PUBLIC "-//Hollins University::Wyndham Robertson Library::Special Collections//TEXT (US::ViHo::viho00002::A Guide to the Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers, 1852-1997)//EN" "viho00002.xml" A Guide to the Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers, 1852-1997 Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers 1-9/1997 Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University © 2008 By Hollins University. All rights reserved.

Conditions of Use

Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word, created by Beth Harris, 6/13/2008 Description is in English 2013-11-21 Converted to schema conforming EAD by dtd2schema.vh.xsl. A Guide to the Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers, 1852-1997 A Collection in Special CollectionsWyndham Robertson LibraryHollins University 1-9/1997

Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University 2007 Special Collections Staff Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University Descriptive Summary Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers 1852-1997 1-9/1997 Q-4a: Alumnae Files This collection consists of aproximately 260 pieces. English Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers, Hollins University Archives, Wyndham Robertson Library, Accession #1-9/1997, Special Collections, Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University, Roanoke, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was received as a gift July 18, 1997, obtained through Hollins' Development Office.

Processing Information

The correspondence and other paper documents are fully processed; photos unprocessed.

Biographical Information

Mary Van Fossen Turner, was born in 1905 and died 18 July 1997. Both her parents worked at Hollins and her grandfather had been a professor at Hollins. Her mother was Mary V. Masters, her father was Joseph A. Turner, II, and her grandfather, Joseph A. Turner. Mary's siblings were Susanna Pleasants Turner, 1913- and JAT, III, 1908-. She was also related to the Raths who taught at Hollins. The Rath girls (Gertrude "Gaku," Virginia "Dinny," and Luise were her cousins. Mary Van attended Hollins and received her A. B. degree in 1927. After Hollins, she took courses at Columbia University in New York and then moved to NY City where she held a secretarial position. She sometimes had friends sharing her apartment and for a short time, her brother, JAT,III, lived with her. During World War II, she served in the USNR and in the WAVES. After the war, she returned to Roanoke to work. Eventual she obtained a job with the National Park Service as the first park ranger for the Blue Ridge Parkway. She rose to the position of Director of Personnel until her retirement in 1969. She and her sister both lived in Lynchburg at Westminster Cantebury until their deaths.

Scope and Content

This collection consists Mary Van Fossen Turner's correspondence, primarily from her father, Joseph A. Turner, Jr. and her cousin Mary Cobb Hayward. There are also photo albums, loose photos, negatives, slides, travel journals, and small amounts of memorabilia, clippings, genealogical notes, and legal papers.

Arrangement

The collection is composed of four series.

Series Listing Series I: Correspondence (1852, 1914-1997) Series II: Journals and Notebooks Series III: Other Papers: clippings, legal papers, genealogical notes, miscellaneous Series IV: Visual Materials (photos, albums, slides) Memorabilia Adjunct Descriptive Data Related Material

University Publications and other Turner Family member files.

Separated Material

Visual material and memorabilia are shelved separately from paper documents (i.e. correspondence).

Contents List Correspondence List of Correspondents Bardin, Robert Beebe, Mary Elder Bingham, Mrs. Blanton, Millicent F. Bolden, Clem Carlton, Emma H. Clack, Elizabeth Clark, Alanzo W. Clark, Bessie N. Cocke Cocke, Eloise Crumpler, Mary D. Dickins, Ruth Thompson Dixon, Bettie Duke, Frank Eller, Molly Mirana Fishburn, Katherine Fort, Mardi Fox, Edward C. Goodale, Bob Gump, Janie Hall, Liz Hamilton, Marion H, Hattor, E. A. Hayward, Mary Cobb Kirkwood, Anna Lloyd, Jack Loomis, Rosamond L. McDowell, Mary Hayes Mitchell, Joanne Neill, Lin Nickerson, Carole Nixon, Mary Glover Orr, Mrs. Charles P. Overbey, Nancy Parker, Ferraud Parkinson, Maria F. Perkins, William B. Randolph, Bessie Carter Rath, Erich Rath, Gertrude Rath, Leila Turner Rath, Louise Rath, Virginia Robinson, Louis Boyd Stetter, Mary Wood Sturgess, "Hank" Albert Henley Sutherland, Jane Thornton, Barbour N. Turner, Chris Turner, Joseph A. II Turner, Joseph A., III Turner, Mary V. Masters Turner, Mary Van Fossen Turner, Susanna P. Valentine, Susanna Van Fossen, "Bob" R. L. Vance, Anna Mary White, Clare Winborne, Margaret Young, Mrs. Ernest S.