Marie Manning Papers, 1901-2000
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Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-06-05
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Marie Manning Papers
Creation of Marie Manning Papers
Time of Creation of Marie Manning Papers
Manning, Marie
Biographical History for: Marie Manning Papers
Biographical Note Marie Manning was secretive about her age, even with her immediate family, and her exact date of birth is therefore unknown. She was born in Washington, D.C. to Elizabeth (Barrett) and Michael Charles Manning, probably on 22 January 1872. Manning was educated privately at various schools, graduating from Miss Kerr's, a Washington finishing school. Her mother died in childbirth when she was six and her father died when she was eighteen. In the early 1890s she visited relatives in England, where she "learned enough of English life" to write her first novel, Lord Alingham, Bankrupt, published in 1901. Marie Manning, n.d. In 1896, Manning met Arthur Brisbane, Editor of the New York World, who invited her to move to New York and join the writing staff at a "space rate" salary of approximately $5 per week. Upon obtaining an exclusive interview with President Grover Cleveland, something he had refused to the "star reporters" of the day, Manning was promoted to permanent staff at a salary of $30 per week. When Brisbane took a job at the New York Evening Journal in 1898, at his invitation Manning did so as well. She worked with two other women in what was known as the "Hen Coop," creating the women's page. One day in 1898, Brisbane brought to the "Hen Coop" three letters from readers seeking advice about personal problems, because he believed the women were most qualified to reply. In response, Manning suggested a new column, to be devoted exclusively to dispensing personal advice. Manning and Brisbane agreed that a pen name was in order, whereupon Manning suggested Beatrice Fairfax, after Dante's Beatrice and the Manning family's country place in Fairfax County, Virginia. "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" premiered on 20 July 1898 as the nation's first "advice to the lovelorn" column. It was an immediate success, and the Journal's offices were so inundated with letters that the Post Office soon refused to deliver them and the Journal had to retrieve them by its own means. The column was distinguished by frank, commonsense advice and came to be widely imitated nationwide. Despite the "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" column's enormous popularity, not to mention the considerable time, effort and intellectual discipline it took to write it, Manning's job remained low in pay and in status, and she eventually resigned. In 1905, Manning married Herman Edward Gasch and returned to Washington where she lived for the rest of her life. While devoting most of her time to raising their two sons, Manning and Oliver, she continued to write in her own name, submitting short stories for publication in Harper's Monthly, Collins, Ladies' Home Journal, and Woman's Home Companion. Due to losses suffered in the stock market crash in 1929, Manning asked Arthur Brisbane for a job; he obliged and she again took up writing the "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" column, which by then had been syndicated. She wrote the column until she died on 28 November 1945. In addition to the novel Lord Alingham, Bankrupt (1902) and short stories for the various magazines, Manning also published three other books: Judith of the Plains (1903), Personal Reply (1943), and Ladies Now and Then (1945).
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Marie Manning Papers consist primarily of correspondence and typescripts. There are also photographs of the family, principally of Manning's son, Oliver Gasch (born 4 May 1906), as well as photographs of women working in industry during World War II. Letters to Manning from her friend Olivia Torrence span a lifetime and provide valuable documentation of a long-term friendship between women. World War II correspondence between Manning and her son, Oliver Gasch, is an excellent example of that genre, the more so because both saved the letters. In addition, there are short missives from Eleanor Roosevelt to Marie Manning, as well as several photographs of the two women together. Others of note in the collection are the Earl of Halifax, Harold Ickes, and Margaret Chase Smith. The writings contained in this collection, especially those relating to the "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" advice column, offer insight into the domestic and marital problems encountered by the women of Manning's time (and in some cases by the men as well). Although the column was originally "advice for the lovelorn," it evolved over time to encompass practical solutions to a wide range of problems encountered by ordinary citizens, particularly with the advent of World War II. Most of the collection dates from the 1920s to 1945, and types of material include correspondence, photographs, and typescripts of writings, as well as Manning's "featherweight" typewriter.
Advice columnists--United States--History--Sources
lcsh
Courtship--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Female friendship--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Housewives--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Marriage--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Women journalists--United States--History--20th century
Women authors, American--20th century--sources
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
World War, 1939-1945--Women--Photographs
Halifax Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, Earl of, 1881-1959--Correspondence
lcnaf
Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952--Correspondence
Manning, Marie, d. 1945
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962--Correspondence
Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897- --Correspondence
series
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL
This series contains articles about Marie Manning, and photographs of Manning and her family and friends.
SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
This series consists primarily of letters between Marie Manning and her son, Oliver Gasch during his World War II military service, and from Olivia Torrence to Marie Manning. Letters to Oliver Gasch from Michael Gasch (1944-45) were written by Marie Manning in Michael Gasch's voice when he was an infant and his father, Oliver Gasch, was overseas during World War II. There is also limited correspondence from Eleanor Roosevelt to Manning. Unless otherwise noted, all letters to Manning were sent to her at home at 1753 P Street NW, Washington, DC. Some correspondence pertaining to the "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" column is filed in SERIES III: WRITINGS because it is relevant to drafts of replies that were later published. The following nicknames appear in the personal correspondence: "Benjy" = Marie Manning in family letters "The Admiral" = Herman Gasch "Bozo," "Old Reliable," "Major" = Oliver Gasch "Sylvery" = Sylvia Meier Gasch, Oliver Gasch's wife "Old Garriffler" = Manning Gasch "Bobb" or "Ming" = Manning Gasch, Jr. "Dinky" = Olivia Torrence's nickname for Marie Manning "Hinky" = Olivia Torrence
SERIES III. WRITINGS
This series is extensive and contains typescripts of Manning's manuscripts, both published and unpublished, many of which are annotated. There are also copies of two of her books, Ladies Now and Then and Judith of the Plains. In addition, there are correspondence and contracts pertaining to some of the writings, including Manning's unsuccessful attempt to copyright the pen name "Beatrice Fairfax." Writings known to have been written under the "Beatrice Fairfax" pen name are listed in the subseries Beatrice Fairfax writings; other writings are in the subseries Marie Manning writings. In the Ladies Now and Then subseries, general correspondence is filed alphabetically.
SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES
This series consists primarily of material acquired by Manning in researching readers' letters to the "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" column, much of it pertaining to problems that families of American servicemen encountered during World War II.
Articles about Marie Manning: correspondence, published versions, and typescripts 1942-45, 1992, n.d.
[See also Oversize Materials]
"Dear Beatrice Fairfax," Family Circle Magazine26 Jan 1945
"The Soldiers Told Beatrice Fairfax," PIC Magazine23 Jun 1932
[Located in Box 2]
Photographs
Marie Manningn.d.
Marie Manning with family and othersn.d.
Oliver Gasch as a baby 1906
Oliver Gasch as a childn.d.
Oliver Gasch with othersn.d.
Michael Gasch 1943
Marie Manning with Eleanor Rooseveltn.d.
Catherine Hollowayn.d.
Edith Kolbn.d.
Malvina Scheider 1934
Irene Gilles and Olivia Torrencen.d.
Miscellaneous and unidentifiedn.d.
Marie Manning with four colleagues at the New York Journal circa 1898
Herman E. Gaschn.d.
Photograph of painting inscribed "To Miss Manning, Jimmy B. WildApr. 5, 1897"
Books
Ladies Now and Then
Judith of the Plains
Magazines
The Saturday Evening Post10 Apr 1915
PIC Magazine23 Jun 1932
Family
Gasch, Herman E. 1937-45, n.d.
Gasch, Manning (?) 1932-33, n.d.
Gasch, Michael 1943
Gasch, Michael to Oliver Gasch (written by Marie Manning) 1944-45
Gasch, Oliver 1924-27, 1942-45, n.d.
Gasch, Oliver and Sylvia Meyer Gasch 1943-45, n.d.
Third party
Gasch, Herman
Torrence, Olivia 1925-27
Miscellaneous 1913, n.d.
Gasch, Michael to Sherrill Redmon27 Jun 2000
Gasch, Oliver
Keech, Richmond 1945
Lucas, Martha 1945
Torrence, Olivia 1913, 1938-42
Miscellaneous 1942-45, n.d.
Friends and acquaintances
Coolidge, Grace 1925
Ickes, Harold 1943
Roosevelt, Eleanor 1935-44
Torrence, Olivia 1909-45, n.d.
Trewick, Kate 1944-45
Miscellaneous 1904-59, n.d.
Pamphlet: The Author's Guild of the Author's League of America," 1945
Published books
Contracts 1943-44
Correspondence with E.P. Dutton and Co. 1943-45
Publicity 1944
General correspondence, A-Z, and unidentified 1944-45, n.d.
Notesn.d.
Typescript, copy 1n.d.
Typescript, copy 2n.d.
Lord Alingham, Bankrupt: review, The BookmanMar. 1901
Copies of published books
Ladies Now and Then 1944
Problems of Love and Marriage: Advice to the Lovelorn1931
Unpublished books: typescripts
"Beatrice Fairfax Memoirsn.d.
"Child Story," Chapters 1 and 2, n.d.
"Child Story," Chapters 1 and 2, n.d. (carbon copy)
"Crete"
Chapters 1-13, n.d.
"Supplementary Chapter on Religions"
Bound copy
"The Last Dragon,"
Chapters 1-12, n.d. (copy 1)
Chapters 1-3, n.d. (copy 2)
Fragmentsn.d.
"Latest Version," 1939 (copy 1)
"Latest Version" (copy 2) 1939
[See also box 16]
Beatrice Fairfax writings
Correspondence
Inquiries to and answers from United States Navy and War Departments re: readers' questions 1942-45
Replies to readers' questionsApr 1943-44, n.d.
[See also SERIES IV. SUBJECT FILES--Services--Family allowances--Correspondence and pamphlets, 1943-45]
Legal 1944-45
Typescripts and related correspondence
"Advice to the Lovelorn" column 1936-38
"Beatrice Fairfax is Launchedcirca 1940
"Beatrice Fairfax Surveys New Deal Changesn.d.
"Beatrice Fairfax Radio Continuityn.d.
"Boy Meets Girl" series 1936-37
"Bridget" series 1938
"Girl and Boss" series 1932-36
"Girls Men Should Shun" series 1933, n.d.
"Marriage" seriesn.d.
"Petting" series 1938, n.d.
Miscellaneousn.d.
Marie Manning writings
"Wounded Yanks Keep Cheerful in Big N.Y. Hospital," Times-Herald13 Aug 1943
"And Jove But Laughs" (2 copies)n.d.
"And So They Were Graduatedn.d.
"Arlington As a Plantation," 1927
"Asbestos Tyler's Suppressed Desires" (2 copies) 1929
"Battle Royal of Sahara and Atlantic Girlsn.d.
"Black Thursday and Black Breadn.d.
"The Case of Lillian Sabinen.d.
"Christmas at the White House," 1934, n.d.
"Dolly Gann Best of Sportsn.d.
"Double Exposuren.d.
"The Elixir," The Saturday Evening Post10 Apr 1915
"Evolution of a Lady," 1940
"The Fight Reporter Looks Over the Farm Girls, Trying to Get 'The Man's Angle'n.d.
"It Happened on Prom Nightn.d.
"Jewels of Evil Omen: Catherine the Great's Love Tokenn.d.
Lincoln's Birthday Recalls Shop Where He Bought Toys for Tad," 1944
"Love Among the Sophomoresn.d.
"The Maid-of-Honorn.d.
"The Man Famine in Official Washington is Overn.d.
"Notes for 'Without Obligation' or 'Cat Eat Cat'"
"Numbered Houses," 1922
"On With the Dancen.d.
"Our Journey to the Hebrides," 1905
"Patience and Sorrow Stroven.d.
"The Perpetual Providence," Smith's MagazineOct 1915
"Plantation Days at Arlington With Leen.d.
"The Profiteers' Wifen.d.
"The Prophetess Without Honor," n.d (2 copies)
"Prosperity Dawns Below Stairsn.d.
"The Ruling Complexn.d.
"Sarah Josepha Halen.d.
"The Republic of San Marinon.d.
"Some Further Adventuresn.d.
"The Torch Bearer 1930
"Which Boy Was the Dauphin?" (3 copies) 1937
Unidentified, "Chapter 1n.d.
Unidentified fragmentsn.d.
Notebook, "Ancient Lands and Creten.d.
Notebooks and miscellaneous notescirca 1928, 1939, n.d.
Artworkn.d.
Writings by others
Bouve,T.T.: "There Were Giants in Those Daysn.d.
Gasch, Oliver: "Washington Now and Then 1985
Ross, Ishbel: "Highland Twilightn.d.
Author unknown: "Interview With Marie Manning"n.d.
Adoption 1938-45
Fitness 1934-38, n.d.
Hull-House Year Book 1929
Illegitimacy
Correspondence and reports1939-43, n.d.
Homes for unwed mothers
Reports 1938-42
Florence Crittenton Homes 1943-44, n.d.
Sex education 1919-38, n.d.
Juvenile delinquencyn.d.
Publications 1938-39, n.d.
United States Government: World War II
Acts of Congress 1940-43
Army 1943-45
Army nursing 1942-44, n.d.
Chaplains 1941-45
Coast Guard 1940-45
Draft deferment 1942-44
Frankford Arsenal 1943, n.d.
Japanese-Americans 1943-44
Marine Corps Women's Reserven.d.
Marriage and divorce 1944, n.d.
Maternity care 1943-45
Merchant Marine 1944-45
Navy 1940-45, n.d.
Prisoners of war 1943-45, n.d.
Savings Bonds 1942-45
Seabees 1942, n.d.
Services for soldiers and their families
Day care and foster care 1944, n.d.
Education 1941-45
Family allowances: Correspondence and pamphlets 1943-45
Health 1943-44
Legal advice 1941-43, n.d.
Life insurance 1941-42
Mail 1942-45
Taxation 1943
Veterans Administration 1941-43
War Department
Bureau of Public Relations: Press releases 1943-45
Bureau of Public Relations Women's Interest Section: press releases 1943-44
Reporting casualties 1943-44, n.d.
War dogs: photographs and reports 1944
Women working in war factories: photographs 1943
Women's Army Corps (WAC) 1944-45, n.d.
Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS) 1942-44
WAVES and SPARS 1943, n.d.
Miscellaneous 1941-43, n.d.
SERIES III. WRITINGS (CONTINUED)
Unpublished books: typescript, "The Town of Glass Houses"
Chapters 1-3 n.d.
Chapters 4-7 n.d.
Chapters 8-10 n.d.
Notes for "The Town of Glass Houses,"n.d.
OVERSIZE MATERIALS
Poster: "A Report to the Women of America on our Wounded and the critical need for more Wacs in Army Hospitals"
Poster: "Insignia of Arms and Services of the United States Army"