The University of Iowa Libraries

Jeanne Van Kley was raised in northwestern Iowa in 1906. She married Arie Van Kley in 1939 and they raised four children, Allan, Susan, Clinton and Neal on rented farms near Ocheydan, Iowa. In 1979, Arie and Jeanne retired to Ocheydan and in 1987, Jeanne bought a used typewriter and composed "A Family Together" for her children and grandchildren.

The Jeanne Van Kley papers were written in1987 and measure one linear inch. The collection consists primarily of Van Kley's memoir, "A Family Together," which describes family farm life in northwestern Iowa from the end of the Great Depression until their retirement in 1979. In "A Family Together" Van Kley recalls with humor many episodes of tenant farming and family life. She recounts her courtship and marriage, landlords, her farming chores and rural pastimes, raising children and farm animals. She continues the narrative to include her children's marriages, families and employment.

Arrangement: One folder, shelved in SCVF.

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The papers (donor no. 554) were donated by Jeanne Van Kleyin 1998.

Preferred Citation: Jeanne Van Kley papers, Iowa Women's Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository:	Iowa Women's Archives
Address:	100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:	319-335-5068
Curator:	Kären Mason
Email:	lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:	http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.

Geographic Names:
Ocheyedan (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Memoirs

Browse:
Rural and Farm Women