Clara Beers Papers, c. 1865 - 1972

Summary

Creator:
Beers, Clara Louise Jepson, 1874-1966
Abstract:
The Clara Beers Papers consist primarily of correspondence and photographs. The collection has no series and needs to be reprocessed.
Extent:
3 boxes 2.05 linear feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Clara Beers Papers consist primarily of correspondence and photographs. Between November 1902 and August 1903 she took an extensive tour of Europe, and many letters to her parents relate her experiences. The strong bond she had with her parents, especially her father, is apparent in these letters. Clara maintained two diaries with brief entries, and there is also other correspondence regarding Clara's father, Benjamin Jepson, a professor of music, and her brothers, Arthur and Harry Jepson. A number of photographs portray Clara, including one in her wedding dress, as well as several of her as a child and a young woman. Other photographs depict her family and Clara and Clifford’s summer home in Belgrade, Maine. Emily Martin’s correspondence about Clara’s health in her last years and obituaries complete the collection. The dates for the collection are 1865-1972. The collection has no series and needs to be reprocessed.

Biographical / historical:

Clara Louise Jepson Beers was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1874. She and Clifford Beers, founder of the mental hygiene movement, were married in June 1912. She played an important part in his work, and traveled widely with him, visiting other countries in an effort to form an international organization for improving the care of the mentally ill. Even after her husband's death in 1943, Mrs. Beers continued to be active in mental health organizations, particularly the American Foundation for Mental Hygiene and the World Federation for Mental Health. She died on September 8, 1966.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Emily Martin, 1966-1969.

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions on this material.

Terms of access:

Written permission must be obtained from the Oskar Diethelm Library and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Location of this collection:
DeWitt Wallace Institute of Psychiatry: History, Policy and the Arts
Weill Cornell Medical College
525 East 68th Street, Box 140
New York, NY 10065, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
212-746-3728