The University of Iowa Libraries

Barbara (Bobby) Burrell was born in July 1922 in Ames, Iowa. An only child, Burrell was raised by her single mother, Katherine Calmus Burrell, in the family home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Barbara Burrell married Donald Harrison Nichols on April 8, 1944 in South Mills, North Carolina. The couple settled in Ames, Iowa, where they had two children: Steven Ray Nichols (born 1945) and Gail Marie Nichols (born 1948). Barbara Nichols died September 9, 1951 from complications due to polio.

The Barbara Burrell Nichols papers date from 1944 to1997 and consist of twelve items. Four letters written by Barbara Nichols to her brother-in-law and his wife, Paul and Ann Nichols, in the year preceding her death, deal with the concerns of a housewife and mother; one mentions polio cases in Ames, Iowa. A telegram tells of Barbara Nichols' death, and another letter, written by her mother-in-law, Mary Nichols, explains the circumstances of Barbara Nichols' sudden illness and unexpected death. There is also a partial letter written by Mary Nichols. Also included are Barbara Nichols' funeral program and copies of both her marriage and death certificates, a photograph of Barbara Nichols, and a page of notes about the family and letters written by Barbara Nichols' daughter, Gail Nichols.

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. 415) were donated by Gail Nichols in 1997.

Preferred Citation: Barbara Burrell Nichols 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.

Personal Names:
Nichols, Barbara Burrell, 1922-1955
Nichols, Gail
Nichols, Mary

Dates:
20th century

Topics:
Poliomyelitis
Family life
Motherhood
Housekeeping
Marriage
Women and death

Occupations:
Homemakers

Geographic Names:
Ames (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Archives
Photographs
Personal papers
Correspondence