Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Lisetta Neukom Higgins Collection
00172
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator
- Higgins, Lisetta Neukom
- Title
- Lisetta Neukom Higgins collection
- ID
- 00172
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1966-1967
- Date [inclusive]
- 1907-1985, undated
- Extent
- 0.33 Cubic feet , 3 oversize folders, 1 volume (in box)
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."
Biographical Note
Lisetta Neukom Higgins was born August 25, 1888 to Edward F. Neukom, a mechanical engineer, and Nellie (Garsed) Neukom. She was educated at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. On June 23, 1917 Lisetta married Max Brown Higgins of Joliet, Illinois. They had three children: Marnell, Maxine Tacy, and Marshall Neukom.
Lisetta Neukom Higgins was one of the early female reporters in Michigan, working for newspapers in Alpena, Detroit and Battle Creek, as well as for papers in Toledo, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Houston, Texas. Socially, she served as secretary-treasurer of the Fort Neches, Texas Red Cross and was a member of the board of directors of the Jefferson County, Texas Red Cross during World War I. She was a member of the A.A.U.W., the Hastings D.A.R., Girl Scout Council (Hastings), Needlework Guild of America Clubs, Women Writers (Philadelphia), Ye Merrie Players (charter member while at Miami U.), Miami University Alumni Association.
Higgins and her husband traveled extensively, eventually settling in Stamford, Connecticut. She died September 1974.
Scope and Contents note
The Lisetta Neukom Higgins collection consists primarily of newsclippings, a scrapbook of newsclippings, and a few complete editions of newspapers - all of which contain the published work of Higgins and span the dates 1907-1917. The newspapers are in frail condition. The scrapbook is in stable, leaning towards frail, condition. In all cases, Higgins faithfully either encircled or marked in some way the articles that she wrote. They have been marked, and often dated, with a black grease pencil.
It is not certain for how many papers Higgins wrote during her career as a reporter. Those most heavily represented here are the Battle Creek Daily Journal, Philadelphia Evening Ledger, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. In all papers she wrote mainly feature style articles, with heavy emphasis on church (she worked as church editor) and society events. While reporting for Battle Creek, Lisetta covered extensively the activities of J. H. Kellogg and the Battle Creek Sanitarium. This included everything from weekly lecturers to interviews with those seeking treatment, such as Jacob Riis, to the First International Conference for the Betterment of the Race held in 1914.
There are notable gaps in the collection, with only vague reference to her personal life: a December 30, 1912 letter home to her parents while Higgins worked for the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press and a holiday newsletter written by Lisetta to family and friends during the 1966-1967 holiday season.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections September 2002
Conrad Hall888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu
Revision Description
Death date updated. September 2012
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Legal Status
Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Custodial History
Gift of Joan Combs Rudman, 1997-08-21
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Battle Creek Sanitarium (Battle Creek, Mich.).
- Miami University (Oxford, Ohio).
- University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign campus).
Genre(s)
- Letters (correspondence)
- Newsletters
- Newspapers
- Scrapbooks
Personal Name(s)
- Higgins, Lisetta Neukom
- Kellogg, John Harvey, 1852-1943
- Riis, Jacob A., (Jacob August), 1849-1914
- Rudman, Joan Combs
Subject(s)
- Journalists
- Women
Collection Inventory
Papers |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Who's Who Entry -- Undated |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Max and Lisetta Higgins Christmas Newsletter, 1966 - 1967 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Letter Home to Parents -- December 30, 1912 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Max Higgins - University of Illinois (Urbana Champaign) materials -- 1907 - 1914 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Battle Creek Sanitarium Day Program and Dinner Menu -- November 30, 1913 |
1 | 5 | ||
|
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Battle Creek, MI - List of Contributing Members and Friends -- 1913 - 1914 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
Notes -- Undated |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Michigan Abstractors' Association - Programs -- 1915 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Church of Scientology - Freedom News Journal - IRS Advertisement in New York Times -- 1985 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
Newspapers List |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Newsclippings |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Lisetta Neukom as subject -- Undated |
1 | 11 | ||
|
Battle Creek Daily Journal |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Articles covering the Battle Creek Sanitarium Speakers and Activities -- 1913 - 1914 |
1 | 12 | ||
|
Miscellaneous -- 1914 |
1 | 13 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Joliet News articles -- 1915, Undated |
1 | 14 | ||
|
Philadelphia - Articles on the winners of the Friends Temperance Association and W.C.T.U. Scientific Essay Contest -- 1916 |
1 | 15 | ||
|
Miscellaneous and Partial Articles |
1 | 16 | ||
|
The Radio Free Press/York Herald Tribune World's Fair Supplement -- Undated |
1 | 17 | ||
|
Society Engagements and Weddings -- Undated |
1 | 18 | ||
|
Toledo - "The Red-Robed King" -- October 19, 1913 |
1 | 19 | ||
|
Stray Scrapbook pages - various subjects -- 1907, Undated |
1 | 20 | ||
| Box | Volume | |||
|
vol. 1: Scrapbook |
1 | 1 | ||
|
|
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Oversized Materials |
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| Drawer | Folder | |||
|
Detroit News |
OS 4 | 1 | ||
|
Monday, November 18, 1912 |
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Folder 2: Battle Creek Daily Journal |
OS 4 | 2 | ||
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Sunday, August 10, 1913 |
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Thursday, January 8, 1914 (Race Betterment Conference coverage) |
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Sunday, January 11, 1914 |
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Wednesday, January 14, 1914 |
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Saturday, November 21, 1914 |
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Folder 3: Philadelphia Evening Ledger |
OS 4 | 3 | ||
|
Monday, June 26, 1916 |
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Wednesday, June 28, 1916 |
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Thursday, June 29, 1916 |
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Friday, June 30, 1916 |
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Saturday, July 1, 1916 |
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Monday, July 3, 1916 |
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Wednesday, July 5, 1916 |
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Thursday, July 6, 1916 |
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Monday, March 5, 1917 |
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Wednesday, March 14, 1917 |
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Friday, March 16, 1917 (contains Lisetta photo) |
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Saturday, March 17, 1917 |
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