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Thelma Rankin Zoller (Class of 1929) papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA19

Biographical / Historical

Thelma Lodema Rankin Zoller was born on September 26, 1906 in Denver, Colorado, and her family moved to Rochester, New York, when she was a child. She graduated from West High School in Rochester and from the University of Rochester, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, in 1929. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Upsilon sorority. After graduation, she worked at the University as secretary to Hugh Smith, the alumni secretary and director of publications, and then to Charles R. Dalton, who succeeded Smith and was later director of admissions. In 1936 she married Ross G. Zoller, a traveling salesman and a soldier in World War II. She became ill in 1945 and underwent surgery. Thelma died on May 20, 1949 at the age of 42.

Scope and Contents

The Thelma Rankin Zoller Papers date from circa 1920-1949. Materials relate to her time in high school and at the University of Rochester as an undergraduate and as an employee, as well as to her personal life. They consist largely of correspondence, including invitations and holiday cards; photographs; and newspaper clippings. The collection is organized into a scrapbook, correspondence, and other personal items.



The scrapbook (circa 1920-1941) begins with material from high school and continues past Zoller’s graduation from the University of Rochester. Along with the scrapbook itself are several folders with items that were detached from the scrapbook. The folders are labeled according to the page on which the items were found upon acquisition of the scrapbook; these pages may not correspond to the locations where Zoller originally placed items. The scrapbook includes poems, dance cards, and the programs for Commencement and Senior Day in 1929. Much of the material originating from her college days involves sororities on campus.



The correspondence (1936-1949) belonged to Thelma and her husband, Ross. It has been arranged according to the recipient and then chronologically for each of them. For the instances where Thelma and Ross were writing to each other, letters were sorted into the recipient’s file. Other correspondents include colleagues from the University, such as Robert Metzdorf and Charles Dalton.



Other personal items (1936-1945) include the Zollers’ wedding announcement and Thelma’s wallet.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1920s-1940s

Language of Materials

English

Extent

0.56 cubic feet (2 containers)

Conditions Governing Access

For access to this collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu) at least two business days prior to your planned visit.

Please note: Some materials may be restricted or require permission for use.

Conditions Governing Use

To request reproductions or permission to publish materials from the collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu). Researchers may be responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Scrapbook purchased September 2012; correspondence purchased in February 2013.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Thelma Rankin Zoller (Class of 1929) Papers, UA19, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Bibliography

Croceus, Class of 1928. University of Rochester, 1927, page 43.



Croceus, Class of 1929. University of Rochester, 1928, page 137.



Rochester Review, June/July 1949. University of Rochester, 1949, page 32.


Title
Thelma Rankin Zoller (Class of 1929) papers
Status
In Progress
Author
John Cole (Class of 2018)
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the University of Rochester Archives Library

Contact:
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd.
Rochester New York 14627-0055 USA