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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Terry Noziglia and Peter Klicker, SCRC Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
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.
Conditions Governing Access:
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.
Preferred Citation:
Clara L. Lawrence Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Processing Information:
Accessioned by Amy C. Schindler, University Archivist, in July 2009. Arranged and described by Terry Noziglia, SCRC Staff, in August-October 2009; further arranged and described by Peter Klicker, SCRC Staff, in December 2009-January 2010. Acc. 2010.784 added by Benjamin Bromley in January 2011.
Accruals:
Acquisition information for material received after 7/13/2009 is available by consulting a Special Collections Research Center staff member.
Biographical Information:
Clara Louise Walde Lawrence was a nurse in the period before, during, and after World War I. Her family lived in Rochester, New York and her two children were named Betty and Donald.
Scope and Contents
This collection primarily concerns Clara Louise Walde Lawrence's career as a nurse in the period before, during, and after World War I. Materials in the collection include correspondence, scrapbooks, diaries, photographs and negatives, pamphlets, medical supplies, and other publications. Most of the correspondence, photographs, and publications relate to either WWI or nursing. Notable correspondents include a letter from Julia Cherney (Bateman) to Clara Walde while serving as a missionary in China. Other items of interest include a 1763 Boston Gazette as well as several 19th century American newspapers. The collection also includes Lawrence's Veterans Administration account books from the 1930s.
Transcriptions were created of the correspondence before the collection was donated to the Special Collections Research Center and are available here as PDFs.
Series 4, Acc. 2010.784 contains correspondence, 1909-1923.
Related Material
A compact disc with digital copies of transcripts of letters was pulled from this collection and was added to the Manuscripts Audiovisual Collection in November 2010.
Artifacts transferred to the Manuscripts Artifact Collection include Eating Utensil Set (2009.299.01); Bread Ration Coupon (2009.299.02); Mauser Patrone 88 Rifle Cartridge (2009.299.03); 10 Pfennig Coblenz Kriegeld Coin (2009.299.04); 200 Mark Coin (2009.299.05); U.S. Army Identification Tag (2009.299.06); La Semeuse 2 Franc French Coin Pin (2009.299.07); Miniature Charm Souvenir Photo Album of Vichy, France (2009.299.08); 'Andenken von Rheinland' Heart Pendant (2009.299.09); Metal Button with Eagle and Anchor Beneath 13 Stars (2009.299.10); 'A' Circle Felt Patch (2009.299.11); Chevron Overseas Service Patch (2009.299.12); and Nurse's Storage Belt (2009.299.13).
Separated Material
A compact disc filled with digital copies of transcripts of letters was pulled from this collection and was added to the Manuscripts Audiovisual Collection in November 2010.
Artifacts transferred to the Manuscripts Artifact Collection include Eating Utensil Set (2009.299.01); Bread Ration Coupon (2009.299.02); Mauser Patrone 88 Rifle Cartridge (2009.299.03); 10 Pfennig Coblenz Kriegeld Coin (2009.299.04); 200 Mark Coin (2009.299.05); U.S. Army Identification Tag (2009.299.06); La Semeuse 2 Franc French Coin Pin (2009.299.07); Miniature Charm Souvenir Photo Album of Vichy, France (2009.299.08); 'Andenken von Rheinland' Heart Pendant (2009.299.09); Metal Button with Eagle and Anchor Beneath 13 Stars (2009.299.10); 'A' Circle Felt Patch (2009.299.11); Chevron Overseas Service Patch (2009.299.12); and Nurse's Storage Belt (2009.299.13).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Diaries
- Letters (correspondence)
- Negatives
- Nurses--1910-1920
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
- Women--Travel
- World War, 1914-1918--Medical and sanitary affairs
Container List
This series contains correspondences between Clara Lawrence and her friends and family before, during, and after the World War I period. Many of the correspondences come from Julia Cherney (Bateman),a friend of Lawrence and a missionary in China. Cherney describes her travels in Asia and later life in the United States. Another segment of the correspondences date from the World War I period. Lawrence exchanged letters frequently with her mother, father and sister, describing her experiences training in Alabama and later serving as a nurse in France and Germany. She also communicated on a regular basis with her future husband, Sergeant Otto Lawrence.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id60420
Correspondence, Binder 1, 1909-1920
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 id60421
Correspondence, Binder 21917-1919
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 id60825
Correspondence, Binder 3, Part 11918
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4 id60423
Correspondence, Binder 3, Part 21918
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5 id60424
Correspondence, Binder 3, Part 31919
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6 id60425
Correspondence, Binder 3, Part 41919
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 7 id65215
Greeting Cards1928-1937
This series contains materials from Clara Lawrence's life and career as a nurse during the World War I period. Two albums include photographs, newspaper clippings, receipts, and other materials related to Lawrence's involvement in World War I. Items of interest include an order announcing the November 11, 1918 Armistice ending World War I. The series also contains Lawrence's nursing certificates from the states of New York and Michigan, as well as several Red Cross publications. In addition, the series includes fiduciary account books from the Veterans Administration and negatives of family photographs.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 id64696
Photo Album1916-1920Scope and Contents
The album consists primarily of pictures of an army base during World War I as well as other scenes in Europe. Additionally, the album includes several newspaper clippings, hotel receipts and Western Union telegrams. The album also contains orders from Headquarters, including the announcement of the November 11, 1918 Armistice.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 id64697
Souvenir Book1911-1920Scope and Contents
The souvenir book contains material related to nursing, such as hospital photographs, business cards, newspaper clippings, and Red Cross publications. Additionally, the book includes wedding notices, seasonal greeting cards, and poetry pieces.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id60836
Registered Nurse Certificates from the States of Michigan and New York1915, 1923
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2 id60837
Red Cross Publication, Prayer Book, and Nurses Calendar1913-1918
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3 id60838
Veterans Bureau Fiduciary Account Books1931-1939
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4 id60841
Journal1918-1919
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5 id60840
Camp McLellan Photographs1917
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6 id60839
Negatives of Family Picturesundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 id60826
Box 6 Artifacts to be rehoused1910-1939Scope and Contents
Wallets, souvenir boxes, and leather case.
This series contains historical American newspapers as well as publications related to WWI and nursing. Items of interest include a 1763 Boston Gazette as well as several 19th century newspapers concerning political events. The series also contains maps from the WWI era, publications related to WWI, and language phrase books. In addition the series contains a brief history of the base where Lawrence served during WWI, as well as pamphlets related to nursing.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1 id60426
Maps and Brochures1918Scope and Contents
Map of Europe, map of Southern Railway System, pamphlet on Michigan State Parks, pamphlet on Der Rhein, German Hotel Brochures, and other related materials.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2 id60427
Newspaper clippings and Documents1763, 1883-1888, 1914-1938Scope and Contents
This folder includes several historical papers including a 1763 Boston Gazette, an 1848 Owego Gazette, an 1883 Rochester Morning Herald, and an 1888 New York Mail and Express. Many of these newspapers concern presidential elections and other major political events. Additionally, the folder includes a flier from President Lincoln's 1864 re-election campaign and a memorial pamphlet marking the passing of General U.S. Grant. The folder also contains materials related to World War I, such as several Nations at War publications and a German map of France.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3 id60428
Nursing Pamphlets1914, 1939Scope and Contents
Nursing pamphlets on topics such as heart disease and eye care. Folder also includes pamphlets on baths of Neuenahr.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4 id60843
Base 19 History1917-1918Scope and Contents
Manuscript history of Base 19, and excerpts of letters between Miss Jones and Miss Keith which describe nursing life on base. Originally in Berlin Linene Fabirc box.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 5 id60844
Language Books1913-1917Scope and Contents
French and German phrasebooks and cards. Originally in Berlin Linene Fabirc box.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 6 id60845
Pamphlets1862-1928Scope and Contents
Popular History of France, History of the Shoe, Patriotic Songbook. Originally in Berlin Linene Fabirc box.