Muriel McCormick Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Muriel McCormick Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Summary

Extent:
3.60 Linear Feet
Creator:
McCormick, Muriel
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Muriel McCormick Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Background

Scope and content:

Diaries and photographs, 1937-1949, of Muriel McCormick. McCormick was a staff member at the United States embassy in Paris, France, from 1945-1946, and much of the collection chronicles her travels through Europe.

This series consists chiefly of five diaries left by Muriel McCormick, dated from 1937 to 1947. They follow her time as a high school student in Stamford, Connecticut, a young adult working in Washington, D.C., a staff member of the United States embassy in Paris, France, and then as a newlywed woman back in the U.S. Among the everyday details of her life are discussions about her aspirations, relationships, hobbies, and travels, as well as national or international news. Two of the diaries had photographs tucked inside the pages, but they have been removed and housed with the photograph series. Although the earliest diary has some water damage, the others are in fairly good condition. Additionally, the series includes an undated envelope which Muriel presumably used to send photographs to a studio for development after her time in Europe.

The collection also includes a large series of photographs. The majority of the series is arranged chronologically to trace Muriel McCormick's journey from Connecticut to Washington, D.C., to Paris and back to the U. S. While stationed at the embassy in Paris for over a year, she made several trips throughout Western Europe, taking hundreds of photographs of the places she visited. She labeled many of her photographs meticulously with dates and locations, but there is still a large group of unidentified landscapes that can be found here. When traveling as a tourist, she often also purchased packaged sets of souvenir images which are included throughout the series. Lastly, there are dozens of photographs with people as their main subjects. These include pictures of Muriel, her eventual husband, Ramon Hall, their families, and friends.

Biographical / historical:

Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Processing information:

Accessioned and minimally processed by Benjamin Bromley in January 2011. Physically and intellectually arranged by SCRC staff member Leigh Soares in March 2011.

Arrangement:

This collection is currently being reorganized.