Ann Landers papers, 1947-2002

 

Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center

By Shanna Seiberlich; ed. by Sarah Dorpinghaus, 2010

 

 

Please address questions to:

Chicago History Museum, Research Center

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

Web-site: http://www.chicagohistory.org/research

 

 

© Copyright 2010, Chicago Historical Society

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

 

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Title: Ann Landers papers, 1947-2002

Main entry: Landers, Ann.

Inclusive dates: 1947-2002

Size:

107.25 linear ft. (76 boxes)

 

Restriction: Research use of this collection is governed by the standard rules and regulations of the Chicago History Museum Research Center.

Accession number: 2002.0266.1, 2003.0262.3

Provenance statement: Purchased from estate sale (2002.0266.1) and gift of Margo Howard (2003.0262.3).

Terms governing use: Requests for reprinting or use of published materials by Ann Landers or her daughter Margo Howard should be submitted to Christine Lee (at clee@creators.com ). Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Please cite this collection as: Ann Landers papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

 

This descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

Biographical note,

Summary description of the collection,

Description of some material related to the collection,

List of online catalog headings about the collection,

Arrangement of the collection,

Detailed description of archival series in the collection,

List of contents of the collection.

 

Biographical note:

Esther Pauline Lederer (nicknamed Eppie) was famous as the advice columnist Ann Landers. She moved to Chicago from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1954 with her husband Jules Lederer and, in 1955, began writing the "Ask Ann Landers" advice column for the Chicago Sun Times, adopting the pen name of the previous writer of the column. Landers/Lederer was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1918 (nee Friedman).

 

She expanded the scope of the column from its previous emphasis on childcare to cover topics such as sexuality, marriage, marital roles and family relationships, divorce, drugs and alcoholism, and ethical issues. The column eventually was syndicated in over 1100 newspapers. In 1987, she left the Sun-Times, taking the column with her to the Chicago Tribune, where she remained its primary author until 2000. During the last years of her life, the column was chiefly written by her daughter Margo Howard.

 

Landers’ advice generally was considered moderate and well-researched and gained her the respect of conservatives and liberals. Her willingness to address controversial issues of the times, such as AIDS and homosexuality, helped win her column a wide readership. Landers' reputation and influence earned her numerous honorary doctorates and invitations to speak at public events throughout the United States. She also published several books, including Sex and the Teenager (1983) and The Ann Landers Encyclopedia, A to Z: Improve Your Life Emotionally, Medically, Sexually, Socially, Spiritually (1981). Landers died in Chicago on June 22, 2002, at age 83.

 

Summary description of the collection:

Scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, texts of speech, correspondence, photographs, manuscripts of her books, and other papers of Ann Landers, primarily regarding her career as an advice columnist for the Chicago Sun Times and later for the Chicago Tribune, and in syndication to newspapers throughout the United States. Scrapbooks (66 vol.) contain her newspaper column, "Ask Ann Landers" (1957-2002; boxes 1-48), and other newspaper clippings, articles, photos, etc. about Landers' journalism career, social service activities, and personal matters (1947-1987; boxes 49-66). Includes items about her community service in the B'nai B'rith, Anti-Defamation League, and Red Cross in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (1947-1954) and her work, speaking engagements, etc. in Chicago (1954 to 1987). Topics on which she commented and enlisted experts to provide knowledgeable perspectives included marriage, sex, teenagers, dating, mental health, spending habits, social practices of many types, and relations between people of different religions, races, and genders.

 

Description of some material related to the collection:

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Ann Landers collection of photographic materials (2003.0262) and several publications by and about Ann Landers.

 

List of online catalog headings about the collection:

The following index headings for this collection were entered in the online catalog.

Subjects:

Landers, Ann--Archives.

Landers, Ann. Ann Landers encyclopedia, A to Z.

Landers, Ann. Ask Ann Landers

Landers, Ann. Sex and the teenager.

Lederer, Esther Pauline Friedman, 1918-2002.

Chicago sun-times.

Chicago Tribune (Firm)

Chicago sun-times.

Chicago tribune

Advice columnists--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Advice columnists--United States--20th century.

American newspapers--Illinois--Chicago--Sections, columns, etc.--20th century.

Conduct of life.

Families--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Mothers and daughters--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Twin sisters--United States--20th century.

Women journalists--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--20th century.

Eau Claire (Wis.)--Social conditions--20th century.

United States--Social life and customs--20th century.

United States--Social conditions--20th century.

 

Form/genre:

Articles (for publication).

Biography.

Correspondence.

Manuscripts (for publication).

Photoprints.

Scrapbooks.

Scripts.

Speeches.

 

Added entries:

Landers, Ann. Ann Landers encyclopedia, A to Z.

Landers, Ann. Ask Ann Landers.

Landers, Ann. Sex and the teenager.

Bromley, David Allan

Wolfe, Gregory B.

B'nai B'rith. Anti-defamation League.

Chicago sun-times.

Chicago Tribune (Firm)

Chicago sun-times.

Chicago tribune

United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago.

 

Arrangement of the collection:

The collection is arranged in four series:

Series 1. Scrapbooks of Ask Ann Landers newspaper column, 1957-2002 (box 1-48)

Series 2. Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1947-1987 (box 49-66)

Series 3. Speech transcripts, 1954-1996 (box 67-72)

Series 4. General material, 1958-1990 (box 73-76)

 

Detailed description of archival series in the collection:

Series 1. Scrapbooks of Ask Ann Landers newspaper column, 1957-2002 (box 1-48)

Series 1 consists of scrapbooks containing copies of Landers' advice column "Ask Ann Landers" published in the Chicago Sun Times and later in the Chicago Tribune and in national syndication to many other newspapers.

 

Series 2. Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1947-1987 (box 49-66)

Series 2 consists of scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, printed material, and photographs relating to Landers' personal and professional activities. The scrapbooks highlight Landers' community service in the Anti-Defamation League, Red Cross, and B'nai B'rith in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (1947-1954). The scrapbooks also detail the writings, events, civic endeavors, and speaking engagements of Landers in Chicago (1954 to 1987). Also present are 3 scrapbooks containing loose copies of her newspaper column (box 64-66).

 

Series 3. Speeches, 1954-1996 (box 67-72)

Series 3 consists largely of speeches written and given by Ann Landers for various nation-wide events and organizations, such as the Mary Lasker Memorial, the Young Presidents Organization, and Roosevelt University commencements. Topics include healthcare, marriage, and leadership. Also present are Landers' notes and drafts as well as copies of speeches by physicist David Allan Bromley and writer Gregory B. Wolfe.

 

Series 4. General material, 1958-1990 (box 73-76)

Series 4 contains publications, personal letters, sketches, newspaper clippings, invitations, notes, and other papers relating to the personal and professional affairs of Ann Landers. Included are manuscripts drafts for her "Book of ‘Favorite' Columns" (ca. 1978), the booklet Sex and the Teenager (1983), and The Ann Landers Encyclopedia, A to Z: Improve Your Life Emotionally, Medically, Sexually, Socially, Spiritually (1981). Also present are NBC radio scripts and promotional literature for the segment "This is Ann Landers" (1971-1972).

 

List of contents of the collection:

box 1               Scrapbooks of column of column, April 1, 1957-March 21, 1959

box 2               Scrapbooks of column, March 3, 1958-August 22, 1960

box 3               Scrapbooks of column, August 23, 1959-June 15, 1960

box 4               Scrapbooks of column, June 16, 1960-March 23, 1961

box 5               Scrapbooks of column, March 24, 1961-January 6, 1962

box 6               Scrapbooks of column, January 10, 1962-October 28, 1962

box 7               Scrapbooks of column, October 29, 1962-August 18, 1963

box 8               Scrapbooks of column, August 19, 1963-May 19, 1964

box 9               Scrapbooks of column, May 21, 1964-August 3, 1965

box 10             Scrapbooks of column, August 4, 1965-May 18, 1966

box 11             Scrapbooks of column, May 19, 1966-March 5, 1967

box 12             Scrapbooks of column, March 6, 1967-April 22, 1968

box 13             Scrapbooks of column, April 23, 1968-February 4, 1969

box 14             Scrapbooks of column, February 5, 1969-September 15, 1970

box 15             Scrapbooks of column, September 16, 1970-December 9, 1971

box 16             Scrapbooks of column, December 10, 1971-December 12, 1973

box 17             Scrapbooks of column, December 13, 1973-September 25, 1974

box 18             Scrapbooks of column, September 26, 1974-March 18, 1976

box 19             Scrapbooks of column, March 20, 1976-November 14, 1976

box 20             Scrapbooks of column, November 15, 1976-July 10, 1977

box 21             Scrapbooks of column, July 13, 1977-November 4, 1978

box 22             Scrapbooks of column, November 5, 1978-February 26, 1980

box 23             Scrapbooks of column, February 27, 1980-October 29, 1980

box 24             Scrapbooks of column, October 30, 1980-June 20, 1981

box 25             Scrapbooks of column, June 21, 1981-October 12, 1982

box 26             Scrapbooks of column, October 13, 1982-December 6, 1983

box 27             Scrapbooks of column, December 7, 1983-January 30, 1985

box 28             Scrapbooks of column, January 31, 1985-September 23, 1985

box 29             Scrapbooks of column, September 24, 1985-January 6, 1987

box 30             Scrapbooks of column, January 7, 1987-December 7, 1988

box 31             Scrapbooks of column, December 8, 1988-November 19, 1989

box 32             Scrapbooks of column, November 20, 1989-April 30, 1990, September 4, 1990

box 33             Scrapbooks of column, September 5, 1990-January 2, 1991

box 34             Scrapbooks of column, January 3, 1991-August 9, 1991

box 35             Scrapbooks of column, August 10, 1991-March 11, 1992

box 36             Scrapbooks of column, March 12, 1992-September 13, 1992

box 37             Scrapbooks of column, September 14, 1992-May 14, 1993

box 38             Scrapbooks of column, May 15, 1993-January 30, 1994

box 39             Scrapbooks of column, January 31, 1994-September 30, 1994

box 40             Scrapbooks of column, October 1, 1994-June 9, 1995

box 41             Scrapbooks of column, June 10, 1995-March 13, 1996

box 42             Scrapbooks of column, March 14, 1996-March 12, 1997

box 43             Scrapbooks of column, March 13, 1997-February 2, 1998

box 44             Scrapbooks of column, February 3, 1998-December 2, 1998

box 45             Scrapbooks of column, December 3, 1998-December 31, 1999

box 46             Scrapbooks of column, January 1, 2000-December 31, 2000

box 47             Scrapbooks of column, January 1, 2001-December 31, 2001

box 48             Scrapbooks of column, January 1, 2002-July 27, 2002

box 49             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1947-1954

box 50             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1956-1958, 1987

box 51             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1961-1963

box 52             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1963-1965

box 53             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1965-1968

box 54             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1968-1971

box 55             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1971-1973

box 56             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1974-1975

box 57             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1976-1977

box 58             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1978-1979

box 59             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1980

box 60             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1981-1982

box 61             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1983-1984

box 62             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1985

box 63             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1986-1987

box 64             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1956-1957

box 65             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, August 29, 1960-January 28, 1962

box 66             Scrapbooks on Ann Landers, 1955-1956

box 67-72        Speeches, 1954-1996

box 73-76        General material, 1958-1990