Papers of Dorothy Shipley Granger, 1914-1998 (inclusive), 1937-1978 (bulk)

The collection contains correspondence, biographical writings, membership lists, minutes, reports, radio scripts, financial records, speeches, printed material, etc. Most materials were filed in "accordion files" with subject designations, such as "National Woman's Party" and "Women's Association of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra." These general files usually contain correspondence, membership lists, printed material, etc. Many of the accordion files also contained subject files in their own folder, which the archivist kept intact. Folder headings in general are those of Dorothy Granger. Folder titles appearing in square brackets were created by the archivist to designate files created out of the approximately one linear foot of material that arrived at the library unfoldered. The archivist created the arrangement of the files.

Series I, Biographical and personal (#1.1-8.4, 49CB, FD.1, Mem.1-Mem.2), contains biographical writings, clippings, correspondence, membership lists, minutes, reports, printed material, etc., relating to Granger's activities outside of her work and organizational activities. It is divided into two subseries.

Subseries A, Biographical and personal (#1.1-3.4, 49CB, FD.1, Mem.1-Mem.2), contains biographical writings and clippings detailing Granger's life. There is also correspondence, membership lists, minutes, reports, printed material, etc., relating to her involvement in Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore, Md., as well as the alumni association of St. Joseph's Academy. Folders are arranged with general biographical materials first, followed by clippings, Corpus Christi materials, and St. Joseph's Academy materials.

Subseries B, Correspondence (#3.5-8.4), contains correspondence with Granger's friends and family. The correspondence in this subseries relates to material found in other series, including the Women's Association of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Woman's Party. Granger created several overlapping alphabetical files containing personal correspondence. As a result, there are several files for each letter of the alphabet, often covering similar date ranges, which were kept intact to reflect Granger's filing system. Granger filed correspondence alphabetically, but a large number of letters were either found loose in the boxes or in folders labeled "to be filed" and did not contain last names, so the archivist arranged these letters in rough chronological order and listed them at the beginning of the subseries. Filed with Gloria Shipley Wolfe's correspondence is a diary Wolfe, Granger's sister, kept when she was seventeen years old. The bulk of the correspondence is arranged alphabetically.

Series II, Professional (#8.5-10.9), contains correspondence, financial records, reports, speeches, printed material, etc., relating to Granger's work with May Co.'s Baltimore department store, Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company, and as public relations director for the Baltimore Bureau of Sanitation. Among the materials relating to her work with the Bureau of Sanitation are printed material and speeches relating to Baltimore's "Clean-up Charlie" campaign, which encouraged children to clean up litter in their neighborhoods. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Series III, Radio (#10.10-18.7, T-324.1), contains correspondence, schedules, scripts, clippings, membership lists, minutes, notes, etc., relating to Granger's work as a producer and host of radio shows about civic issues and her involvement with American Women in Radio and Television. Files are arranged in two subseries.

Subseries A, General (#10.10-15.10, T-324.1), contains correspondence, schedules, scripts, clippings, notes, etc., relating to Granger's role as producer and host of civic-themed radio shows. Much of her work on "Clean City" and "A Better Baltimore" appear to have been part of her duties as public relations director for the Baltimore Bureau of Sanitation. Files are arranged with those relating directly to the radio shows first, followed by an alphabetical subject file of people and topics involved, or at least considered for use in the shows.

Subseries B, American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT), 1953-1972 (#15.11-18.7), contains correspondence, membership lists, minutes, notes, by-laws, etc. The AWRT's purpose was to help women become "greater commercial assets to their stations, networks, and employers; to promote cooperation between various broadcasting fields; and to increase opportunities for women in the broadcasting field." The material in this collection focuses on the activities of the Maryland chapter, although there is some national conference material. Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series IV, Feminist activities (#18.8-30.8, OD.1, SD.1, Mem.3-Mem.4), contains correspondence, minutes, by-laws, member lists, printed material, clippings, etc., relating to Granger's efforts to change the laws governing the status of women in society. Files are arranged in six subseries.

Subseries A, Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) (#18.8-19.7), contains correspondence, printed materials produced by a variety of organizations, and lists. The correspondence relates to most of the organizations found in this subseries. Files are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries B, National Woman's Party, 1926-1950 (#19.8-25.11, OD.1, SD.1, Mem.3), contains correspondence, minutes, by-laws, member lists, printed materials, clippings, etc., relating to both the national and Maryland chapters of the National Woman's Party. The bulk of the materials document the period of 1945-1947, during which time Granger was part of a group of national council members who tried to change the leadership of the party. They convened a convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., where a new slate of officers were elected. Claiming that the convention was illegal, the original leadership refused the newly elected officers access to the headquarters building. The issue of rightful leadership eventually went to court, where the ruling went in favor of the original leaders. Granger and her cohorts were forced to resign. Files are arranged with national materials first, followed by Maryland chapter materials, and those relating to the Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Council, a unit of the Maryland chapter devoted to securing complete equality for women.

Subseries C, Mayflower Club, 1947-1949, 1973-1974 (#26.12-27.2), includes correspondence, minutes, notes, financial records etc. The Mayflower Club was formed by the members of the National Woman's Party who were part of the failed leadership change. The group was dedicated to paying off the debt the women incurred in their legal battle to claim leadership of the party. While the group also had the goal of working for equality for women, the records in this collection only document their efforts to pay off their debt.

Subseries D, St. Joan's International Alliance, 1941-1948, 1960, 1989 (#27.3-27.24), includes correspondence, membership lists, constitution, financial records, etc., relating to establishment of the United States branch of the international organization dedicated to organizing Catholic women to fight for equality for women. Files are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries E, Maryland Women's Council, 1946-1965 (#28.1-29.11), includes correspondence, by-laws, member lists, financial records, etc. The Maryland Women's Council was an organization whose purpose was to establish a forum for women's organizations both political and non-partisan to discuss and act upon legislation that pertained to women.

Subseries F, Jury service (#29.12-30.8, Mem.4), contains correspondence, participant lists, clippings, etc., relating to the successful bid to pass legislation that would allow women to serve on jury duty in Maryland.

Series V, Women's Association of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 1934-1991 (#30.9-40.13, 49CB), contains correspondence, member lists, minutes, by-laws, clippings, etc. The Woman's Association was a group that assisted in ticket sales and fundraising for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as well as organizing events, including opening night receptions and free concerts at a local public library. Files are arranged alphabetically.

Series VI, Other women's groups (#40.14-45.8), includes correspondence, membership lists, by-laws, printed material, clippings, etc., relating to three groups: the Business and Professional Women's Club of Baltimore, dedicated to promoting women's interest in business and advancing women in professional fields; the Friendship Association, dedicated to promoting friendship among local service groups; and the Advertising Women's Club of Baltimore, dedicated to promoting women's interest in advertising and advancing women in advertising and relating fields. Much of the material relating to these groups documents the planning involved in hosting a luncheon, dinner, or fundraiser. Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series VII, Community activities (#45.9-48.17), contains correspondence, member lists, notes, printed material, financial records, etc., relating to Granger's involvement with committees dedicated to improving or showcasing Baltimore and Maryland. Also included in this series are records relating to the Maryland Committee to elect Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series VIII, Photographs (#PD.1-PD.14), contains photographs and negatives of Granger's social, feminist, and professional activities. Particularly well documented are various "Clean-up Charlie" events, the 1966 Women's Advertising Club of Baltimore's Woman of the Year award (given to Granger), and the International Broadcasters' Conference hosted by the Baltimore branch of the American Women in Radio and Television. Most of the photographs were taken by the City of Baltimore and, with the exception of a date, are unidentified. Photographs are arranged with general photographs first, followed by a listing of folders relating to specific topic, and catch-all folders of photographs removed from earlier series.