Elizabeth (Gray) Potter
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Elizabeth Florence (Gray) Potter (1874 - 1959)

Elizabeth Florence Potter formerly Gray
Born in Oakland, Alameda, California, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Daughter of and
Sister of and
Wife of — married 27 Feb 1906 in San Francisco, California, United Statesmap
Died at age 85 in Long Island, New York, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 11 May 2022
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Contents

Biography

Early Years

Elizabeth was born in Oakland, California in 1874 to George Gray and Susan (Thayer) Gray.[1] She was raised in Oakland with her sister Mabel and brother Prentiss.[2][3]

Education and Early Career

In 1896, Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of California - Berkeley.[4] In August 1897, Elizabeth was one thirteen women to reestablish the Pi chapter of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at UCB.[5][6]

Starting in the 1900s, Elizabeth began to publish her writing. Her earliest known writing is an essay for The Key, a newsletter run by KKG at UCB, from 1902.[7] In 1904, she also wrote and illustrated stories for Overland Monthly based in San Francisco.[8][9] Her fiction focused on Alaska and the Yukon.

Almost ten years after her graduation, she continued taking on duties for KKG. From October 1905 to March 1907, Elizabeth served as national historian; from 1906 to 1910, Elizabeth served as the editor of The Key.[10]

She was honored with a luncheon at a KKG event in California in January 1907.[11] In March, she stepped down as historian; the records and artifacts sent to the new historian in New York were destroyed in a train fire in transit.[12] In 1908, she attended the national KKG convention in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.[13]

A Short Marriage

On February 27, 1906, she married Kansan Frederick Wirt Potter in San Francisco.[14] Two days after their marriage, Elizabeth had appendicitis, was rushed into surgery and ended up recovering in March.[15] In June 1906, the couple moved to Fred's hometown of Peabody, Kansas.[16]

In 1910, Elizabeth and Fred returned to Oakland and lived with her parents[17] before moving into their own place in Oakland later that year.[18] Elizabeth was unemployed; Fred worked in real estate. Fred also could not read.

Between 1910 and 1913, the couple returned to the Midwest, and Elizabeth began working as a librarian at the Carnegie Library School in Madison, Wisconsin.[19][20] Fred passed away in 1912; Elizabeth returned to her family home in February 1913.

Elizabeth in World War I

In 1915, Elizabeth co-wrote with sister Mabel the book The Lure of San Francisco; A Romance Amid Old Landmarks.[21]

In 1918, she joined the American Red Cross and went to France.[22][23] In France, after the Armistice, she aided in the foundation of the American Library in Paris through her work as a librarian.[24][25] She also joined the Sierra Club around this time.[23]

In 1920, she returned to the United States for good,[26] although she visited France in 1922.[27]

Later Career and Passing

Around 1923, she began her tenure at the Mills College Library.[24] In 1926, she started writing for Mills College's KKG newsletter The Convention Hoot.[28] In 1932, she attended a library conference in Santa Barbara.[29]

She earned her masters degree studying San Francisco history and finished her second book, The San Francisco Skyline, by 1939.[24][30] In 1940, she gave a talk for the California Historical Society[31] and began assistant editing the society's quarterly journal in 1944.[32] She joined the board of directors in 1949.[33] In 1957, she became an assistant "chairman."[34]

Elizabeth passed away during a trip to Long Island, New York in 1959.[35] She was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California at her family plot.[36] A memorial was held for her at the national KKG convention in June 1960.[37]

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ "California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4VGL-8MZM : 11 January 2020), Elizabeth Florence Gray, 1874.
  2. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6G2-VH5 : 13 January 2022), Bessie F. Gray in household of G. D. Gray, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
  3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9PQ-86J : 11 March 2022), Eliz F Gray in entry for George D Gray, 1900.
  4. ↑ "Degrees Conferred Upon a Number of Students - Other University Matters." The San Francisco call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 23 Dec. 1896. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1896-12-23/ed-1/seq-14/
  5. ↑ "KKG Grand President's Report to Grand Council and Chapters, August 1897." Elizabeth's signature appears on the last page at the bottom of the left column. https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=931279#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-1776%2C0%2C6109%2C3283
  6. ↑ "Pi Re-Established Typed Chapter Charter Copy, August 5, 1987." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=853206#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-4272%2C-367%2C13642%2C7333
  7. ↑ "Alumnae Department: Pi Alumnae Association, April 1902." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=649031#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-218%2C68%2C863%2C463
  8. ↑ Gray, Elizabeth Florence. The Postmistress of Circle City." The Lanesboro Journal, 18 Feb. 1904. https://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn85025506/1904-02-18/ed-1/seq-6
  9. ↑ Stead, W. T. "Overland Monthly." The Review of Reviews, Jul.-Dec. 1904. https://archive.org/details/reviewreviewsvo00steagoog/page/106/mode/2up
  10. ↑ "Elizabeth Florence Gray Potter Signature Card." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=441863#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-501%2C0%2C8189%2C4402
  11. ↑ "Chapter Letters: Pi - University of California, May 1907." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=654937#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&xywh=-225%2C56%2C863%2C463
  12. ↑ "Cleora Wheeler to Catherine Graf Letter, April 25, 1979." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=837318#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=886%2C2422%2C3390%2C1822
  13. ↑ "1908 Official National Convention Group Photograph, August 1908." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=936258#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-1181%2C-1%2C9277%2C4987
  14. ↑ "Alumnae Personals: Pi, April 1906." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=651080#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-327%2C150%2C1067%2C511
  15. ↑ "Poor Elizabeth Gray Potter!" Peabody Gazette-Harold, 22 Mar. 1906. https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/90608561?p=24812705&returnLabel=Elizabeth%20Florence%20Gray%20(LCKN-J6S)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FLCKN-J6S
  16. ↑ "The affair was in honor of Miss Gertrude Moller." The San Francisco call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 03 June 1906. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1906-06-03/ed-1/seq-20/
  17. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV2Q-BGZ : accessed 11 May 2022), Elizabeth Potter in household of George D Gray, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 117, sheet , family , NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll ; FHL microfilm .
  18. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV2C-W5S : accessed 11 May 2022), Elizabeth Potter in household of Fredrick W Potter, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 151, sheet 13A, family 316, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 72; FHL microfilm 1,374,085.
  19. ↑ "Alumnae Letters: Pi Association, February 1913." The second page is where Elizabeth is mentioned. https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=655646#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&xywh=-231%2C80%2C863%2C463
  20. ↑ "Mrs. Elizabeth Gray Potter." The San Francisco call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 12 Feb. 1913. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1913-02-12/ed-1/seq-18/
  21. ↑ Potter, Elizabeth Gray, Mabel Thayer Gray. The Lure of San Francisco; A Romance Amid Old Landmarks. P. Elder & Company, San Francisco (Calif.), 1915. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/cu31924028884455/mode/2up
  22. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-675H : 16 March 2018), Elizabeth Gray Potter, 1918; citing Passport Application, California, United States, source certificate #9822, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 487, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Cheer Up, Girls! The Prince of Wales Can Foxtrot." The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.), 31 Jul. 1919. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn98066406/1919-07-31/ed-1/seq-3/
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Chapter and Alumnae News: Kappa Province - San Francisco Bay - Chartered 1892, April 1940." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=668904#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-300%2C177%2C1067%2C511
  25. ↑ Potter, Elizabeth Gray, Edward E. Ruby, Harold Dougherty, Louise Prouty, Anna MacDonald, Anne M. Mulheron, and L. L. Dickerson. “EXCERPTS FROM REPORTS OF A. L. A. WORKERS OVERSEAS.” Bulletin of the American Library Association 13, no. 3 (1919): 316–26. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25685761.
  26. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKDN-HCSN : 16 March 2018), Elizabeth Gray Potter, 1920; citing Passport Application, France, source certificate #181532, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 1096, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  27. ↑ "Daughter of Late President Takes Trip for Health - Other Sailings." The New York herald. (New York, N.Y.), 14 Oct. 1922. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045774/1922-10-14/ed-1/seq-9/
  28. ↑ "The Convention Hoot, Vol. 4, No. 1, July 29, 1926." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=824987#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=1944%2C404%2C1918%2C1031
  29. ↑ "Elizabeth to Cleora Letter, May 14, 1932." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=837214#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-3444%2C-288%2C11984%2C6442
  30. ↑ Potter, Elizabeth Gray. The San Francisco Skyline. Dodd Mead & Company, 1939. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58795418-the-san-francisco-skyline
  31. ↑ Blake, Anson S. “Meetings of the Society.” California Historical Society Quarterly 19, no. 2 (1940): 187–88. https://doi.org/10.2307/25160878.
  32. ↑ “Marginalia.” California Historical Society Quarterly 23, no. 2 (1944): 189–92. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25155130.
  33. ↑ Howell, Warren R. “Report of the Secretary: For the Year Ending December 31, 1948.” California Historical Society Quarterly 28, no. 1 (1949): 85–87. https://doi.org/10.2307/25156154.
  34. ↑ “Front Matter.” California Historical Society Quarterly 36, no. 3 (1957). https://online.ucpress.edu/ch/article-abstract/36/3/25155130/29955/Front-Matter
  35. ↑ "In Memoriam: Elizabeth Gray Potter." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=677595#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-87%2C136%2C863%2C463
  36. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87659925/elizabeth-potter : accessed 11 May 2022), memorial page for Elizabeth Potter (1874–1959), Find a Grave Memorial ID 87659925, citing Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA ; Maintained by Graves (contributor 47171280) .
  37. ↑ "Memorial Service Program, June 1960." https://kappa.historyit.com/item-view.php?id=441960#?c=&m=&s=&cv=3&xywh=-2335%2C-1%2C7117%2C3826




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