Marvin Nell Darnell papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
Marvin Nell Darnell papers
Date
1898-1955
Creator
Darnell, Marvin Nell, 1880-1957
Extent
3.75 Cubic feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Parks--Kentucky.
Women--Political activity--Kentucky.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by subject.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Laura A. Hess
Preferred Citation
57M18: [Identification of item], Marvin Nell Darnell papers, 1898-1955, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Born in Adair County, Kentucky, Marvin Nell moved to Frankfort in 1896 and married James Samuel Darnell in 1901. Governor Flem Sampson appointed Darnell to the position of director and executive secretary of the first Kentucky State Park Commission in 1928. As director, she secured federal funds for the George Rogers Clark federal monument at Pioneer Memorial State Park in Harrodsburg. She also participated in the dedication of the Lincoln Marriage Temple in 1931. Darnell was very active in Republican party politics, both on the speaking circuit and at the organizational level, as well as a frequent supporter of women's club activities.
Source:
"Marvin Nell." Family Tree Maker Online. 2009. Web. 2 December, 2011.
Robertson, Christina. "My Irish/Greek Family." Rootsweb. Ancestry.com. 22 October 2008. Web. 2 December 2011.
Scope and Content
The Marvin Nell Darnell papers comprise materials relating to Darnell's work on the Kentucky State Parks Commission. Included are correspondence; financial papers regarding state park expenses; a bound volume of Minutes, Orders and Records of the Kentucky State Parks Commission business; dedication speeches; and promotional materials for multiple state parks in Kentucky. A large portion of the material revolves around the Pioneer Memorial State Park, the Lincoln Marriage Temple, and Old Fort Harrod State Park. A manuscript journal records the Darnells' trip through the northeast in 1921. The collection also contains numerous materials pertaining to Kentucky history, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Heritage Program, and various other places and events. Noteworthy items include the folder regarding Governor Laffoon’s administration and Darnell’s final days as the State Parks Commission director, souvenir programs about the Kentucky state capital, and copies of the George Washington Bicentennial News.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to materials in this collection belong to the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Correspondence, 1921-1945

Scope and Contents note

The Correspondence series contains letters to and from Darnell regarding State Park Commission business, including the Lincoln Marriage Temple dedication and events at the Pioneer Memorial State Park in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The file containing letters from Governor Laffoon's administration regarding Darnell's last days as State Park Commission's executive secretary is of particular note.

1925-1931, 1925-1931

  • Box 2, Folder 1
To top

1945, undated, 1945, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 2
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State Park Commission, 1921 August- 1933 August

  • Box 2, Folder 3
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Kentucky Federation of Women's Clubs, 1931 January-June

  • Box 2, Folder 4
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War Department, 1931 May-December

  • Box 2, Folder 5
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George D. Pratt, 1932 June- 1933 October

  • Box 2, Folder 6
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Laffoon's Administration, 1932 February-May

  • Box 2, Folder 7
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Boonesboro, 1933-1934

  • Box 2, Folder 8
To top

D.A.R. Dedications and Memorials, 1928-1930

  • Box 2, Folder 9
To top

Lincoln Temple Dedication, 1931-1932

  • Box 2, Folder 10
To top

Pioneer Memorial, 1931-1932, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 11
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Financial papers, 1928-1932

Scope and Contents note

The Financial papers series contains expense account records for the State Park Commission, including Darnell's travel expenses, and a record of salaries for the Park Commission employees. Also included are financial records for the Natural Bridge, Blue Licks, and Blue and Gray state parks.

State Park Commission expense accounts, 1931

  • Box 3, Folder 1
To top

Legal and Financial Papers, Natural Bridge, Blue Licks, and Blue and Gray State Parks, 1930-1931

  • Box 3, Folder 2
To top

Natural Bridge financials, 1928-1932

  • Box 3, Folder 3
To top

Journal, 1921

  • Box 7, Folder 10
Scope and Contents note

A manuscript journal records the Darnells' trip through the northeast in 1921.

To top

Speeches, 1928-1939

Scope and Contents note

The Speeches series contains typed copies of speeches given at events and dedications at state parks, such as Pioneer Memorial State Park, Kentucky Natural Bridge State Park, and the Lincoln Marriage Temple. Also included are political speeches by Governor Flem Sampson and a radio address by Darnell.

Speeches, 1928-1939

  • Box 2, Folder 12
To top

Speeches, Dedications, and Programs, 1930-1938

  • Box 2, Folder 13
To top

Darnell Radio Address, 1931 May 28

  • Box 2, Folder 14
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Subject Files, 1898-1955

Scope and Contents note

The Subject Files series contains promotional materials and event programs from various state parks in Kentucky. Informational brochures, souvenir programs, invitations, and newspapers also feature prominently.

Abraham Lincoln Foundation and Memorial University, 1929-1930, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 13
To top

American Flag, 1916-1945

  • Box 6, Folder 3
To top

The American Heritage Program, 1948, undated

  • Box 1, Folder 4
To top

The American Heritage Program and Freedom Train, 1936-1949

  • Box 6, Folder 2
To top

Armistice Day, 1933, undated

  • Box 6, Folder 4
To top

Art, 1925-1933, undated

  • Box 7, Folder 2
To top

Barbourville Park, 1929

  • Box 3, Folder 4
To top

Blue and Gray State Park, 1929-1930

  • Box 3, Folder 5
To top

Blue Licks Park, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 6
To top

Breaks of the Big Sandy, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 7
To top

Butler Memorial Park, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 8
To top

A Century of Progress with Frankfort, 1949

  • Box 1, Folder 3
To top

Character, undated

  • Box 8, Folder 1
To top

Christmas, 1936-1948

  • Box 8, Folder 2
To top

The Club Woman and Insurance, 1925-1931

  • Box 7, Folder 5
To top

Columbus Battlefield, 1930, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 9
To top

Cumberland Falls, 1929-1931, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 10
To top

Cumberland Falls State Park, 1931, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 11
To top

Cumberland State Park, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 12
To top

Constitution, 1936

  • Box 7, Folder 6
To top

D.A.R. History and Correspondence, 1935, undated

  • Box 6, Folder 1
To top

Ephraim McDowell, 1932-1939

  • Box 6, Folder 5
To top

Flood photographs, 1937, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 12
To top

Frankfort, 1898, 1941, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 5
To top

Frankfort Sesquicentennial, 1936

  • Box 5, Folder 4
To top

George Washington Bicentennial, 1931-1932, undated

  • Box 6, Folder 6
To top

George Washington Bicentennial News, 1931 February-March

  • Box 1, Folder 5
To top

Glass, undated

  • Box 6, Folder 7
To top

Harrodsburg brochures, 1931, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 13
To top

Harrodsburg Dedication programs, 1934 November 16

  • Box 3, Folder 15
To top

Harrodsburg Monument Dedications, 1932-1934

  • Box 3, Folder 14
To top

Harrodsburg printed materials, 1929-1949

  • Box 3, Folder 16
To top

History of Money, undated

  • Box 6, Folder 8
To top

Invitations and programs, 1920-1938

  • Box 7, Folder 3
To top

Kentucky brochures, 1931, undated

  • Box 4, Folder 11
To top

Kentucky Capitol brochures, 1939, 1945, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 6
To top

Kentucky Club Woman, 1924-1925

  • Box 7, Folder 4
To top

Kentucky Inaugural Programs, 1943-1955

  • Box 6, Folder 9
To top

Kentucky News, 1930-1939, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 3
To top

Kentucky printed materials, 1929-1934

  • Box 5, Folder 2
To top

Kentucky souvenir programs, 1924, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 1
To top

Kentucky State Fair, 1928

  • Box 3, Folder 17
To top

Kentucky's New Capitol, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 7
To top

Laurel County Information Series, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 9
To top

Lewis A. Tarascon, "To the people of the United States...", broadside photocopy, undated

  • Box OVF-22
To top

Liberty Hall, 1940, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 10
To top

Lincoln, 1931-1937, undated

  • Box 6, Folder 10
To top

Lincoln Lore Journal, 1931 June- 1932 April, 1940

  • Box 3, Folder 18
To top

Lincoln Marriage Temple, 1931-1939

  • Box 4, Folder 1-2
To top

Lincoln Memorial University 50th anniversary, 1941 January 27

  • Box 5, Folder 14
To top

Minor Clark home, 1955

  • Box 5, Folder 11
To top

Minutes, Kentucky State Park Commission, 1928 May 1-1932 May 1

  • Item 1
To top

Mountain Laurel Festival, 1931

  • Box 4, Folder 3
To top

Old Governor's Mansion, undated

  • Box 5, Folder 8
To top

Old Mulkey Meeting House, 1931

  • Box 4, Folder 6
To top

Pamphlets, 1929-1931, undated

  • Box 4, Folder 8
To top

Patriotism, undated

  • Box 8, Folder 3
To top

Personality, undated

  • Box 8, Folder 4
To top

Philosophy, undated

  • Box 8, Folder 5
To top

Pioneer Park programs and correspondence, 1930

  • Box 4, Folder 4
To top

Piqua-Ohio Centennial, 1930-1937

  • Box 4, Folder 5
To top

Presidential Inaugurations, 1933, 1953

  • Box 7, Folder 1
To top

Printed Materials, 1925-1951

  • Box 7, Folder 7-8
To top

Samuel Woodfill mural, 1939 August 10

  • Box 4, Folder 7
To top

Shakespeare, undated

  • Box 8, Folder 6
To top

State park brochures, undated

  • Box 4, Folder 9
To top

State park programs, 1921-1936

  • Box 4, Folder 10
To top

War and Patriotism, undated

  • Box 7, Folder 9
To top

Wife of Hippocrates, undated

  • Box 8, Folder 7
To top

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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.