A Guide to the Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers, 1852-1997 Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers 1-9/1997

A Guide to the Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers, 1852-1997

A Collection in
Special Collections
Wyndham Robertson Library
Hollins University
Accession Number 1-9/1997


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Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University

Special Collections
Wyndham Robertson Library
P. O. Box 9000
7950 E. Campus Drive
Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia 24020
(540) 362-6237
Fax: (540) 362-6756
Email: bharris@hollins.edu
URL: http://www.hollins.edu/academics/library/services/spe_col.htm

© 2008 By Hollins University. All rights reserved.

Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository
Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University
Accession Number
1-9/1997
Title
Mary Van Fossen Turner Papers 1852-1997
Physical Characteristics
This collection consists of aproximately 260 pieces.
Shelf Location
Q-4a: Alumnae Files
Language
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

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.