Marian McQuade Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

No special access restriction applies.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Marian McQuade Papers, A&M 3222, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
25 Linear Feet 24 ft. 11 1/2 in. (1 document case, 5 in.); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (19 record cartons, 15 in. each); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 tape box, 4 in.)
Creator:
McQuade, Marian, 1917-2008
Abstract:
Much of this collection documents the efforts of Marian McQuade as the founder of Grandparents Day including information she collected on centenarians of West Virginia. There are also miscellaneous publications and artifacts belonging to her husband, Joseph McQuade, that pertain to coal mining.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Marian McQuade Papers, A&M 3222, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

These records document Marian McQuade's efforts to establish and promote a national holiday honoring grandparents, to be called Grandparent's Day (established by Presidential Proclamation in 1979). Also included are records documenting centenarians in West Virginia collected by Marian McQuade. Finally, miscellaneous publications and artifacts relating to coal mining are included from Joseph McQuade, Marian McQuade's husband, who was a leader in the coal industry in West Virginia.

Series include:
Series 1. Grandparents Day (1955-1995) [box 1/folder 1 - box 7/folder 15, box 11/folder 4 - box 12/folder 11, box 13/folder 23 - box 14; box 16/folder 19 - box 18].
Series 2. Centenarians (1959-1994) [box 7/folder 16 - box 11/folder 3, box 12/folder 12 - box 13/folder 22, box 15 - box 16/folder 7].
Series 3. Joseph McQuade Papers (1853-1872, 1917-1994) [box 16/folder 8-18, box 19 - 21].

Documents efforts to establish and promote Grandparent's Day. Most records prior to the 1979 Presidential Proclamation are attempts to lobby governors to issue state proclamations. Many records after 1979 are related to promotional efforts. Correspondents include governors, senators, congressmen, hospitals, nursing homes, radio stations, public relations staff, etc. Includes certificates, clippings, drawings (by children), greeting cards, letters, lists, newsletters, magazines, moving pictures (video), photographs, plaques, poems, posters, proclamations, programs, reports, ribbons, sound recordings (cassettes), and speeches.

Marian McQuade regularly visited nursing homes, and when she discovered a 105-year-old man, she became interested in "researching" 100-year-olds in West Virginia (according to her speech in box 7, folder 13). The records in this series document her inquiries in this area. One can find lists of centenarians by date of birth, WV county, etc. during the 1970's and 80's. Detailed information on individual centenarians can be found in the "Individual Centenarian Information" subseries. Includes survey of women who voted in the 1920 election. Includes certificates, clippings, greeting cards, letters, lists, moving pictures (video cassette), photographs, sound recordings (cassettes).

Includes miscellaneous publications related to the coal industry, such as labor contracts, reports, handbooks, etc; clippings about Joseph McQuade; and coal mining artifacts.

Biographical / historical:

Marian (Herndon) McQuade (1917/01/18–2008/09/26) was the founder of National Grandparents Day. She served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging and the Nursing Home Licensing Board. For many years, she helped with the Past 80 Party, which was held annually in Richwood, WV. Jim Comstock, editor of 'The News Leader' and the West Virginia Hillbilly, originated the Past 80 Party.

McQuade campaigned in West Virginia and later nationwide to set aside a day for grandparents. West Virginia became the first state with a special day to honor grandparents when Gov. Arch Moore proclaimed May 27, 1973 as Grandparents Day. In September 1978, the White House called McQuade to inform her that President Jimmy Carter had signed a bill designating the Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day beginning in 1979.

(Adapted from "Marian McQuade." Marian McQuade – Wikipedia. March 25, 2020. Accessed November 12, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_McQuade.)

Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard