Week 25: Groups—Finding the Membership Groups Found in Marguerite Gleeson’s Obituary Using Newspapers & Other Online Sources

Marguerite M. Gleeson, a daughter of Martin Gleeson and Hanna Kane, died from an automobile accident on 8 October 1962.[1] Because she had worked for the Bend Bulletin, there was broad coverage of her accident and funeral services.

Obituaries often list organizations that the deceased was a member of. Marguerite’s obituary was no different. One article gave this account:

“For the past 10 years she worked for the Salem Capital Journal.  At her death, she was the Capital Journal's librarian.  A graduate of Oregon State College, she was a former news editor of the Oregon Statesman in Salem, and later worked for the Bend Bulletin and the Corvallis Gazette-Times.  She was active in numerous groups, including Oregon Press Women and the Legion of Mary, a Catholic organization.  She was a member of the national Federation of Press Women."[2]

Another article added that she was a volunteer librarian for patients at the Oregon State Hospital, and had memberships in American Association of University Women, Catholic Daughters of America, and the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority alumni group in Salem.[3] Also from a third newspaper, I found her as a member of the Third Order of St. Patrick.[4]

Now that I have a nice list of organizations and groups that she was a member of, I can begin by searching online for articles about these organizations. I might find brief Wikipedia articles, especially about the nationally known organizations. I can also search newspaper databases for the organizations, focusing specifically their role in Oregon. There might also be material on Internet Archive, HathiTrust, or Google Books. Once I learn about the groups, then I can search local newspapers specifically for Marguerite and any active role she had in the organization. It’s probably best to seek out the information on them one at a time.

Catholic Organizations
Legion of Mary. I learned it is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church. It was founded in Dublin and has been active in the United States since 1931, so this fits in her timeline. “Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balance program of prayer and service. . . door-to-door visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, religious education” and more. They meet weekly for prayer, planning and devote two hours of work a week.[5]

In the years of the organization in Salem, I found three articles about the Legion of Mary. Bonus, I found that Marguerite Gleeson was the Capital Journal church editor.[6]

Capital Journal, 12 Apr 1958, p 9.

Catholic Daughters of Americas. This Catholic organization was formed in 1903 and is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in the Americas. There are chapters in 45 states and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Their motto is “Unity and Charity.” They donate to charities, administer scholarship programs and strive “to be helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness.”[7] Marguerite wrote articles for the Capital Journal about the organization.[8] 

Third Order of St. Patrick. I found no mention of this organization in Salem newspapers nor online. However, I did find articles in newspaper from other states. I am not sure what this organization does. Perhaps the newspaper got something wrong about the name.

Newspaper Organizations
Oregon Press Women. The Oregon Press Women (OPW) is an organization of professional writers, now open to women and men.[9] I learned that records from ca. 1959-1985 are located at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland, Oregon.[10] She attended workshops, acted as hostess, and served on committees.[11] I also found a photo of women who attended a workshop in Bend in 1953 that includes Marguerite.[12]

Bend Bulletin, 6 Oct 1953, p. 1

National Federation of Press Women. The NFPW was organized May 6, 1937 in order to promote communication between women writers and advance interests and standards of women in the press. They had been concerned that copyright legislation was not being applied equally to women’s creative work.[13] There were no articles in the Oregon newspapers connecting Marguerite specifically to this organization, though it is highly likely she was a member. The State Historical Society of Missouri has 6.4 cubic feet of records of the organization from 1945-1920, including membership directories.[14] The annual convention was in Portland in August 1959. Perhaps Marguerite attended, though one of her co-workers, Margaret Magee was a delegate from their newspaper.[15]

Academic Organizations
American Association of University Women. The AAUW was officially founded in 1881 and is a non-profit organization that advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.[16] Marguerite was involved with the local group in Salem, specifically the literature group.[17]

Statesman Journal, 17 May 1942 p 5

Alpha Delta Pi Sorority alumni group. They were originally called the Adelphean Society. Founded in May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College, it was “the first secret society for women and forged the way for women in the fraternity system.”[18] The chapter in Corvallis, Oregon was formed in 1926.[19] In 1938, the Alpha Delta Pi house at Twenty-third and Harrison streets, was being constructed at Oregon State College (now Oregon State University). The new house, constructed as a Williamsburg colonial, was to be located directly north of the sorority. The title of the house was to be in the hands of the Alpha Omega corporation, whose president was Miss Marguerite Gleeson of Salem.[20]

Capital Journal, 11 May 1953, p 6

Other
Also, while searching for articles that Marguerite Gleeson were mention, I found that she was part of the Salem Toastmistress club beginning in the 1940s. In one meeting, she argued against vitamins.[21] She was also responsible for publicity.[22]

Statesman Journal, 12 Feb 1949, p 6.

Conclusion
It is possible to learn more about the organizations and groups our ancestors were a part of. Researching in newspapers, and online at such sites as HathiTrust and Internet Archive, has expanded my knowledge of the life my first cousin, two times removed, had lived. She never married and had no children, and I feel obligated to tell her story. I only revealed just a hint of what I found in newspapers from Bend, Corvallis, Portland, and Salem. There is more to tell.

This is my fourth year working on this year-long 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

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[1] For names of parents: Holy Family Catholic Church, Mitchell, South Dakota, Sacramental Records, transcribed by rectory secretary, Sheryle Prostrollo, 1997, 1894, Mary Margaret Gleeson. For death: "Ex-Bulletin Staffer Dies in Accident,” The Bend Bulletin, Tuesday 9 Oct 1962, p. 1.

[2] "Ex-Bulletin Staffer Dies in Accident,” The Bend Bulletin, Tuesday 9 Oct 1962, p. 1.

[3] “Traffic Crash Ends Longtime News Career,” Oregon Statesman (Salem), 9 Oct 1962, p. 2.

[4] “Marguerite Gleeson,” The Capital (Salem, Oregon) Journal, 10 Oct 1962, p. 10.

[5] “About the Legion of Mary,” Legion of Mary (http://www.legionofmary.org/lom.html).

[6] For an example, see Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon), 13 Sept 1958, p. 8.

[7] “About Us,” Catholic Daughters of the Americas (https://www.catholicdaughters.org/about-us-1).

[8] “Catholic Women’s Group Ends Conference Sunday,” Capital Journal, 24 mar 1952, p. 7.

[9] “Who We Are,” Oregon Press Women OPW (https://theopw.com/).

[10] A finding aid is located here: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv14828/pdf.

[11] See Capital Journal, 26 March 1955, p. 5, untitled article. See also, “Oregon Press Women to Meet Here Next March,” Capital Journal, 18 October 1954, p. 14.

[12] “Writers, Ad Women, Visit Bend,” Bend Bulletin, 6 October 1953, p. 6.

[13] “National Federation of Press Women,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Federation_of_Press_Women).

[14] A finding aid is located here: https://files.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/CA6205.pdf.

[15] “National Federation of Press Women in conclave at Portland,” Capital Journal, 12 Aug 1959, p. 5.

[16] “American Association of University Women,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Association_of_University_Women). See also “What We Do,” AAUW (https://ww3.aauw.org/what-we-do/).

[17] Oregon Statesman, 30 Dec 1945, p. 8, col. 8.

[18] “History,” Alpha Delta Pi (https://www.alphadeltapi.org/page/history/).

[19] Jessica North MacDonald, History of Alpha Delta Pi, from the Founding of the Adelphean Society in 1851 at Wesleyan Female College, Macon, Georgia, (Ames, Iowa: The Powers Press, 1929), 290, digital image, HathiTrust (https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001453452).

[20] “Second Sorority at OSC Starts House Erection,” Corvallis Gazette-Times, 27 Jun 1938, p. 1 & 8.

[21] “Women Gavel Wielders Hold Charter Party,” The Oregon Statesman, 29 Sep 1944, p. 16.

[22] “Mrs. Arens Announces Programs,” The Oregon Statesman, 18 Feb 1945, p. 8.

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