Finding aid for the Katherine Dague Cocanower collection.

Biography of Katherine Dague Cocanower

Katherine Dague Cocanower entered Ohio University as a freshman in 1919 and graduated in 1923 with a BS in Education. During her time at the university, Katherine lived in Howard Hall and was extremely active. She joined the Crestomathean Literary Society, was a second alto in the Girls Glee Club, was in charge of Missions in the YWCA cabinet, taught Sunday school in the mining towns outside of Athens, and was a member of Phremosa. In addition, Katherine had a role as "Mrs. Prouty" in George M. Cohan's play, "A Prince There Was," in February, 1923. She was also inducted into Cresset, a very prestigious women's honors fraternity. In 1923 there were only fourteen members and the organization was headed by Dean Voigt. To become a member, Katherine had to maintain an average a scholarship of ninety and possess the ideal qualities of a woman of the period. Katherine later married George Herbert Cocanower.

Scope and Content

The Katherine Dague Cocanower collection consists of one photograph album and one scrapbook compiled by Katherine during her student years at Ohio University between 1919 and 1923. There are also enlarged copies of photographs from the album that were used in a later archival exhibit. The first box contains the photo album, which includes pictures, primarily of Katherine and her friends at the university, around Athens, and in the surrounding communities There are also numerous pictures of dances, athletic events, and a variety of other social activities. Of particular interest, as well, are pictures of Professor Voight on Y.W.C.A. camp-outs and other women's activities. When she arranged the album, Katherine took care to label each image. The album is very old and fragile, and many of the pages hav come loose. It should be handled with care, and preservation work should be done in the future. The second box contains enlarged images from the photo album many of which were used in an archival exhibit. Those used in the exhibit are mounted on cardboard, but the box also contains many images that are not mounted. The enlarged photographs include images of football games, a YWCA campout, and several pictures of university buildings. The third box contains the large scrapbook that Katherine created during her time at Ohio University. The first portion of the book is devoted to an address book where friends signed their names and left their addresses, ambitions, and memories. The remainder of the book contains a few photographs and a large number of memorabilia from Kathrine's undergraduate years. She included dance cards, birthday messages, newspaper articles about the university and various organizations to which she belonged, and clippings from local businesses she frequented. Also included is the 1922 Annual Report of Women's Activities which outlined the achievements and expectations of the women's organizations on campus and a tribute to "Old Beech," a beloved, old tree on campus that was beginning to die. Katherine also provided many souvenirs from events she attended and gatherings with her friends. She saved tiny spoons, programs, handkerchiefs, favors, and notes from her friends. These notes are of interest because they provide a look at the formal language young women used, even when addressing their close friends. The book contains approximately one hundred pages, and has a green cover with the university seal printed on the front. The pages are extremely fragile and many of the materials are coming unglued, so the book must be handled with care.

Statement of Arrangement

Subject Terms

The following terms have been used to describe this collection.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in all footnotes and bibliographical references.