Correspondence, 1889/1970

Scope and content:

The bulk of this sub-series consists of Jessie Ball duPont's correspondence after her married to Alfred in 1921. Earlier correspondence is primarily with her father, Thomas Ball, and her siblings and reflect her life and professional activities in California. Documents dating from 1921-1970 include both personal and business correspondence and, broadly speaking, address the topics of charity, education, gifts, and the affairs of friends and family members.

Jessie Ball duPont's letters, and those from her friends, acquaintances, and relatives, are separated first by year and then filed by the name of the correspondent. Generally speaking, the most important correspondents are filed separately by their last names while those correspondents of lesser importance are filed alphabetically by their last initial. Topics addressed in these letters are manifold and include financial difficulties of the correspondents, Jessie's educational assistance to correspondents or their children, and social and family news. Also addressed are international events and developments including the rise of the Third Reich in Germany (correspondence with Dr. Richard Maresch and the Hiebler/Ruoff families), World War II, and the Korean War, as well as national developments such as racial desegregation.

Correspondence regarding charity and contributions to charitable causes were placed under the first initial of the organization's name. Individuals who received aid directly are filed by their last initial. Additional information about contributions is available in files titled "Contributions," and the files for the Alfred I. duPont Foundation, which assumed responsibility for granding aid to individuals.

Jessie Ball duPont's distributions of scholarship aid to individual students are documented in the files titled "Education." Because of their volume, many of the educational records were sampled. Where indicated, only 20% of the education documents were processed and the remaining 80% were discarded. Starting in the early 1940s, information concerning contributions for educational purposes can be increasingly found in Jessie's correspondence with officials of colleges and universities, generally filed under the name of the institution. Particularly noteworthy is her correspondence with Dr. Francis P. Gaines of Washington and Lee University and with Rev. Frank A. Juhan of the University of the South. Topics include her contributions, the academic progress of individual students, the development of the educational institution, and desegregation in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Jessie's interest in health issues and her desire to help the sick, especially disabled children, are documented in correspondence with individual patients and physicians. Beginning in the mid-1940s, these interests are primarily documented in her exchanges with Dr. Alfred S. Shands, Medical Director of the Alfred I. duPont Institute of the Nemours Foundation. Additional information concerning the administration and activities of the Institute and the hospital for children is available in the files "Alfred I. duPont Institute."

Jessie Ball duPont had a great interest in colonial and confederate Virginia history and in her Ball family ancestors, one of the First Families of Virginia. Correspondence includes her activities with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Colonial Dames, and other similar groups. Also included are letters from people alleging Ball kinship. She was also a charter member of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Fund and a contributor to the restoration of Stratford Hall. Correspondence regarding her activities is found under the "Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation."

She also contributed her support to many cultural and civic organizations, particularly those located in Delaware, Virginia, and Florida. These organizations included local symphonies, volunteer fire patrols, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Virginia Art Museum, local churches and charities, women's business and social clubs, and similar organizations. Correspondence pertaining to her contributions and activities are generally filed under the name of the organization, club, or church.

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