Skip to main content

Karhu Family Scrapbook

 Collection
Identifier: 2019.028

Content Description

This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting the life of the Karhu family in Clarksville, Tennessee, as well as their friends and extended family. The scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper clippings, documents, programs, and other ephemera from 1941-1986. It primarily focuses on the activities of Vicky, Ann, and Jane Karhu as children and young adults. It also includes materials on the Clarksville High School band and Carolyn Karhu's involvement in local theater.

Dates

  • 1941 - 1986

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

While the Montgomery County Archives houses an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. It is the user’s obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Victor John Karhu (1922-1990) and Carolyn Holman Glenn (1927-2001) were married in 1950 in Cadiz, Kentucky. After they were married, the couple lived in Gainesville, Florida while Victor attended the University of Florida. While there the couple had two children, Mary Victoria “Vicky” Karhu (b. 1951) and Ann Elizabeth Karhu (b. 1953). Victor graduated with his master’s degree in 1953, and the family moved to Clarksville, Tennessee in 1955 when he took the position as the director of the Clarksville High School band program. Two years later the couple welcomed their third daughter, Jane Glenn Karhu.

Victor served as the director of the Clarksville High School band from 1955 to 1969 when he resigned due to health issues. Carolyn was also active in the program, helping to develop and lead the Clarksville High School Majorette Squad. Victor and Carolyn Karhu were well loved by their students, with members affectionately referring to them as “Papa and Mama Karhu.” Carolyn also worked as an educator, teaching English first at Clarksville High School and then Austin Peay State University. In the 1980s she taught GED prep courses for the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

The couple divorced in 1974. Victor continued to have health issues following his resignation and died in 1990. Carolyn continued to teach and was very active in the local theater community, participating in numerous productions. She died in 2001 at the age of 74.

The scrapbook focuses on the activities of the Karhu family, particularly the children Vicky, Ann, and Jane. The Karhu children were very active in academics and sports. Both Vicky and Ann were decorated baton twirlers. Vicky also participated in the American Field Service and the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State programs. Ann and Jane had successful swimming careers, winning multiple awards with the Clarksville Swim Association. Jane had hopes of qualifying for the Olympics before a knee injury and car accident eliminated her chances.

Extent

1.375 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This scrapbook was gifted to the Montgomery County Archives by Jane Karhu Powers in September 2019.

Related Materials

Related materials corresponding to Victor Karhu's tenure as the Clarksville High School band director may be found in the Clarksville High School Band Scrapbooks Collection, 2019.027.

Processing Information

The scrapbook was disassembled for cleaning and digitization. Each page was photographed and numbered. Items that came loose from the scrapbook were numbered with the corresponding page number and placed in acid free folders and boxes. Loose materials were arranged by page number, with photographs removed to the Archives Photograph Collection. Photographs, pamphlets, multi-page documents, and other ephemera were scanned at a higher resolution. Acid free interleaving paper was inserted between pages when needed to protect materials, such as photographs. The scrapbook was then reassembled and placed in an acid free box.

Title
Guide to the Karhu Family Scrapbook
Status
Completed
Author
Sarah Fry
Date
03-14-2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Montgomery County Archives Repository

Contact:
350 Pageant Lane
Suite 101D
Clarksville Tennessee 30741 United States
931-553-5159