May wright sewall biography sampler
The Untold Stories of May Wright Sewall and Alma Eikerman
By: Alexandra Schrader-Dobris, Bicentennial Intern, Class of 2021, History and Sociology, Bloomington
Artistic expression at Indiana University fosters creativity among faculty and students. Many male artists experience praise for this creativity, however we neglect to honor women’s artistic legacies.
My interest in art history inspires me to recognize reformer and art administrator, May Wright Sewall, and IU Bloomington professor and artist, Dr. Alma Eikerman, in an effort to uncover their untold stories.
Sewall was a founder of the Indianapolis Propyaleum, an institution that continues to promote educational opportunities for women in the sciences and in the arts today. In addition, she helped found the Art Association of Indianapolis, which is now the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Eikerman is best known as a distinguished professor at IU who taught metalworking and jewelry design classes.
As a successful and skillful artist, her philosophy suggests that the “true function of jewelry is to decorate, to ornament, and thus command the attention and admiration. The ornament in this sense must reveal form that is worthy and expressive of its time.”
Sewall was born May 27, 1844 in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Her father encouraged her education, which was unusual for the time period. It is plausible that his encouragement was a central factor in her decisions to pursue higher education and to teach. After completing primary and secondary school she went to Northwestern Female College which was the Harvard equivalent for females at the time.
Upon the completion of college Sewall taught for several years with her second husband (there is not sufficient information regarding her first husband), Theodore Sewall, in Michigan and Indianapolis.
In 1866, she was awarded a laureate of science and received a Master of Arts degree in 1871. Then, in 1883 she founded the Art Association of Indianapolis, which Page 438 ShareCite × Page 439 ShareCite × December 21, 1889-March 3, 1988 BY JAMES F. CROW THEMATHEMATICALTHEORY of evolution and the science of population genetics began with, and for a generation was almost totally dominated by, three men: R. A. Fisher, J. B. S. Haldane, and Sewall Wright. Wright's unique contribution was his "shifting balance theory," which holds that the best opportunity for evolutionary progress is afforded by a large population comprising many partially isolated local groups. Within each group a certain amount of trial and error experimentation can take place, and successful combinations can spread throughout the population. Although the theory remains controversial, it has been very popular and influential in the biological community. Wright also developed much of the theory of inbreeding (his coefficient of inbreeding is standard material in elementary textbooks) and the genetics of quantitative traits. In addition, he was a pioneer in physiological genetics and was uniquely responsible for the developmental and coat-color genetics of guinea pigs. Wright's method of path analysis, originally used mainly by animal breeders, has become a standard statistical technique in the social sciences. Wright was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1934. Page 440 ShareCite × Sewal The May Wright Sewall Papers are a collection of documents comprised of approximately 500 letters written to May Wright Sewall dated between 1879 and 1919, and three guest books with remarks and signatures from 197 guests of the Sewall house. The correspondents represented in this collection... 508 works: The first 30 years of California's statehood were a time of upheaval for American Indians throughout California. New state officials worked to assume control of California's affairs and boundaries, U.S. government officials unfamiliar with California and its Indians arrived to document tribal... 912 works: The Yaquina Head Lighthouse was established in 1873 and is located on the Central Oregon Coast. The stories and history of this site are kept alive by trained interpreters who provide guided historic tours in period clothing. As you help us transcribe these documents we will be able to... 57 works: This collection consists of a range of 19th and early 20th century manuscript correspondence, acquired by UCD Library from diverse sources since the foundation of the Catholic University. It includes letters from significant figures, some connected directly to the University, including:... 34 works: This project draws from a digital facsimile of UCD-OFM, MSS. D.01 <https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ivrla:18726>. It represents selections from the first five volumes of Luke Waddings Papers. This amounts to 1,080 pages which have been disbound, cleaned and strengthened by professional conservator... 8 works: The C.S.S. Alabama Claims Project features over 100 documents that explore the American Civil War's international legal dimensions. Boston attorney and future U.S. Congressman Will 8 March 2022 Anne Berryhill discusses a large collection of minutes from Relief Society general board meetings that was recently released to the public. In collaboration with the Relief Society General Presidency, the Church History Department has released over 100 years’ worth of minutes taken during meetings of the Relief Society General Board (1842 through 1951); they are now available for viewing in Relief Society general board minutes, 1842–2007 (CR 11 10). These minutes tell the history of female administration in the Church, documenting the development of new Relief Society curricula (such as lesson manuals and materials), programs, and training initiatives for ward and stake leaders. They contain information about committee assignments and travel. They showcase the efforts of female leaders to work together with priesthood counterparts for the moral and spiritual welfare of the Church and larger community. They also situate the work of the Relief Society within the broader landscape of the work of female organizations within the United States and beyond. Specifically, the minutes detail the work of the Relief Society general board members, a calling that is not well known. Now known as general advisory council members, these women “visit with [Latter-day Saints], review and provide recommendations regarding curriculum and other resources, work on committees and projects and provide training and support as assigned.” Historically and today, these women work closely with the Relief Society General Presidency with whom they serve, traveling throughout the world to provide training and ministering care to women in different areas—a vital link between Church leaders and the Saints they serve. The following samples taken from the collection give a sense of the diverse kinds of information contained in the minutes. Participation in National and Intern
Biographical Memoirs: Volume 64 (1994)
SEWALL WRIGHT
PERSONAL HISTORY
May Wright Sewall Papers
Letters of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1849-1880, California Superintendency
1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books
UCD Letters
Luke Wadding Papers
The C.S.S. Alabama Claims Cases, 1870-1876
Relief Society General Board Minutes Collection Now Accessible