Still, Claire, 1916-

Claire Still collected newspaper clippings and ephemera relating to medical advancements, women's wartime activity during World War II, and regional events while employed as a medical social worker throughout the United States.

She was born on June 29, 1916 in Hastings, Nebraska. She attended the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1938 with an A.B. in Sociology. She continued her studies at the Graduate School of Social Work and completed her graduate degree in 1943. From 1945 to 1968, she worked for the American Red Cross and was employed as a social worker in Washington, D.C., Nebraska, Kentucky, Virginia, and Wisconsin. She moved to California in 1959 or 1960 and received a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1969. Until 1981, she was a librarian at the Stanford University Medical School Library. Since her retirement, Still has lived in Laguna Woods in Orange County, California, and has been active in various associations. She served as President of the Orange County chapter of the American Association of University Women in 1985 and 1994.

From the description of Claire Still scrapbooks, 1933-1959. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 46428543

Biography

Claire Still was born on June 29, 1916 in Hastings, Nebraska, the last of three children. In 1922 she and her family relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska where she graduated from Lincoln High School in 1934.

Still attended the University of Nebraska located in Lincoln with a Regents' Scholarship. In 1938 she graduated with an A.B. in Sociology and then continued her studies at Lincoln, attending the Graduate School of Social Work until 1939. She completed her graduate degree in 1943 at the National Catholic School of Social Service in Washington DC.

During World War II, she worked for the American Red Cross at hospitals in Kentucky, Virginia and Washington, DC. From 1945 to 1968, she was employed as a medical social worker, living first in Washington, DC, then moving to Virginia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, and finally California. She received a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of California at Berkeley's library school in 1969. From that year until her second retirement in 1981, she was a librarian at the Stanford University Medical School Library.

She was reared with an appreciation for travel and fine arts that has followed her throughout her life. Her mother enrolled her in piano, ballet and elocution courses. As a student, she volunteered at the high school library and worked as a property manager for a Little Theater group in Alexandria. By 1959 she had visited all fifty U.S. states and had toured Europe. This love for travel and an enthusiasm for the performing arts are reflected in her scrapbooks.

Since her retirement, Still has held a number of offices in various associations, including chapter president of the American Association of University Women (1985-1986 and 1994-1995) and of the Leisure World Historical Society.

Chronology

• 1916: Born in Hastings, Nebraska on June 29th.
• 1922: Moved to Lincoln, Nebraska with family.
• 1922 - 1934 : Attended public schools in Lincoln.
• 1934: Graduated from Lincoln High School.
• Received Regents' scholarship to University of Nebraska.
• 1938: Elected to honorary psychology and sociology societies.
• Graduated from University of Nebraska with A.B. in Sociology.
• 1938 - 1939 : Attended Graduate School of Social Work at University of Nebraska.
• 1939 - 1940 : Worked at United States Census Bureau and Government Printing Office in Washington DC.
• 1941: Worked for D.C. Home Service, American Red Cross.
• 1943: Applied for Red Cross Scholarship to complete master's degree in Social Work at National Catholic School of Social Service in Washington DC.
• 1944: Received degree from Catholic University.
• 1944 - 1945 : Worked for American Red Cross Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky; Staunton, Virginia; and at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington DC.
• 1945 - 1948 : Medical social worker at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC.
• 1949 - 1952 : Medical social worker at the Alexandria Virginia Community Center (an outpatient clinic).
• 1952 - 1953 : Medical social worker for National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
• 1953 - 1959 : Medical social worker at the Rehabilitation Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
• 1959 - 1960 : Medical social worker at Stanford Medical Center.
• 1963: Social worker at The Albertinum in Ukiah, California.
• 1964 - 1968 : Social Worker for Catholic Charities in San Jose, California.
• 1968 - 1969 : Attended library school at U.C. Berkeley.
• 1969: Received M.L.S. degree.
• 1969 - 1981 : Librarian at Medical School Library at Stanford University.
• 1981: Retired and moved to Leisure World, Laguna Hills. President of Leisure World Historical Society.
• 1985 - 1986 : Chapter president of American Association of University Women.
• 1994 - 1995 : Chapter president of American Association of University Women.

From the guide to the Claire Still Scrapbooks, 1933-1959, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)