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Marguerite Beth Merizon Collection, 1904-2003

By Ed Gerritsen

Collection Overview

Title: Marguerite Beth Merizon Collection, 1904-2003

ID: COLL/514

Creator: Merizon, Marguerite Beth (1908-2003)

Extent: 4.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Poet, writer, and editor for National Union of Christian Schools, Christian Home and School, and other publications. The collection includes poems, papers, class notes, compositions, diary, correspondence, essays, articles, book draft, newspaper clippings, Armand Merizon sketches, photographs, personal notebooks, and reflections.

Biographical Note

Marguerite Beth Merizon, known and published as Beth Merizon. She went to Calvin College as an undergraduate, and then enrolled at the University of Michigan to pursue graduate work. While at the University of Michigan, she received the Hopwood Award for Poetry. She privately published her first book of poems in 1947, entitled April Trees. Merizon taught for two years and went on to journalism and editing. She became the associate editor and eventually the senior editor at the National Union of Christian Schools (now known as Christian Schools International). She worked on the organization's magazine, Christian Home and School. Merizon also did editorial work on several major textbooks as well as other publications.

In 1973, Merizon retired, but continued to write and edit as a freelancer.  Throughout her career and into her retirement, Merizon has written a great number of essays, poems, and book reviews. Merizon was a faithful member of the Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church. Marguerite Beth Merizon passed away on February 23, 2003.

Administrative Information

Alternate Extent Statement: 8 Boxes

Acquisition Source: AmiƩ Merizon


Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: High School and College Material
Box 1
Folder 1: Music notebook (early years) --- undated
Folder 2: High school tests and papers --- 1925-1926
Folder 3: The Memoir (Grand Rapids Christian High School) --- 1925
Folder 4: The Memoir (Grand Rapids Christian High School) --- 1926
Folder 5: High school graduation program and related material --- 1926
Folder 6: English composition --- 1932
Folder 7: Prism (Calvin College) --- 1932
Folder 8: Prism (Calvin College) --- 1933
Folder 9: College class notes (psychology) --- 1933
Folder 10: College class notes (Roman Culture and Practice Teaching) --- undated
Folder 11: Calvin College report cards --- 1931-1935
Folder 12: Chimes (Calvin College) --- 1933
Box 2
Folder 1: "Shadows Over Beauty-Trail" (term paper) --- 1934
Folder 2: "The Fact and Purpose of Miracles" (term paper) --- 1934
Folder 3: Papers written for English 304 class --- undated
Folder 4: Papers written for English 202 class --- undated
Folder 5: Prism (Calvin College) --- 1934
Folder 6: Prism (Calvin College) --- 1935
Folder 7: "Paul Elmer More in the Presence of Books" (term paper) --- 1935
Folder 8: Michigan State Teaching Certificate --- 1935
Folder 9: Notes for English 301 course --- undated
Folder 10: Calvin class notes (French, Reformed Doctrine, Philosophy, and Literature) --- undated
Folder 11: Calvin class notes (Physiology, Education, and Victorian Poets) --- undated
Folder 12: Calvin class notes (Principles of Literature and American Literature) --- undated
Folder 13: Calvin College "blue books" --- 1932-1935
Folder 14: Calvin College diploma --- 1936
Folder 15: University of Michigan and Aquinas College grade reports --- undated
Oversized OS 16:
Item 1: Kalamazoo Public School diploma --- 1922
Item 2: Grand Rapids Christian High School --- 1926
Series 2: Biographical/Autobiographical Material
Box 2
Folder 16: Memories of Merizon family life --- undated
Box 3
Folder 1: Retirement tribute from (editor of) Christian Home and School --- 1973
Folder 2: Memorial photograph album of Marguerite's life --- 1908-2003
Folder 3: Obituary --- 2003
Series 3: Personal Notebooks
Box 3
Folder 4: Daily reminder book --- 1932
Folder 5: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1938, 1941, 1942
Folder 6: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1945, 1958-1961
Folder 7: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1947, 1953-1954, 1958
Folder 8: Notebook (diary) --- 1966
Box 4
Folder 1: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1969, 1971-1972, 1973
Folder 2: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1975, 1979, unknown date
Series 4: Personal Notebooks
Box 4
Folder 3: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1975-1980, 1980-1982, 1985-1986
Folder 4: Notebooks (diaries) --- 1982, 1985, 1986
Folder 5: Notebook (diary) --- 1988
Series 5: Correspondence
Box 5
Folder 1: Correspondence --- undated
Folder 2: Correspondence --- 1930-1939
Folder 3: Correspondence --- 1940-1949
Folder 4: Correspondence --- 1950-1959
Folder 5: Correspondence --- 1960-1969
Folder 6: Correspondence --- 1970-1979
Folder 7: Correspondence --- 1980-1989
Folder 8: Correspondence --- 1990-1999
Folder 9: Correspondence re: copyrights --- 1939-1941
Folder 10: Correspondence with Armond Merizon (brother) --- undated
Series 6: Poems
Box 6
Folder 1: Book of poems: Along the Way --- 1998
Folder 2: Incomplete poems --- undated
Folder 3: Christmas poems --- 1982-1992
Folder 4: Christmas card poems --- undated
Folder 5: Book of poems: The Risk of Birth (some by Merizon) --- 1974
Folder 6: Collection of poems given to her mother --- May 1941
Folder 7: Collection of poems under heading April Trees --- 1947
Folder 8: Poems published in Michigan Natural Resources magazine --- undated
Folder 9: Poem "Cornucopia" published in Torch and Trumpet --- 1956
Folder 10: Poem "By Your Flight, O Dove" published in Christianity Today --- 1975
Folder 11: Poems published in The Banner --- 1937, 1967, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1984
Folder 12: Poems published in Christian Home and School magazine --- 1970-1971
Folder 13: Miscellaneous poems --- undated
Folder 14: Miscellaneous poems --- undated
Folder 15: Magazine Union Life (poem on verso cover) --- 1991
Series 7: Essays and Other Work
Box 7
Folder 1: Essays: The Lay of the Land; The Puritan Radiance; The Trees Around Us; Out In Back; In the Time of Lilac; and I Saw the Wide and Boundless World --- undated
Folder 2: Essays: The Half-Built House and Cato and the Camel --- undated
Folder 3: Essays: A Shoe Could Be a Ship; The Kermis; Round Loaves and Crusts; and The New England Primer --- undated
Folder 4: Essay in Calvin Forum --- 1938
Folder 5: Miscellaneous essays --- undated
Folder 6: Articles from Christian Home and School --- 1959-1976
Folder 7: Article for Michigan Natural Resources --- 1976
Folder 8: Article for Inland magazine "The Black Walnut Tree" --- undated
Folder 9: Article "The Black Walnut Tree" (publication unknown) --- undated
Series 8: Essays and Other Work
Box 7
Folder 10: Essay "The Puritan Radiance in Edward Taylor" for Calvin Theological Journal --- undated
Folder 11: Short stories: "The Gingersnap," "The Birdhouse," "The Straw Shoes," "The Ogress and The Lamb," and "A Summer Afternoon" --- undated
Folder 12: Syllabi: "Calvinism and Society," "Calvinism and Politics," and "Spread of Calvinism" --- undated
Folder 13: Early draft of book An Island Village --- undated
Folder 14: Writer's Digest Creative Writing Award --- 1946
Folder 15: Unidentified notebook --- undated
Folder 16: Calvin appointment book with written reflections on weather --- 1977
Box 8
Folder 1: Personal reflections, various dates
Folder 2: Book reviews in Christian Home and School magazine --- 1965-1973
Folder 3: News clippings --- undated
Folder 4: Armand Merizon sketches --- 1930-1990
Folder 5: Illustration by Armand Merizon for The Pilot Series --- 1952-1956
Folder 6: News clippings re: Armond Merizon --- 1952-1956
Folder 7: Minutes of Women's National Book Association --- 1970s
Folder 8: Christian School Pension Trust Fund certificate --- 1944
Folder 9: Certificate of Gratitude from National Union of Christian Schools --- 1973
Series 9: Photographs
Box 8
Folder 10: Marguerite Beth Merizon photographs --- 1922-1994
Folder 11: Elizabeth Merizon photographs --- undated
Folder 12: Jasper Adrian Merizon photographs --- undated
Folder 13: Wedding photographs of Jasper and Josephine (DeYoung) Merizon --- 1904
Folder 14: Jasper Adrian and Josephine (De Young) Merizon photographs --- 1940s
Folder 15: Photograph of Jennie Merizon Longstreet (aunt) --- undated
Folder 16: Photograph of Marinus and Marguerite Merizon --- undated
Folder 17: Photograph of Nelson Longstreet and sisters --- undated
Folder 18: Photographs of Carl Adrian Merizon and William Verizon --- undated
Folder 19: Photographs of Lena Merizon and Audrey Verizon --- undated
Folder 20: Photograph of Ted and Fred Boshoven --- undated
Folder 21: De Young family photographs --- undated
Folder 22: Photograph of Marguerite and Brother Franklin --- undated