Eugene Edward Chiles papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 14439, Eugene Edward Chiles papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, at the University of Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
3 Cubic Feet 7 document boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 14439, Eugene Edward Chiles papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, at the University of Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Eugene Edward Chiles papers, (3 cubic feet, 1915-1922) contain love letters from his girlfriend, Eugenie O'Neill who is traveling in European circles with wealthy and or famous acquaintances, while he is working as a realtor in Pittsburgh, PA. and Stephens City, Virginia, after the war. Her letters mostly describe her feelings for him and mention (briefly) famous places, people, and events from the Twenties. Topics consist of post war conditions, unemployment, strikes, feminism, racism, and the Sinn Fein rebellion (newspaper clippings). Included are a few letters from Eugene and letters from his mother, and girlfriends (1915-1922). There are also financial, military, miscellaneous, and personal papers belonging to Eugene Chiles.

This series contains mostly letters from Eugenie O'Neill to Eugene Chiles about their relationship, her daily activities lunching at the Ritz or sightseeing, and a variety of topics, including post war Europe, strikes, welfare, unemployment, Belfast and Sein Finn, discrimnation of African Americans in Paris, women, depression, psychics, and her philosophy on life. Included are a few letters from Eugene Chiles to her after their break up in 1921. There are also some letters from other family members and friends to Eugenie or Eugene. People mentioned are Cornelius Vanderbilt, Princess Thurn, Lady Duff Gordon, Lady Tindore, Baron Rothchilds, and Comte Lambert.

Included is a letter from Eugenie's friend Thurlow.

Includes a letter to Eugenie from Gifford G. Bakewell.

Includes a letter from Eugenie's attorney.

Included are letters from Eugene Chiles to Eugenie O'Neill about their break-up.

Postcards from Eugenie O'Neill

Letters to Eugenie from her parents.

Letters to Eugene Chiles from his mother encouraging him to forget Eugenie and advising him that he is better off without her. Included are several invitations to weddings and events.

Also includes postcards.

This series contains financial papers such as bills, receipts, and insurance and real estate notebooks. Included are identification cards(with photograph) for Eugene Chiles.

Letters from the American Correspondence School of Law, and the Pelman Institute of America, Inc. about late payments and various receipts.

Notebooks, real estate listings, wallets, and identification cards.

This series contains one folder of receipts, discharge papers, and other military correspondence and papers.

This series contains miscellaneous papers including photographs of Eugene Chiles, Eugenie O'Neill, and other girlfriends; art supplies and ephemera; newspaper clippings about the estate of Senator Philander Chase Knox; a French-English translation book; typescripts of poetry; songs; and medical reports for Eugene Chiles.

Included are newspaper clippings about the estate of Senator Philander Chase Knox; a French-English translation book; typescripts of poetry; songs; and medical reports for Eugene Chiles.

Biographical / historical:

Eugene Edward Chiles was a lieutenant in the United States Army who settled in Pittsuburg, Pennsylvania after the war. From 1918-1921, he received love letters from his girlfriend, Eugenie O'Neill (1888-1973), who was also from Pittsburgh but left to sail on the White Star Line for travel in London and France with her mother. She was the daughter of Florence O'Neill who was a writer for the Pittsburgh Dispatch. His father owned the newspaper and their family line descends from Hugh O'Neill (1781-1859 Ireland). Eugenie breaks up with Eugene after her parents divorce and financial issues arise. She marries Robert William Whitty Cryan.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_O%27Neill_(editor) https://www.geni.com/people/Florence-O-Neill/1826727

Acquisition information:
Purchased October 31, and November 11, 2008.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into 4 series: Series 1. Correspondence, Series 2. Financial papers, Series 3. Military papers, and Series 4. Miscellaneous and personal papers.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard