Guide to the Gail Frances Webber papers, 1957–1960


John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2025

Collection Overview

Title: Gail Frances Webber papers
Date range: 1957–1960
Creator: Webber, Gail Frances
Extent: 0.5 linear feet
(1 file box)
Abstract: This collection contains undergraduate notebooks from Gail Frances Webber, Brown University class of 1960. Webber graduated with an A.B. in Spanish. Notebooks contain handwritten notes from economics, English, political science, psychology, Russian, and Sociology courses from 1957 through 1960.
Repository: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number: OF.1ZP.2025.003

Scope & content

This collection contains undergraduate notebooks from Gail Frances Webber, Brown University class of 1960. Webber graduated with an A.B. in Spanish. Notebooks contain handwritten notes from economics, English, political science, psychology, Russian, and Sociology courses from 1957 through 1960.

Webber was officially educated under the umbrella of Pembroke College, the women's college in Brown University. The women's and men's colleges officially merged in 1971. Women always received Brown University diplomas at graduation for the duration of Pembroke's 75-year existence. Notebook covers include both Brown and Pembroke designs. This collection is arranged into one series alphabetically by record type then by course as noted on the notebook.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 1 series.

Biographical/Historical Note

Gail Frances Webber was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts on September 2, 1938. Her grandfather was the beloved Gloucester fishing boat skipper, Captain Ralph Webber. While her father served in World War II, Gail and her mother lived in Lake Worth, Florida with her mother's family, returning to Massachusetts after the war. She graduated from Gloucester High School in 1956 and subsequently started at Pembroke College, the women's college in Brown University. She graduated from Brown with a B.A. in Spanish in 1960. Her first job after college was working for Ginn & Company in Boston as a Spanish textbook editor. In 1963, she moved to Washington DC to work for the National Security Agency (NSA).

At the NSA, she met her husband James Martin, an Air Force lieutenant from Memphis, Tennessee. They ultimately settled in Adamstown, Maryland and raised 5 daughters, one of whom is also a Brown graduate. After leaving the government, Gail became a freelance editor/proofreader for several publishers, working from home for decades. Now retired, she and James live in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where she spends most of her time knitting toys and clothing to donate to hospitals and social services nationwide.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access for analog 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.
Use of the materials: All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the John Hay Library are requested to complete a Notice of Intent to Publish, prior to reproducing, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. 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.
Preferred citation: Gail Frances Webber papers, OF-1ZP-2025-003, Box [#], Folder [#], Pembroke Center Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University.
Contact information: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Gift of Gail Frances Webber in 2023.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Amanda Knox, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-14.
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor: Curatorial work provided by Mary O. Murphy, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Inventory


Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 1 Notebook: "Economics 0-1"
1958
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 2 Notebook: "English - Comedy and Laughter"
n.d.
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 3 Notebook: "English 187"
1959
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 4 Notebook: "Political Science - D1"
1957
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 5 Notebook: "Psychology - D1"
1957
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 6 Notebook: "Psychology 81"
1958-1959
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 7 Notebook: "Psychology 107"
1959-1960
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 8 Notebook: "Russian 29;" includes reading list
1958-1959
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 9 Notebook: "Sociology IC"
1957-1958
Box [31236104065753] 1, Folder 10 Notebook: "Sociology 138"
1960