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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
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:
Maude M. Presslor Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase.
Biographical Information:
Maude Marie Presslor (1898-1972) was born Maude M. Mathas, and lived with her husband, John Dee Mathas (1898-1972) a fire chief, and three children in Montezuma, Indiana. She was a member of the WSCS, the Women's Society of Christian Service.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the diaries, correspondence, and biographic material of Maude M. (Mathas) Presslor (1898-1972) of Montezuma, Indiana from 1913-1970. Earlier papers and material relate to Presslor's life as a teenager and young adult during the World War I period. Letters from friends serving in France and a baby book detailing the early years of her three children, Betty Jean (Presslor) Montgomery, Frank Richard Presslor, and David Lowell Presslor, date from this period. Later papers and material from the World War II period include letters from her sons serving in the armed services as well as diary entries and newspaper clippings concerning major events of the conflict, such as the first use of atomic weapons. Post-war papers and material focus more on her family life and the activities of her children and grandchildren. Presslor's diaries from this era include references to and newspaper clippings concerning major events of the Cold War period, such as political assassinations and military engagements in southeast Asia. The collection also includes ephemera, such as bills, brochures, and tickets from Presslor's travels with her husband, John Dee Presslor.
Arrangement of Materials:
Organized into three series: Series 1: Diaries; Series 2: Correspondence; and Series 3: Biographic Material.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Greeting cards
- Indiana--Social life and customs--20th century
- Photographs
- United States--Description and travel
- Women--Diaries
- World War, 1939-1945--Women--United States
Physical Characteristics or Technical Requirements:
The fragile nature of this material may limit handling: brittle clippings and notes are inserted between diary pages and fastened with rusting clips and needles.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Indiana--Social life and customs--20th century
- United States--Description and travel
Container List
This series contains over thirty diaries written and maintained by Maude Presslor through various periods of her life. Earlier diaries center on her social, family, and school life as a teenager (then Maude Mathas) in Montezuma, Indiana. She frequently discusses her interactions with friends, including her future husband John Dee Presslor. Later diaries from the World War II era focus on her family life and the participation of her sons, Richard Frank and David Lowell, in the armed services. Presslor also mentions major geopolitical events in her entries, such as the Allied invasion of Normandy, the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, and the surrenders of Germany and Japan. In addition to her written entries, Presslor's diaries include newspaper clippings detailing similar events. Diaries from the decades following World War II focus more on Presslor's daily activities, such as her participation in Women's Society of Christian Services social functions. She also writes at length about the activities of her children and grandchildren. As with the World War II period, these diaries include references and newspaper clippings concerning major news stories. Topics include presidential elections, political assassinations, and U.S. engagements in Southeast Asia.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 id64967
Box 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1 id65628
Diaries1913-1915, 1943-1945
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 2 id65629
Diaries1946-1948
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 3 id65630
Diaries1949-1951
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 4 id65631
Diaries1952-1953
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 5 id65632
Diaries1954-1957
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 6 id65633
Diaries1958, 1960
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 7 id65634
Diaries1961-1965
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 8 id65635
Diaries1966-1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 9 id65636
Diaries1969-1970
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1 id65628
This series contains written exchanges between Maude Presslor and her friends and family. Earlier correspondents from the World War I period include frequent letters from her friend, James "Jim" L. Carson, serving in France. Other letters from this period include congratulatory notes from her mother, Mrs. George Mathas, and aunt, Mrs. M.J. Mathas, on the birth of her first child, Betty Jeane Presslor. During the World War II period, Presslor exchanged frequent letters with her sons, Frank serving in the Army Air Forces and David serving in the Navy. In addition to their letters, Presslor's sons also sent telegrams detailing their travels and activities throughout the war. Post-World War II correspondence centers more on family life and the activities of Presslor's children and grandchildren. In addition to formal letters, the series also contains personal notes, greeting cards, postcards, and invitations sent to Presslor by her friends and family.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 id65637
Box 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 1 id65638
Correspondence1918-1921, 1934
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 2 id65639
Correspondence1943-1944
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 3 id65640
Correspondence1944-1945
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 4 id65641
Correspondence1952-1959
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 5 id65642
Western Union Telegrams1944-1945
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 6 id65643
Postcards1944-1957
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 7 id65644
Greeting Cards and Invitations1950-1969
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 1 id65638
This series contains biographic material collected by Maude Presslor throughout various periods of her life. Items include thirteen black and white photographs of family members and local events. A baby book maintained from 1921 to 1928 provides information on the birth and early years of Presslor's three children, Betty Jean, Richard Frank, and David Lowell. The book also includes several black and white photographs as well as locks of hair. Later material focuses on Presslor's travels with her husband in states such as Florida, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Related items includes expenditure books, pamphlets, brochures, bills, and tickets. The series also contains various ephemera, such as magazine subscription slips. The series and the collection concludes with materials related to the 1972 deaths and funerals of Presslor's husband, John Dee, and her son, Richard Frank.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 id65645
Box 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 8 id65646
Photographsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 9 id65647
Baby Book1921-1928
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 10 id65648
Religious Material1944, 1956, 1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 11 id65649
Travel Material1946-1961
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 12 id65650
Ephemera1947-1969
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 13 id65651
Presslor Family Funerals1972
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 8 id65646