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[Item identification] The Mary Emily Foy Collection, MS.614. Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA
Mary Emily Foy (1862-1962) was the daughter of Samuel Calvert Foy and Lucinda (Pet) Macy Foy, early Los Angeles pioneers. From 1880 to 1894, she served as the third Los Angeles City Librarian, the first woman to hold the position. She is particularly well known for her involvement in the California Woman's Suffrage Movement and her involvement with the Democratic Party. She was Vice President of the Political Equality League, Secretary of the Votes for Women Club, President of the California Woman's Democratic League, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1916 and 1920. In 1934, she ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the 15th Congressional District.
Mary Foy's interests in history and archaeology lead her to organize the California Parlor of the Native Daughters of the American West, and to her involvement with the local chapter of the American Institute for Archaeology, and the Southwest Society. Foy was also founder of First Century Families, descendants of Los Angeles settlers during its first 100 years, and wrote for the Jeffersonian, Woman's Bulletin, and the Los Angeles Herald and Express.
The collection consists of biographical information on Foy; newspaper articles, especially from the Los Angeles Times; articles by Foy; and letters of correspondence.
Original order.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
MS. 503, Joseph Benjamin Collings Papers, 1878-1951. Correspondence between Collings and Foy, 1951. Braun Research Library, Institute for the Study of the American West, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Papers of Mary Emily Foy, 1879-1957 (490 pieces, 3 boxes ). The Henry E. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California.
Photographs of the interior and exterior childhood residence, portraits of Samuel Calvert Foy and Mary Foy, and Foy Saddle and Harness Shop. Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection, History and Genealogy Department, Los Angeles, California.
Information pertaining to gifts book or manuscript and her comments about it, some pages handwritten.
Biographical articles, published in the Los Angeles Times, 1949-1954 "Family Reunion marks 100 years in California," 1950 April 17 "1879 Graduate to attend L. A. High Birthday Party," 1954 February 17 "Early Families to meet for Luncheon" Norma H. Goodhue, 1954 September 28
Biographical articles, published in the Los Angeles Times, 1955-1962 "Miss Mary Foy still busy on 93rd birthday," 1955 July 14 "First Woman Librarian feted on 96th Birthday," 1958 July13 "L. A. High fetes oldest Alumna at celebration" Los Angeles Times, 1961 June 4 "Mary Foy, City's first Woman Librarian, dies," 1962 February 19 "Miss Mary Foy funeral rites scheduled today," 1962 February 21
"Old Indian Trails in Los Angeles" by Mary Foy includes letter regarding it to M.R. Harrington, dated 1952 June 7
Reminiscences by Mary E. Foy as told to Don Ryan L.A.Herald and Express, 1952 March
"Historic L.A., House Lives On: Foy Home is Headquarters of Geothermal Firm" Los Angeles Times, Sunday, 1981, March 1; Real Estate/Second Section. Includes two sketches of Foy House.