Elaine Ryan Hedges was born in Yonkers, New York on August 17, 1927. She lived in Baltimore, Maryland, beginning in the late 1960s until her death on June 5, 1997. She was married in 1956 to William Hedges, a college professor, and had two children: daughter, Marietta Hedges, and son, James Leonard Hedges
Hedges graduated from Barnard College in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies. She received a master's degree (1950) and a doctorate degree (1970) in American Studies from Harvard University. Her doctoral thesis was on the author and literary critic William Dean Howells.
From 1951 to 1971, Hedges taught at Harvard University, Wellesley College in Massachusetts, San Francisco State University, the University of California at Berkeley, and Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. From 1972 until her retirement in 1995, she was a professor of American Literature at Towson State University in Towson, Maryland. Hedges was a member of the American Association of University Professors, the National Women's Studies Association, the Modern Language Association, the American Association of University Professors, the American Studies Association, and the American Literature Association. She cofounded and was president of the Charlotte Perkins Gilman Society. Hedges was also a founder, and then director (for 20 years), of the Department of Women's Studies at Towson State University. Largely through her pioneering efforts, the Women's Studies Program at Towson University developed into one of the exemplary women's studies programs in the nation. In the 1990s she helped establish Towson University's National Center for Curriculum Transformation Resources on Women in order to foster nationwide curricula change and the dissemination of scholarship focused on women and ethnic minorities. She edited many of the Center's publications, and wrote its opening book articulating the Center's mission, called
Hedges was one of the contributing editors of the
Hedges' interest in women's literature, culture, and creativity evolved into her ground-breaking scholarship on the significance of American women and sewing -- particularly in reference to their quiltmaking in the nineteenth century. She helped to broaden interdisciplinary interest in the then emerging field of women's studies by investigating ways in which women had traditionally expressed themselves within a patriarchal society. Of special note are her original scholarly interpretations of quilts as encoded texts—that is to say, as historical records from which crucial information about the emotional, intellectual, political, and social lives of women could be gleaned. Her many works on American women and quiltmaking include an essay entitled "Quilts and Women's Culture" in
Includes greeting cards, notes and other related ephemeral materials pertaining to China.
Includes photocopy of article, an essay by Rans, and a photocopy of magazine clipping.
Includes photos of Sweeney's work.
Includes actual contracts with publishers
Includes newspaper clippings of book review
Small pocket calendar
Desk calendar, with loose notes laid in.
Includes drafts, notes and supplementary materials
Comprised of three diaries kept during trips to China. Miscellaneous notes laid in undated diary.
Includes 50th Anniversary Reunion materials, class lists, and newsletters.
Includes program, photograph of William Hedges, and other related materials.
Comprised of a few radical periodicals (newsprint).
Includes photocopies of talks, scholarly articles and emails, scattered notes, and correspondence.
Includes memorial written by Florence Howe, entitled "Sudden, and Too Soon: The Death of Elaine Hedges," for The Second International Charlotte Perkins Gilman Conference, on June 26-28, 1997. File Includes several drafts, related correspondence and conference materials.
Includes eulogies, programs and guest book.
Includes student essay on J. Chicago submitted to Hedges; booklet; brochure; poster; and newspaper and magazine clippings.
Includes essay by Donnell, "Paul Klee and the Log Cabin Pattern; poems series (snow) also by Donnell; correspondence from Donnell to Hedges; research notes by Hedges; and photographs.
Includes correspondence and slides.
Includes booklet, "Susan McCord's Quilts," by Nancy Villa Bryk; correspondence; research notes by Hedges; magazine clippings; and blank note cards with illustrations of McCord's quilts
Includes correspondence from Peterson-Tucker to Hedges; Peterson-Tucker's resume and newsletter.
Includes photocopy of Jennie Smith's narrative on Harriet Powers in the Smithsonian archives.
Includes student papers, research notes, and other materials about Ringgold.
Comprised of photocopy of article written by Scott and two hand-written notes.
Includes illustration of "Amigo Muertos," a quilt by Shannon and his statement concerning the controversy over its exhibition.
Includes Shapiro's resume, research notes, invitations, and articles by and about Shapiro.
Includes Sisto's writings and resume, correspondence from Sisto to Hedges, and exhibition invitation.
Hedges had been scheduled to participate on a panel entitled "Crafting Power" for this Conference beginning in October of 1997. She died in June of that year.
Exhibition held on August 14-December 4, 1994, at the Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Mass.
Advertisement of talk by Hedges, "From Bed to Banner, the Politics of Quilts in the 19th Century," at Westchester Univ.
Includes research notes and photocopies of Alcott's works.
Includes photocopy of section of the story "The Donation Party," by Corbett and research notes.
Includes research notes and copies of Dickinson's poems.
Includes Donnell's autobiographical observations.
Includes photocopies of writings by Fern and Sarah Josepha Buell Hale.
Includes photocopy of selections from Morehead's "in a Yellow Room."
Brochure.
Includes filmography.
Includes manuscript.
Includes correspondence between Goodale-Sussen and Hedges about the text.
Includes correspondence from Graulich to Hedges and Vol. 9, no. 2, 1992 of
Letter in support of Hedges' research
Chapter from Kuryuluk's book on cloth. Includes note from Radla Donnell to Hedges.
With letter of support from Hedges
Includes quotes from women's diaries, and a "draft script" by Helen Jean Burn, entitled
Article about the Museum in.
Includes correspondence between author/quilter and Hedges and other related materials
Includes correspondence between author and Hedges.
Includes correspondence between author and Hedges.
Preparatory notes for talk.
Clipping from
Luanne Bole-Becker, Producer/Writer of video documentary
Includes the 1996 publication,
Includes photocopy of article by Karen V. Hansen.
Article by Merish entitled,
Article by Margolis entitled,
Article by Woods entitled,
Includes article by Nancy F. Cott,
Small assortment of images of quilts, quilters, textiles, and other crafts.
With slides of quilts
Includes manuscript material by Linda Pershing.
Includes manuscript material by Linda Pershing.
Author unidentified.
Copies of two letters written by Thomas cited from Marjorie Housepan Dobkin's book, The Making of a Feminist: Early Journals and Letters of M. Carey Thomas, published in 1979.
Includes a small amount of correspondence, travel brochures, and shipping rates to China.
Includes Hall's
Student paper by Hedges (under birth name, Elaine C. Ryan).
Student paper by Hedges (under birth name, Elaine C. Ryan).
Includes reference materials and notes.
Includes related correspondence.
Includes research materials and notes.
Includes research materials and notes.
Includes notes and other reference materials
Includes notes and other reference materials
Includes notes and other reference materials
Includes correspondence related to topic and other materials
Includes correspondence and research materials.
Chiefly correspondence
Chiefly correspondence
Includes negatives
Includes checklist, slide inventory sheet, and correspondence.
Includes negatives
Includes negatives
With accompanying student paper on women's photography in the 20th century.
With introduction by Hedges entitled "Respositionings: Multiculturalism, American Literary History, and the Curriculum," on p. [769-770] and offprint.
Includes two issues and undated loose pages.
E. Hedges, guest editor of this issue.
Small article by E. Hedges in the Dec. 1995 issue.
Includes article by E. Hedges entitled "Women's Studies and the High School Curriculum."
Published in conjunction with a memorial service held on September 22, 1997.
Includes article by E. Hedges entitled "The 19th-Century Diarist and Her Quilts, on p. 293-299, with her laid in notes.
Includes interview with E. Hedges, along with Florence Howe, and Shelby Lewis.
With article by Jonathan Holstein entitled "Uncommon Quilts" and laid in presentation note from him to E. Hedges.
Includes a dedication to E. Hedges on t.p. verso.
Article by E. Hedges, entitled "Women's Studies and the High School English Curriculum," on p. 8-18.
Article by E. Hedges, entitled "Cesar Birotteau and The Rise of Silas Lapham: A Study in Parallels" on p. 163-174.
With annotations by E. Hedges.
With small article by E. Hedges, entitled "The Art of the Quilt," on p. 15.
With annotations by E. Hedges laid in.
Book reviews by E. Hedges on p. 507-511)
With note by E. Hedges laid in.
Instruction sheet and note to E. Hedges from compiler laid in.
With entry referencing E. Hedges.
Includes article by E. Hedges entitled, "Criticism, 1965: Books About Individual Writers," on p. [217]-234.
Book reviews by E. Hedges: vol. 3, no.3, p.8-9; vol. 8, no.7, p. 18-20; vol. 13, no.1, p.28-29)
Includes article by Hedges, "Small Things Considered: Susan Glaspell's 'A Jury of Her Peers'"
With article by E. Hedges, entitled "Women's Studies at a State College," on p. 5-6)
With article by Hedges, "We Did It"
Audio tape cassette.
3.5" computer disk.
Videotape.
Videotape. Includes talk by E. Hedges on Curriculum Transformation.
Videotape.
The Elaine Hedges papers includes correspondence; manuscripts; research materials (including scattered notes); bibliographies (some with annotations); copies of scholarly essays (some with marginalia); administrative materials; periodicals; photographs (including slides); and a small assortment of mixed-media materials. This collection dates from 1958 and continues through 1998, the bulk of which ranges from the early 1970s to 1997.
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Elaine Hedges papers, MS.2011.007, Brown University Library.
The collection is divided into 12 series. All the files within each series are alphabetically arranged by topic. (Series 3-5 are further divided into subseries, also alphabetically arranged by topic).
There are no restrictions on access for non-digital materials, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. Advance notice is required to view born-digital records. Born-digital materials in this collection have not been reformatted yet. Researchers may request access to copies by contacting the John Hay Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. Access to original physical digital media is restricted.
This collection was donated by James Hedges and Marietta Hedges in 2004.
See also the
The books from the Elaine Hedges papers are cataloged separately and can be found in the Library's catalog under the heading: