Carrie Busby Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 288

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Carrie Busby Papers was received from Mrs. H.L. Walster of Fargo in 1963. Carrie had worked for Mrs. Walster while she lived in Fargo. Apparently Miss Busby left these papers and photographs at the Walster home. The photographs have been organized as Photograph 2016. The manuscript collection is an eclectic collection of papers associated with Carrie Busby, particularly her career as a school teacher. They have been organized into eight files—correspondence, certificate and diploma, and subject files. The Correspondence file is arranged chronologically spanning from 1916 to 1957. It is primarily with her father Samuel G. Busby. Apparently after his death Carrie Busby broke contact with her family. Later letters are attempts to make contact or even locate Miss Busby. In the Diploma and Certificate file is her ‘First Grade Elementary Certificate’ (1916) from the North Dakota Dept. of Education, and her ‘Provisional Diploma’ from the South Dakota Dept. of Public Instruction (1929). The Subject Files Series includes a variety of documents, primarily financial in nature, including cancelled checks, receipts and insurance policies. Each helps to provide a more detailed picture of Miss Busby’s life and activities. The Grade Slips file has slips giving her class grades while in high school in Linton, N.D., plus one from NDAC. Of particular interest are the various teacher contracts of Miss Busby that span from 1916 to 1945. They include teaching in Emmons, Nelson, Kidder and Richland counties of North Dakota. The Poetry file contains pages taken from a three-ring binder on which many poems have been typed. No attribution is given for any of the poems; some may have been written by Busby.

Dates

1913-1957

Creator

Busby, Carrie, 1896- (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute does not hold the copyright to this collection.

Biography

Carrie M. Busby was born January 26, 1896 to Anna and Samuel G. Busby of Missouri. In 1898 her family moved to North Dakota and bought a farm in the Horsehead Valley of Emmons County, N.D. Carrie graduated from high school in 1916 and started teaching at rural schools in Emmons County, Nelson County, and Richland County until 1924. After teaching for eight years she decided to further her education at the North Dakota Agriculture College. She graduated with an Education degree in 1928; she was a member of the Y.W.C.A. and the League of Women Voters. Carrie received her Provisional Diploma to teach in South Dakota in 1929, but was back in North Dakota in 1934. She lived in Fargo at least until 1946. There she taught at the Good Samaritan School for Crippled Children. No information about her can be found after 1948.