Overton, Marie Elizabeth, 1916-1967 (administrator and author)
Dates
- Existence: 1916-11-15 - 1967-06-18
- Usage: 1963 - 1967
Biography
Marie Elizabeth Overton was born at Colwyn Bay on 15 November 1916, daughter of W.H. and Agnes Overton, both of whom were school teachers. She went up to Newnham in 1942 to read English, and gained lower second classes in both parts of the tripos (BA 1945, MA 1949).
In 1947 Overton was appointed Assistant to the Secretaries for English subjects at the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).
Overton suffered from chronic rheumatism, as well as periodic attacks of eczema and depression. Between 1965 and 1967 she spent periods in hospital and at the Evelyn Nursing Home, Cambridge. Overton resigned from her position at UCLES due to ill health on 06 June 1967 and died on 18 June. In her memory, UCLES established an annual prize for the highest performining student in A Level English.
Overton published articles in various literary journals, and in 1965 a volume of verse, "The Silence and Other Poems." She also edited drama, including the collection "Three Dramatic Legends", using the pseudonym Elizabeth Haddon. Her unpublished novel was also written using this name.
A biographical note appears in the Newnham College Register 1871-1971, volume II, 1924-1950.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Personal Papers of Marie Elizabeth Overton, 1962 - 1966
The collection contains correspondence, transcripts of poems, a manuscript novel, and a published collection of poetry. The correspondence mostly consists of typed and handwritten letters from Marie Overton of UCLES to Edward Thompson of Heinemann Educational Books Ltd.
The Papers of Claude Houghton
The collection includes correspondence with and papers relating to Miss Marie Overton, manuscript and typescript novels and a bibliography of Houghton's works.