Maureen Corr Papers, 1932-2001 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Collection Overview

Title: Maureen Corr Papers, 1932-2001

Extent: 3.34 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: The Papers of Maureen Corr is a collection in 3 series divided among administrative work for Eleanor Roosevelt, personal correspondence with the Roosevelt family, and printed material.

Abstract

Maureen Corr was Eleanor Roosevelt's personal secretary in Mrs. Roosevelt's later years and the collection includes two boxes of daily diaries and appointments from the early 1950's to the early 1960's.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Maureen Corr Papers contains original correspondence by Eleanor Roosevelt as well as Maureen Corr's personal correspondence about Mrs. Roosevelt, primarily after Eleanor Roosevelt's death in November 1962. Some official correspondence to other individuals also is included. The collection includes correspondence and itineraries related to Mrs. Roosevelt's trips abroad, 1951-1959, including instruction letters from Malvina Thompson, invitations and programs for dinners and events, and trip itineraries.Also included is a collection of Mrs. Roosevelt's income tax and financial information for the years 1932-1944.

The daily appointment diaries for Mrs. Roosevelt kept by Miss Corr for the years 1955-1962, as well as Mrs. Roosevelt's card index of names and addresses also are included in this collection. Of particular interest are three handwritten drafts of Mrs. Roosevelt's "My Day" columns and a typewritten draft of a fourth.

Collection Historical Note

Miss Maureen Corr was born in Ireland in 1917 and came to the United States as a teenager.

In 1950, Miss Corr began working for Eleanor Roosevelt as Mrs. Roosevelt’s personal secretary, succeeding Mrs. Roosevelt’s long-time assistant Malvina (Tommy) Thompson. One of Miss Corr’s first duties was to accompany Mrs. Roosevelt on her several trips abroad. Over the next few years, Miss Corr accompanied Mrs. Roosevelt to Nepal, Pakistan, India, Israel, and the Soviet Union.

Among Miss Corr’s other duties were assisting Mrs. Roosevelt with correspondence, maintaining appointment diaries, and assisting Mrs. Roosevelt with her household. Miss Corr’s sister, Peg McIntyre, did sewing work for Mrs. Roosevelt, making dresses, pillowcases, and other linens.

After Mrs. Roosevelt’s death in November 1962, Miss Corr remained in contact with many members of the Roosevelt Family. She regularly attended Roosevelt-related events, and was a frequent speaker about Eleanor Roosevelt at Elderhostels and other programs.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: This collection is available for use by the general public.

Use Restrictions: Mrs. Corr’s copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government. Unpublished writings of Eleanor Roosevelt contained in this collection are not in the public domain, and copyright interest in such unpublished writings is retained by the Mrs. Roosevelt literary estate.

Acquisition Source: Maureen Corr

Acquisition Method: Eleanor Roosevelt’s appointment diaries, 1955-1962, originally were presented to the Library by Maureen Corr in 1973. Accretions to the collections were made through donations by Miss Corr in 1990, 1999, 2001, and 2003.

Related Materials: Papers of Eleanor Roosevelt; Photograph Collection

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Eleanor Roosevelt Materials],
[Series 2: Personal Materials],
[Series 3: Printed Materials],
[All]

Series 1: Eleanor Roosevelt Materials

Contains original correspondence by Eleanor Roosevelt as well as a substantial amount of Eleanor Roosevelt correspondence photocopied from materials loaned by Miss Corr (which have since been acquired by the Library and retired for preservation). Correspondence primarily is of a personal nature from Mrs. Roosevelt to Miss Corr and to Peg McIntyre (Miss Corr's sister who sewed for Mrs. Roosevelt) and contains instructions, thank you notes, greeting cards, etc. Some official correspondence to other individuals also is included. Series also includes correspondence and itineraries related to Mrs. Roosevelt's trips abroad, 1951-1959, including instruction letters from Malvina Thompson, invitations and programs for dinners and events, and trip itineraries. Series also includes a collection of Mrs. Roosevelt's income tax and financial information for the years 1932-1944. The daily appointment diaries for Mrs. Roosevelt kept by Miss Corr for the years 1955-1962, as well as Mrs. Roosevelt's card index of names and addresses also are included in this series. Of particular interest are three handwritten drafts Mrs. Roosevelt's "My Day" columns and a typewritten draft of a fourth.

Box 1

General Correspondence, 1954-1962 and undated
Personal Correspondence (Copied from Loaned Materials), original materials have been acquired by the Library and retired for preservation), 1951-1962
Personal Correspondence (Copied from Loaned Materials), original materials have been acquired by the Library and retired for preservation), undated
Trip Correspondence (Copied from Loaned Materials), original materials have been acquired by the Library and retired for preservation), 1955-1958
Instruction Letters, Malvina Thompson to Maureen Corr, 1951-1952 and undated
Invitations, 1952-1953 and undated
Itineraries, 1952-1959
Itineraries, 1960-1962 and undated
Financial Information, 1932 and undated
Tax Return and Financial Information, 1933

Box 2

Tax Return and Financial Information, 1934-1935 and undated
Tax Return and Financial Information, 1935-1936 and undated
Financial Information, 1936-1937 and undated
Miscellaneous Financial Material, 1939-1962 and undated
"My Day" Column Drafts, 1958 and undated
Programs and Printed Material, 1952-1960
Script for Frank Sinatra Show, 1960
Transcript, ABC Television "College News Conference", December 7, 1958

Box 3

Daily Appointment Diaries of Eleanor Roosevelt, 1955-1958

Box 4

Daily Appointment Diaries of Eleanor Roosevelt, 1959-1962

Box 5

Card Index of Names, Addresses and Overseas Contacts, undated

Series 2: Personal Materials

Contains Miss Corr's personal correspondence about Mrs. Roosevelt, primarily after Eleanor Roosevelt's death in November 1962. Includes a large amount of condolence correspondence, correspondence from members of the Roosevelt Family, and general correspondence from associate of Mrs. Roosevelt. Also includes correspondence, invitations, and programs related to Roosevelt events, the Eleanor Roosevelt Centennial Celebration, information about Roosevelt Family genealogy, and written tributes to Eleanor Roosevelt.

Box 6

Correspondence-Condolences on the Death of Eleanor Roosevelt (A-H), 1962-1963
Correspondence-Condolences on the Death of Eleanor Roosevelt (I-P), 1962-1963
Correspondence-Condolences on the Death of Eleanor Roosevelt (Q-Z), 1962-1963
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Boettiger, John R., 1984
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Halsted, Anna Roosevelt, 1956-1971
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Lindlsey, Ruth Chandler Roosevelt, 1979-1992
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Eleanor (Roach) (Wotkyns), 1960-1993
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family- Roosevelt, Franklin D., Jr., 1963
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Roosevelt, Franklin D., III, 1962-1994
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Roosevelt, James, 1963-1965
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Roosevelt JoAnne (Mrs. Elliot, Jr.), 1962-1991
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family- Roosevelt, John A., 1963-1975
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Roosevelt, Minnewa Bell (Mrs. Elliot), 1961-1982
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Seagraves, Anna Eleanor (Sisty) Dall, 1956-1998
Correspondence From Roosevelt Family-Miscellaneous, 1959-1993

Box 7

General Correspondence: A-C, 1955-1988
General Correspondence: Calder, Linnea, 1978-1986
General Correspondence: D-L, 1957-1999
General Correspondence: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, 1979-1984
General Correspondence: Goldberg, Arthur and Dorothy, 1963-1982
General Correspondence: Gray, David, 1960-1963
General Correspondence: Gurewitsch, David and Edna, 1960-1982
General Correspondence: Hickok, Lorena, 1963
General Correspondence: Hight, Elizabeth, 1982-1984
General Correspondence: Lape, Esther Everett, 1962-1964
General Correspondence: Lash, Joseph and Trude, 1984-1985
General Correspondence: M-W, 1962-2000
General Correspondence: Meyer, Agnes (Mrs. Eugene), 1962-1969
General Correspondence: Morgenthau, Henry and Ruth, 1982-1984
General Correspondence: Murray, Pauli, 1962
General Correspondence: Palmer, C.F., 1962-1963
General Correspondence: Peterson, Esther, 1962-1965
General Correspondence: Reading, Lady Stella, 1962-1970
General Correspondence: Salinger, Pierre, 1960
General Correspondence: Schwartz, Abba, 1959-1983
General Correspondence: Stapleton, Jean, 1981-1982
General Correspondence: Tadmor, Gideon, 1961-1992

Box 8

Certificate of Appreciation from U.S. Mission to the United Nations, undated
Eleanor Roosevelt Centennial (1), 1983-1985
Eleanor Roosevelt Centennial (2), 1983-1985
Eleanor Roosevelt Nobel Peace Prize Nominating Documents, 1965
FDR Memorial Dedication, 1997
Financial and Legal Material, 1960-1963
Invitations, 1957-1989 and undated
Programs, 1962-1999
Roosevelt Genealogy Information, undated
Tributes to Eleanor Roosevelt, 1963-1989 and undated

Series 3: Printed Materials

An assortment of printed materials, including magazine and newspaper clippings concerning Eleanor Roosevelt’s trips, newspaper clippings about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and their legacies, and miscellaneous other printed materials related to the Roosevelts.

Box 9

Magazines and Magazine Clippings, 1952-2000 an d undated
Newspaper Clippings, 1952-1971
Newspaper Clippings, 1981-1989
Newspaper Clippings, 1992-1999
Newspaper Clippings, 2000-2001 and undated
Miscellaneous, 1963-1999 and undated

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Eleanor Roosevelt Materials],
[Series 2: Personal Materials],
[Series 3: Printed Materials],
[All]