Joanna Hollister was born on December 5, 1870 in Emporia, Kansas.  She attended Emporia Teacher's College and taught at the State School for the Deaf at Olatha, Kansas and the State School for the Deaf at Devils Lake, ND.  After her marriage to Clark Kelley, Mrs. Hollister begin managing their farm and turned it into a showplace.  Mrs. Hollister was also active in many farm and agricultural organizations and was elected vice-president of the International Congress of Farm Women.

The papers contains some letters, wedding announcement, memorial pamphlet for her husband Clark W. Kelley, passport and pages from scrapbook documenting her farming career and organization involvement.
 

Agriculture, Bonanza and Land Development  Women