Carol Georgette Lake Bradley memoirs, 1922-1996, 2010-2025

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Summary

Creator:
Bradley, Carol Georgette Lake, 1922-2006
Abstract:
Carol Georgette Lake Bradley (1922-2006) was a distinguished graduate of Duke University, class of 1943. Collection consists of 23 handwritten spiral-bound volumes containing her memoirs, in which she describes in detail her childhood, school years, World War II, experiences at Duke University, marriage, motherhood, teaching career, retirement, and family life. Includes a narrative on the death of one of her children from polycystic kidney disease. Filed inside the volumes are letters, photographs, clippings, programs, and other memorabilia. Related materials, created by Bradley's family, comprise transcriptions, printed digital scans of the pages, and over 3000 electronic files, chiefly photographic images and texts such as transcriptions and indexes. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Extent:
11 Linear Feet (11 boxes)
25.6 Gigabytes (Approximately 3200 files)
Language:
Material is in English.
Research Center:
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Collection ID:
RL.00140

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of 23 handwritten spiral-bound volumes containing the memoirs of Duke alumna Carol Georgette Lake Bradley (1922-2006), in which she describes in detail her childhood, school years, World War II, experiences at Duke University, marriage, motherhood, teaching career, retirement, and family life. Includes a narrative on the death of her child Steven from polycystic kidney disease. The volumes include photographs, letters, programs, clippings, and other memorabilia that have been tipped in or loosely inserted between the pages.

From about 2010 to 2021, Bradley's family transcribed, scanned, and indexed Volumes 1-13; these additional resources are also part of the collection. Volumes 14-23 have been scanned but not transcribed or indexed. Electronic files originally on 13 DVDs and three USB thumb drives have been migrated to a library server and include scans of photographs, text, and memorabilia.

Biographical / historical:

Carol Georgette Lake Bradley (1922-2006) was raised in New Jersey and was a distinguished graduate of Duke University (class of 1943). She married Floyd "Pete" Bradley in 1944, and together they had 3 children: Steven, Floyd, and Lynette, although only Floyd and Lynette lived to adulthood. Carol Georgette Lake Bradley was an elementary school teacher, working primarily with second graders, for several decades. She began writing her memoirs in 1998, completing the first 20 volumes that year.

Acquisition information:
The Carol Georgette Lake Bradley memoirs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as gifts from Mary Ellen Sobule from 2010 to 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Meghan Lyon, September 2010.

Updated to include new accessions by Alice Poffinberger, January 2016.

Updated to include new accession by Megan Lewis, February 2018.

Updated to include new accessions by Leah Tams, February 2022, February 2025, March 2026.

Description of electronic materials (2017-0145) added by Paula Jeannet, June 2020, and (2018-0166, 2020-0070, and 2022-0014) by [Matthew] Farrell, April 2024 and April 2025.

Accessions included in this collection: 2010-0171, 2012-0222, 2015-0109, 2015-0207, 2016-0002, 2017-0145, 2018-0166, 2020-0070, 2022-0014, 2025-0005, 2025-0146.

Some description of materials provided by donor. Dates for each volume represent the years covered in the volume, rather than the creation date.

Arrangement:

Organized chronologically by autobiographical volume.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Carol Georgette Lake Bradley memoirs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1s89k