Personal papers of Mary Evelyn Nichols Lee
Overview
The Mary Evelyn Nichols Lee collection includes various pieces of artwork and graphic design by Lee; an invitation; advertisements; art works given to Lee and/or used by her for inspiration; design concepts; an imprint stamp; and Lee's artist palette. Lee was married to Don Lee and they operated the Hotel Savoy in Kansas City, Missouri from the 1960s until 2014, when the property was acquired by the 21c Group. Lee was a student at the University of Kansas in the 1950s.
Dates
- Creation: 1949-July 29, 1967
Creator
- Lee, Mary Evelyn, 1933-2023 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of Mary Evelyn Nichols Lee (1933-2023)
Mary Evelyn Nichols was born on October 24, 1933 in Nevada, Missouri, to Flavin and Katherine Nichols. She attended the Kansas City Art Institute in the 1950s and married Don Lee on June 27, 1959. The following yeaer Lee bought the Savoy Grill and Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, and the couple operated the hotel together for several years. Mary Lee wrote, designed, and produced a newsletter for the Savoy, which one a Gold Mirror Awared from teh National Restaurant Association for its excellence in editorial content, photography or illustration, typography, and layout. Mary Lee also used her graphic arts talents to hand-draw greeting cards and other items.
Mary (Nichols) Lee retired from the Savoy Hotel in the mid-1970s to focus on raising the Nichols' family. The couple adopted three children: Valerie, Tommy, and David. Mary Evelyn Lee passed away in October 2023.
[Information retireved from obituary on Muehlebach Funeral Home website, November 2023.]
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (1 document case + 6 oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
PP 645
Custodial History
Items in this collection were found in a small dress box at the former Savoy Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, after Don Lee sold the property to the 21c Museum Group.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, Jean Svadlenak, 2015.
Source
- Svadlenak, Jean (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Mary Evelyn Nichols Lee Collection
- Subtitle
- Personal papers of Mary Evelyn Nichols Lee
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by mmj, 2022. Finding aid encoded by mmj, 2022. Finding aid revised by mwh, 2023.
- Date
- 2022-07
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- https://hdl.handle.net/10407/9618113461
- Preferred citation
-
Mary Evelyn Nichols Lee collection, PP 645, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository