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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterSCRC staff
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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.
Maude M. Presslor Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Purchase.
Maude Marie Presslor (1898-1972) was born Maude M. Mathas, and lived with her husband, John Dee Mathas (1898-1972) a fire chief, and three children in Montezuma, Indiana. She was a member of the WSCS, the Women's Society of Christian Service.
This collection contains the diaries, correspondence, and biographic material of Maude M. (Mathas) Presslor (1898-1972) of Montezuma, Indiana from 1913-1970. Earlier papers and material relate to Presslor's life as a teenager and young adult during the World War I period. Letters from friends serving in France and a baby book detailing the early years of her three children, Betty Jean (Presslor) Montgomery, Frank Richard Presslor, and David Lowell Presslor, date from this period. Later papers and material from the World War II period include letters from her sons serving in the armed services as well as diary entries and newspaper clippings concerning major events of the conflict, such as the first use of atomic weapons. Post-war papers and material focus more on her family life and the activities of her children and grandchildren. Presslor's diaries from this era include references to and newspaper clippings concerning major events of the Cold War period, such as political assassinations and military engagements in southeast Asia. The collection also includes ephemera, such as bills, brochures, and tickets from Presslor's travels with her husband, John Dee Presslor.
Organized into three series: Series 1: Diaries; Series 2: Correspondence; and Series 3: Biographic Material.
The fragile nature of this material may limit handling: brittle clippings and notes are inserted between diary pages and fastened with rusting clips and needles.
This series contains over thirty diaries written and maintained by Maude Presslor through various periods of her life. Earlier diaries center on her social, family, and school life as a teenager (then Maude Mathas) in Montezuma, Indiana. She frequently discusses her interactions with friends, including her future husband John Dee Presslor. Later diaries from the World War II era focus on her family life and the participation of her sons, Richard Frank and David Lowell, in the armed services. Presslor also mentions major geopolitical events in her entries, such as the Allied invasion of Normandy, the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, and the surrenders of Germany and Japan. In addition to her written entries, Presslor's diaries include newspaper clippings detailing similar events. Diaries from the decades following World War II focus more on Presslor's daily activities, such as her participation in Women's Society of Christian Services social functions. She also writes at length about the activities of her children and grandchildren. As with the World War II period, these diaries include references and newspaper clippings concerning major news stories. Topics include presidential elections, political assassinations, and U.S. engagements in Southeast Asia.
This series contains written exchanges between Maude Presslor and her friends and family. Earlier correspondents from the World War I period include frequent letters from her friend, James "Jim" L. Carson, serving in France. Other letters from this period include congratulatory notes from her mother, Mrs. George Mathas, and aunt, Mrs. M.J. Mathas, on the birth of her first child, Betty Jeane Presslor. During the World War II period, Presslor exchanged frequent letters with her sons, Frank serving in the Army Air Forces and David serving in the Navy. In addition to their letters, Presslor's sons also sent telegrams detailing their travels and activities throughout the war. Post-World War II correspondence centers more on family life and the activities of Presslor's children and grandchildren. In addition to formal letters, the series also contains personal notes, greeting cards, postcards, and invitations sent to Presslor by her friends and family.
This series contains biographic material collected by Maude Presslor throughout various periods of her life. Items include thirteen black and white photographs of family members and local events. A baby book maintained from 1921 to 1928 provides information on the birth and early years of Presslor's three children, Betty Jean, Richard Frank, and David Lowell. The book also includes several black and white photographs as well as locks of hair. Later material focuses on Presslor's travels with her husband in states such as Florida, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Related items includes expenditure books, pamphlets, brochures, bills, and tickets. The series also contains various ephemera, such as magazine subscription slips. The series and the collection concludes with materials related to the 1972 deaths and funerals of Presslor's husband, John Dee, and her son, Richard Frank.