Esther Brisbin papers

The Esther Brisbin collection deals largely with the years surrounding her attendance at Bowling Green State Normal College. It contains a number of programs from the various musical festivals provided by the Normal College "entertainment course," for which a student could purchase a semester pass. These festivals included members of the Normal College and city of Bowling Green communities, as well as nationally recognized artists. Herman F. Weatherbee, Brisbin's first husband, is listed as a chorus member in the May Festival of 1918. These programs span from 1918 to 1921. However, there are no programs for 1920, the year she lived in Holmes County, Ohio. One program, a 1921 presentation of New York Chamber Music contains a drawing and the notation "Royal Francis Chamberlin [sic], 331 S. Grove, B.G."

The receipts in the collection provide an idea of some of the costs of attending the Normal College, even though the tuition was free. On-campus housing was provided for women. However, Brisbin probably lived in one of the rooms available in private houses off-campus, as her biology notebook gives the address "304 Buttonwood, BGNC."

Brisbin apparently taught elementary school before attending the Normal College in 1920, as her teacher's certificate from Holmes County was valid for September 1, 1919 to September 1, 1920. Her Elementary School Life Certificate was issued in November 1924, which indicates she completed the mandatory twenty-four months of teaching after receiving her diploma in 1921. There are no state records of where she taught, nor does the collection give any indication.

Included in the collection are photographs of some of the main buildings of the Normal College, all of which are now part of Bowling Green State University. Also contained are candid photographs of Frederick G. Beyerman, James R. Overman, and George W. Beattie, all of whom were professors at the Normal College in its earliest years. Some of the photographs provide views of the mall with its original circular drive and early lamp posts. Several photographs of James R. Overman have been removed from the collection and added to the general photograph files of the Archives.

Brisbin apparently had a strong interest in the arts as shown by her attendance of the many musical festivals and by the drawings and color studies in her handmade sketchbook.

While this collection gives some idea of the life of a student at Bowling Green State Normal College, there is little information from a personal point of view. However, the photographs, receipts, and printed materials offer some insight into the history of what has become Bowling Green State University.