Catherine Bliss Enslow Papers, 1890-1972

Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Guides to Manuscript Collections Search Our Collections 1979 0255: Catherine Bliss Enslow Papers, 1890-1972 Marshall University Special Collections Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/sc_finding_aids Part of the Appalachian Studies Commons, Genealogy Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, and the Mass Communication Commons Recommended Citation Catherine Bliss Enslow Papers, 1890-1972, Accession No. 1979/06.0255, Special Collections Department, Marshall University, Huntington, WV. This Finding Aid is brought to you for free and open access by the Search Our Collections at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Guides to Manuscript Collections by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. REGISTER OF THE Catherine Bliss Enslow Papers Accession Number: 1979/06.0255 Special Collections Department James E. Morrow Library Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia 1980,1998 ii James E. Morrow Library Marshall University CATHERINE BLISS ENSLOW PAPERS, 1899-1973 Accession Number: 255 Processed by: Jeannette N. Davis Date completed: December 1980 [Word processed guide prepared by Amanda Quait, 1997] Location: Special Collections Department This collection, received June 14, 1979, was a gift of Mrs. Shirley Hayden, whose husband acquired them at the time of Miss Enslow’s death. Linear feet of shelf space: 13 1/3 Literary rights: assigned to Marshall University ii CONTENTS page Content and Scope of Collection . 1 Biography . 2 Inventory of the Collection I. Correspondence . 3-4 II. Newspaper and Professional Papers . 5-8 III. Personal and Family Papers . 9-17 IV. Organization and Civic Papers . 17-18 V. Files on Notable Persons . 19-20 VI. Photographs . 21-23 VII. Oversized Items . 24-26 Explanatory notes: Bk refers to “book” Bx refers to “box” in which papers are filed. Fd refers to “folder”. Sbk refers to “scrapbook”. iii CONTENT AND SCOPE OF THE COLLECTION This collection supplements “Ms 2", which was processed by Cora P. Teel in 1973. Personal and family papers comprise a large portion of this collection. Miss Enslow collected numerous newspaper and magazine clippings on a variety of subjects, especially those dealing with socially prominent individuals on the local, national, and international levels. Too, she saved many items of correspondence between members of her family. Magazines, booklets, scrapbooks, and books are also included in this part of the collection. Most notable among the books is the Kelly Family Bible, which belonged to her maternal ancestors. Copies of many of her columns and articles are included, along with other items relating to her career as a journalist. Her writings deal chiefly with Huntington “society” from the 1920's to the 1970's. Many photographs are included in this collection, many of which were published in the newspaper. Other photos are of Miss Enslow, her family, and friends. Correspondence from notable persons and friends is also included, as well as correspondence relating to her activities as civic leader. CATHERINE BLISS ENSLOW, 1899-1973 Catherine Bliss Enslow was born on February 14, 1899, in Huntington, West Virginia. She was the youngest of three daughters of Edward Bliss Enslow and Constance Brockenborough Kelly. The former, who died in 1912, was a member of one of the Tri-State region’s most prominent families. During her years in Huntington High School, Miss Enslow helped found the T. T. Club, a small charity organization composed of several local socialites; this group evolved into the Huntington Junior League in the 1930's. After graduating from high school in 1917, she spent some time in Chicago (where her closest sister, Constance, resided) taking lessons in social dancing. In 1918, she joined the staff of the Huntington Advertiser as a reporter. She later became a feature writer for the Herald-Dispatch before being promoted to society editor of that newspaper. The mid-1920's seem to have been financially difficult years for Catherine Enslow and her widowed mother. For unclear reasons, Miss Enslow left the newspaper staff to become, first, an insurance salesperson, then, an agent for the Frigidaire Company. In the latter part of the decade, she broadcasted a nightly show over the WSAZ radio station. These programs continued to air for thirteen years. In the 1930's, she was reemployed by the Huntington Publishing Company as society editor, travel editor, and featured columnist of the Advertiser. Despite her official retirement in 1966, she continued to write her columns until shortly before her death. Active in the Democratic Party, she served as executive committeewoman for eight years, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention twice during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. During World War II, Miss Enslow directed recreation activities for aviation cadets stationed at the Marshall University quarters in Huntington. She also served as director of the Huntington unit of the American Women’s Voluntary Services and was the only woman on the local board of the United Service Organizations during the war. In addition to the T. T. Club and the Junior League, she was a charter member of Huntinton’s Altrusa Club, the Junior Department of the Huntington Women’s Club, and the West Virginia Association of Newspaperwomen. Her honors included memberships in Civic Leaders of America, the Kentucky Colonels, Personalities of the South, Two Thousand Women of Achievement, and Who’s Who in American Women. She died in Huntington on February 13, 1973, one day before her seventy-fourth birthday. 2 CATHERINE BLISS ENSLOW PAPERS, 1899-1973 I. Correspondence Bx 1 Correspondence Sent and Received 8 Fd Fd 1 Letter sent, 1942 1 item December 8, 1942--Huntington, WV: Letter sent to Sgt. Fred M. Lawson of Huntington’s Army Recruiting Office inviting his staff of servicemen to the Service Ball of the local A. W. V. S. unit, of which Miss Enslow was chairman. Fd 2 Postcard sent, undated 1 item Chicago, IL: Card sent to Jeannette Hatch of Huntington, a fellow-member of the T. T. Club, describing activities during Miss Enslow’s visit with sister Constance. Fd 3 Letters received, undated: unidentified; B-W 10 items Fd 4 Letters received, 1915-1939 12 items April 2, 1925--Huntington, WV: Letter of recommendation from Roy Brammar (sp), Feature Advertising Editor of the Herald-Dispatch, to future employers of Miss Enslow, relating her history with the Huntington Publishing Company, and recommending her “. as being a capapble and honest lady worthy of trust and confidence.” June 3, 1927--Cincinnati, OH: Letter from Laurence Witten, insurance agent, answering Miss Enslow’s need to borrow two-hundred dollars, and discussing prospects for her possible employment in the Cincinnati office of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company; he comments that “. undoubtedly things have been hard. .” for Miss Enslow and her mother. July 28, 1932--New York City: Letter from Ruth Etting, popular songstress, thanking Miss Enslow for suggestions for her CBS-radio program. Fd 5 Letters received, 1942-1966 21 items March 28, 1947--Huntington, WV: Letter from Haidee M. Scott, area Field Director of the American Red Cross, thanking Miss Enslow for her “tireless efforts” in aiding with the Benefit Dance at the Veterans Hospital. January 14, 1949--Charleston, WV: Letter from W. Va. Department of Public Assistance, thanking Miss Enslow for her aid in acquiring bicycles for needy 3 children. May 14, 1951--New York City: Letter from the secretary of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, thanking Miss Enslow for press clippings which “. .both interested and amused them.” Fd 6 Letters concerning AWVS and armed services: undated; 1942-1944 8 ite ms December 6, 1942--Northampton, MA: Form letter, with additions, from C. E. Mitchell of the Women’s Navy Reserves, describing life in the Midshipmen’s School which she is attending. Fd 7 Telegrams, 1942-1956 2 items Fd 8 Cards: undated; 1922-[1963] 10 items 4 II. Newspaper and Professional Papers Bx 2 Columns and Feature Articles 11 Fd Fd 1 Society Editor, 1924 3 items These are clippings of columns containing items of social interest of which Miss Enslow served as editor. Fd 2-5 Undated, untitled columns These are arranged alphabetically by first word in the article. The columns consist of items of social interest. Fd 2 Undated, untitled columns, A-E 8 items Fd 3 Undated, untitled columns, F-J 23 items Fd 4 Undated, untitled columns, L-P 8 items Fd 5 Undated, untitled columns, R-W 11 items Fd 6 Untitled columns, 1939-1948 8 items These columns are arranged in chronological order. Fd 7-11 Feature articles, undated; 1920-1961 These articles cover a wide variety of subjects: fashion notes, horse show news, travel items, local history and articles about socially prominent Huntingtonians. The undated articles are arranged in alphabetical order by first word in the title. Fd 7 Undated feature articles, A-Z 24 items Fd 8 Feature articles, 1920-1939 8 items August 27, 1939--”. .Colonel Delos W. Emmons, Leader in Early City Life” discusses the life, professional and personal, of one of Huntington’s founders; the article was written as a tribute soon after his death. Fd 9 Feature articles, 1940-1953 10 items June 11, 1953--”Junior League Here Has Twentieth Anniversary” retells the history of the group, one of Huntington’s most active and prestigious civic organizations. Fd 10 Feature articles, 1954-1958 13 items Fd 11 Feature articles, 1959-1961 15 items 5 This folder contains several items on the 1959 HUPCO-sponsored European tour. Bx 3-5 “Miscellany” columns, undated; 1942-1970 These boxes contain clippings of Miss Enslow’s column “Miscellany”, subtitled “Talk of the Town”. In this column, she recorded social events in Huntington, described her visits to Chicago, New York, and Europe, and provided information about cultural events and the activities of women’s organizations in Huntington.

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