Center for Sacramento History

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

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

Summary

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

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.

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.

Location of this collection:
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95811, US
Contact:
(916) 808-7072
csh@cityofsacramento.org
Website
Markell personal papers, 1957-1998
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 1
Other descriptive data:

Markell retirement card from Sacramento Bee staff, undated
Containers:
Mapcase 3:2, Folder 1
Other descriptive data:

Markell columns, published and responses, 1973-1979
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 2
Other descriptive data:

Columns include "Why Not Impeachment" (1973); "Nixon's TV Memoirs: Capitalizing On Infamy" (1975); "Worry, Worry, Worry. Wanted: A Reliable Guru" (1975); "50 Years of 'Talkies': Not Always The Sound Of Music" (1977); "How To Spend The Sunset Years: How Does Hang Gliding Strike You?" (1979); "Anita And The Gays: Bigotry Or Christianity?"; "Phyllis Schlafly And The ERA: ‘She Made A Believer Of Me'"; "To Each Her Own: Musings About Ms."

Markell columns, drafts, 1992
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 3
Other descriptive data:

Columns include: "Great Decisions. Politics as Usual." (1992); "Who Is Calling Whom – What? RE: ‘Hachet Job on Reagan'"; "Didionitis"; "Is There Any Wonder… Why There Are Hesitations and Delays Over the Bush Clinton Debates?"; "Who's Fooling Whom?"; "A Word from Helen L. Markell"; "Draft Dodgers… Truth Dodgers"; "We Must Do This More Often; or, Tell Me All About Yourself, Dear"; "News a la Carte"; "So We Are Going to War to Maintain Peace and Build a New World Order"; "The Home Stretch. Dan Quayle - Ready or Not, Here I Come: A Review of His Performance"; "Dan Quayle - Running on Empty"

Markell script: "Oh Beautiful – Beautiful Friendship", undated
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 4
Other descriptive data:

Markell photographs, undated
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Some photographs are related to a performance at a U.S. Army base

Eleanor McClatchy personal family history/genealogy of Feeney, undated
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 5
Other descriptive data:

Eleanor McClatchy obituaries and eulogy, 1980-1982
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 6
Other descriptive data:

Eleanor McClatchy speech presented to UNIVAC, undated
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 7
Other descriptive data:

Eleanor McClatchy - Sacramento History Center, 1985
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 8
Other descriptive data:

Eleanor McClatchy Photographs, undated
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photographs are related to a performance at a U.S. Army base and note that Eleanor McClatchy was part of the makeup crew.

KFBeeK Players - "Family Album" photographs, undated
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photos show cast and set at Southside Park.

KFBeeK Players - "Lost in the Stars", 1967-1968
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

KFBeeK Players - "My Sister Eileen" photographs, 1945
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photos show cast and crew members, including Albert J. "Al" Bastian, Evert S. "Pete" Peterson, Ann Smith, and Ruth Ward; an awards night; and other images related to the production.

KFBeeK Players - "My Sister Eileen" ephemera, 1945
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 9
Other descriptive data:

Includes a playbill and Sacramento Bee/KFBK congratulations.

KFBeeK Players - "Night Must Fall" photographs, undated
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

KFBeeK Players - "On Borrowed Time" photographs, 1948
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photos show cast, crew, and production. Cast members shown include Frank McPeak and Ann Smith.

KFBeeK Players - "On Borrowed Time" ephemera, 1948
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 10
Other descriptive data:

Includes a playbill and a letter from the Oakland Veterans Administration Hospital to the KFBeeK Players.

KFBeeK Players - "Prime Play" photographs, undated
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

KFBeeK Players - "Suds in Your Eyes" photographs, ca. 1947
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photos show cast, crew, and production. Cast members shown include Betty Maloney and Claire Peterson.

KFBeeK Players - "Suds in Your Eyes" ephemera, ca. 1947
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 11
Other descriptive data:

Includes correspondence between Markell and the Dramatists Play Service.

KFBeeK Players - "You Can't Take It with You" photographs, 1944
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photos show cast, crew, and production. Cast members shown include Clara Guilberce, Myron "Max" Depew, Ruth Ward, Leta, Bob, and Phyllis.

KFBeeK Players - "You Can't Take It with You" ephemera, 1944
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 12
Other descriptive data:

Includes a playbill, clipping, and handwritten notes to cast by Markell.

KFBeeK Players - photographs from unidentified productions, undated
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Photos show unidentified productions. People identified in photos include Markell, Frances F., L. R. Matushak, Dick Rodda, and Myron "Max" Depew.

Sacramento Civic Theater history booklets, 1966-1976
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 13
Other descriptive data:

Sacramento Bee Beeline Book Alley photographs, 1955-1986
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

One photograph shows Dr. John McKibbin.

Sacramento Bee Beeline Book Alley spiral stenographer's notebooks, 1955-1986
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 14
Other descriptive data:

Sacramento Bee Beeline Book Alley ephemera, 1985-1986
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 15
Other descriptive data:

Unidentified photographs, 1966
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Martin photographs, 1943-1977
Containers:
Folder 2012/023
Other descriptive data:

Included are photos of a 1943 Sacramento Bee Christmas party featuring Eleanor McClatchy, Gladys Cunningham, Mila Landis, and Esther Virone Martin; President John F. Kennedy; Walter P. Jones; an NBC convention; Martin and her husband Emil; and a "25-Year Club" party.

Martin ephemera, 1945-1971
Containers:
Box 1, Folder 16
Other descriptive data:

Includes an invitation from Eleanor McClatchy to a luncheon to welcome new members to the 25-Year Club; a 1971 issue of Beelines, the McClatchy Newspapers employee magazine; and 1945 memos from Eleanor McClatchy to Bee staff announcing a gift of war bonds to the staff and staff cost-of-living wage adjustments.