Florence Mason papers

Identity elements

Reference code

US US kmk P1988.42

Level of description

Collection

Title

Florence Mason papers

Date(s)

  • 1959-1987 (Creation)

Extent

6.00 Linear Feet, 4.00 Boxes

Name of creator

(1896-unknown)

Biographical history

Florence Mason (unknown Maiden name) was born in Reedsburg, Wisconsin on August 31, 1896.  She received her B. A. from the University of Wisconsin. in 1921.  Mason worked in the library, Extension Division, University of Wisconsin, Madison from 1919 to 1926.  In 1929 Mason became a librarian at American Standards Association in New York and worked there until she took a job as librarian at the Consumers Union in Mt. Vernon, New York in 1939.  She married Alphonso Linwood Mason on February 12, 1949.  Mason stopped being a librarian in 1959 when she took the assistant to director position at Consumers Union.  In 1961 she became assistant to the President of International Origanization of Consumers Union (IOCU), The Hague, Netherlands.  In 1963, Mason was appointed IOCU special correspondent to the United Nations.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Florence Mason Collection documents her work with the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU), the United Nations, and the development of consumer associations in various countries.
The collection is contained in 4 boxes consisting of 92 file folders. The material is divided into 2 series: 1) IOCU, 2) Subject Files.
The majority of the material is contained in the IOCU series. It contains annual reports, information on consumer associations in foreign countries ( India, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, etc.), proceedings from five world congresses, and speeches and papers from various members of the organization, including Anwar Fazal, former IOCU president, and Ruth Simmons-Vermeer, former special agent for Asia and Pacific. The series spans the years 1964-1987 and is housed in 46 file folders.
The Subject Files are arranged alphabetically and contain papers on the following topics: consumer education; how to establish educational programs; tips and suggestions on consumer protection; environmental concerns; personal papers including notes and drafts of letters; printed material; speeches from individuals involved with the consumer movement in the U.S. and abroad, such as Foo Gaik Sim and Rhoda H. Karpatkin; and the United Nations, including UNICEF information on the state of the world's children and information on the Law of the Sea. The series dates from 1959 to 1987 and is contained in 46 file folders.
Printed material has been removed from the collection and filed with other publications in the Consumer Movement Archives. The printed material contains items from IOCU, Consumers Union, government departments, UNICEF, the United Nations, and Consumers' Association.

System of arrangement

The papers are housed in 4 document boxes and are contained in 92 file folders. They are divided into 2 series: 1) IOCU, 1964- 1987; 2) Subject Files, 1959-1987. Printed material has been transferred from the collection and filed with other publications in the Consumer Movement Archives.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

No  access restriction: All materials are open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

The collection was organized in 1990 by Kylee Schultz, Consumer Movement Archives student employee. This collection's accession number is PC 106, revised numbering to P1988.42.

The collection of Florence Mason, staff member of Consumers Union and special correspondent at the United Nations for the International Organization of Consumers Unions, was donated to the Consumer Movement Archives at Kansas State University by Mason in 1988.

Immediate source of acquisition

Acqusition Source: Florence Mason
Acqusition Method: Donation
Acqusition Date: 19880101

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

Specialized notes

  • Citation: Preferred Citation: [Item title], [item date], Florence Mason papers, Box [number], Folder [number or title], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State Univeristy Libraries.

Alternative identifier(s)

Archon Collection ID

185

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Sources used

Archivist's note

Finding Aid Author: Kylee Schultz CMA student employee
Processing Info: The collection was organized in 1990 by Kylee Schultz, Consumer Movement Archives student employee. Archon processing by Edward Nagurny, graduate research assistant, May 2015.
Publication Date: 2015-05-06

Access points

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Accession area

Related subjects

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Physical storage

  • Box: Box 1,
  • Box: Box 2,
  • Box: Box 3,
  • Box: Box 4,
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 5, A83412154497
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 6, A83412155184
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 7, A83412155176