Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: Jennie Bradley Roessing Papers
Creator: Roessing, Jennie Bradley
Collection Number: AIS.1964.24
Extent: 1.875 Linear Feet
Date: 1887-1962
Abstract: Jennie Bradley Roessing was an active participant in the women's suffrage movement in the early 1900s and various Pittsburgh-area civic, labor, and community organizations through the late 1950s. This collection includes personal papers, correspondence, newspaper clippings, travel diaries, photographs, architectural drawings, pamphlets, speeches, and memorabilia.
Language: English .
Author: Archives Service Center Staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Spring 2001.
Publisher: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Born in Pittsburgh on May 11, 1881, Jennie Bradley was the daughter of John Bradley, a successful tailor and Anna Marie (Friedrich) Bradley. She married and later divorced Frank M. Roessing, a civil engineer. Although these events greatly influenced her later work for women's suffrage, little documentation exists on this period of her life. Roessing died in Pittsburgh on May 15, 1963.

Jennie Bradley Roessing's began campaining for women's suffrage in 1904 when Roessing organized the Allegheny County Equal Rights Association (ACERA) with Hannah Patterson, Mary Flinn, Lucy Kennedy, and Mary Bakewell. The Equal Rights Franchise Federation of Western Pennsylvania replaced ACERA in 1910, and Roessing served as vice-president. Lucy Kennedy, Mary Bakewell, and Hannah Patterson also gained leadership positions.

As a leader in the Equal Rights Franchise Federation, Roessing was elected president of the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association (PWSA) in 1912. Due to health problems, she took a leave of absence from February to November 1914. Hannah Patterson served as the association's president during this time.

In order to increase the PWSA's efforts to pass a women's suffrage bill in the Pennsylvania legislature, Roessing and Patterson embarked on an intensive lobbying effort to gain votes in Harrisburg. They traveled the state extensively, giving lectures and attending public events. As an attempt to arouse public interest, the PWSA scheduled a four-month statewide tour of the Liberty Bell of Suffrage. Despite their efforts, the bill was narrowly defeated on November 2, 1915.

After the failure of the women's suffrage amendment, Roessing continued to pressure policy makers at the national level. She served as a chairperson of the National American Woman Suffrage Association under Carrie Chapman Catt. Women gained the right to vote in 1920.

Roessing was involved in various community organizations, including the English Speaking Union, the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Symphony Society, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Audubon Society, among others. She served as the recording secretary for the Twentieth Century Club, a literary organization devoted to the social and intellectual improvement of its members. Roessing volunteered her time as treasurer of Pittsburgh Play Grounds, Vacation Schools, and Recreation Parks.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection includes personal papers, correspondence, newspaper clippings, travel diaries, photographs, architectural drawings, pamphlets, speeches, and memorabilia compiled by Jennie Bradley Roessing. Much of the material relates to Roessing's participation in the campaign for women's suffrage and a variety of other social and cultural organizations. Of particular note, besides the suffrage material, are the few folders documenting Roessing's Pittsburgh home, Dunrovin, her landscaping work at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh and at Waverly Park in England, her work with local and national unions, and the extensive newsclippings on the many community groups and social issues with which Roessing was involved.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Ann L. Park, March 11, 1964.

Previous Citation

Jennie Bradley Roessing Papers, 1887-1962, AIS.1964.24, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh.

Preferred Citation

Jennie Bradley Roessing Papers, 1887-1962, AIS.1964.24, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Rebecca Fultz-Wargo in Spring 2001 and reprocessed by David R. Lewis in 2017.

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into the following series:

I. Allegheny Conference on Community Development

II. Audubon Society

III. Dunrovin (home)

IV. England

V. English-Speaking Union

VI. Federal Union, Inc.

VII. First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

VIII. Judge Sara M. Soffel

IX. Other Civic Engagement

X. Personal

XI. Pittsburgh History and Development

XII. Pittsburgh Pirates

XIII. Pittsburgh Symphony and Musical Interests

XIV. Suffrage and Women's Issues

XV. University of Pittsburgh

XVI. Photographic Material

Subjects

Corporate Names

Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association
United Nations
University of Pittsburgh
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
English-Speaking Union
Federal Union (U.S.)
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Pittsburgh Symphony Society
Kenyon College
Allegheny Conference on Community Development (Pa.)

Personal Names

McCormick, Katherine Dexter
McCormick, Stanley
Patterson, Hannah
Roessing, Jennie Bradley
Soffel, Sara M.
Beversdorf, Norma
Beversdorf, Thomas
Bradley, John
Catt, Carrie Chapman

Geographic Names

England
Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Other Subjects

Personal papers
Social action
Women
Women -- Suffrage -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Women -- Suffrage

Container List

Series I Allegheny Conference on Community Development, 1937-1960

Scope and Content Notes

This series documents Roessing's involvement in the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Roessing was heavily involved in the Conference's early organizational work in the 1940s. This series consists mainly of organizational, legal, and administrative documents relating to the early efforts of the Conference.

Action Plan, 1960

Containers: box 1, folder 1

By-laws, 1944

Containers: box 1, folder 2

Citizens Sponsoring Committee Minutes, 1943-45

Containers: box 1, folder 3

Correspondence, 1943-45

Containers: box 1, folder 4

Financial Policy and Budget Report, 1944

Containers: box 1, folder 5

Highway Project Map, 1945

Containers: box 1, folder 6

Organizing Statement, 1943

Containers: box 1, folder 7

Preliminary Objectives, 1943

Containers: box 1, folder 8

Press clippings, 1937-59

Containers: box 1, folder 9

Public Improvements Committee, 1943-44

Containers: box 1, folder 10

Publications, 1945

Containers: box 1, folder 11

Steering Committee Report, 1944

Containers: box 1, folder 12

Series II Audubon Society, 1960

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains materials collected by Roessing late in her life as a member of the National Audubon Society, including Society publications and newsclippings relating to the society and birds generally.

Communications and publications, 1960

Containers: box 1, folder 13

Newsclippings, 1960

Containers: box 1, folder 14

Dunrovin (home), 1922-36

Scope and Content Notes

This series provides some documentation of Dunrovin, Roessing's Pittsburgh home until the 1930s. It contains a folder of information by Ruth Dean, landscape architect at Dunrovin, as well as a magazine article about Dean. In addition, there is some documentation of the sale of the property in the 1930s. See Series XVI: Photographic materials for photographs of the house and grounds.

Ruth Dean (landscape architect), 1922-36

Containers: box 1, folder 15

Ruth Dean's (landscape architect) plans for Dunovin, the home of Jennie Bradley Roessing: 1922-36

Sale of Property, 1936

Containers: box 1, folder 16

Sale of Dunrovin, home of Jennie Bradley Roessing: 1936

Series IV England, 1938-59

Scope and Content Notes

Series contains clippings collected by Roessing on various social and environmental issues in England in the 1940s and 50s, as well as information about the park and recreation area in Wetherby Parish, in West Yorkshire, England that Roessing funded in honor of her late parents. Documentation of Wetherby Field includes several plans and drawings by civil engineers and landscape architects as well as news coverage of her donation and of the park's opening. See Series XVI: Photographic materials for photographs of Wetherby Field and a photo album commemorating one of Roessing's visits.

Newsclippings, Architecture, 1943-1954

Containers: box 1, folder 17

Newsclippings, Environment, 1946-48

Containers: box 1, folder 18

Newsclippings, Politics and War, 1945-52

Containers: box 1, folder 19

Newsclippings, Society and Culture, 1947-49

Containers: box 1, folder 20

Wetherby Field, Drawings and Plans, 1938-51

Containers: box 1, folder 21

Wetherby Field, Luncheon Program, June 16, 1953

Containers: box 1, folder 22

Wetherby Field, Newsclippings, 1955

Containers: box 1, folder 23

Wetherby Field, Receipts, 1954-59

Containers: box 1, folder 24

Series V English-Speaking Union, 1946-54

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains publications, correspondence, reports, and newsclippings collected by Roessing during her work with the Pittsburgh chapter of the English-Speaking Union. The English-Speaking Union, an organization that still exists as of 2017, has as its purpose to "strengthen the friendly relationship of the English-speaking pepoles of hte world by promoting understanding, good will and peaceful cooperation through means which are nonpolitical, nonsectarian, and which are not connected with government," according to the Pittsburgh Chapter's bylaws from the 1940s.

Books Across the Sea Program, 1946

Containers: box 1, folder 25

By-Laws, Pittsburgh Chapter, undated

Containers: box 1, folder 26

Correspondence, 1950-54

Containers: box 1, folder 27

English Speaking Union Bulletin, 1946-54

Containers: box 1, folder 28

Membership, Pittsburgh Chapter, 1950-51

Containers: box 1, folder 29

Newsclippings, 1946-54

Containers: box 1, folder 30

Reports and Minutes, Pittsburgh Chapter, 1949-52

Containers: box 1, folder 31

Page Scholarships, 1949

Containers: box 1, folder 32

Publications, 1950-54

Containers: box 1, folder 33

Series VI Federal Union, Inc., 1939-55

Scope and Content Notes

Series contains materials collected by Roessing during her involvement with the Federal Union, Inc. Roessing's work with the union grew out of her work with women's clubs and suffrage organizations. The Federal Union sought to work against totalitarian governments and promote the adoption of democratic government in the late 1930s and 1940s. The Union worked to attain "world peace, through a federal union of free people, willing and able to uphold the basic principles of individual liberty," according to the by-laws recommended for adoption by the Federal Union Board in 1950.

By-laws, Pittsburgh Chapter, 1943-50

Containers: box 1, folder 34

Correspondence, 1943-55

Containers: box 1, folder 35

National Convention, 1945

Containers: box 1, folder 36

Newsclippings, 1939-50

Containers: box 1, folder 37

Publications, 1939-53

Containers: box 1, folder 38

Resolutions and Reports, American Federation of Women's Clubs, 1940-41

Containers: box 1, folder 39

Resolutions and Notes, Pittsburgh Chapter, 1943-47

Containers: box 1, folder 40

State and Local Officers, 1945-47

Containers: box 1, folder 41

U.S Congress, 1943

Containers: box 1, folder 42

"Why We Must Have a World Federation" (speech), February 27, 1943

Containers: box 1, folder 43

Jennie Bradley Roessing's speech the Federal Union entitled, "Why We Must Have a World Federation": February 27, 1943

Series VII First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, 1954-58

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains documentation of Roessing's active involvement and leadership roles at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. Roessing notably funded the church's Bradley Memorial Garden in honor of her late parents, documented here through some financial records, landscaping records, and newsclippings of events that occurred in the garden soon after it opened. As a member of the Landscaping Committee in the church, Roessing was also involved in the broader Church Council, resulting in some documentation of other church administrative business here. See Series XVI: Photographic materials for a photograph of the Bradley Memorial Garden.

Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 1954-58

Containers: box 1, folder 44

Bradley Memorial Garden: Financial, 1955

Containers: box 1, folder 45

Bradley Memorial Garden: Landscaping Committee Memorandum, May 29, 1955

Containers: box 1, folder 46

Bradley Memorial Garden: Landscaping Plans by Ralph Griswold, 1955

Containers: box 1, folder 47

Bradley Memorial Garden: Newsclippings and Notices, 1955-56

Containers: box 1, folder 48

Budget and Fundraising, 1955-56

Containers: box 1, folder 49

Church Council, 1955-57

Containers: box 1, folder 50

L. Walter Mason Memorial, 1954

Containers: box 2, folder 1

Member Survey, 1953-54

Containers: box 2, folder 2

Minister's Report, 1956

Containers: box 2, folder 3

Newsclippings, 1955-56

Containers: box 2, folder 4

Programs, Readings and Sermons, 1955-56

Containers: box 2, folder 5

Series VIII Judge Sara M. Soffel, 1935-59

Scope and Content Notes

Roessing was actively involved in the election campaign and political life of Sara M. Soffel, the first female judge in Pennsylvania, first appointed in 1930. Soffel also served on the University of Pittsburgh's Board of Trustees. Besides the voluminous newsclippings and speeches given by and about Soffel, of note is the documentation of the donation of Soffel's portrait to the University of Pittsburgh in the late 1950s. See Series XVI: Photographic materials for several photographs of Soffel.

Biographical information, 1944-51

Containers: box 2, folder 6

Biographical information on Judge Sara M. Soffel compiled by Jennie Bradley Roessing: 1944-51

Campaign, 1939

Containers: box 2, folder 7

Correspondence, 1950

Containers: box 2, folder 8

National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1954

Containers: box 2, folder 9

Newsclippings, 1938-50

Containers: box 2, folder 10

Portrait of Sara M. Soffel Given to the University of Pittsburgh, 1958-59

Containers: box 2, folder 11

Speeches, 1935-53

Containers: box 2, folder 12

Texts of speeches given by Judge Sara M. Soffel collected by Jennie Bradley Roessing: 1935-53

Series IX Other Civic Engagement, 1936-57

Scope and Content Notes

This series documents Roessing's involvement with other civic and community groups, including her service as an Air Raid Warden in the 1940s and her work with industry and business through the Womens Leaders Conference and a plastics exhibit at the 20th Century Club.

Air Raid Warden Service, 1942-43

Containers: box 2, folder 13

Independent Committee for the Republican Ticket, 1946-48

Containers: box 2, folder 14

Labor publications, 1936-57

Containers: box 2, folder 15

Plastics Exhibit, 20th Century Club, February 4, 1943

Containers: box 2, folder 16

Women Leaders Conference with Industry, June 18, 1943

Containers: box 2, folder 17

Series X Personal, 1897-1961

Scope and Content Notes

This series documents Roessing's personal life, including her parents, education, and travel. Of note are Roessing's detailed diaries of her extensive international travel in the early 1950s, including trips to Greece, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, and England.

Correspondence from John Bradley, October 12, 1908

Containers: box 2, folder 18

Education: Central High School and Winchester-Thurston School, 1897-1956

Containers: box 2, folder 19

Education: Kenyon College, 1946-61

Containers: box 2, folder 20

Travel Diaries, 1950-53

Containers: box 2, folder 21

Diary, May 6-30, 1950

Diary, May 6-30: 1950

Diary, July 2-Aug 8, 1953

Diary, July 2-Aug 8: 1953

Diary, Aug 9-19, 1953

Diary, Aug 9-19: 1953

Expense Book, 1950-1953

Expense Book: 1950-1953

Who's Who in America, 1945-46

Containers: box 2, folder 22

Series XI Pittsburgh History and Development, 1921-54

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains newsclippings collected by Roessing on Pittsburgh-related topics. There is robust documentation of revitalization efforts in the city in the 1940s and 50s.

History, 1921-50

Containers: box 2, folder 23

Maps and Geography, 1950s

Containers: box 2, folder 24

Revitalization, 1939-1954

Containers: box 2, folder 25

Series XII Pittsburgh Pirates, 1960-61

Scope and Content Notes

This series contains publ8ications and newsclippings about the Pittsburgh Pirates that Roessing collected.

Newsclippings, 1960-61

Containers: box 2, folder 26

Publications, 1960-61

Containers: box 2, folder 27

Series XIII Pittsburgh Symphony and Musical Interests, 1942-57

Scope and Content Notes

This series documents Roessing's membership in the Pittsburgh Symphony Society, her patronage of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and her avid interest in music. Roessing clipped biographical sketches of composers and performers from newspapers and magazines, as well as reviews of Pittsburgh Symphony performances. In addition, the collection contains program notes, Symphony Society publications, and concert programs. Finally, Roessing had a close relationship with trombonist and composer Thomas Beversdorf, who performed briefly with the Pittsburgh Symphony and ended his career as a professor at the Indiana University School of Music. See Series XVI: Photographic materials for photographs of Beversdorf and his family, sent to Roessing with correspondence.

Press clippings: Leonard Bernstein, 1945-1949

Containers: box 2, folder 28

Press clippings: Dmitri Shostakovich, 1942-45

Containers: box 2, folder 29

Press clippings: Pittsburgh Symphony Performers, 1943-55

Containers: box 2, folder 30

Press clippings: Various composers, 1946-50

Containers: box 2, folder 31

Program notes, Pittsburgh Symphony, 1943-57

Containers: box 2, folder 32

Programs and Reviews, Pittsburgh Symphony, 1945-57

Containers: box 2, folder 33

Reed Instruments, 1943-50

Containers: box 2, folder 34

Symphony Society, 1946-53

Containers: box 2, folder 35

Thomas Beversdorf, Biography and performances, 1948-50

Containers: box 2, folder 36

Thomas Beversdorf: Compositions and sketches, 1949

Containers: box 2, folder 37

Thomas Beversdorf, Correspondence, 1949

Containers: box 2, folder 38

Series XIV Suffrage and Women's Issues, 1913-61

Scope and Content Notes

Series consists largely of newsclippings and periodicals documenting the suffrage movement in the early 1900s and Roessing's substantial involvement in the Suffrage and Women's Movement from the early 1900s until the 1940s. Of particular note are Roessing's articles in the National American Woman Suffrage News Letter and The Public, another periodical, Roessing's speech on women's suffrage called "The First Hundred Years," as well as the coverage of the "golden lane" suffrage protest at the Democratic Convention in St. Louis, in which Roessing also participated. There is also limited correspondence with fellow Pennsylvania suffragists Carrie Chapman Catt and Hannah J. Patterson, as well as material on the Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund. Finally, there is a letter from Roessing to a younger woman written in 1945, in which Roessing reflects on her involvement in the suffrage movement in its early years, particularly 1913-1916.

Anti-Suffragist Newsclippings, 1916

Containers: box 3, folder 1

Business and Investing Newsclippings, 1938-1948

Containers: box 3, folder 2

Carrie Chapman Catt Correspondence, 1938-47

Containers: box 3, folder 3

Correspondence of noted suffragists Carrie Chapman Catt and Jennie Bradley Roessing: 1938-47

Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund, 1949-57

Containers: box 3, folder 4

Carrie Chapman Catt Newsclippings, 1944-47

Containers: box 3, folder 5

Catherine McCormick Newsclippings, 1929

Containers: box 3, folder 6

Democratic Convention, St. Louis, MO, 1916

Containers: box 3, folder 7

Newsclippings collected by Jennie Bradley Roessing about the "Golden Lane" protest for women's suffrage at the Democratic National Convention, St. Louis, MO: 1916

"The First Hundred Years" (speech), 1940

Containers: box 3, folder 8

"The First Hundred Years," speech by Jennie Bradley Roessing on the women's rights and women's suffrage movements: 1940

Hannah J. Patterson, 1919-1961

Containers: box 3, folder 9

Hannah J. Patterson: 1919-1961

National American Woman Suffrage Association Correspondence, 1916

Containers: box 3, folder 10

National American Woman Suffrage Association Headquarters News Letter (periodical), including "The Congressional Situation" by Jennie Bradley Roessing, July 20, 1916

Containers: box 3, folder 11

National American Woman Suffrage Association Headquarters News Letter (periodical), including "The Congressional Situation" by Jennie Bradley Roessing: July 20, 1916

National American Woman Suffrage Association, Poster/Map "Votes for Women a Success -- Imitation Is the Sincerest Flatter!", c.1913

Containers: map-case 32-1, folder 1

Newsclippings, General, 1913-41

Containers: box 3, folder 12

The Public (periodical) containing "Federal Suffrage in a Dynamic State" by Jennie Bradley Roessing, August 24, 1917

Containers: box 3, folder 13

The Public (periodical) containing "Federal Suffrage in a Dynamic State" by Jennie Bradley Roessing: August 24, 1917

Scrapbook of Suffrage-Related Newsclippings, 1916

Containers: box 4, volume 1

Scrapbook of Suffrage-Related Newsclippings collected by Jennie Bradley Roessing: 1916

Suffrage Movement, Correspondence, 1945

Containers: box 3, folder 14

Letter by Jennie Bradley Roessing discussing her role in the women's suffrage movement from 1912-1915.: 1945

United Nations Human Rights Commission Newsclippings, 1946-47

Containers: box 3, folder 15

Women's Journal and Suffrage News (periodical), June 17, 1916

Containers: box 3, folder 16

Women's Journal and Suffrage News (periodical), June 24, 1916

Containers: box 3, folder 17

Series XV University of Pittsburgh, 1948-59

Scope and Content Notes

This series consists largely of newsclippings documenting the growth and changes at the University of Pittsburgh in the 1940s and 50s. Additionally, there is some documentation of Roessing's work on the steering committee for the English Nationality Room of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, as well as programs from University events that Roessing attended.

Academics and Programs, 1958

Containers: box 3, folder 18

Chancellor Litchfield, 1957-59

Containers: box 3, folder 19

English Nationality Room, Cathedral of Learning, 1952-53

Containers: box 3, folder 20

Facilities and Expansion, 1948-58

Containers: box 3, folder 21

Medical Center, 1958

Containers: box 3, folder 22

Programs and Events, 1954-57

Containers: box 3, folder 23

Publications and Marketing, 1957-59

Containers: box 3, folder 24

Series XVI Photographic material, 1922-57

Scope and Content Notes

Series contains photographs of Roessing's home, Dunrovin, her landscaping projects at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Wetherby Field in West Yorkshire England, and photos documenting her involvement with the composer and trombonist Thomas Beversdorf and Judge Sara M. Soffel.

Bradley Memorial Garden, 1956

Containers: box 3, folder 25

Camping, 1932

Containers: box 3, folder 26

Dunrovin, 1922-36

Containers: box 3, folder 27

Judge Sara M. Soffel, 1951-57

Containers: box 3, folder 28

Thomas Beversdorf, 1949

Containers: box 3, folder 29

Wetherby Field, 1955-57

Containers: box 3, folder 30

Wetherby Field Album, June 15, 1955

Containers: box 3, folder 31

Guide to the Jennie Bradley Roessing Papers, 1887-1962 AIS.1964.24

Arrangement

Biography

Scope and Content Notes

Access Restrictions

Acquisition Information

Previous Citation

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Copyright

Arrangement

Subjects

Corporate Names

Personal Names

Geographic Names

Other Subjects

Container List

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

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