Evelyn Mattern papers, 1958-2003

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Summary

Creator:
Mattern, Evelyn
Abstract:
Evelyn Mattern was a Catholic religious sister known for her life of contemplation, writing, and farmworkers' advocacy in North Carolina from the 1970s through 2003. Publications include a book on women and mysticism, poems, articles, and essays. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Extent:
5.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.11989

Background

Scope and content:

Materials in this collection relate to Mattern's work as a writer of poetry, books, and essays in North Carolina, as well as her advocacy work for North Carolina farmworkers. The bulk of the collection consists of her daily contemplative writings and journals as well as her poetry. Collection consists of journals, notebooks, travel diaries, published and unpublished writings, drafts of writings, book production materials, correspondence related to writings, interviews, correspondence relating to social justice advocacy, fliers and public messaging related to farmworkers' advocacy and North Carolina Council of Churches work, meeting information, and biographical information including diplomas, photographs, school transcripts, graduate school writings and media clippings.

Biographical / historical:

Evelyn Mattern (1941-2003), a Catholic religious sister associated with the Sisters for Christian Community, received her training and education in her native Philadelphia, earning a B.A. from Immaculata University and a PhD in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania with a dissertation on Shakespeare. She relocated to Raleigh, NC, initially teaching at St. Augustine's University. She settled in a rural home called Peace Hill, where she lived a monastic lifestyle and which became a gathering place for meditation and contemplation. Mattern worked as a social justice advocate on issues including farmworker's rights, women's rights, and the environment. Much of her activism stemmed from her position as a program officer for the North Carolina Council of Churches, including their Farmworker's Ministry. Mattern wrote and published poetry throughout her life, as well as articles, essays, and books. Her published books are Blessed are You: the Beatitudes and Our Survival, (1994), Why Not Become Fire? Encounters With Women Mystics, (1999), and Ordinary Places, Sacred Spaces, (2005). Mattern co-wrote the chapter Making Home: Culture, Ethnicity and Religion Among Farmworkers in the Southeastern United States in the book The Human Cost of Food: Farmworkers' Lives, Labor, and Advocacy, 2002.

Acquisition information:
The Evelyn Mattern papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2021.
Processing information:

Processed by Megan E. Lewis, March, 2022.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2021-0144

Arrangement:

Original order, folders and folder titles have been preserved where possible.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Evelyn Mattern papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1pj00