Subseries A. Personal, 1925-1989 (#45-118, 1377-1381)
Scope and Contents
Subseries A, Personal, 1925-1989 (#45-118, 1377-1381, 1398m), contains correspondence between the Childs; Paul's life-long correspondence with his twin brother Charles that chronicles the lives of Paul and Julia in OSS, USIA, and the international world of cookery; and Paul's correspondence with friends. Paul's letters to Charles Child and his wife Freddie (#48-95), are often in journal form with occasional notes from Julia. Julia often wrote separate letters to Freddie; these can be found throughout. Letters written during World War II discuss Paul's work in India (1944), Sri Lanka (1944), and China (1945). Letters from the early 1950s, when Paul and Julia were living in Paris, include descriptions of art exhibits, politics, USIA inter-office dynamics, food, travel to Italy and England, etc. Letters written after 1952 also often contain verse by Paul, including several poems written to Julia. Many of the letters to Charles Child have Paul's later (post-1969) notes giving a brief summary of the letter, as well as explaining other related contemporaneous events in the lives of the Childs. These letters were a main source for Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme's book My Life in France (2006).
Dates
- Creation: 1925-1993
Language of Materials
Most materials in English; some correspondence in French.
Access Restrictions:
Access. The papers are open to research.
Extent
60.18 linear feet ((112 file boxes, 3 folio boxes, 8 folio+ boxes) plus 3 oversize folders, 4 supersize folders, 1 folio photograph folder, 1 oversize photograph folder, 8 objects)Creator
- From the Collection: Child, Julia (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.