Dorothy Hedden Boyd Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-203

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Dorothy Hedden Boyd consist primarily of correspondence between Dorothy and her mother, Nellie Hedden, while Dorothy was a student at Oberlin College from 1921 to 1925. The papers also include a small amount of correspondence with other family members and her friends, miscellaneous papers of Dorothy Hedden Boyd and Nellie Hedden, and photographs of family members, Dorothy's wedding, and homes.

Dates

Creation: 1903-1945, undated
Creation: Majority of material found in 1921-1927
Other: Date acquired: 1989 August 25

Creator

Boyd, Dorothy Hedden (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

One folder in Series 2 is restricted as noted on the inventory.

Biographical Sketch

Dorothy Hedden was born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 28, 1902, the daughter of Clarence Myers and Nellie Estelle Hamilton Hedden. In 1921, she enrolled in Oberlin College where she majored in psychology and served as secretary of the Sigma Gamma Literary Society. On graduation (A.B. in psychology) in 1925, she listed her plans for the ensuing months as travel. Notes in alumni publications report her being in Egypt and Turkey. On April 7, 1926, Dorothy married Arnold Riley Boyd (d. 1955), a New York attorney. A son, Robert Hedden Boyd, was born on October 14, 1927.

From 1926 until 1956, Dorothy Hedden Boyd served as a board member and/or officer with various voluntary community organizations and social service agencies. These included: The Pelham Woman’s Exchange (President 1937-40); The American Red Cross, Pelham Branch (Director and Chairman of Publicity, 1945); Pelham Community Services (Treasurer, 1946-47); and The Pelham Community Chest (Director, 1947). During these same years, she was also active in the County Council of Social Agencies, the Visiting Nurses Association, and the Family Service Organization.

After her husband’s death on March 25, 1955, Mrs. Boyd enrolled in the New York University School of Education and received an A.M. degree in 1957. During 1957-58, she worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the New York State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in New York City. In 1958, she became a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Queensboro Tuberculosis and Health Association in Jamaica, New York. She remained in that position until the ill health of her son and a sister's terminal illness led her to resign in 1964.

She subsequently settled in Warwick, New York, where she became active in community and church activities. Poor health forced her to curtail many activities in later years.

Dorothy Hedden Boyd died on January 20, 1989.

Sources Consulted:

In RG 28 Alumni and Development Records:

Boyd, Dorothy Hedden, Letter to the Class of 1925, 1970.

New York University Office of Information Service, Notice of degree granted to Dorothy Hedden Boyd, 1957.

Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blanks, 1926 and 1948.

Oberlin College, Class of 1925 Directory, 1984.

Oberlin College 125th Alumni Report Blank, 1958.

Oberlin Alumni Magazine (June 1926).

Oberlin Review (May 8, 1925, November 17, 1925)

Note written by Elizabeth Brinkman.

Extent

0.70 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The papers of Dorothy Hedden Boyd were received by the Oberlin College Archives from Elizabeth G. Fuller, Librarian, the Westchester County Historical Society, in 1989. They were initially donated to the Westchester County Historical Society by Rachel Bernstein, a member of the Department of History, New York University (date unknown).