Guide to the Margaret Hilty Papers, 1931-1984
CG 816

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
Hilty, Margaret
Title
Margaret Hilty papers
ID
CG 816
Date [inclusive]
1931-1984
Extent
1.5 linear feet, 3 boxes and 2 oversized folders
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
The Margaret Hilty Papers contain correspondence, photographs and personal records of Hilty’s experiences as a teacher in the Philippines from 1931-1933. This collection also contains materials related to authors Jesse Stuart and Herbert Arntson.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]. Margaret Hilty Papers.

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical Note

Margaret Clara Hessert was born to Louis and Clara Hessert on June 22, 1907 in Decatur, Indiana, and grew up in Ohio. While studying at University of Wisconsin, Margaret met Palmer Hilty. In 1931, after Margaret’s graduation, the two were married, and that year left for teaching appointments in the Philippines. In their first year in the Islands, Margaret taught freshmen and sophomore students in Catbalogan, the capital of Samar Province. The following year, they were assigned to the municipality of Lingayen in Pangasinan. Palmer worked at the Academic High School there while Margaret worked at the Methodist Mission School.

When Palmer Hilty was offered a fellowship at University of Wisconsin after the 1932-1933 school year, the globetrotting couple returned to the United States via China, Italy, and Germany. During their time in the Midwest, Margaret and Palmer became parents to two children. In 1949, Palmer was offered a position at Washington State College (WSC) as an assistant professor in the English department. At this time, Margaret was also offered employment by WSC as a librarian.

Palmer and Margaret Hilty shared a passion for language arts and literature, which connected them to Jesse Stuart, the former poet laureate of Kentucky, and Herbert Arntson, a prolific author of young adult historical fiction. Arntson was also faculty in the English department at WSC.

After Margaret and Palmer’s divorce, Margaret continued to work as a librarian in the university. After her retirement, she moved to Albuquerque where she lived until her death in 1995.

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Scope and Content

The Margaret Hilty papers contain materials from Margaret (Hessert) Hilty’s teaching experiences in the Philippines from 1931-1933, including photographs, correspondence, student work, personal records, annotated postcards, and other ephemera related to the Philippine Islands. The photographs in this collection are from Samar, Cebu, Pangasinan, Manila, and Fort McKinley. The correspondence consists mainly of outgoing correspondence from Margaret and her husband, Palmer, to the Hessert family.

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Arrangement

The Margaret Hilty papers are arranged alphabetically by folder title. Photographs are housed separately, but integrated into the alphabetical arrangement and are organized by the location of the photograph

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2015

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Acquisition Information

The Margaret Hilty Papers were donated to Washington State University by Margaret Hilty in 1985 (MS.1985.13).

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Evelyn Moos.

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Related Materials

Related Material

Materials at Washington State University:

Jesse Stuart Papers, Cage 413

Margaret Hilty Papers, Cage 1546

Materials at the University of Oregon Libraries

Herbert E. Arntson Papers, 1934-1983, Coll 064

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Names and Subjects

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Hilty, Margaret -- Sources

Subject(s)

  • Women teachers—Archives
  • Christian teachers—Archives
  • Arntson, Herbert E., 1911-
  • Stuart, Jesse, 1906-1984
  • Catbalogan (Philippines)
  • Lingayen (Philippines)
  • Literature
  • Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Missionaries

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Detailed Description of Collection

box folder

Herb Arntson clippings and correspondence   1961-1962  

1 1

Herb Arntson proofs of Adam Gray: Stowaway   1961  

O/S (map case)

Correspondence (outgoing to family) while at sea   1931  

1 2

Correspondence (outgoing to family)   1931-1932  

1 3

Correspondence (outgoing to family)   1932-1933  

1 4

Correspondence (outgoing to family)   1932-1933  

1 5

Correspondence (outgoing to family) from Germany   1933  

1 6

Correspondence (incoming from students)   1933  

1 7

Photographs of Catbalogan, Samar   1931-1932  

2 8

Photographs of Camp IV, Talisay City, Cebu   1932  

2 9

Photographs of Fort McKinley   1931-1933  

2 10

Photographs of Lingayen, Pangasinan, Luzon   1932-1933  

2 11

Photographs of Manila, Luzon   1932  

2 21

School portraits   1931-1934  

2 13

Diary   1931-1933  

3 14

Ephemera (Philippines)   1931-1933  

3 15

Ephemera   1931-1933  

O/S

Photographs of the Philippine Islands taken by Calvin Hessert   1945  

3 16

Speech notes   1938-1945  

3 17

Jesse Stuart clippings   1943-1984  

3 18

Jesse Stuart: The Seasons of Jesse Stuart: An Autobiography in Poetry, 1907-1976  1976  

3 19

Student essays and school ephemera   1931-1933  

3 20

Teaching materials   1931  

O/S