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Genay Family correspondence,

 Collection
Identifier: D-Mss-0969

  • Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The materials that constitute the Genay Family Correspondence describe and illustrate the family’s involvement in events surrounding World War I and the subsequent years. The collection consists primarily of correspondence between Camille Genay and Mildred Veitch, with a few letters from Madame L. Genay, Camille's mother. These letters, postcards, and greeting cards contain descriptions of the local war efforts and conditions in France as well as the personal narrative of the Genay family. The postcards themselves depict contemporary war events and scenes. Photographs originally included with the correspondence depict both the Genay family and the French landscape during the war years. The remaining published item in the collection relates to the Genay women’s involvement with the organization Fatherless Children of France [Fraternite Franco-Americaine]. This wartime charitable organization matched French orphans with support systems and benefactors in the United States and worked to publicize the role of cooperation between the Allied Nations.

Dates

  • Creation: 1917-1935.

Creator

Language of Materials

Unless otherwise noted the materials are written in French, with a very small amount of materials in English.

Access

Collection is available for research.

Publication Rights

For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact Ella Strong Denison Library staff.

History

The Genay Family Correspondence is composed almost entirely of the correspondence of Madame L. Genay, widow of Captain Eugene Genay, and her elder daughter, Camille (1901-circa 1925), with an American friend, Miss Mildred Veitch (later Mrs. R. K. West). The family, which included a younger daughter, Marie Louise, resided in Versailles, and maintained a country home in the village of Saint-Sauveur. Captain Genay was killed in April 1915, fighting for the Allies in Belgium. Miss Veitch acted as a benefactor to the family through an organization with which all of the women were involved, the Fatherless Children of France [Fraternite Franco-Americaine]. Because of Madame Genay’s work as a teacher and the family’s involvement in charitable war efforts, the women were connected to the events around them and are able to provide unique insights into life in wartime France, women’s war roles, American aid to foreign families, and many others. The bulk of the material focuses on the war years.

Extent

1 box

Abstract

Correspondence, photographs, greetings, and published ephemera, 1917-1935, primarily illustrating the World War I Era narrative of the French Genay family and their involvement with the charitable organization, Fatherless Children of France [Fraternite Franco-Americaine].

Arrangement

The Genay Family Collection is arranged into four series:

  • Series 1: Correspondence
  • Series 2: Postcards and Greeting Cards
  • Series 3: Published Materials
  • Series 4: Photographs
  • Acquisitions Information

    Method and date of acquisition unknown.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Hilary E. Gordon for Archival Studies 311, Claremont Graduate University, Spring 2010; revised by Michael P. Palmer, MLIS, April 2011.

    Source

    Subject

    Title
    Finding Aid for the Genay Family correspondence
    Status
    In Progress
    Author
    Hilary E. Gordon
    Date
    Spring 2010
    Description rules
    Describing Archives: A Content Standard
    Language of description
    English
    Script of description
    Latin
    Language of description note
    English

    Repository Details

    Part of the 02 - Ella Strong Denison Library Repository

    Contact:
    1030 Columbia Ave
    Claremont 91711 United States US