Bernice Talbott Beard Papers, 1960-2009
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-2022-031
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Bernice Talbott Beard, an alum and staff member at Western Maryland College (WMC). It covers the years 1960-2009 with most of the materials coming from the 1970s to mid-1990s. The collection is arranged into seven series. The first series contains records from Beard’s employment as the Assistant Director of Admissions at WMC and from her time as Executive Secretary to the President under Ralph Candler John and Robert Chambers. This series is split into two sub-series. Sub-Series A contains notes and memos created during her role as Executive Secretary. It is arranged chronologically. Sub-Series B includes notebooks and calendars used by Beard during her time in the Admissions Office and the President’s Office. They are arranged by format and then chronologically. Series two contains notes and papers created by Beard as a student at WMC. These papers are arranged chronologically by course. Series three includes programs, invitations, and memos related to the college collected by Beard after her retirement from WMC. These include papers related to her position as staff emeritus and as an alum and cover the years 1987-2003. Series four consists of research notes collected by Beard for a planned history of WMC she began but never completed. These materials are organized topically. Series five contains personal correspondence between Bernice Beard and various acquaintances, many of whom also had connections to the college. It covers the years 1965-2009. The collection is arranged alphabetically by the recipient’s last name and then chronologically. Series six consists of Beard’s personal papers and writings. Materials in this series are arranged topically and include things such as Beard’s travel journals, her work with WMC’s Books Sandwiched In program, her role as a member of the American Association of University Women’s Carroll County Branch, and various seminars and continuing education programs she attended. It covers the years 1965-2000. The final series contains photographs and artifacts belonging to Beard. Most of the photographs are from Tom and Kitty Eaton’s birthday celebrations from 1989 to 1992. There are three artifacts in the collection: a coin purse, Westminster Bicentennial glass, and an antique half doll shaving brush.
Dates
- 1960 - 2009
Creator
- Beard, Bernice Talbot, 1927 (Person)
Conditions Governing Use
Papers may be copied in accordance with the McDaniel College Archives' usual procedures.
Biographical / Historical
Bernice Talbott Beard was born in 1927 in Carroll County, the daughter of Edwin Warfield Talbott and Henrietta Snader Talbott Nusbaum. Her stepfather was Ira Albert Nusbaum. In 1944, Beard graduated from New Windsor High School as the institution’s first valedictorian. Following her graduation, Beard worked for the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company from 1944 to 1951. In the early 1960s, she took a position as a part-time typist at Western Maryland College, launching a career with the college that would last twenty-six years. While at WMC, Beard served in a variety of roles, progressing from an admissions counselor, to assistant director of admissions, to executive secretary under Presidents Ralph Candler John and Robert Chambers. Simultaneously, Beard enrolled as a student at Western Maryland, earning her B.A. in 1974 and her M.L.A. in 1981.
Bernice Beard retired from WMC in 1989. Following her retirement, Beard traveled extensively in her motorhome with her husband, Paul. She wrote numerous books and articles on motorhome travel and was a freelance writer for the Carroll County Times.
Beard was also an active member in her church, the Westminster Church of the Brethen, and a member of the American Association of University Women, Carroll County branch.
Beard moved to Florida in 2015. She passed away in 2020 at the age of ninety-two.
Bernice Beard retired from WMC in 1989. Following her retirement, Beard traveled extensively in her motorhome with her husband, Paul. She wrote numerous books and articles on motorhome travel and was a freelance writer for the Carroll County Times.
Beard was also an active member in her church, the Westminster Church of the Brethen, and a member of the American Association of University Women, Carroll County branch.
Beard moved to Florida in 2015. She passed away in 2020 at the age of ninety-two.
Extent
7.08 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Box List
Box 1
- Folders 1-25
Box 2
- Folders 26-48
Box 3
- Folders 49-64
Box 4
- Folders 65-76
Box 5
- Folders 77-83
Box 6
- Folders 84-88
Box 7
- Folders 89-100
Box 8
- Folders 101-108
Box 9
- Folders 109-116
Box 10
- Folders 117-131
Box 11
- Folders 132-145
Box 12
- Folders 146-168
Box 13
- Folders 169-194
Box 14
- Folders 195-214
Box 15
- Folders 215-226
- Coin Purse
- Antique Half Doll Shaving Brush
- Westminster Bicentennial Glass
Box 16
- Notebooks, Jan. 15, 1964-Feb. 26, 1976
- Appointment Books, 1967-1969
Box 17
- Appointment Books, 1970-1987
- Desk Calendars, 1987
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was transferred to McDaniel College Archives from the Maryland Center for History and Culture in 2022.
Processing Information
Processed by Gwenlyn Coddington, Archivist & Special Collections Librarian, 2025.
- American Association of University Women. Carroll County Branch
- Chambers , Robert H.
- Correspondence
- John, Ralph Candler, 1919-1999
- Thomas and Kitty Eaton
- Western Maryland College (1867-2002) -- Administrative assistant -- Departmental notes
- Western Maryland College (1867-2002) -- Administrative assistant -- Planners
- Western Maryland College (1867-2002) -- Courses -- Student essays
- Western Maryland College (1867-2002) -- Courses -- Student notes
- Western Maryland College (1867-2002) -- History
- Western Maryland College . Office of the President (1867-2002)
- Western Maryland College. Office of Admissions.
Creator
- Beard, Bernice Talbot, 1927 (Person)
- Title
- "Bernice Talbott Beard Papers, 1960-2009"
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Gwenlyn Coddington
- Date
- Copyright May, 2025 by the McDaniel College Archives. All Rights Reserved.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 1 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 2 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 3 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 4 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 5 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 6 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 7 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 8 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 9 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 10 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 11 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 12 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 13 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 14 (Text)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 15 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 16 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Box 17 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2022.031 Folder 227 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the McDaniel College Repository
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