Elsie Ball Wright Bowley Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Terms of access:

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Elsie Ball Wright Bowley Papers, WLU Coll. 0242, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA. In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections staff to verify the appropriate format.

Summary

Extent:
2.5 Linear Feet
Creator:
Bowley, Elsie Ball Wright, 1886-1972, Du Pont, Jessie Ball, 1884-1970, Du Pont, Alfred I. (Alfred Irénée), 1864-1935, Bowley, Albert J. (Albert Jesse), Wright, Thomas Ball, and Thompson, Tad
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Elsie Ball Wright Bowley Papers, WLU Coll. 0242, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA. In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections staff to verify the appropriate format.

Background

Scope and content:

Includes correspondence (4 folders) by and about Elsie Bowley's sister, Jessie Ball du Pont, and her brother-in-law, A. I. du Pont, as well as letters and correspondence from Elsie's son, Thomas Ball Wright, Ball family members of the Northern Neck of Virginia and other members of the du Pont family. Also contains papers of General Albert J. Bowley, along with Elsie Bowley's business papers regarding her benefactions. Includes ca. 175 photographs (mainly family photos), most of which are not identified.

    Letters from
  • Edward Ball, April 24, 1929
  • William K. Doty, April 21, 1929
  • William W. Butzner, Apil 23, 1929
  • John R. Saunders, May 9, 1929
  • Marguerite du Pont Lee
  • Minnie Edwards, April 29, 1929
  • Maurice DuPont
  • Basil Wise Hall
  • Ella G. Haile
  • Emma S. Yerby, April 19, 1929
  • Thomas 'Tom' Ball Wright, April 25, 1929
  • Eoline Ball Jesse (2 letters)
  • James M. Lewis, May 4, 1929
  • 'Bessie' most likely Bessie Huidekoper
  • Mrs. F. B. Wilson, April 24, 1929
  • Ellen Lewis, May 9, 1929
  • J. Dew Bland (most likely), April 20, 1929
  • Nannie Gresham Clift (2 letters), May 18, 1929

    Letters from:
  • Marguerite du Pont Lee, May 8, 1929
  • Thomas Ball Wright ('Mother's Day Greeting', 4 cards, 4 letters. Many signed 'Tucker')
  • A. A. Calle, May 4, 1929
  • Edna Adams
  • Margaret Doty, Apil 25, 1929
  • Isabelle Baker (telegraph), April 29, 1929
  • Mary Sadler, April 23, 1929
  • William D. Gresham, April 24, 1929
  • Sarah Ford Dew, April 26, 1929
  • Elsie B. Tucker
  • Sadie Crane Dickey, May 4, 1929
  • Nellie Lauer
  • James M. Lewis, April 24, 1929
  • Emma S. Yerby, May 8, 1929
  • Sallie H. Baron
  • Catherine E. Ware, May 21, 1929
  • Mina Reid, June 19, 1929
  • 'Sue' (4 letters)
  • 'Alice,' April 26, 1929
  • 'Hazel,' May 16, 1929
  • 'Anne,' May 11, 1929
  • 'Elsie'

Letters from:

  • Henry M. Wharton, April 21, 1928
  • 'Sadie,' August 19, 1931
  • Elizabeth H. Black, December 10, 1931
  • Grace Pollard, May 6, 1930 and December 26, 1931
  • Beverley R. Tucker, August 22, 1931
  • 'Cousin Gillie' (2 letters- August 27 & December 10, 1931
  • Thos. J. Orbison, May 25, 1933
  • Eleanor Bumgardner, October 4, 1933
  • Margaret Teahaw, October 8, 1933
  • Violet 'Mac' McDougall Pollard, December 5, 1933
  • Mrs. Dern (invitation), December 6, 1933
  • Beatrice Marter (7 letters), October 10, 1933, March 2, April 19, 1934, December 24, 1936, February 4, 1937, November 22, 1937
  • John Garland Pollard, August 23, 1934
  • Edward Ball, September 20, 1934
  • Dorothy Vandegrift Lee (2 letters, 1 card), September 3, 1931, November 3, 1936
  • Clyde Garrett (telegraph about symphony concert), January 14, 1953
  • Martha E. McPherson, March 26, 1937
  • Wm. W. Butzner, July 13, 1939
  • Edna V. Nice, November 4, 1937
  • Governor John Garland Pollard (Christmas Card most likely when Elsie was in the hospital in 1929)
  • Katherine Marshall
  • Florence Mordin
  • Hattie Belle Gresham
  • Charles H. Patterson
  • 'Mary'
  • Mrs. E. St. John Greble
  • Gordon R. Young, December 4, 1947
  • Malin Craig, December 28, 1942

Letters from:

  • Winona and Fred Rhodes, December, 15, 1959
  • Lizzie Nash Johnston, December 3, 1959
  • Ann C. Whitman, January 31, 1953
  • John S. Battle (telegram), January 14, 1953
  • G. A. England, August 13, 1959
  • Gordan R. Young (2 letters), May 16, 1950, November 24, 1950
  • Williston B. Palmer (6 letters), December 31, 1959, March 24, 1961, November 21, 1961, May 16, 1963, ebruary 19, 1968, April 28, 1868
  • Charles W. Heflin (3 letters), February 9, 1961, February 23, 1962, February 18, 1963
  • Bruce Palmer, Jr., February 15, 1966
  • Robert E. Mathe, June 1, 1967
  • John T. Shannon, October 17, 1960
  • General and Mrs. Anthony McAuliffe, December 8, 1949
  • Louis B. Gresham, May 4, 1967
  • Lieutenant General and Mrs. Charles Edward Hart, September 10, 1967
  • W. D. Heath, April 10, 1968
  • Secretary of Lord Richard Percy, September 29, 1965
  • Jargine Peterson, July 8, 1968
  • 'Gladys,' December 14, 1962
  • Marjorie May (telegram), April 25, 1962
  • Laura Bertram (4 letters), September 17, 1967
  • 'Marge,' July 22, 1968
  • 'Bessie,' most likely Bessie Huidekoper
  • J. M. Matlack, Jr., July 12, 1968
  • Dr. Albert H. Dudley, Jr., July 15, 1968
  • Mary Morris Anderson, January 5, 1968

Many cards letters from friends and family, including Laura Bertram, Bessie, and 'Pit,' to Elsie. Also included are sympathy notes when Jessie died.

Several letters and cards written to Mrs. Bowley by friends and family, many from neices and nephews. Some of the letters are notes of sympathy after Jessie's death.

Several letters to Elsie, Thomas, and General Bowley from different members of the Ball Family. There are many letters from Edward Ball and his wife Ruth.

This file contains many letters from Thomas Ball Wright to his mother, Elsie. Several of the letters are written during his times at Woodberry Forrest School and at the University of Virginia. Also included in the file are letters to Pit and Jessie.

This file consists of letters to Elsie and Thomas Ball Wright from members of the Ball family, including Minnie, 'Cousin Bland,' and Katherine Gresham.

This file consists of letters from Elsie's nieces and nephews, identified as such. Many of the letters are from 'Shirley' and 'Marge and John.'

This file contains letters from Williston B. Palmer (subject: Edgar Wright), Edgar Wright, 'George,' and Rhonda M. Wright.

This file contains letters and telegrams from an array of people. There are several letters from Mary Morris Anderson, Ella Haile, and Emma Yerby. There is also a letter from 'Bro. Barney' and letters from members of the Hoffman Family. Elsie often had folders marked 'family.'

This file consists of letters from A.I. Du Pont. to Elsie, Thomas Ball, A.J. Bowley, and Henry DeShields. There is also a 'suggested annual budget' for Alfred V. Du Pont.

The letters are mostly written to Elsie, but there are letters to Edward, Thomas Ball, Belle Baker and General Bowley as well. Many of the later letters to Elsie were written by Hazel Williams on behalf of Jessie.

This files consists of letters to or about Jessie Ball du Pont. Many of the letters are from the Alred I. du Pont Institute to Elsie. The file also consists of sympathy letters from family and friends to Elsie about Jessie's death.

The letters are from members of the du Pont Family to Elsie.

This file consists of two letters from James D. Jesse of Nuttsville, Va. and of a thank-you letter from the Woman's Club of Essex County.

This file consists of letters from the James Monroe Memorial Foundation thanking Elsie for gifts. Elsie later joined her sister Isabel in becoming a trustee of the foundation. Several meeting minutes and reports are included in the file.

This file includes letters and benefactions by several different societies and associations, including The Society of the Lees of Virgina, The National Mary Washington Memorial Association, The Eisenhower-Nixon Club, and The Northern Neck of Virginia Historial Society.

This file consists of benefactions and several progams from events such as the Dedication of the Victorine duPont Dent Memorial Clinic and the Dedication Ceremony of the Jessie Ball duPont Library at Sewanee. There are many letters rom the St. Margaret's School in Tapahannock, Virginia and the United States Military Academy.

This file consists of benefactions and letters from the United States Military Academy, Mary Washington College, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia.

This file consists of benefactions and documents rom the James Monroe Memorial Foundation.

This file consists of benefactions from several organizations, including the British Commonwealth Nurses War Memorial Fund, Mary Washington College, and personal letters from students receiving scholarships in memory of General Bowley.

This file consists of letters written to General Bowley and letters to Elsie about General Bowley. Most of the letters are from family and friends. General Bowley and Elsie's engagement accouncement and General Bowley's death certificate are included in this file.

Sympathy notes from friends of Elsie and General Bowley. There are also many cards from flower arrangements sent to Elsie.

More sympathy letters and cards from friends and family

Marriage announcements, cards, church programs, graduation invitations, Valentine cards, Christmas cards,

This file consists of newspaper and magazine clippings, progams, documents, invitations, and other miscellaneous realia.

This file consists of mostly poetry cut out from newspapers. There are also typed and hand written copies of poems. There is one poem written for 'My little friend Elsie Ball.'

This file consists of letters written to Elsie when her brother, Thomas Ball, died.

Miscellaneous documents, a few letters, and a few newspaper clippings

This file consists of photographs of places as identified on the back incluing early photographs of Miami Florida at the Everglades Hotel, likley taken by Isabel Ball Baker. It includes a photograph of Mary Ball Washington's grave and Ella Gresham Haile's grave. There are photographs dated 1931-1934 of the Bowley's home in Oahu, Hawaii, at the Schofield Barracks, and a photograph of Unity Church in Santa Ana, California.

This file consists of four photographs. Three photographs are of pocket watches and the other is of a chandelier. One of the pocket watches is inscripted with 'to George Washington from John Wentworth Stark.'

This file contains photographs ranging from 1923-1970. It includes portraits of Elsie and Thomas Ball Wright and a photograph from Palm Beach. Some of the square photographs are labled as Mrs. Du Pont's seventieth birthday in 1968.

There are eleven c. late 1920s-early 1930s era photographs of Alameda, California buildings, churchs, neiborhoods, parks, etc. There are 8 inch x 10 inch interior views of an unidentified mansion and five photographic images of Sequoya Park, Eureka, California by the Freeman Art Company.

Many of the photographs are taken in Asia

One photograph was a gift to Mr. and Mrs. Bowley from Alfred and Molly Psai.

This file consists of a photograph of President Magsaysay and Pedro Paguio given to Isabel Baker on June 23, 1959. There is also a print of President Magsaysay indicated that it was acquired during Mrs. Baker's visit to Manila, Philippines in 1959, and there is an itenerary of the trip.

Biographical / historical:

Elsie Ball Wright Bowley was the wife of General Albert J. Bowley, and the sister of Jessie Ball du Pont, a benefactor and Trustee of Washington and Lee.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Tad Thompson in 1998
Processing information:

Blue sheet prepared by Betty Kondayan (7/20/99)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard