Markell (Helen L.) and Martin (Esther V.) Sacramento Bee and KFBeeK Players collection, 1944-1998, bulk 1950-1990

Summary

Dates:

1944-1998, bulk 1950-1990

Creators:

Markell, Helen L. (1914-2005) and Martin, Esther Virone (1918-2012)

Abstract:

The collection documents Helen L. Markell and Esther Virone Martin's work for the Sacramento Bee and involvement with the KFBeeK Players. Material includes Markell's published columns and reader responses from the 1970s, and draft columns from the 1990s; items related to Eleanor McClatchy; Martin's photographs and ephemera; KFBeeK Players productions photographs and ephemera; history booklets documenting the Sacramento Civic Theater; and material pertaining to the Sacramento Bee's employee library, Beeline Book Alley. Items date from 1944 to 1998, with the bulk from 1950 to 1990.

Extent:

0.5 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

Languages represented in the collection: English

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Helen L. Markell and Esther V. Martin Sacramento Bee and KFBeeK Players collection, MS0095, Center for Sacramento History.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents Helen L. Markell and Esther Virone Martin's work for the Sacramento Bee and involvement with the KFBeeK Players. Material includes Markell's published columns and reader responses from the 1970s, and draft columns from the 1990s; items related to Eleanor McClatchy; photographs and ephemera from KFBeeK Players productions; history booklets documenting the Sacramento Civic Theater; Sacramento Bee employee newsletters; photographs and ephemera; and material pertaining to the Sacramento Bee's employee library, Beeline Book Alley. Items date from 1944 to 1998, with the bulk from 1950 to 1990.

Biographical / historical:

Helen L. "Marki" Markell was born in Portland, Oregon on March 15, 1914. Markell worked with Eleanor McClatchy at KFBK radio and the Sacramento Bee. She participated in the KFBeeK Players and directed many of their shows. She also operated the Sacramento Bee's Beeline Book Alley, a library and reference center for the staff of the newspaper. She wrote numerous columns for the Sacramento Bee from the 1970s into the 1990s. She passed away in Sacramento on July 3, 2005.

Esther Virone Martin was born in Sacramento on July 7, 1918. She worked as private secretary to Eleanor McClatchy at the Sacramento Bee from early 1940s into the 1960s. She participated in the KFBeeK Players. She was married to Emil Martin until his death in 1991. She was very close friends with Markell and became executor of her estate. She acquired the material in this collection upon Markell's death. Martin passed away on January 23, 2012.

Acquisition information:

Donated by Joanne Virone, niece of Esther Virone Martin (accession number 2012/023)

Processing information:

Processing and finding aid by Alex Guilbert, 2012. Finding aid edited by Kim Hayden, 2021.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Sacramento (Calif.)--Theater
Sacramento (Calif.)--Journalism
Sacramento (Calif.)--Publishing

Names:

Sacramento Bee (Newspaper)
KFBK
McClatchy, Eleanor, 1895-1980

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Alex Guilbert

Date Prepared:

© 2021

Date Encoded:

Machine-readable finding aid created by Kim Hayden. Date of source: January 5, 2021.

Access and use