Guide to the Archival Collections.pdf - Missouri History Museum

Curran, Pearl Pollard (1883-1937).
Patience Worth collection, 1913-1937. 2 boxes; 30 volumes
Pearl Pollard was born in 1883, and married John H. Curran in 1907. Upon his death in 1922,
she married Henry H. Rogers (died 1926), and in 1931, Robert Warman. Beginning around 1913,
the spirit of a supposedly long-dead English Puritan girl, Patience Worth, spoke through Pearl
Curran and her ouija board (channelling). Through Mrs. Curran, Patience Worth dictated plays,
poems, and essays. A number of publications resulted from the "spiritual writings" of Patience
Worth, including The Sorry Tale and Hope Trueblood. Patience Worth continued to
communicate through Mrs. Curran on a regular basis until her death in 1937.
Collection consists of writings of Patience Worth; poems written for Mrs. Dudley French and
others; 29 typescript volumes of dialogues between Patience Worth and the family and friends of
Pearl Curran, 1913-1937, and one volume titled "Odds and Ends," of random writings, poems,
etc.; and a manuscript by Casper Yost, “The First Book of Panda,” 1915-1916.
Cite as: Patience Worth Collection, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A0352
Current Century Circle (Saint Louis, Missouri).
Records, 1896-1953. 1 box
Founded in 1896 by young women with a high school education, who did not plan to
continue their educations, but wanted to continue interest in intellectual pursuits. A study group
met every other Thursday, September to June. Initially called the Closing Century Circle.
Records include history of the organization, which was compiled annually; programs;
clippings; invitations; photographs; and financial records, 1914.
Cite as: Current Century Circle Records, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A0353
Curtis, Mabel B. (1896-1988).
Files regarding the People's Art Center, 1941-1968; 1989. 5 boxes
Mabel B. Curtis, a graduate of the University of Chicago, served as president of the Board of
Directors of the People's Art Center in 1949, and as the organization's executive director from
1950 to 1963. The People's Art Center began as a Works Progress Administration Missouri
Artists' Project for artists registered on federal relief, when an interracial sponsoring committee
decided in 1941 to form a community arts center in St. Louis to serve all races, creeds, and
colors. Using W.P.A. art teachers and workmen, and private funds for supplies, the committee
rented a building from the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, where interracial art
classes were held for children and adults. Upon the termination of W.P.A. support in 1943, the
sponsoring committee incorporated the People's Art Center Association as a non-profit
organization, with Elizabeth Green as its acting chairman, Anna Hensley as secretary, and Henry
S. Williams as treasurer. Its board included Charles Nagel, director of the St. Louis Art Museum;
John T. Clark, executive secretary of the Urban League of St. Louis; Fannie Cook, noted novelist
and social reformer; and Reverend Hohenschild of the Episcopal Church of the Holy
Communion. Its funding was provided in part by United Charities, the Greater St. Louis
Community Chest, the United Fund, and the Spirit of St. Louis Fund. During Mabel B. Curtis'
tenure as executive director (1950-1963), the interracial People's Art Center became increasingly
involved in issues relating to civil rights and desegregation, giving rise to conflict between Mrs.
Curtis and more conservative board members, which ultimately led to Mrs. Curtis' final break
with the center in 1963. Racial tensions and financial uncertainties ultimately led to the
dissolution of the People's Art Center in 1968.