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Julia Boyer Reinstein
Julia Boyer Reinstein
	Erie County Historical Federation president, 1966
Born	Julia Agnes Boyer; November 3, 1906; Castile, New York, U.S.
Died	July 18, 1998 (aged 91); Cheektowaga, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Mrs. Victor Reinstein
Occupation(s)	teacher, historian
Years active	1928–1992
Known for	philanthropy

Julia Boyer Reinstein (November 3, 1906 – July 18, 1998) was an American teacher and historian who grew up in western New York and began her career teaching in Deadwood, South Dakota. After more than a decade of teaching, she became a founder of the Erie County Historical Federation and the first historian of Cheektowaga, New York. Committed to preserving the history of the area and educating citizens about their heritage, she and her husband were instrumental in donating properties for the establishment of a nature preserve, several libraries and to higher education. She was a subject of an anthropological study evaluating gender fluidity and the nature of being public about one's sexuality in the 1990s.

Early life

Julia Agnes Boyer was born on November 3, 1906, in Castile, New York,^[1]^[2] to Julia (née Smith)^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] and Lee Boyer.^[7] Boyer's father was an engineer who worked with Western Union Telegraph Company and then on various power and light projects throughout the Great Plains including Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, and in Indian Territory, before becoming the general manager of the Consolidated Power and Light Company in the Black Hills of South Dakota.^[8] When Boyer was six weeks old, her mother left New York to join her father who was working on an engineering job in Wolseley, Saskatchewan. Her parents divorced when she was about 1+1⁄2 years old, and her mother took her back to Castile, where she found work as a school teacher.^[9]^[10] Her mother's family were prominent in rural western New York, where her grandfather, Frederick H. Smith, worked as a cattleman, lawyer, and banker.^[11]^[3] Her great-aunt and -uncle, Julia A. (née Pickett) and Fred Norris, who helped raise Boyer, were the owners of the newspaper in Warsaw, New York.^[5]^[9]

In 1915, Boyer's mother married Charles Mason,^[4] the owner of a general store in Silver Springs. Boyer remained in Warsaw, living with the Norrises, and visited her mother and step-father on weekends.^[9] Her father was not allowed to make contact with Boyer, per the terms of her parents' divorce, until she turned eighteen. In 1924 Boyer enrolled at Elmira College and began exploring her lesbian feelings. In 1926, her father made contact with her and they met. He was accepting of her lesbianism and the two began an intense relationship to get reacquainted.^[12] When she graduated in 1928 with a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate, Boyer moved to Deadwood, South Dakota, to live with her father and step-mother, Sarah Isabel (née Rouch).^[13]^[14]

Arriving in Deadwood, Boyer began accompanying her father on business trips. She developed numerous flirtations with other women, and while she was open about her sexual attraction with her family and intimate circle, she remained very discreet, as was dictated by the times.^[15]^[16] Her father, who often flew in his private plane to inspect the power plants he managed throughout Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota,^[15] supported her affairs, and even helped arrange them. In turn, she maintained discretion about his extramarital affairs.^[17]

Relationships & Career

With the advent of the Great Depression, Boyer took a job in one of the mining camps near Deadwood and worked there for two years. When she decided to continue her education in Chicago, her father did not want her to leave and used his influence to help her obtain employment in the Deadwood school system.^[18] In 1930, she met another teacher, Dorothy Brashier,^[19] and fell in love, and for the first time contemplated what a committed lesbian relationship was. They developed a circle of other lesbian couples,^[20] and though they did not hide their relationships, they did not discuss them.^[21]

When Boyer's father died unexpectedly in 1933, she left Deadwood and returned to her mother's family in New York.^[22] She obtained a teaching position in the conservative town of Castile, bringing Dorothy with her. During the week, she rented rooms in town, but on weekends she and Dorothy shared a suite her mother and step-father had created for them in their home. During their summer breaks, the couple rented an apartment in New York City, to facilitate their taking master's courses at Columbia University.^[11]^[23]

In the early 1940s, Dorothy left Julia and Julia accepted employment in Buffalo. The circumstances, much different than those she experienced with the comfortable protection of her family, did not allow her to find female companions.^[24] Soon after she attained her master's degree in education from Columbia,^[25] Boyer married widower Dr. Victor Reinstein on 28 September 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland,^[7] and thereafter used the name Julia Boyer Reinstein, keeping her maiden name both as a fallback in case of invasion of the US by the Nazis and to acknowledge that she never truly gave up her lesbian orientation.^[26] After teaching in New York state for a decade, Boyer Reinstein worked for a year and a half at the University of Buffalo in the history department.^[27] In 1953, she became the first historian of Cheektowaga and was one of the founders of the Erie County Historical Federation, serving as its president. When the Federation was founded there were only seven affiliates, which reached twenty-eight societies during her tenure.^[28]^[29]

Boyer Reinstein was active in multiple endeavors, serving as vice chair of the Cheektowaga Public Library board and as a member of the Erie County Historical Preservation Committee.^[27] She was a sought after speaker, and in addition to publishing map books and stories on county history,^[27]^[30]^[31]^[32] she and her husband became benefactors for the area. They donated the property for the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve^[29]^[33] and built the Anna M. Reinstein Library in Cheektowaga.^[34] After her husband's death in 1984, Boyer Reinstein resumed her life as a lesbian.^[35] In 1990, Boyer Reinstein began a series of donations to her alma mater to enable Elmira College to establish the Department of Women's Studies. An annual symposium in her honor is held by the college to promote scholarship on women.^[36] The couple also donated funds to establish the Julia Boyer Reinstein Library in Cheektowaga and the Buffalo History Museum's Julia Boyer Reinstein Center on the museum's campus.^[29]

Death and legacy

Boyer Reinstein died on July 18, 1998, and her memorial was held four days later in Cheektowaga, New York.^[29] Reinstein was the subject of a 1996 anthropological study of lesbian life done by Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy, evaluating the difference between middle-class and upper-class lesbian lives.^[37] Kennedy undertook the study to examine the understanding of what it meant to be "out" as a lesbian, women's sexual energy in the period, and the acceptance of Boyer Reinstein's sexuality by her parents.

Due to her family's prominence in their community, and the taboos of talking about intimacy publicly, lesbians in her social class were protected and allowed to live their lives as long as they remained in traditional appearance as dutiful daughters and respected social niceties.^[38] Sexuality was seen as a private concern and rumors were gracefully ignored to preserve one's standing in the community.^[24]

By examining Boyer Reinstein's life, the complexities of a closeted existence emerged, showing that for women in upper classes, being in the closet was not oppressive, but rather, allowed them the freedom to express themselves as long as their expression was in the private, rather than public sphere.^[39]

References

Citations

^ Social Security Death Index 1998.
^ U. S. Census 1930, p. 22B.
^ ^a ^b Reinstein 1979, p. 99.
^ ^a ^b The Star-Gazette 1915, p. 5.
^ ^a ^b The Wyoming County Times 1950, p. 8.
^ U. S. Census 1920, p. 9B.
^ ^a ^b The Deadwood Pioneer-Times 1942, p. 1.
^ The Weekly Pioneer-Times 1933, p. 2.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kennedy 1996, p. 20.
^ Rupp 1999, p. 124.
^ ^a ^b Jakobsen & Kennedy 2005, p. 257.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 21.
^ Kennedy 1996, pp. 21, 29.
^ Iowa Marriages, 1809–1992 1911.
^ ^a ^b Kennedy 1996, p. 22.
^ Rupp 1999, p. 125.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 26.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 29.
^ "1940 US Census". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
^ Kennedy 1996, pp. 30–31.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 33.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 33, 37.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 37.
^ ^a ^b Kennedy 1996, p. 39.
^ Columbia University Catalogue 1945, p. 271.
^ Kennedy 1996, p. 199.
^ ^a ^b ^c The Sun 1966, p. 3.
^ The Sun and Erie County Independent 1979, p. 16.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rey 1998.
^ The Springville Journal 1958, p. 1.
^ The Sun and Erie County Independent 1963, p. 7.
^ The Post-Standard 1970, p. 17.
^ Fisher 1994, p. 20.
^ Wisniewski 1979, p. 6.
^ Oregon State University 2006.
^ Elmira College 2015.
^ Hogan & Hudson 1999, p. 324.
^ Kennedy 1996, pp. 16, 33–34.
^ Kennedy 1996, pp. 16–17.

Bibliography

Fisher, Forrest (August 4, 1994). "Spotting deer in majestic velvet". The Sun. Hamburg, New York. p. 20. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
Hogan, Steve; Hudson, Lee (1999). Completely Queer: the Gay and Lesbian Encyclopedia (1st Owl Books ed.). New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0-8050-6031-6.
Jakobsen, Janet R.; Kennedy, Elizabeth Lapovsky (2005). "Sex and Freedom". In Bernstein, Elizabeth; Schaffner, Laurie (eds.). Regulating Sex: The Politics of Intimacy and Identity. New York City, New York: Routledge. pp. 247–270. ISBN 978-1-135-93403-3.
Kennedy, Elizabeth Lapovsky (1996). ""But we would never talk about it": The Structures of Lesbian Discretion in South Dakota, 1928-1933". In Lewin, Ellen (ed.). Inventing lesbian cultures in America. Boston: Beacon Press. pp. 15–39. ISBN 0-8070-7942-1.
Reinstein, Julia Boyer (April 1979). "A Postscript to 'Alaska Calling'" (PDF). Historical Wyoming. XXVI (4). Warsaw, New York: Wyoming County Historian's Office: 99–100. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
Rey, Jay (July 22, 1998). "Town Bids Farewell to Julia Reinstein". Buffalo, New York: The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
Rupp, Leila J. (1999). A Desired Past: A Short History of Same-Sex Love in America. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-73155-1.
Wisniewski, John (June 15, 1979). "New Library Called Regional Asset". Syracuse, New York: The Post-Standard. p. 6. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
"1920 United States Census: Silver Spring Village, Wyoming County, New York". FamilySearch. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. 19 January 1920. NARA microfilm series T625, roll 1274. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
"1930 United States Census: Deadwood, Lawrence County, South Dakota". FamilySearch. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. 25 April 1930. NARA microfilm series T626, roll 2226. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
"Antiques Study Group Topic Is Old Homes". Hamburg, New York: The Sun and Erie County Independent. March 7, 1963. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"Boyer-Reinstein". Deadwood, South Dakota: The Deadwood Pioneer-Times. October 21, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"Cultural Pact". Hamburg, New York: The Sun and Erie County Independent. July 5, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"Death Claims Lee Boyer at Hospital Here". Deadwood, South Dakota: The Weekly Pioneer-Times. July 6, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"Degrees Conferred 1942–1943: Teachers College Master of Arts". Catalogue: 1943–1944 and 1944–1945. New York City, New York: Columbia University. 1945. pp. 270–286. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
"Final Lecture in Horning Series to Examine Life of Julia Boyer Reinstein". News and Research Communications. Corvallis, Oregon: Oregon State University. April 25, 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
"Fred Norris". Warsaw, New York: The Wyoming County Times. May 18, 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
"Genealogists Plan Workshop this Weekend". Syracuse, New York: The Post-Standard. June 24, 1970. p. 17. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"Historical Federation Head Speaker Here". The Sun. Hamburg, New York. October 20, 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"History and Archives". Elmira College. Elmira, New York. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
"Iowa Marriages, 1809–1992: Lee M. Boyer/Sarah Isabel Rouch". FamilySearch. Fairfield, Iowa: Jefferson County Courthouse. 14 September 1911. FHL microfilm #1750233, reference 2:3R89GFT. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
"United States Social Security Death Index: Julia B Reinstein". FamilySearch. Alexandria, Virginia: U.S. Social Security Administration. 18 July 1998. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
"Warner Museum & Historical Society". Springville, New York: The Springville Journal. March 20, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
"(untitled)". Elmira, New York: The Star-Gazette. August 20, 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[FOOTNOTESocial_Security_Death_Index1998-1] Social Security Death Index 1998.

[FOOTNOTEU._S._Census193022B-2] U. S. Census 1930, p. 22B.

[FOOTNOTEReinstein197999-3] Reinstein 1979, p. 99.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Star-Gazette''19155-4] The Star-Gazette 1915, p. 5.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Wyoming_County_Times''19508-5] The Wyoming County Times 1950, p. 8.

[FOOTNOTEU._S._Census19209B-6] U. S. Census 1920, p. 9B.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Deadwood_Pioneer-Times''19421-7] The Deadwood Pioneer-Times 1942, p. 1.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Weekly_Pioneer-Times''19332-8] The Weekly Pioneer-Times 1933, p. 2.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199620-9] Kennedy 1996, p. 20.

[FOOTNOTERupp1999124-10] Rupp 1999, p. 124.

[FOOTNOTEJakobsenKennedy2005257-11] Jakobsen & Kennedy 2005, p. 257.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199621-12] Kennedy 1996, p. 21.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199621,_29-13] Kennedy 1996, pp. 21, 29.

[FOOTNOTE''Iowa_Marriages,_1809–1992''1911-14] Iowa Marriages, 1809–1992 1911.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199622-15] Kennedy 1996, p. 22.

[FOOTNOTERupp1999125-16] Rupp 1999, p. 125.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199626-17] Kennedy 1996, p. 26.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199629-18] Kennedy 1996, p. 29.

[19] "1940 US Census". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 28 May 2024.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199630–31-20] Kennedy 1996, pp. 30–31.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199633-21] Kennedy 1996, p. 33.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199633,_37-22] Kennedy 1996, p. 33, 37.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199637-23] Kennedy 1996, p. 37.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199639-24] Kennedy 1996, p. 39.

[FOOTNOTEColumbia_University_Catalogue1945271-25] Columbia University Catalogue 1945, p. 271.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy1996199-26] Kennedy 1996, p. 199.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Sun''19663-27] The Sun 1966, p. 3.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Sun_and_Erie_County_Independent''197916-28] The Sun and Erie County Independent 1979, p. 16.

[FOOTNOTERey1998-29] Rey 1998.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Springville_Journal''19581-30] The Springville Journal 1958, p. 1.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Sun_and_Erie_County_Independent''19637-31] The Sun and Erie County Independent 1963, p. 7.

[FOOTNOTE''The_Post-Standard''197017-32] The Post-Standard 1970, p. 17.

[FOOTNOTEFisher199420-33] Fisher 1994, p. 20.

[FOOTNOTEWisniewski19796-34] Wisniewski 1979, p. 6.

[FOOTNOTEOregon_State_University2006-35] Oregon State University 2006.

[FOOTNOTEElmira_College2015-36] Elmira College 2015.

[FOOTNOTEHoganHudson1999324-37] Hogan & Hudson 1999, p. 324.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199616,_33–34-38] Kennedy 1996, pp. 16, 33–34.

[FOOTNOTEKennedy199616–17-39] Kennedy 1996, pp. 16–17.

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PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Julia Boyer Reinstein

Early life

Relationships & Career

Death and legacy

References

Citations

Bibliography

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