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Descriptive Summary

Call No.: MC 511
Repository: Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute
Creator: Nolen Family
Title: Papers of the Nolen-Schatte family, 1886-1990 (inclusive), 1886-1954 (bulk)
Quantity: 19 1/2 file boxes, 2 folio boxes, 1 supersize folder, 5 objects, 1 photograph folder
Abstract: Papers of city planner and landscape architect John Nolen, his wife, Barbara Schatte Nolen, and their children.

Processing Information:

Acquisition Information:

TERMS OF USE:

Use Restrictions:

BIOGRAPHY

John Nolen, son of John Christopher and Mathilda (Thomas) Nolen, was born June 14, 1869 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was killed shortly after John's birth and when John was nine, his mother remarried. At that point, John was accepted at Girard College, a boys' school for orphans. Following his graduation in 1884, John worked at the Girard Estate for six years, earning money to attend the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School (Ph.B., 1893). During the summers from 1892 to 1894, he was superintendent of Onteora Park, a resort in the Catskill Mountains for people interested in drama, art, and music. From 1893 to 1903, he was secretary of the American Society for the Extension of University Teaching. In 1903, he enrolled in the School of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University (A.M., 1905). Over the next 30 years, he and his associates handled over 400 public planning projects and works of landscape architecture. Included in these projects was the planning and development of 50 cities, including Kingsport, Tennessee, and Mariemont, Ohio. He served as president of the American City Planning Institute, the National Conference on City Planning, and the International Federation for Housing and Town Planning, and was an honorary member of the Town Planning Institute of England. He died of cancer on February 18, 1937.

Mary Ann Barbara (Schatte) Nolen, daughter of Gustav Emil and Louisa (Conrad) Schatte, was born February 13, 1872, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Called Barbara, she was the youngest of four children, and she maintained close relationships with her siblings, Conrad Schatte (January 15, 1864-November 30, 1915), Marie Humphrey (December 1, 1864-July 2, 1924), and Emma Zesinger (March 28, 1868-December 24, 1922). Gustav Emil died of typhoid and pneumonia May 2, 1872. Five years later, Louisa fell ill with tuberculosis and died January 20, 1879, after several months at the Episcopal Hospital. On November 15, 1877, Conrad was sent to live with an aunt, and Marie, Emma, and Barbara were admitted to the Episcopal Church Home for Children. Family friends, Effingham and Mary Elena (Burroughs) Perot, took in the three girls, who called them "stern guardian" and "Bonnie." Barbara graduated from the Girls' Normal School in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania in June 1891. She taught at the James Forten Public School, a primary school in Philadelphia designed to serve a slum neighborhood, from 1891 to 1894. She died December 10, 1954.

John Nolen and Barbara Schatte met in 1899 at a meeting of a Sunday reading group hosted by Mrs. Perot. They were engaged in October 1894 and were married April 22, 1896. They had four children, John "Jack" Nolen, Jr. , Barbara Nolen Strong, Edward "Ted" Schatte Nolen, and Humphrey Nolen. Jack, born February 28, 1898, graduated from MIT with a degree in civil engineering in 1920 and pursued a 40-year career in urban planning, spent mainly as Director of the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington, D.C. Barbara, born December 19, 1902, graduated from Smith College in 1924 and pursued a career in children's book publishing. Ted, born February 11, 1905, was a construction engineer with the National Broadcasting Corporation. Humphrey, born September 2, 1911, was employed by Draper and Company, a woolen business.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection contains correspondence, household account books, accounts of childhood illnesses, scrapbooks, a copy book, etc., relating to two generations of the Nolen and Schatte families. Folder titles were created by Barbara Nolen Strong; information in brackets was added by the processor. The collection is divided into three series.

Series I, Biographical and Personal, 1892-1990 (#1.1-1.9, 20.1v, 21.1v-21.2, 22.1v), includes biographical clippings, Nolen and Schatte family histories, an account of childhood illness, scrapbooks, household account books, Barbara (Schatte) Nolen’s diploma and teacher’s certificate, and a copy book. The account of childhood illness chronicles Barbara (Nolen) Strong’s bout of pneumonia in 1904, when she was 15 months old. There is a written account of her symptoms and treatments, as well as a ledger-like tracking of her temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, medicine, and urinary and bowel movements. The three scrapbooks contain clippings, programs, menus, photographs, etc., documenting John Nolen’s education, in particular at Girard College and the Wharton School of Business; lectures and concerts attended by John and Barbara (Schatte) Nolen; and John and Barbara Nolen’s wedding trip to Europe. Folders are arranged with the biographical clippings first, followed by the Nolen and Schatte family histories, and the remaining items in chronological order.

Series II, Correspondence, 1889-1954 (#1.10-19.5, 21.3v), contains a series of numbered “bundles” that were identified by Barbara Nolen Strong. The arrangement is roughly chronological and begins with letters between John Nolen and Barbara (Schatte) Nolen, followed by correspondence among John Nolen and Barbara Schatte and their children, and letters to John Nolen and Barbara (Schatte) Nolen from friends. Folder #1.10 contains Barbara (Nolen) Strong’s inventory of the collection, especially the correspondence “bundles,” which provides biographical information about many of the correspondents. The letters document life in Philadelphia in the late 1800s, including detailed accounts of lectures the Nolens' attended. There are also several letters from John Nolen describing his summer work as supervisor of Onteora Park, a resort in the Catskills. Beginning in 1894, the letters evolve from those between friends to courtship letters, and an engagement announcement was issued in October. Letters of congratulations on their engagement were pasted into a scrapbook and can be found in #21.3v and #3.4-3.5. Correspondence between John Nolen and Barbara (Schatte) Nolen following their marriage in 1896 includes descriptions of their children’s activities; news from friends and family; accounts of John’s education, his European travel, and his work as a city planner; and general accounts of their daily activities. Correspondence with the children includes details of family members' lives and plans to visit each other. Letters from friends contain news about their families, common friends, and accounts of events the Nolens' might have enjoyed.

Series III, Photographs, ca.1893-ca.1954 (#PD1), contains photographs removed from Series I and II.

INVENTORY

• Series I. BIOGRAPHICAL AND PERSONAL
  Scope and Content: Includes biographical clippings, Nolen and Schatte family histories, an account of childhood illness, scrapbooks, household account books, Barbara (Schatte) Nolen’s diploma and teacher’s certificate, and a copy book.
  • 1.1. Biographical clippings, 1960-1990, n.d.
  • 1.2. Nolen family history, 1980; includes family tree.
    DO NOT PHOTOCOPY.
  • 1.3. Schatte family history, 1972, 1977; includes family tree.
    DO NOT PHOTOCOPY.
  • SD.1. Barbara Schatte Nolen diploma from the Girls' Normal School (1891) and teaching certificate (1892)
  • 1.4. Copy book [disbound], notes by Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1892.
  • 20.1v. John Nolen educational materials, 1893-1901.
  • Mem.1. [Statue committee ribbon from Girard Statue unveiling removed from #20.1v.]
    FILED WITH MEMORABILIA.
  • 1.5. [Loose items removed from 20.1v, 1893-1901.]
    Includes reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 21.1v. Programs and notices of lectures and concerts, 1894-1898; includes uncataloged photographs.
  • Mem.2. [Girard College alumni ribbon from Girard Statue unveiling removed from #21.1v.]
    FILED WITH MEMORABILIA.
  • 21.2. [Loose items removed from #21.1v, 1894-1898]
  • 22.1v. Barbara Schatte Nolen wedding trip mementos, 1896; includes photographs.
  • 1.6. [Loose items removed from 22.1v, 1896]
  • 1.7. Home notes [re: yard work at] Blytheham, 1899; includes advertisements for sale of house (1907?)
  • 1.8. Household account books, 1899-1902
  • 1.9. Medical notes on children, 1904; includes account of Barbara Nolen Strong's bout with pneumonia.

• Series II. CORRESPONDENCE
  Scope and Content: Contains a series of numbered “bundles” that were identified by Barbara (Nolen) Strong. The arrangement is roughly chronological and begins with letters between John Nolen and Barbara (Schatte) Nolen, followed by correspondence among John Nolen and Barbara Schatte and their children, and letters to John Nolen and Barbara (Schatte) Nolen from friends. Folder #1.10 contains Barbara (Nolen) Strong’s inventory of the collection, especially the correspondence “bundles,” which provides biographical information about many of the correspondents.
  • 1.10. Barbara Nolen Strong inventory and notes, 1990
  • 1.11. #1 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1889-1890
  • 1.12. #2 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1891
  • 1.13. #3 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1892
  • 1.14. #4 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1893
  • 1.15. #5 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, January 1 - May 6, 1894
  • 1.16-1.17. #6 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, March 17 - September 30, 1894
  • 2.1-2.2. #6A Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, January 30 - September 24, 1894
  • 2.3. #7 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, October 4-19, 1894; includes declaration of love.
  • 2.4. #8 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, October 21-31, 1894, October 20, 1895
  • 2.5-2.7. #9 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, November 2 - December 31, 1894
  • 2.8-2.11. #10 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, January 1 - November 20, 1895.
    Folder #2.10 includes reference copy of photograph; original in #PD.1.
  • 2.12. #11 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, February 5 - April 9, 1896
  • 3.1-3.3. #12 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, October 4 - December 29, 1894
  • 21.3v. Engagement congratulation letters, 1894.
    Each letter and corresponding envelope numbered. Envelopes in #21.3v and letters in #3.4-3.5.
  • 3.4-3.5. [Letters removed from #21.3v, 1894.]
    Each letter and corresponding envelope numbered. Envelopes in #21.3v and letters in #3.4-3.5.
  • 3.6-3.9. #13 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, 1895
  • 3.10. #14 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, January 10 - April 20, 1896
  • 3.11. #15 Miscellaneous to Barbara Schatte Nolen concerned with James Forten School, 1892-1896
  • 3.12. #17 Elliston Perot to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1889-1894
  • 3.13-3.14. #18 Mary Elena Burroughs and Effingham Perot to Barbara Schatte and John Nolen, 1891-1893
  • 4.1-4.4. #19 To Barbara Schatte and John Nolen re: wedding trip to Europe, 1896
  • 4.5-4.7. #20 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, September 1896 - December 1900
  • 4.8. #20A to John Nolen from various people re: office at University Extension, 1898
  • 4.9-4.12. #21 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, September 2, 1896 - May 3, 1900
  • 5.1-5.3. #22 To Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen, re: birth of John Nolen, Jr. (February 28), 1898
  • 5.4-5.5. #23 John Nolen and Barbara Schatte Nolen to each other re: European trip, June 5, 1901 - June 12, 1902.
  • Mem.3-5. [Pin and 2 uniform buttons from the Hamburg-American shipping line removed from #5.4.]
    FILED WITH MEMORABILIA.
  • 5.6. #23A Miscellaneous letters and cards re: European trip, 1901-1902; includes Mary Beard.
  • 5.7. #24 From German cousins, November 1901 - November 1903
  • 5.8. #25 Mrs. Effingham Perot to John Nolen, 1901
  • 5.9-5.10. #26 Letters and receipts to John Nolen re: Blytheham and sale to new owner, William J. Byrnes, 1902-1903.
  • 5.11. #27 Receipts and notes from Blytheham, 1903
  • 5.12-5.13. #29/30 [Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen to each other], September 15, 1902 - September 26, 1903
  • 6.1-6.3. #31 John Nolen from Barbara Schatte Nolen and others, Harvard Summer School, 1903
  • 6.4-6.5. #31 A summer: Orr's Island, Maine, 1903.
    Folder #6.4 includes reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 6.6-6.8. #32 [John Nolen] resignation from University Extension, 1902-1903
  • 6.9. #33 Move to Cambridge, to or from John Nolen, 1903
  • 6.10-6.12. #35 Housing, etc., Cambridge area, July-September 1903
  • 7.1-7.2. #36 Echoes of New England and new interests, 1903-1904
  • 7.3-7.4. #36B John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen. First job, Charlotte, North Carolina, before graduation, February 1905.
  • 7.5-7.6. #37 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen. Visit to Wilkes-Barre, 1906.
  • 7.7-7.9. #38 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen. Summer: mostly Bailey Island, Maine, to London, Germany, 1906.
    Includes reference copy of photograph; original in #PD.1.
  • 7.10-7.12. #39 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1906
  • 7.13-7.14. #40 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1905
  • 8.1-8.3. #41 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1906
  • 8.4-8.7. #42 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen. California [and Charlotte, North Carolina], 1907.
  • 8.8-8.12. #43 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, 1907
  • 9.1-9.5. #44 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1908
  • 9.6-9.10. #44A Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, January-June 1908
  • 10.1-10.4. #44B Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, July-December 1908
  • 10.5-10.6. #44C John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1908
  • 10.7-10.9. #45 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1909
  • 10.10-10.11. #46 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1909
  • 10.12. #47 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1909
  • 11.1-11.3. #48 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, 1909
  • 11.4-11.5. #49 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, April-December 1910
  • 11.6-11.7. #50 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, 1910
  • 11.8-11.11. #50A John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1910
  • 11.12-11.14. #51 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1911
  • 12.1-12.3. #52 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1912
  • 12.4. #53 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1913
  • 12.5-12.8. #54 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1914
  • 12.9-12.10. #55 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, Dublin, 1914
  • 12.11. #56 From Lord and Lady Aberdeen, 1915-1917
  • 12.12. #57 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1915
  • 12.13. #58 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1915-1919
  • 12.14. #58A John Nolen, Jr. to Barbara Schatte Nolen, Bath [Maine] shipyard, 1917-1918
  • 13.1. #59 Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen to each other, Panama, 1921
  • 13.2-13.3. #59A John Nolen, Jr. to Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen, 1923-1925.
    Include reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 13.4. #60 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, miscellaneous, 1922-1927
  • 13.5. #61 Edward and Humphrey Nolen to John Nolen re: [Robert] Byrd lecture, 1926
  • 13.6-13.9. #63 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor, 1928-1929.
    Folder #13.7 includes reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 13.10-13.11. #64 Barbara Nolen Strong and David to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor, 1928-1930. #13.10 includes letter re: womb supporter form of birth control.
  • 13.12. #64A Barbara Schatte Nolen European trip, 1930; includes an uncataloged photograph.
    Includes reference copy of photograph; original in #PD.1.
  • 14.1-14.2. #68 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1931-1932. Folder #14.1 includes letter re: John's visit to German nudist colony, "Sonnenland," 1931.
  • 14.3. #69 The Vienna connection, 1927, 1932-1933
  • 14.4. #69A John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor to Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen, 1932
  • 14.5.-14.7. #69C Effects of the Depression, 1933.
    Folder #14.6 includes reference copy of photograph; original in #PD.1.
  • 14.8. #70 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor, 1932
  • 14.9. #71 Jane Unwin to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1926-1931; more about Unwins, 1941-1949.
  • 14.10. #72 John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1928-1934
  • 14.11-14.12. #73 Barbara Schatte Nolen from John Nolen and others, 1931
  • 14.13-14.15. #73A Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor in Europe, January 1934 - June 1935.
    Folder #14.15 includes reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 15.1. #73AA John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, May-October 1934
  • 15.2. #73B John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor to Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen, 1935
  • 15.3. #73C John Nolen, Sr. to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1936
  • 15.4. #74 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor (John Nolen died February 18, 1937), October-December 1937
  • 15.5. #74A Edward Nolen and Miriam Nolen [and other in-laws] to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor, 1938
  • 15.6-15.7. #74C Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor, July-December 1938
  • 15.8. #75 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr. and Eleanor, 1939
  • 15.9. #75A Barbara Schatte to John Nolen, Jr., January-May 1940.
    Includes reference copy of photograph; original in #PD.1.
  • 15.10. #76 Barbara Nolen Strong and David to John Nolen, Jr., January-August 1940
  • 15.11-15.12. #78 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr., January-May 1941; folder #15.12 includes an uncataloged photograph.
  • 16.1-16.2. #79 Barbara Schatte Nolen visit to Lavells at Lake of Bays, June 1941 - January 1942
  • 16.3. #80 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr., December 1941 - June 1942
  • 16.4. #81 Barbara Schatte Nolen to John Nolen, Jr., January-July 1942
  • 16.5. #82 Barbara Schatte Nolen and Christopher Nolen to John Nolen, Jr., August 20 - October 18, 1943
  • 16.6-16.7. #82A Barbara Schatte Nolen from family members, 1950-1954; folder #16.7 includes an uncataloged photograph.
  • 16.8. #83 Mr. and Mrs. Perot to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1909-1917
  • 16.9-16.10. #84 Mrs. Perot to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1924-1932
  • 16.11-16.12. #85 Mrs. Perot to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1934-1939
  • 17.1-17.3. #86 Mrs. Perot to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1940-1942
  • 17.4. #87 Dorothy Richardson to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1930-1939; includes uncataloged photographs.
  • 17.5. #88 Miscellaneous from German cousins, 1902-1914
  • 17.6. #89 Letters to Barbara Schatte Nolen from sisters Emma Zesinger and Marie Humphrey, 1919-1923
  • 17.7. #90 Miscellaneous to Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen, 1901-1903
  • 17.8-17.9. #91 Assorted family and friends to Barbara Schatte Nolen and John Nolen, 1915-1931; folder #17.8 includes uncataloged photographs.
  • 17.10. #92 Assorted friends, 1904-1932
  • 17.11. #93 Miscellaneous to John Nolen to Barbara Schatte Nolen, mostly Europe, 1932
  • 17.12. #94 World War II from Henry Wunsch to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1942-1944
  • 17.13. #95 To Barbara Schatte Nolen from various nieces and nephews, 1942-1954
  • 17.14. #96 Jackie Braun and Konrad Braun, 1938-1952.
    Includes reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 17.15-17.16. #97 Miscellaneous notes/European school brochures (1911), 1903-1925
  • 18.1. #98 Cecil Lavell to John Nolen, 1902-1904
  • 18.2. #99 Undated Cecil Lavell to John Nolen from Grinnell, Iowa, 1917-1934
  • 18.3. #99A Kitty Lavell to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1914-1952
  • 18.4-18.5. #100 Edward Howard Griggs to John Nolen, 1899-1904.
    Folder #18.4 includes reference copies of photographs; originals in #PD.1.
  • 18.6-18.7. #101 Franklin S. Edmonds to John Nolen, 1894-1895
  • 18.8-18.9. #102 Franklin S. Edmonds to John Nolen, 1896-1899
  • 18.10-18.11. #102A Franklin S. Edmonds to John Nolen, 1897-1900
  • 19.1. #103 Franklin S. Edmonds to John Nolen and Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1900-1904
  • 19.2. #103A Franklin S. Edmonds and Elise Edmonds to Barbara Schatte Nolen, 1924-1946
  • 19.3. #104 Girls' Normal School, class of 1891, miscellaneous letters, 1927-1953; includes an uncataloged photograph.
  • 19.4-19.5. #105 Miscellaneous cards and notes, 1932; folder #19.5 includes uncataloged photographs.

• Series III. PHOTOGRAPHS
  Scope and Content: Includes photographs removed from Series I and II.
  • PD.1. Photographs removed from #1.5, 2.10, 6.4, 7.9, 13.2, 13.3, 13.7, 13.12, 14.6, 14.15, 15.9, 17.14, 18.4, 22.1v

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