Vose Stearns McCormick family papers

This collection primarily documents the activities of members of the Vose, Stearns, and McCormick, dating from 1834 to 1949, and chiefly reflects their life in Los Angeles, California. In particular, this set of papers documents the activities of the Hollenbeck Ebell Club of Los Angeles through the personal documents, correspondence, diaries and photographs of Cynthia Lisetta Vose (born 1839) and her daughter Nellie Stearns McCormick (born 1869).

The papers are arranged in three series: Family History, Hollenbeck Ebell Club and Los Angeles Transit Lines Women's Club; Photographs; and Addenda. Within the Family History series (box 1), the items are arranged: manuscripts, correspondence and ephemera. The items are filed alphabetically by name or subject within those subdivisions. Within the Hollenbeck Ebell Club and Los Angeles Transit Women's Club series (in boxes 2 and 3) the papers are also arranged first by creator name, in this case Cynthia Lisetta Vose or Nellie Stearns McCormick, and then by manuscripts, correspondence and ephemera under that subseries. The items are then filed chronologically within the subdivisions of manuscripts, correspondence and ephemera. Box 4 contains photographs. The items within this series are arranged alphabetically by name or subject.

The Vose Stearns McCormick family papers contains personal papers in the form of manuscripts, correspondence, ephemera and photographs that document the activities of the family members of the Vose, Stearns and McCormick families. The family's activities documented within this set of papers range from 1834 to 1949. Limited documentation exists of the family's beginning in Stoughton, Massachusetts and their move west and settlement in Lake County, Illinois. The bulk of the documentation covers the family's life in Los Angeles, California. In particular, this set of papers documents the activities of the Hollenbeck Ebell club through the personal documents, correspondence and photographs of Cynthia Lisetta Vose and her daughter Nellie Stearns McCormick. Documentary forms include genealogical lists and narratives, poetry, an autograph book, day books, play scripts, speeches, notes, correspondence, keepsakes, hymn books, linen, education certificates, a penmanship notebook, Los Angeles Railways newsletters, obituaries and newspaper clippings. In particular, prominent within this collection are the poetry and club writings of Cynthia Lisetta Vose and Nellie Stearns McCormick as well as the play scripts and photographs from the historical pageants hosted by the Hollenbeck Ebell Club. There is also limited documentation in regards to the activities of the Los Angeles Transit Lines Women's Club. Other subjects include: agricultural colleges in Mexico, frontier life in Illinois, and rabbit hunting in California.

The addenda consists of 31 daily diaries written by Cynthia Lisetta Vose from 1900 through 1932. There are also clippings and printed ephemera related to the Hollenbeck Ebell Club, Los Angeles Railway Women's Club, and Nellie Stearns McCormick.