scattered items filed inside the diaries remain therein.

 

Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns.  Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code.  The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

 

Completed by: Mariah Startzman, September 2014; last updated: Arjun Sabharwal, November 2014

 

 

Biographical Sketch

 

            Marzouela L. Graver was born on October 26, 1905, and spent most of her life in both Toledo, Ohio, and Bay City, Michigan. She was married to Floyd Graver and they had one child of their own, Barbara. The Gravers also took care of a girl named “Bobbie” for a short while before adopting her and renaming her “Judy.” Marzouela Graver was involved in her church and attended almost every week. She also enjoyed going to the theater, especially at the local (Toledo) Repertoire Little Theatre. Floyd Graver passed away on September 11, 1972. Marzouela Graver passed away May 1, 1992, in Toledo, Ohio.

            During her lifetime, Mrs. Graver keep diaries of daily activities. The diaries range from the 1930s and end in 1988, with several years not included. It is not known whether or not she did not write for those years or the diaries were lost. It is also unknown why the diaries stopped in 1988, four years before her death.

 

Scope and Content Note

 

The diaries range from the mid-1930s to the late 1980s. The years included in this collection are 1934, 1941-1950, 1952, 1954-1957, and 1959-1988. The diaries recount Graver’s daily activities. Many of the diaries are also filled with clippings and those are either included in the folder or are still in the pages of the diaries. The diaries also came with other documents, mostly programs from Toledo theater productions she had attended throughout her lifetime.

The diaries provide a remarkably full account of the activities of a typical middle class woman living in Toledo during this time period.  

 

 

Series List

 

Series

Description

S1

Diaries of Marzouela L. Graver

S2

Misc. Documents

 

 

Folder List

 

Series 1: Diaries of Marzouela L. Graver

Box

Folder

Items

1

1

1934

1

2

1941

1

3

1942

1

4

1943

1

5

1944

1

6

1945

1

7

1946

1

8

1947

1

9

1948

1

10

1949

1

11

1950

1

12

1951

1

13

1952

1

14

1955

1

15

1956

1

16

1957

1

17

1959

1

18

1960

1

19

1961

1

20

1962

2

21

1963

2

22

1964

2

23

1965

2

24

1966

2

25

1967

2

26

1968, 1969

2

27

1970

2

28

1971

2

29

1972

2

30

1973

2

31

1974

2

32

1975

2

33

1976

2

34

1977

2

35

1978

2

36

1979

3

37

1980

3

38

1981

3

39

1982

3

40

1983

3

41

1984

3

42

1985

3

43

1986

3

44

1987

3

45

1988

Series 2: Misc. Documents

Box

Folder

Items

3

46

Misc.

3

47

Repertoire Little Theatre