Belle Christie Critchett papers, 1915-1968A teacher, writer, suffragist, and political activist, Belle Christie Ferguson Critchett (1868?-1956), supported and promoted many progressive era-issues of the time, including womens suffrage and the legal status of women, good citizenship and political reform, maternal health and child welfare, prison reform, prohibition, and the peace movement. When she was two years old Critchett moved to the United States from Perthshire, Scotland with her family. The Ferguson family settled in Clinton, Iowa where Critchett and her brothers attended school. After the death of her father, Critchett moved to Denver, Colorado with her family, and she became a teacher in Pueblo and later in Denver. Around 1900 Critchett married Otis A. Critchett (1876?-1950?), a chemist, metallurgist, and assayer. The Critchett's moved to El Paso in 1902 where they lived at 1515 Montana Street. In El Paso Otis Critchett, along with Belle Critchetts brother, George Ferguson (1872-1940), owned and ran Critchett & Ferguson, also known as the Custom Assay Office. Following the death of her only child, Otis Adams, jr., Critchett concentrated on her civic, political, and church work.
The Belle Christie Critchett papers date 1915 1968, bulk 1918-1935. Types of records include correspondence, clippings, publications and other printed material, maps, posters, songs, a glass lantern slide, and photographs. Original clippings were photocopied and discarded due to their extremely poor condition, except when noted in the container list. Additionally, some whole newspapers were in such poor condition that they were unable to be photocopied and were disposed of the title and date of these newspapers are listed in the Notes to the Researcher.