The collection documents the long and active life of Berenice Maloney Crawford. It consists of a variety of materials which include correspondence, newspaper clippings, memorabilia and scrapbooks dating from Mrs. Crawford's childhood through her activities after retirement. Particular emphasis is given to her early teaching activities (1930-1939) and to her husband's life and inventions. The eight scrapbooks, many of which are annotated with Mrs. Crawford's reminiscences and comments, are comprised of photographs, cards, and mementos documenting her teaching career, travels, and marriage. Designated with volume numbers, the scrapbooks are located in the contents list below according to their contents. Some material from the scrapbooks has been removed and placed in appropriate folders throughout the three series into which the collection is organized: Personal File, Teaching Career and Activities. Correspondence is scattered throughout the collection filed under appropriate subject headings.
The PERSONAL FILE is subdivided into five sections. Biographical Materials contains a biography published for Delta Kappa Gamma as well as a copy of Mrs. Crawford's entry in Who's Who in American Education. Correspondence ranges from letters from old beaux, family and friends, to recent communications regarding travel arrangements. The section labeled Educational Records includes report cards and transcripts spanning from her grade school years to her doctoral work. A major portion of the Personal File is devoted to Frederick Crawford. The Crawfords' relationship with each other is well documented by their correspondence and by scrapbooks. A sizeable amount of material that deals with Crawford's various inventions is also contained in this section.
The TEACHING CAREER series focuses on Mrs. Crawford's early teaching activities. General correspondence is composed primarily of letters of recommendation and letters demonstrating interest in her new jobs. Also included in this section is material pertaining to the elementary report card she developed, the Beaver Dam School Board controversy of which she was a major participant, and the two Bob and Judy elementary reading books she wrote. Scrapbook 5 documents the planned activity program for kindergarten developed by Mrs. Crawford, as well as other early teaching activities. There is a lack of material concerning her activities as Director of Elementary Student Teaching at Marquette University. In general, documentation regarding daily, routine activities is not found in the collection.
The ACTIVITIES series, organized by type, depicts Mrs. Crawford's many involvements. Her most active and sustained concern was with the Delta Kappa Gamma educational sorority. This segment consists primarily of programs, memorabilia and clippings. The Civic Activities segment includes her charter membership to the Ozaukee Historical Society and the Seven Arts Society. This section consists primarily of clippings. Traveling extensively in the United States and the Orient, a number of Mrs. Crawford's trips are documented by the diaries she kept as well as the scrapbooks she created. These materials are filed in the Travel section. A feature article as well as other clippings are found in the Miscellany folder. Many clippings attest to the fact that Mrs. Crawford often spoke publicly to various organizations, though only one speech, which is also included with Miscellany, is contained in the collection.
