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Ethel Armes letters

 Collection
Identifier: W-0146
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

Letters from Ethel Armes to Robert Jemison Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, and her brother Edmund Armes. To Jemison she clarifies the publication history of her book, The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama. In the letter she reminds Jemison of the problems she had in getting the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to publish it. In reference to a book by Mr. Hornaday, given to her by Jemison, she stated that "the bulk of the data of fully four chapters is taken direct from the Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama and not a sign of credit is given for this." In her letter to her brother, a civilian army officer, she offers advice regarding a transfer or promotion.

Dates

  • Creation: 1921 - 1944

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Biographical / Historical

Ethel Marie Armes, second daughter of George Augustus and Lucy Hamilton Kerr Armes, was born on 1 December 1876 in Washington, D.C. She was a journalist and author who wrote for the Chicago Chronicle, Washington Post, and the Birmingham Post-Herald. She also wrote several books, including The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama and Stratford Hall: The Great House of the Lees.

Although she never married, in 1925 she adopted Catherine Claiborne, a ten-year-old girl for whom she'd been a foster parent. According to Ethel's letters, Catherine was a beautiful and talented girl, much courted by beaus and Hollywood. In the early 1930s, Ethel signed a contract with Paramount Studios (Mrs. Cecil B. de Mille was her chaperone). Catherine went to Hollywood in 1933. By May of 1945, Catherine had married Richard W. Millar and had two sons, Richard Jr. and Roger.

Ethel Armes died on 28 September 1945 in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Extent

0.05 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Letter to Robert Jemison Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, about uncredited copying of material from her book, The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama, and a letter to her brother about a promotion.

Physical Location

A. S. Williams III Americana Collection, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, The University of Alabama

Provenance

Gift of A. S. Williams III, 2010

Related Materials

Ethel Marie Armes papers, W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama

General

Title on box: A. S. Williams III Americana Collection - Small Collections

Processed by

Martha Bace, 2014

Subject

Source

Title
Guide to the Ethel Armes letters
Status
Completed
Date
January 2014
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 The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513