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Preferred Citation

Shirley Donald Southworth Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Biographical / Historical

Shirley Donald Southworth was a member of the faculty at William & Mary, as a professor of Economics, from 1927-1960. He took a leave of absence from 1942-1945 to serve in the Division of Monetary Research at the U. S. Treasury. Southworth passed away in October 1972.

Scope and Contents

The collection includes two copies of a script for a radio address, "The Gold Problem," given by Southworth on March 5, 1940. It also includes two typed letters sent from Southworth and his wife to his mother.

The first letter, dated April 14, 1940, discusses his mother's tenant and also the filming of the movie "The Howards of Virginia," which filmed at Colonial Williamsburg. He mentions that the movie's stars didn't film but did appear for publicity. He tried to be a part of it but could not, though he may have an opportunity to be part of an educational film. He mentions attending college orchestra rehearsals, and it appears he participates by playing an unnamed instrument. Southworth moves on to the local weather and discusses the tourist business, noting that they rented out all of their guest rooms.

The second letter, dated November 16, 1940, discusses the local weather and attending a tuckey dinner at the Baptist Church, which also saw the attendance of local Episcopalians, Methodists, and Presbyterians ("what we might call the 'best people' of town"). He mentions receiving a phone call from a friend, while typing the letter. The friend is trying to receive clothing for "three families of negroes who lost their home by a fire over at Toano a night or two ago." Southworth also references a brochure he's hoping to get published.

Related Material

University Archives Faculty-Alumni File Collection

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Motion pictures
• Williamsburg (Va.)--History--20th century

General

Removed from the Faculty-Alumni File Collection in June 2016