Papers of Miriam Barber Judd, 1863-2008 (inclusive), 1920-1960 (bulk)

The collection consists of correspondence (both personal and professional); clippings; passports; programs and invitations; notes and essays; certificates; photographs; etc. Series I and II were arranged in rough chronological order by Mary Lou Judd Carpenter while conducting research for her book Miriam's Words and conform to the chapter order of the book. This original order was retained. Most folder titles were created by Carpenter with occasional additions to clarify content.

Series I, PERSONAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, 1863-2008 (#1.1-5.5), contains Miriam Barber Judd's birth certificate, the Judd's wedding documents, clippings, passports, Judd's childhood application to the Young Women's Christian Association of India in 1910, notes, essays, and programs from Montclair High School, Mount Holyoke College, and Columbia College, a bronze medal of honor from Mount Holyoke, diary entries, and personal writings from throughout her life (many expressing discontent with having her life center around her husband's career), correspondence from Judd's school years. Also included is a family Bible with notes and prayers added by Miriam Barber Judd, a book of prayers, sayings, and quotes collected by Miriam Barber Judd, a manuscript of "My Testimony" by Coretta Clarke Barber (Judd's mother), a manuscript of "The Family of Aquila C. Barber" by Benjamin R. Barber (Judd's father), and three drafts and annotated versions of a biography about Miriam Barber Judd of differing titles written by Mary Lou Judd Carpenter which are all versions of the same book eventually published as Miriam's Words.

Series II, PROFESSIONAL, 1891-1994 (#5.6-11.4m), contains correspondence (1925-1994), invitations, programs, clippings, speeches, etc. Correspondence details Judd's move to China, the cultural adjustments to living there as well as the medical and other work that she and her husband did in China, and meeting Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Also documented is Judd's flight from China while pregnant in 1937, due to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Her letters document her time as a Congressman's wife, and include her misgivings about her husband going into Congress, as well as attending events given by and meeting Eleanor Roosevelt (whom she admired despite the fact that she was a Democrat); her brief meeting with Frances Perkins, and her attendance at Roosevelt's inaugural address shortly before his death in 1945. The series also includes Judd's missionary certificate from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (October 1932); and clippings and speeches pertaining to her work as a missionary and her work on the board of the Young Women's Christian Association and Mount Holyoke board of trustees. There are programs and invitations to government events including an invitation and program for The Signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, DC (April 4, 1949), an invitation to meet Ernest Bevin, M.P. (the Secretary of State for foreign affairs for the British Embassy); an invitation to a reception in honor of the Italian Ambassador and Mrs. Tarchiani; an invitation to a reception from the French Ambassador and Madame Henri Bonnet; an invitation to dinner with General and Mrs. Peter J.K. Pei and Colonel and Mrs. David Lei; a menu for a state dinner given by Dr. Sukarno (president of the Republic of Indonesia) for President and Mrs. Eisenhower; and the program of the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan to Walter Judd (October 9, 1981) and the menu for the luncheon for that event.

Series III, PHOTOGRAPHS, 1865-1991(#PD.1-PD.23), contains personal and professional photographs. Some of the photos are photocopies of originals that Judd's daughter obtained from newspapers and government agencies while conducting research for her book, Miriam's Words. Included are photographs of Miriam Barber Judd: after dinner at the palace in the Republic of Vietnam given by President Dvem's brother-in-law; with ambassadors to the Republic of China, and possibly the wife of the Vice President of the Republic of China at the time, with Madame Chiang Kai-shek after dinner at the Chiang house; in the Vietnamese Royal Palace with Congressman Pilcher's wife; with the wife of Pakistan ambassador at a Young Women's Christian Association Food Fair; with Mrs. Lawrence Smith (Congressman's wife) and Katherine Howard (United States delegate to NATO committee on civil defense). Also included are pictures of Walter and Miriam Judd at the Thai National Day Reception (June 24, 1955) with Colonel McQuillen, and Col. Heffner; with Ambassador Saivannavong, and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth T. Young, Jr. (Mr. Young was director of Philippines and Southeast Asian Affairs in the United States Department of State); and at the Burmese Independence Day reception (January 4, 1956) with ambassador Tran Van Chuong of Vietnam and Madame Chuong; and many photographs of Miriam and Walter Judd with their three daughters: Mary Louise Carpenter, Carolyn Ruth Johnson, and Eleanor Grace Quinn. Also included are family photographs, some professional some candid, of Eliza Jane Clarke, Thomas Clarke, John Clarke, Francis Watson Clarke, Andrew Clarke, Margaret Clarke, Anne Alexander, Bob Clarke, Fanny Watson, James Clarke, Thomas Clarke, Rebecca Jammer, Captain A.J. Barber, Lenora Barber, Charles Barber, Ben Barber, Clarke Barber, Mrs. Buckley, Miriam Clarke Barber, Matilda Clarke, the Stockwell family, Mary Lou Judd Carpenter, and Carolyn Judd Johnson. About half the photograph folders were arranged by book chapter and retain their original folder titles. The remainder were in either unlabelled folders or in folders marked as "for possible use in book." Folder titles in square brackets were created by the archivist. The series is arranged chronologically. Most of the photographs in this collection are or will be digitized and available online.