Dates

• Majority of material found within 1800 - 2018

Extent

10 boxes Linear Feet (Maria Ann Dietz (June 14, 1940 – May 25, 2018) was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1972 with her husband John Dietz and their four children, when John was appointed professor of voice in the music department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). John retired in 2004 after nearly 32 years of service. During this time, and until her death in 2018, Maria was an active member of the IUP community. She supported John in his role as a music professor at IUP, sometimes as an accompanist on the piano for student voice lessons; she gave tours of Breezedale Hall (Alumni Office) when it was restored in the 1980’s, along with John Sutton Hall. As a member of St. Thomas More University Parish, she organized advertising for the church’s annual book sale for many years. For twenty years she worked at the Open Door in Indiana and spoke to IUP classes regarding suicide prevention. Two of her children graduated from IUP. One of Maria’s interests throughout life was the history of the British Royal Family. She became interested at age 7 with the marriage of Princess Elizabeth to Philp, Duke of Edinburgh. She remembered being invited to the local movie theater for a screening of the wedding newsreels. When Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, Maria’s mother made a special coronation cake and Maria followed the news up to the Queen’s coronation in 1953. Maria continued to collect rare photographs, publications, and items related to visits Queen Elizabeth made to the United States and Canada. Her interest in the British Royal family prompted many connections from around the world. Her friends and family sent postcards, photos, and letters to her on their travels to the United Kingdom and Canada about their experiences seeing members of the royal family, visiting palaces and museums, and talking with local citizens about the role of royalty in their countries. This collection includes several different series including biographical information, memorabilia, photographs, publications, scrapbooks, and commemorative tins related to the British Royal family. Special emphasis was placed on the collection of memorabilia from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and her immediate family. Series List: Series I Background Information; Series II Memorabilia; Series III Periodicals; Series IV Porcelain China; Series V Scrapbooks; Series VI Tin-ware; Series VII Dolls; and Series VIII Oversized Materials. Collection focuses on the family of Queen Elizabeth II.)

Language of Materials

English