Special Collections & Archives
Manuscript Group 106
Lillie Mae Hermann
Papers, 1975-1979
3 l.f.
This descriptive inventory of the papers of Lillie Mae Hermann in the University of Idaho Library was prepared by Judith Nielsen in July 1981.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Lillie Mae (Aherin) Hermann was born on a Genesee, Idaho farm on December 7, 1929 to Clarence and Ruby Aherin. She received her early education in the public schools of Genesee. After graduating from high school in 1947 she worked in California for a year. She married Genesee farmer J.P. (Phil) Hermann in San Francisco on June 9, 1948,, and they returned to Idaho to a farm southeast of Genesee. The Hermanns had four children, 2 daughters and 2 sons. After raising her family, Lillie continued her education, taking courses at Lewis and Clark College and also at the University of Idaho where she was working on an interdisciplinary degree, her major areas being political science, sociology, and food and nutrition.
Mrs. Hermann was a well-known leader in the Genesee Community Church and also in community affairs. She was primarily concerned with rural women and the ability of widows to manage farm affairs. She organized and was the first president of Idaho Women for Agriculture. She also helped to organize the Rural Women's History Project which was undertaken by the University of Idaho Women's Center in 1974. She was on the Nez Perce County Planning and Zoning Commission and was a member of the Lewiston League of Women Voters. She participated in a governor's advisory group on rural affairs and was involved with the Community Action Program in Lewiston.
On July 12, 1979 Lillie Hermann died at her home in Genesee of an apparent heart attack.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The material in this collection consists of three file boxes of material collected by Lillie Hermann in connection with her various interests. Most material is in published form, newspaper or magazine articles, journals, reports and pamphlets. The most interesting section deals with the University of Idaho Women's Center Rural Feminism Project, the tapes and transcripts of which are currently housed in the University of Idaho Special Collections Library. There is very little original material in this archival group.
Each section of this collection of papers is described in the following Description of Series.
PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION
The material in this archival group was separated according to the various interests of Lillie Hermann, then sub-divided by project. Since most of the material is in published form there is no strict arrangement within the various folders.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
I. Rural Women Box 1
II. The League of Women Voters Box 2
III. Class Projects Box 3
IV. Nez Perce County Organizations Box 3
V. Miscellaneous Box 3
DESCRIPTION OF SERIES
I. Rural Women
Lillie Hermann's main interest was the role of women in history, in agriculture, but specifically in farm management. This series contains not only her collection of material on rural women, but also on the women's movement and agriculture in general.
Listed below are the folder headings with a description of the material contained within each folder.
Farm Women-- Survey
These two folders contain approximately 180 questionnaires entitled "The Changing Role of Today's Farm Woman" filled out by rural women between the ages of 19 and 81. There are also four questionnaires which contain summaries of the results of the surveys in four different geographical areas. The questions include the amount of time spent doing farm work, whether the woman belongs to any farm related organizations, what her responsibilities are on the farm, and whether or not she is interested in taking extension courses.
A five-page handwritten report indicates that Lillie Herman undertook this survey for a course she was taking at the University of Idaho. The groups contacted for the survey were all in north Idaho and include the Nez Perce County Cow Belles, Idaho Extension Homemakers Council, and several Grange groups. One of the purposes of the survey was to determine if there was enough interest among farm women to warrant developing programs through the University Extension Service. The survey showed that although the farm wife continues as a helper she has also become a bookkeeper, record keeper and secretary; she is being forced into a role change for economic survival and must have business and managerial skills not needed before.
Idaho Women for Agriculture
Lillie Hermann helped to organize and was the first president of this group which was an association for those engaged in agricultural pursuits who were concerned about the future of the ever changing agricultural enterprises and the forces shaping it. The first meeting was held March 9, 1978.
Items in the folder include the bylaws, newsletters 2, 6, and 7 -- May 6, 1978, February 28 and April 5, 1979, -- a booklet on American Agri-Women and the program for the 1978 annual meeting of that national organization with which IWA was affiliated. There are also informational pamphlets on women's agricultural groups in Oregon, Washington, and Illinois.
Oral History Project
This project, entitled "Women in Northern Idaho: Explorations in the Rural Feminist Experience", focused on the contribution north Idaho women have made to Idaho's pioneer history. The project was under the auspices of the University of Idaho Women's Center and was directed by Corlann Bush; Lillie Hermann was one of the interviewers and also took part in presentations of characterizations based on the interviews which were given in rural areas in north Idaho to publicize the project. The Association for the Humanities in Idaho awarded the project two grants, the first from November 1974 to September 1975, the second from November 1975 to December 1976.
Those who worked on the project taped interviews with rural women in north Idaho and sought to define and explore their experiences. They then developed skits or characterizations, based on these interviews, which were presented at meetings with other rural women. By these methods they hoped to establish a dialogue which would enable women to share their experiences not only with each other, but also with those involved with the oral history project. From this exchange they hoped to gain an appreciation of the value of women in rural societies, a recognition of the contributions women have made to the state of Idaho and an understanding of the differences and similarities between the lives of urban and rural women.
In addition to the tape recordings, many of which have been transcribed, photographs were also taken of the women interviewed. The Women's Center has received permission to house the tapes and transcripts in the University of Idaho Special Collections Library where they are available to researchers.
The material Lillie Hermann retained which relates to the project includes copies of the grant applications and two interim progress reports to the Association for the Humanities in Idaho. There are also lists of questions which were asked at the interviews and another list of questions which were asked at the presentations to stimulate discussion. Copies of the letters used in the characterization of Emma Just and the story of Emily Cisen's experiences as a rural school teacher are also included.
Two books are included: the 23 page narrative about the project, Women In Northern Idaho: Explorations in the Rural Feminist Experience, and Ellen Boulton Herndon's I Remember Idaho: My Childhood on Boulton Farm (Claremont, CA, Esther Boulton Black, 1972) 39 p. Photographs of Ruby May Aherin, Betty Brommeling, Etta Mae Egland, Irma Egland, Peggy Egland, Mona Hubenthal, and Rita Mercedes Roach, some of the women interviewed, complete the material in this folder.
Women's Movement
In connection with her interest in rural women Mrs. Hermann was also interested in the women's movement. Material in the first of the four folders includes information on the AAUW and NOW, also some newspaper and magazine articles regarding the equal rights amendment. The three booklets in this folder are So You Don't Want to be a Sex Object (Denver, Planned Parenthood Association, 1973) 20 p.; In Touch With Reality, Women and Laws in Idaho (Boise, Idaho Commission on Women's Programs, 1976) 29 p.; and World Plan of Action, a Summarized Version (New York, United Nations, 19'76) 43 p.
The second folder contains material on various women's conferences, including the 4th Annual Women's Conference, October 1976, the 5th Annual Women's Conference held at Lewis and Clark State College in September 1977, the National Women's Conference, Houston Texas, November 18-21, 19779 and The Idaho Women's Meeting, Boise State University, May 20-22, 1977.
The third folder contains a series of articles on Lewiston women written by Thomas W. Campbell of the Lewiston Morning Tribune entitled "The Elders." These articles were published in the Sunday issue of the Tribune in 1977; the only ones retained by Mrs. Hermann were those on Sister Jane de Chantal Kazda, Milly Burroughs, Sadie Williams, Jessie Moxley, and Florence Moxley Nordby.
The final folder contains material relating to the displaced homemaker, or, the woman who has spent many years as a housewife or homemaker and who, through divorce or widowhood, is forced to seek employment. From June 13 to 21, 1978, a conference on the displaced homemaker was held on the University of Idaho Campus. This folder contains 23 separate reports of the seminars, which dealt mainly with financial management, educational opportunities, and aging, written by various people who attended the conference. Several drafts of Idaho state senator Norma Dobler's bill dealing with equal treatment and equal opportunity for displaced homemakers complete the list of material in this folder.
Agriculture (General)
Although not specifically related to women, these three folders do contain material of interest to the rural woman. There are some informational pamphlets on the 1974 agricultural census, copies of several speeches given at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in 1979, and seven University of Idaho Extension Service publications from their Idaho Farm Business Management Series in the first folder. The 1976 Agriculture and Conservation supplement to the Idahonian is also included in this folder.
The second folder includes information on peas and lentils, including the booklet The Story of the Dry Pea and Lentil Industry (Moscow, Washington and Idaho Dry Pea and Lentil Commission) 16 p. There is also information on farm management.
The third folder contains material relating to the Agricultural Leadership Programs in Idaho, Washington, and California.
The final items in this series are issues of various farm magazines and include the following: Agricultural Outlook (Jan.-Feb. 1978), Big Farmer (Aug., Sept., 1976, March, April 1977), Co-op Country News (Sept. 1, 1975, Feb. 3, Feb. 16, Sept. 209 1976), Farm Journal (Aug. 1977), Farm Wife News (Dec. 1974), The Furrow (Sept.-Oct, 1974, May-June, Sept.-Oct, Nov.-Dec, 1975, May-June, Sept.-Oct. 1976, Jan, July-Aug., Nov.-Dec. 1977), Farm Forum (no.3, no.4, 1976), Idaho Farmer Stockman (Nov. 18, 1976), Idaho Wheat (July 1978) and Wheat Grower News (Nov. 1977).
II. The League of Women-Voters
The purpose of the League of Women Voters is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It is a non-partisan organization whose only membership requirement is that League members be citizens of voting age who believe in the purpose of the League. Governmental issues are chosen by the members for an in-depth study; the study group then reports its findings, both pro & con, to the membership. Through study and discussion the League members reach a consensus upon which future action is based. A major function of the League is to educate and inform its members and the general public about governmental and political issues by providing easily understandable information, and the preparation and distribution of non-partisan information about candidates and ballot issues.
Lillie Hermann was an active member of the Lewiston League and served on its board of directors from 1976-77. She collected a large amount of material on the various topics under discussion by the League, as well as reports and newsletters mailed from the Lewiston branch and the state and national organizations.
Listed below are the folder headings accompanied by a description of the contents.
League of Women Voters of Idaho. Board Report
These reports contain information on upcoming events, reports of the various study groups, and other items of interest to League members. The following reports are available: August 1975; June 1977; June 1976; May 1978; August 1976; June 1978; November 1976
League of Women Voters of Idaho. The Idaho Voter
This publication contains reports of League activities in Idaho, League stands on current legislative issues, and information on topics under study. The folder contains the following issues: August 1976; December 1977; December 1976; February 1978; September 1977; April 1978
League of Women Voters of Idaho. Legislative Newsletter
The newsletter informs League members about the status of legislation in the State legislature. It also indicates the League's support or nonsupport for each bill. The following newsletters are contained in the folder: January 22, 1976; January 19, 1977; February 8, 1976; February 1977; March 19, 1977
League of Women Voters, Lewiston. Newsletter
The local newsletter contains a calendar of events, a list of League projects, and other notes of interest to League members. This folder contains the following newsletters: March 7, 1975; October 1976; October 1977; September 6, 1975; November 1976; December 1977; December 2, 1975; December 1976; January 1978; May 4, 1976; January 1977; April 1978; June 1, 1976; May 1977; June 1978; September 1, 1976; June 1977
League of Women Voters of Lewiston. Minutes of Board Meetings
May 4, 1976; August 4, 1977; September 1, 1976; September 6, 1977; October 6, 1976; October 4, 1977; November 2, 1976; November 1, 1977; November 30, 1976; February 7, 1978; January 4, 1977; March 7, 1978; February 1, 1977; May 30, 1978; March 1, 1977; June 27, 1978; March 26, 1975; October 7, 1975; November 4, 1975; December 2, 1975; January 6, 1976; February 3, 1976; March 2, 1976; March 20, 1976; April 6, 1976
League of Women Voters, U.S. Memorandum
This folder contains seven memoranda, each one contains information on League publications.
League of Women Voters, U.S. The National Voter
This journal is published four times a year and contains information on national legislation. The following issues are available: Winter 1975; Fall 1976; Spring 1975; Winter 1977; Summer 1975; Spring 1977; Fall 1975
League of Women Voters, U.S. Report from the Hill
The purpose of this publication is to report on the status of League supported bills in Congress. The following issues are available in the folder: February 1976 - Environmental Quality; February 1976 - Energy Conservation; June 1976 - Environmental Quality; August 1976 - Natural Resources; November 1976 - Natural Resources; February 1977 - Natural Resources; March 1977 - Environmental Quality; April 1977 - Natural Resources; August 1977 - Natural Resources; December 1977 - Natural Resources
League of Women Voters. Miscellaneous Material
This folder contains such items as Anabel Osborn's Guide to Parliamentary Procedure, the by-laws of both the Lewiston League and the Idaho League of Women Voters, Gary Moncrief's The State Legislative Process in Idaho, and several informational pamphlets on the 1978 Idaho Legislature.
League of Women Voters - Study Topic,. Energy. League Publications
This folder contains two booklets, Energy Options and Energy Dilemmas, plus a folder of 23 fact sheets.
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Energy. Background Papers
The "Background Papers" project was sponsored by seven Seattle area organizations including the Metrocenter YMCA, the Division of Community Organization and Development, Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Washington, the Seattle Municipal League, and the Association of Washington Cities. The papers available in this collection are:
5. The history of hydroelectric power in the Pacific Northwest
6. Decision makers
7. Forecasting future electrical needs
8. Alternative scenarios facing the region
9. The effects of energy costs on low income groups
10. Ethical questions our responsibility to future generations
League of Women Voters Study Topic. Energy. Extension Publications
The fifty items in this folder, all published by the University of Idaho Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, include such titles as:
Building and remodeling to save energy
'Budgeting your kilowatts
Consumer dwarves and the energy crunch
Fuelwood and fireplace facts
Heating & cooling degree day data
Home insulation
Laundry techniques to save energy
Save home heating dollars
Saving energy in transportation
Solar energy for greenhouse heating
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Energy. Miscellaneous Publications
Included in this folder are publications on the Bonneville Power Administration, the National Energy Plan, energy conservation, the Northwest Energy Policy Project, and a study on the effects of utility rates on low income families. Also included are Lillie Hermann's notes on a CBS television special on energy which was shown August 31, 1977.
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Energy. Articles and Clippings
In addition to miscellaneous newspaper clippings, the following magazine articles are present:
"Carter's first big test." Time. April 26, 1977
"Can we harness the wind." By Roger Hamilton. National Geographic, December 1975
"Energy-saver's guide.'' Ladies' Home Journal. November 1977 "How to save energy." Newsweek. April 18, 1977
Idaho East (Published by the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce) Energy issue, Summer 1977
"Saving energy, saving dollars." Redbook. November 1977
"Solar energy, the ultimate powerhouse." By John L. Wilhelm. National Geographic. March 1976
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Environmental Land Use
Material in this folder includes the League publication Land Application of Wastewater: a New Look at an Old Idea, a local planning survey of Idaho cities, Idaho attorney general's opinion on the Local Planning Act, a glossary of common environmental. terms, an environmental workshop handbook, fact sheets on air quality, a booklet of wildlife information and several newspaper clippings on Hells Canyon.
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Panama Canal
Items in this folder include newsletters from Idaho Senators Frank Church and James McClure, the League's Update International "The Panama Canal Treaties; separating fact from fiction," C. Gordon Moris Jr.'s talk to the Lewiston League "The ratification of the Panama Canal Treaties," and a 38 page "Message from the President of the United States" transmitting the treaties to the Senate for ratification.
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. School Finance
Included in this folder are two pamphlets, "Paying for Schools" and "Financing Idaho's Schools." Two booklets published by the Idaho League of Women Voters, School Taxes and Your School Taxes at Work, are also present.
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Taxes
In addition to some newspaper clippings there is a pamphlet entitled "Idaho Tax Structure" and a report "Tax Rates of 67 Idaho Cities: 1975 and 1976 compared."
League of Women Voters - Study Topic. Water Quality
Among the many items under this topic are issues 1-11 (April-December 1977) of Western Water Stretcher (Draught Information Program, Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan) a pamphlet entitled "Idaho's Rivers and Streams: Time and Water are Running Out" North-central Idaho's 208 Clean Water Program, 4th draft, three League fact sheets entitled "Update on Section 208", Idaho's Water: a Vulnerable Resource (University of Idaho Water Resource Research Institute, 1976), League of Women Voters' testimony for the State Water Plan Hearing and the State Water Plan (Boise, Idaho Water Research Board (1976).
League of Women Voters. Miscellaneous Material - Legislative
Included in this folder are the League publication "Facts and Issues: Perspective on the Presidency" (1975), a publication prepared by the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service Resolved that the Powers of the Presidency Should be Curtailed: a collection of excerpts and bibliography relating, to the intercollegiate debate topic, 1974-1975, and the Proposed Revision of the Idaho Constitution (Idaho. Secretary of State, 1970).
League of Women Voters. Miscellaneous Material - Judiciary
This folder contains a series of articles on the judiciary in Idaho, the possible appointment of a non-lawyer to the Idaho Supreme Court (April 1976) an article on criminal records and privacy, and an article on Chief Justice Warren Burger.
III. Class Projects
In the 1970's Lillie Hermann attended classes both at Lewis and Clark State College and the University of Idaho where she was pursuing an interdisciplinary degree. The material in this series consists of publications which she accumulated for several courses. Only two of her own papers written for courses are included. Listed below are the folder headings with a brief description of the contents.
Education - Notes
This folder contains the program for Idaho Extension Homemakers Council, Northern District meeting held at Lewis and Clark State College, May 4, 1976, several brochures about educational programs at LCSC, a list of University of Idaho Extension personnel (March 1, 1976), information on the University of Idaho's external study/experience credit program, and brochures from Central Washington State College.
Institutional Administration 483
This folder contains a multi-page mimeographed study guide entitled "Working with People" and three drafts of a paper written by Mrs. Hermann on personal training.
Agricultural Economics 208 - Farm Management
Among the papers written by people associated with the Washington State University Cooperative Extension are: Samuel M. Doran, "Labor management relation and incentive plans"; "The cost of owning and operating farm machinery in Washington"; William H. Pietsch, "Profitable farm machinery selection"; and three articles by Gayle S. Willett, "Alternative methods of financing farm machinery: own versus lease versus rent," "Obtaining maximum income tax benefits from farm machinery," and "Using cost projections to make machinery management decisions: the own versus custom-hire problem."
There are also brochures on barley and wheat, University of Idaho Extension Current Information Series reports on beans, potatoes, sugarbeets, and haying costs, two papers written by Joel R. Hamilton, "Idaho population changes, density, and migration" and "Agriculture--Idaho's economic cornerstone," and three Agricultural Extension Current Information Series papers on credit.
Estate Planning
Lillie Hermann used much of this program, which was developed by David Trail, for Idaho Women in Agriculture. The program stresses the importance of planning an estate so that the survivors do not have to pay high inheritance taxes. The Material includes David M. Trail's booklet "When you die, who will get your marbles?", several newspaper articles, leaflets dealing with insurance, a booklet entitled "Your wife: the surviving captain of your estate planning team" by Max Lewis, and also Lewis's "Estate planning, shock absorbers for wives and widows." An Agricultural Extension Bulletin "Estate planning: economic and legal considerations for Idaho Farmers and Ranchers" completes the material in this folder.
Social Studies 101 - Feminism
Included in this folder is Lillie Hermann's paper "Portrait of a feminist --Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)",- a mimeographed sheet "What is a Women's Caucus?", a booklet prepared by the Emma Willard Task Force on Education (Minneapolis) Sexism in Education, a sexist and non-sexist reading list and an article by David Ruben "What you always wanted to know about female sexuality." (Family Circle, October 1970)
Nutrition
This subject contains the largest amount of material in this series. Included are classroom worksheets from Lewis and Clark State College, two issues of the University of Idaho Co-operative Extension Home Economics bulletin The Communicator (October & November 1977) several pamphlets on food for children, information on the food stamp program, clippings from the newspaper series "Dial-a-Dietitian," USDA informational pamphlets on purchasing, storing and preparing foods, the nutritive values of foods and budgeting for food purchases.
In 1969 Lillie Hermann was awarded a certificate from the University of Idaho Agricultural Extension Service after she completed a training course in food and nutrition. This certificate is included.
In 1973 she attended a Legal Services Training Conference on food and nutrition held in Denver, Colorado. The conference focused on food stamps and the school lunch program. The notebook used for this conference is included.
The final items in this section are materials for a correspondence course entitled "Your Food,." Items include a food policy basebook, leaflets to accompany the basebook, and a handbook for the coordinator of the course which also includes the lessons.
IV. Nez Perce County Organizations
Lillie Hermann was engaged in a number of community activities, most of them in the area of nutrition. Listed below are the folder headings in this series with a brief description of the material they contain.
Nez Perce County Planning & Zoning Commission
This folder contains Proposed Ordinance 12--Adoption of the uniform building code, v.1-4, 1973, minutes of the planning commission meeting held on April 17, 1976, the agenda for meetings on May 6, 1976 and September 15, 1977, county population projections, a summary report of the Genesee Comprehensive Plan, and the Nez Perce County ACD Handbook for 1976.
Nez Perce County Community Action Agency
The Community Action Agency (or Program), of which Lillie Hermann was nutrition supervisor, included the Head Start, Family Planning, Legal Services,, VISTA, Food Stamps, and Senior Citizens Programs. The items in this folder include Mrs. Hermann's 1969 application for the position of homemaker coordinator. The minutes of staff meetings held May 7, 10, 22, 27, June 12, and 13, 1973 are also included. There is also a brochure on the Lewiston Community Center, and information on food stamps, and co-op stores and buying clubs. As the result of a carpentry program sponsored by the CAA, a non-profit organization was formed and one of the items in this folder is "A Proposal to Community Action Agency, inc., from Community Construction Co-op, inc." (February 1973) which requested a grant to employ low-income people and train them in the construction business.
Among the items relating to the senior citizens' program are the by-laws of the Banana Belt Senior Citizens, inc., the budget for the group (1972-73), a December 1977 newsletter entitled "Senior Circle", the hot meals menu for one month, an article on nursing homes, and a National Council of Senior Citizens brochure "Who's going to love you when you're old and gray?"
Material relative to the school lunch program includes two brochures, "Three Child Nutrition Programs" and "Community Action for Hungry Children."
Area Nutrition Council
The material in this folder includes information on the national nutrition organization Interagency Committee on Nutrition Education, correspondence to the County Commissioners (Lewiston), the Food and Nutrition Service in Spokane and Boise concerning a panel discussion on food services available, i.e., Food Stamps and commodity foods, minutes of the Idaho Nutrition Council meetings on August 22, 1972 and January 24, 1973, and a 1973 report of the Nutrition Services Committee.
V. Miscellaneous
The items in this series are those which do not belong in any of the other series, or, as in the case of the University of Idaho Bureau of Public Affairs Research publications, could belong to more than one series. The Bureau publications include: County Officials and the Legal Process in Idaho (19769 90 p.), Handbook for City Finance Officers in Idaho (3d ed., 1976, 96 p.), Handbook for County Officials in Idaho (4th ed., 1974, 146 p.), Handbook for Elected City Officials in Idaho (5th ed., 1976, 143 p.), Handbook for Idaho Cemetery Maintenance District Officials (1972, 24 pp.), Handbook for Idaho Hospital District Officials (1972, 20 p.), and Handbook for Idaho Water and Sewer District Officials (1975, 25 p.).
Other items in this series include a certificate for outstanding service to Camp Fire Girls presented to Lillie Hermann by the Moscow District Committee, January 20, 1965, a certificate of recognition for participation in the Nez Perce County Extension Service seminar on crop production and grain marketing, February 17, 1978, Lillie Hermann's "personal plan book" (calendar) for 1975, and two greeting cards, Christmas and birthday, signed Cheri & Curt.
There is also a one-page typescript entitled "History of JAIN School District No. 64".
Two final items complete the inventory of the Miscellaneous section, a carbon typescript of a letter to "Mr. Crockett" from Charles Fay, dated Idaho City, February the 16/64 (1864) and a mimeographed copy of the narrative of Edwin Crockett detailing his crossing the plains with an ox train bound for the California gold fields in about 1852.
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