Nancy G. Steen collection

The Nancy G. Steen collection consists of correspondence, files, literary productions, reviews and articles, listings of videos and sound recordings, a variety of printed material, and photographs, documenting the family life, activities and interests of Nancy Steen. The collection is fairly evenly split between documentation chronicling her family’s (Steen, Freyman, Smith) business interests, community involvement, and travels as well as materials pertaining to the Jose Carreras Society of America, of which she was a board member and discographer. There are also materials relating to figure skater (and Bowling Green native) Scott Hamilton, and to Steen’s interests in theater, and in foreign travel, particularly to Spain. Finally, the photographs in the collection document Steen’s family, travels, and the activities of the Jose Carreras Society of America.

Irven Freyman, Nancy Steen’s maternal grandfather, was a professional photographer, a businessman (see MS-91, the I.I. Freyman Collection), and community leader, who lived in Portage, Ohio before moving to Bowling Green, Ohio. The Steen Collection includes some of his photographic images from the Portage area, documents his local banking career there with the Munn Bank, and offers insights into area business practices during the early decades of the Twentieth Century.

Electronic mail printouts with the Jose Carreras Society of America and one from Carreras. Also included are some materials on personal book orders.

Reviews of recordings and books by Nancy Steen for the Jose Carreras Society of America.

BOOKLETS; 1978, 1982, 1989, 1994, 1995; No arrangement. Pocket guide to the Identification of First Editions (1989, 1995); exhibition catalog on William Carlos Williams; “The Robert Rogers Hubach Collection of Walt Whitman,” written by Nancy Steen; “Remembering Spain: Hemingway’s Civil War Eulogy, ” by Cary Nelson.

PROGRAMS; 1995-2004; Arranged by topic and date. Programs of stage productions, Carreras performances.

CALENDARS; 1993-2002; Arranged by date. Limited edition calendars from the Jose Carreras Society of America, signed by Carreras and sold to members to raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation. One calendar from Stars on Ice.

BOOKS; Scattered dates. Includes BGSU Abstracts of Masters Theses, library cataloging textbook, and antiquarian book catalog.

PERIODICALS; 1990s-2000s; Arranged alphabetically, then by date. Periodicals Biblio and Firsts.

Photographs relating to Carreras Society activities and Nancy Steen's travels to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Seattle, WA.

Videotape: The Best of the Stars on Ice, volume 1.

Catalan flag, pen, photomagnets, and ticket stub from Jose Carreras Society of America. The ticket stub was from a performance in Clearwater (Tampa) Florida and the flag was from a Carnegie Hall recital in December 2003. Society “members had them to show support”.

Letters sent to and from Nancy Steen’s grandparents (I.I. Freyman, Ethel Smith Freyman), her parents (Greeley and Winifred Freyman Steen), and other extended family members are included. WWII era correspondence between Greeley, his brother Roe, and their dad is part of the holdings. A small number of letters focus on Nancy’s years in school, her correspondence from Stratford actors William Hutt, Brian Bedford, et al. Condolence letters and cards sent to Sherry Gray upon Nancy’s death in 2006 conclude the correspondence.

Files focus on local Bowling Green and Portage business interests of I.I. Freyman concerning Albert Froney, Fred Moore, and the Munn Bank. Documentation regarding the Eicher, Smith, and Steen families are included as well.

AUTOGRAPH BOOK AND DIARIES; 1888-1968; I.I. Freyman’s autograph book from school and a pocket diary are included. Three diaries belonging to Winifred Freyman Steen chronicle daily happenings.

MEMORY BOOKS; 1906-1968, 2006; Records of various Freyman, Smith, Eicher, Steen family births, deaths, and marriages are documented.

SCHOOL PAPERS; 1900-1965; Various literary projects written by Nancy, her mother or grandmother are included.

RESEARCH MATERIALS; 1960-1990, undated. Research papers and writings of Nancy, and a bibliography compiled by Nancy about Stratford-Upon-Avon and Shakespeare, undated.

A small number of legal papers and certificates belonging mostly to I.I. Freyman pertain to his banking and business affairs in the area. Some documents may also relate to banking and property transactions between him and Winifred and Greeley Steen. Some of Winifred Steen’s teaching contracts are included.

Liquidation documents. These can include an inventory and a final report of the liquidation of the Munn Bank in Portage, Ohio.

Magazines, clippings, programs and related material regarding actors, performers, singer Jose Carreras, and figure skater Scott Hamilton. Obituaries, funeral memorial cards, clippings, grade cards, diplomas, and an oversized marriage certificate concerning Nancy’s family are also included.

BOOKLETS; 1896-1961; No arrangement. A commemorative publication for the fortieth anniversary of the Cygnet Savings Bank Company and a couple of informational documents about banking are included. A few Bowling Green Town and Gown club programs and a “historical Landmarks” essay by C.S. Van Tassel discussing local points of interest are filed.

PROGRAMS; 1968-1984; Arranged by topic and date. Stratford Festival souvenir programs, postcards, brochures, histories, and design portfolios.

PERIODICALS; 1967-1977, 1981-1995 scattered; Arranged alphabetically, then by date. Stratford Festival newsletter, Fanfares.

Photographs documenting the Freyman, Smith, Steen, Eicher families, Portage area images by I.I. Freyman, and Nancy and her friends and pets. There are also two photograph sets of Stratford Festival productions.

Ladies hankey given to Ethel Freyman by her grandmother, 1910, and an American Legion medal presented to Nancy.