Title: Mattie Truax
Dates: 1892-1972
Collection Number: 10690
Quantity: 1.5 feet
Abstract: Includes WCTU minutes, convention programs, promotional materials, a history, pamphlets, and brochures relating to Mattie Truax’s involvement in the GAR, Women’s Relief Corps, and the Rebekah Lodge.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the Mattie Truax Papers from Catherine L. Carlson in April 1996.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code or an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
From the Minot Daily News, Monday February 24, 1975
Last November when she reached the 100 year mark, Mrs. Mattie Truax of Minot told a reporter for The News she felt she had lived a happy life and had “many things to think on.” She said that “living well heavenly” had been the most important thing in life to her.
The tiny little Scotswoman had for years been active in Minot community life – the Presbyterian Church, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Order of Eastern Star and Women’s Relief Corps being among her leading involvements.
Last November she attended a Minot celebration of the 100th birthday of the WCTU. She had been a member of the organization for 84 years. In 1950, while on a trip to Scotland, Ireland and Englan, she attended the WCTU World Convention in Hastings, England.
She was past matron of the OES, past noble grand of the Rebekah Lodge, past president of both the Minot and state departments of the WRC, a retired deaconess of the First Presbyterian Church and a past president of the church ladies aid.
Mrs. Truax was born Nov. 7, 1874 in Compton, Que., the daughter of William and Catherine Gibb.
Her parents were ranchers who were to settle in the United States. For a time, the family lived in Lake Park, Minn. At the age of 12, Mattie walked alongside a covered wagon with a herd of sheep, cattle and horses, from Minnesota to Lonetree, N.D.
The Lonetree water supply was insufficient for the ranching family so the Gibbs moved to Des Lacs.
Mattie’s first schooling was by a governess her father hired to come from England. That was supplemented by attendance at the Presbyterian Sunday School in Minot on Sundays.
By the age of 15, Mattie’s governess persuaded her to take a rural teacher’s examination. She passed the test and at 16, was teaching rural school.
In 1893, her family became discouraged by drouth conditions and moved to Stanley. Mattie entered Minot High School that year and was graduated in 1895. She had been calling Minot her home since 1888.
She and Charles Frederick Truax, a railroad and newspaperman, were married June 28, 1899, in Minot following a Presbyterian prayer meeting. He was to found the former Ward County Independent, a weekly newspaper, in 1902. He sold his interest in that publication to his partner, the late G. D. Colcord, in 1937. Mr. Truax died in 1943.
The couple had three sons, Charles of Minot, a retired Ward County engineer and road superintendent; Theodore of Edmonds, Wash.; and William Raymond, Mount Vernon, Wash. All three were in Minot to help celebrate her 100th birthday anniversary.
In addition to her sons, Mrs. Truax is survived by 10 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Minutes 1914-1919
2 Minutes 1926-1938
3 Minutes 1948-1953
4 Minutes 1953-1959
5 Annual Convention Programs 1892-1930
6 Annual Convention Programs 1931-1947
7 Annual Convention Programs 1950-1955
8 Annual Convention Programs 1956-1967
9 Annual Convention Programs, District 1925-1936
10 National Annual Convention Programs 1932, 1955
11 World Convention Program
13 WCTU Membership
14 Newsletters-Presbyterian Church 1942-1949
15 White Ribbon Bulletin 1928
16 History, WCTU, Pamphlets/Brochures 1939
17 Pamphlets/Brochures/Publications
18 Pamphlets/Brochures-Educational
19 Pamphlets/Brochures-Educational
20 Publication: Bio. Anna Adams Gordon
21 Publication: The Death of My Husband... 1939
22 Publication: Progress 1959
23 Publications: re: Frances E. Willard
24 Publication: What Frances E. Willard...
25 Publication: The House I Live In
Posters: re: Alcohol and Drinking
Box 2:
1 Publication: Constitutions-Templars 1895
2 GAR: Official Program 60th National Encampment 1926
3 GAR Proceedings 27th Annual Encampment 1916
4 Woman's Relief Corps: Convention Journal 1932
5 Woman's Relief Corps: Convention Program 1944
6 Program: National WRC Activities 1953
7 Programs: WRC and GAR 1925, 1956
8 Program: GAR & WRC Annual Campfire
9 Pamphlets: The American Creed
10 Publication: Patriotic Selections... 1909
11 Post Card: GAR Memorial Museum
12 Publication: Our Flag, How to Display It
13 Constitution and By-Laws: Rebekah Lodge 1893, 1918
14 Publication: The Odd Fellow Magazine;
15 Misc.: Poetry, Odd Fellows, etc.
16 Page from Rebekah ritual book
17 Rebekah Lodge Banquet 1952
18 Program: Rebekah 1952, 1972
19 Proceedings: Rebekah and I.O.O.F. 1904, 1932
20 Report of Officers to Rebekah Assembly 1936
21 Program: IOOF & WI-MI-Daks Conclave 1956
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