Cummings, Camille, 1900-1986

Camille Haynes was born in Livingstone, Montana, in 1900, the youngest daughter of Mame Nesbit and Irenus Haynes. When Camille was 13, the family moved to Berkeley, Calif., where she later graduated from the Univ. of California. After college, Camille worked as a reporter for the Oakland Enquirer. In 1924, she moved to Paris where she worked as a society reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the New York Herald. In 1928, she married Elliot Paul, an American expatriate writer and co-editor of Transition with Eugene Jolas. Camille worked as a secretary for Clifford B. Harmon of the League of International Aviators until 1934 when she divorced Paul. In 1936, she found a position in the American Consulate in Barcelona and met Andres Ferret, a physician, whom she married in the late thirties. They returned to the United States where he obtained his American M.D. from Johns Hopkins. They were divorced in 1946. In 1952, Camille married a friend and fellow graduate of the Univ. of California, Gale Cummings, and they moved to his ranch in Berthoud, Colorado where they raised sheep and dogs until her death in March 1986.

From the description of Camille Cummings papers, 1888-1984, (bulk) 1920-1965. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 213298804

Camille Haynes was born in Livingstone, Montana in 1900. She was the youngest of three daughters born to Mame Nesbit, a schoolteacher, and Irenus Haynes, a pioneer from Kentucky. The family moved to Berkeley, CA, when Camille was 13. She later graduated from the University of California. After college she worked as a reporter for the Oakland Enquirer and then moved to Paris in October of 1924 and worked as a society reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the New York Herald .

In 1928, Camille married Elliot Paul, an American expatriate writer. He was co-editor of Transition with Eugene Jolas, and introduced Camille to many writers and artists in Europe. They later moved to Santa Eulalia on the Spanish island of Ibiza.

Camille was hired by Col. Clifford Harmon, an American aviator, to work as a secretary for his organization, The League of International Aviators, and traveled constantly with Harmon for her work. While she was away in 1934, Paul wrote to her, ending the marriage. Harmon said that he could not have a divorced or unattached woman traveling with him, so she lost her job.

In 1936, as the Spanish Revolution intensified, she found a position working for the American Consul in Barcelona. While in Spain, Camille met the Ferret family, including a physician, Andres. They married and in the late Thirties he returned to the United States with her where he obtained his American M.D. from Johns Hopkins. After this, they moved around the country, with the relationship frequently tumultuous. In 1946 Camille realized that Andres was psychotic and filed for divorce.

She later regained contact with a friend and fellow graduate of the University of California, Gale Cummings. They married in 1952 and moved to his ranch in Berthoud, Colorado where they raised sheep and dogs until her death in March of 1986.

From the guide to the Camille Cummings Papers (MS 255), 1888-1984, 1920-1965, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.)