Miscellaneous, 1846-1976

The Forsythe family papers contain correspondence, documents, literature, photographs, and ephemera. They represent the collected efforts of Irene Hanson (née Forsythe), Emmett and Bessie Forsythe, and Margaret Grace Forsythe to retain their family history. The materials in the collection are from as early as the mid-1800s, spanning all the way to the last years of Margaret Forsythe’s life in the 2000s. The Forsythe family papers consist of four distinct series. The first and most voluminous series is the Margaret Forsythe papers, featuring her collected correspondence, photographs, Cold War era literature, her writings and academic work, and ephemera. Within her correspondence Forsythe converses with her family and friends, sharing not only the aspects of her daily life, but her interests, opinions, and beliefs. Her collection of Cold War era literature focuses on subjects like Cuba, Soviet Russia, and Vietnam. Forsythe’s writing touches on a variety of subjects like Asian culture, science fiction, and international politics. The second and third series contain the papers of Margaret Forsythe's parents Bessie and Emmett Forsythe, and aunt and uncle, Irene and Perry Hanson, respectively. Both series contain collected correspondence from friends, family, and business acquaintances; documents and writings; photographs; and ephemera.