Sarah Pressly Watson papers, 1861-1967; (bulk, 1918-1959)

ArchivalResource

Watson, Sarah Pressly, 1885-1959. Sarah Pressly Watson papers, 1861-1967; (bulk, 1918-1959)

Sarah Pressly Watson papers, 1861-1967; (bulk, 1918-1959)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28415929

Letters, 1918-1959, describing life in Paris and the management of a dormitory for female students; the approach of World War II; and travels around Europe in the post-war years; descriptions of measures taken by Watson and her assistant, Marcelle Fournier, a native of Hungary, to maintain the Foyer during the early days of the war; and comments on travel during later 1940s following end of the war; the collection also contains several early family papers written in South Carolina, including letter, 18 Apr. 1861 (Charleston, S.C.), from S. H. Pressly, to "Aunt Katy," describing the shelling and surrender of Fort Sumter. Ninety-three items in collection consist of letters written to Watson's friend Arabella Thomas (Mrs. Paul Rogers) of Hartsville, S.C., that discuss current events, and describe Watson's management of a hostel built to accommodate ca. forty young women attending the University. In 1926, a wealthy Detroit native living in Europe, Grace Whitney Hoff, donated one million dollars to fund and erect a new hostel for 160 women, an institution which Watson would supervise until her death in 1959. Letters of late 1930s exhibit a keen interest in foreign affairs and impending war; letter, 30 Nov. 1938: "the day of reckoning with the 'gangsters' will have to come. The one hope is for America, Great Britain and France to stick together and defend the liberty our ancestors fought to achieve for us. It's terrible to see that forces of evil are, for the moment, in the ascendancy"; and letter, 27 Jan. 1939, "our present world situation is due in large part to fear, fear for one's own life, for losing a comfortable manner of living... We are not willing to face grave issues, because if we do we may have to face sacrifice." Watson was determined to remain in Paris, although many foreign nationals were returning to their homelands; letter, 25 Apr. 1939, "If the worst comes, I know that you will be thinking of us. We shall stay here. There will be much to do.... the Foyer could be a hospital." To prepare, Watson modified rooming arrangements, turned the basement into an air raid shelter, and had the gas turned off completely, fearing that during an attack she would be unable to shut off the valve in time. Paris was taken by the Germans in July 1940 and Watson was allowed to cable her family, "Safe and well in Paris." The Foyer remained open, receiving many students and refugees during the early months of the war. Watson's day-to-day worries centered on finding food for her charges and heating the Foyer during the cold of winter. By Apr. 1940 the Foyer's restaurant, designed to serve students throughout the Latin Quarter where the Foyer was located, prepared meals for 600 people daily. By October 1943, the kitchen served up to 1,400 meals per day. Collection holds few letters from the period of Nazi occupation, but newspaper clippings hint at life at the Foyer during the war. Letters written after the war describe Watson's many travels throughout Europe, and of regular visits by children of family and friends.

200 items.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries