O'Shaughnessy family papers

Description data TOP

unitid

{"value"=>"2280", "type"=>"local_mss"}

{"value"=>"MssCol 2280", "type"=>"local_call"}

unitdate

{"value"=>"1899-1937", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1899/1937"}

{"value"=>"1910-1930", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1910/1930"}

date_inclusive_start

1899

date_inclusive_end

1937

keydate

1899

date_start

1899

date_end

1937

unittitle

{"value"=>"O'Shaughnessy family papers"}

physdesc

{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"7 linear feet (15 boxes)"}], "supress_display"=>true}

repository

{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">Stephen A. Schwarzman Building</span> <span class=\"addressline\">Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788</span></div>"}

abstract

{"value"=>"Edith O'Shaughnessy (d. 1939) was an American author of fiction and autobiographical narratives concerning her life abroad. She was active in causes related to the Roman Catholic Church. Her husband, Nelson O'Shaughnessy (1876-1932), was a U.S. career diplomat who was stationed in Denmark, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Mexico. After leaving the diplomatic service, he had a career in private industry. Elim O'Shaughnessy (1907-1966), Edith and Nelson O'Shaughnessy's son, joined the diplomatic service and served in France, the Soviet Union, Britain, and Hungary. Collection contains materials relating to Edith, Nelson and Elim O'Shaughnessy. Correspondence of Nelson O'Shaughnessy, 1899-1928, concerns diplomatic matters, his career in business, and personal and family affairs; correspondence of Edith O'Shaughnessy, 1907-1936, relates to her social and diplomatic life, war work in France, political activities, career as author of books and articles, and family matters. Some financial records are included with the correspondence. Her notes and diaries, 1907-1935, are largely social in nature. Writings include annotated typescripts and manuscripts of her published and unpublished works. Also, juvenilia of Elim O'Shaughnessy, family photographs, and printed matter pertaining to the O'Shaughnessy careers, literary subjects, Catholicism, and Latin American politics."}

langmaterial

{"value"=>"Materials in English"}

prefercite

{"value"=>"<p>O'Shaughnessy family papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library</p>"}

index

{"value"=>"<div class=\"head\">Correspondents represented in the Nelson J. W. and Edith (Coues) O'Shaughnessey Papers</div> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Bacon, Robert, 1860-1919</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Bryan, WM. Jennings, 1860-1925</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Colum, Padraic, 1881-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Conant, Isabel Fiske</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Coues, Jane Augusta, (McKinney) 1845-1925</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Demidov, Elim Pavlovich, Prince of San Donato</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Fabbri, Edith (Shepard)</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Festetics, Fanny</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Francis, Charles Spencer, 1853-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Garrett, John W.</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Gizycha, Eleanor (Patterson), Countess</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Harriman, Mary W. (Mrs. E. H.)</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Hibben, Paxton</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Hill, David Jayne, 1850-1932</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Hintze, Paul von, 1864-1941</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Huerta, Victoriana, 1854-1916</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Hughes, Charles Evans, 1862-1948</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Hutchinson, Norman, 1875-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Kemp, Marion</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Le Faivre, Madame</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Logan, Edith</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Marburg, Theodore, 1862-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Moore, John Bassett, 1860-1947</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">O'Brien, Delia H. (Mrs. Thos. J.)</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">O'Brien, Thomas James, 1842-1933</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Penfield, Frederic Courtland, 1855-1922</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Polk, Frank Lyon, 1871-1943</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Rives, George Barclay</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Root, Elihu, 1845-1937</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Scott, James Brown, 1866-1943</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Speyer, Leonora (Mrs. Edgar), 1872-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Stewart, William Rhinelander, 1852-1929</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Szechenyi, Gladys (Vanderbilt), Countess</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Szechenyi, Laszlo, Count</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Tower, Charlemagne, 1848-1923</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Tower, Helen (Mrs. Charlemagne)</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Tumulty, Joseph Patrick, 1879-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Vanderbilt, Alice (Mrs. Cornelius)</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Watkins, Ann</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">White, Emily V. (Mrs. Henry)</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">White, Henry, 1850-1927</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Wiley, Louis, 1869-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Williams, Michael, 1877-</span></li> <li> <span class=\"persname\">Wilson, Henry Lane, 1857-1932</span></li>", "type"=>"index", "structured"=>[{"sib_seq"=>0, "type"=>"head", "value"=>"Correspondents represented in the Nelson J. W. and Edith (Coues) O'Shaughnessey Papers"}, {"sib_seq"=>1, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Bacon, Robert, 1860-1919"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>2, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Bryan, WM. Jennings, 1860-1925"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>3, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Colum, Padraic, 1881-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>4, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Conant, Isabel Fiske"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>5, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Coues, Jane Augusta, (McKinney) 1845-1925"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>6, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Demidov, Elim Pavlovich, Prince of San Donato"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>7, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Fabbri, Edith (Shepard)"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>8, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Festetics, Fanny"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>9, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Francis, Charles Spencer, 1853-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>10, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Garrett, John W."}]}, {"sib_seq"=>11, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Gizycha, Eleanor (Patterson), Countess"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>12, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Harriman, Mary W. (Mrs. E. H.)"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>13, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Hibben, Paxton"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>14, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Hill, David Jayne, 1850-1932"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>15, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Hintze, Paul von, 1864-1941"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>16, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Huerta, Victoriana, 1854-1916"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>17, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Hughes, Charles Evans, 1862-1948"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>18, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Hutchinson, Norman, 1875-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>19, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Kemp, Marion"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>20, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Le Faivre, Madame"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>21, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Logan, Edith"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>22, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Marburg, Theodore, 1862-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>23, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>24, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Moore, John Bassett, 1860-1947"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>25, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"O'Brien, Delia H. (Mrs. Thos. J.)"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>26, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"O'Brien, Thomas James, 1842-1933"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>27, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Penfield, Frederic Courtland, 1855-1922"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>28, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Polk, Frank Lyon, 1871-1943"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>29, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Rives, George Barclay"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>30, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>31, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Root, Elihu, 1845-1937"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>32, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Scott, James Brown, 1866-1943"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>33, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Speyer, Leonora (Mrs. Edgar), 1872-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>34, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Stewart, William Rhinelander, 1852-1929"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>35, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Szechenyi, Gladys (Vanderbilt), Countess"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>36, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Szechenyi, Laszlo, Count"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>37, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Tower, Charlemagne, 1848-1923"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>38, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Tower, Helen (Mrs. Charlemagne)"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>39, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Tumulty, Joseph Patrick, 1879-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>40, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Vanderbilt, Alice (Mrs. Cornelius)"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>41, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Watkins, Ann"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>42, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"White, Emily V. (Mrs. Henry)"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>43, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"White, Henry, 1850-1927"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>44, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Wiley, Louis, 1869-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>45, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Williams, Michael, 1877-"}]}, {"sib_seq"=>46, "type"=>"indexentry", "value"=>[{"type"=>"persname", "value"=>"Wilson, Henry Lane, 1857-1932"}]}]}

origination

{"value"=>"O'Shaughnessy family", "type"=>"famname"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p>The O'Shaughnessy Family Papers contain materials relating to Edith, Nelson and Elim O'Shaughnessy, Edith O'Shaughnessy was a successful author of fiction and autobiographical narratives concerning her life abroad, both as a young woman, and as the wife of diplomat Nelson O'Shaughnessy. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was educated in the United States at a convent, and by private tutors, and her somewhat mannered fiction and autobiographical work reflected her narrow experience as a woman \"in society\" both in the United States and abroad. Edith O'Shaughnessy's literary output was in many ways motivated by her husband's relative lack of financial success. The life of a diplomat in world capitals seemed to the O'Shaughnessy family to require more disposable income than was provided by State Department salaries, and though comfortably reared, neither Nelson nor Edith possessed sufficient family wealth to meet the demands of diplomatic life. Edith O'Shaughnessy's published titles include: <em render=\"underline\">A Diplomat's Wife In Mexico</em> (1916), <em render=\"underline\">Diplomatic Days in Mexico</em> (1917), <em render=\"underline\">My Lorraine Journal</em> (1918), <em render=\"underline\">Alsace in Rust and</em> <em render=\"underline\">Gold</em> (1919), <em render=\"underline\">Intimate Pages of Mexican History</em> (1920), <em render=\"underline\">Viennese Medley</em> (1924), and <em render=\"underline\">Other Ways, Other Flesh</em> (1929). A devout Catholic, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was active in many church related causes, spoke before Catholic schools and organizations, and was frequently a contributor to Catholic periodicals such as Commonweal.</p> <p>Nelson O'Shaughnessy (1876-1932) was a career diplomat born in New York City; he was educated by private tutors, and later studied at Georgetown University, St. John's College, Oxford University, and the Inner Temple in London, as well as privately in Europe. His earliest posts were at diplomatic missions in Denmark, Russia, Austria-Hungary, 1905-1911, and most notably in Mexico, 1911-1914, where his service gained him national notoriety. As <em render=\"underline\">chargé</em> d'affaires, O'Shaughnessy represented the interests of the United States in Mexico after the recall of the Ambassador following the coup of Victoriano Huerta in 1913. A Republican, O'Shaughnessy succeeded in alienating himself from President Wilson's Democratic administrations by his cordial relationship with a dictator not amicable to United States interests in Latin America. After a posting in Vienna in 1915-1916, O'Shaughnessy left the diplomatic service for a sporadic career in private industry, including private investment, and representing the Western Union Company in South America, and American investments on the Board of Autonomous Monopolies in Yugoslavia. He died in Vienna, having spent the last 16 years of his life separated from his family.</p> <p>Elim O'Shaughnessy (1907-1966) was born in Berlin, raised and educated in France, and at Yale and Columbia Universities. He joined the diplomatic service at age 30, and his career included postings in France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and Hungary. He died while posted in Budapest.</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>The O'Shaughnessy Family Papers consist of five series: correspondence, both of Nelson, 1899-1928, and Edith, 1907-1935, O'Shaughnessy; the notes and diaries of Edith O'Shaughnessy, 1907-1935; writings of Edith O'Shaughnessy, photographs and printed matter. The correspondence of Nelson O'Shaughnessy is comprised of official and unofficial letters concerning his career as a diplomat. Included are his official letters of appointment, as well as other official communications, from the Department of State regarding his most of his postings. More common however are personal letters from other embassy and consular staff exchanging news and speculations on diplomatic service developments and career advancement. The period covered by the correspondence does include Nelson O'Shaughnessy's term as chargé d'affaires in Mexico, 1911-1914, a period of extreme unrest and transition in United States- Latin American relations. Also included is correspondence relating to his career after leaving the State Department, a letter copy-book, 1907-1908, largely consisting of personal letters, and a small amount of family correspondence. The family correspondence centers on letters from his wife commenting on the hardship of their financial situation, and the problems caused by their long separations. Finally there is a small selection of financial papers: bills, statements of account, and stock certificates. Correspondents include: William Jennings Bryan, Victoriano Huerta, Kermit Roosevelt, Elihu Root and Henry Lane Wilson.</p> <p>The correspondence of Edith O'Shaughnessy contains a variety of letters pertaining to her personal and professional lives. The earliest letters, from friends and relatives, refer to the impending birth of her son Elim, and to the changing circumstances of her life as the wife of a career diplomat in various European capitals. After the departure of Nelson O'Shaughnessy from the diplomatic service the correspondence begins to focus more heavily on her career as an author, and the publication of her earliest books relating to Mexico. Also included are letters concerning her involvement in the 1916 United States presidential campaign, and many Catholic causes. The correspondence follows Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's movements back and forth across the Atlantic from Paris to New York City to Rome to Bar Harbor; it documents her relationship to her husband, son and other family members, as well as her perception of her place in the American \"upper class\" before, during and after the First World War. Also included is a small amount of juvenilia of Elim O'Shaughnessy, retained by his mother, and a small selection of letters to and form Mrs. Jane Augusta McKinney Coues, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's mother. There is also a small number of financial records included in the correspondence. Correspondents include: Averill Harriman, Mrs. Mary Harriman, Charles Evans Hughes. Countess Gloria Vanderbilt Szechenyi, Mrs. Alice Vanderbilt, and Henry and Emily White.</p> <p>The notes and diaries of Mrs. O'Shaughnessy are largely social diaries with annotations of events, parties, and concerts attended, as well as the other people attending. There are in addition fragmentary notes for literary works. The writings include annotated typescripts and manuscripts of published and unpublished works by Edith O'Shaughnessy, including among others: <em render=\"underline\">Life in the Viennese Court, 1907-1911</em>, <em render=\"underline\">Bright Dark</em>, and her translation of Charles de Brosses', \"Letters on Italy\", as well as speeches, poems, and short stories. The photographs are for the most part family snapshots, portraits, and photographic postcards, while the printed matter pertains to literary subjects, Catholicism, and Latin American politics. Also included is a scrapbook of clippings and reviews relating to the careers of both Nelson and Edith O'Shaughnessy.</p>"}

arrangement

{"value"=>"<p>Five series: I. Correspondence, 1899-1936; II. Notes and Diaries, 1907-1935; III. Writings; IV. Photographs; V. Printed Matter</p>"}

acqinfo

{"value"=>"<p>March 1939, Received from Elim O'Shaughnessey</p>"}

processinfo

{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Accessioned by CRK, 4-28-86</p>"}

extent_statement

7 linear feet (15 boxes)

date_bulk_start

1910

date_bulk_end

1930

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Child components TOP

1. Correspondence [9/1]
2. Notes and Diaries [1/1]
3. Writings [9/1]
4. Photographs
5. Printed Matter