Summary

Creator:

Duke, Doris

Abstract:

Doris Duke was the only child of James Buchanan (J.B.) Duke, a founder of the American Tobacco Company and Duke Energy Company and a benefactor of Duke University, and Nanaline Holt Duke. Inheriting a bulk of her father's estate in 1925, which included Duke Farms in New Jersey, Rough Point in Newport, R.I., and a mansion in New York City, Doris was soon dubbed by the press as "the richest girl in the world." Although Doris did her best to live a private life, she carried on the Duke family's pattern of philanthropy by contributing to a number of public causes such as the arts, historic preservation, and the environment. Doris Duke died in October 1993 at the age of 80. In her will she left the majority of her estate to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The Doris Duke Memorabilia Collection contains personal artifacts belonging to Doris Duke. The artifacts widely vary, yet tend to reflect what was important to Miss Duke including travel, philanthropy, growing orchids, and music. Of particular interest are those items from Doris Duke's childhood including scrapbooks, yearbooks, and homework assignments.

Extent:

28 Linear Feet
2,400 Items

Language:

Material in English

Collection ID:

RL.00330

Background

Scope and Content:

The Doris Duke Memorabilia Collection is part of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Historical Archives which were donated to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The collection is artificial in nature, created by combining personal artifacts belonging to Doris Duke. The artifacts widely vary, yet tend to reflect what was important to Miss Duke including travel, philanthropy, growing orchids, and music. Of particular interest are those items from Doris Duke's childhood including scrapbooks, yearbooks, and homework assignments.

The Doris Duke Memorabilia Collection covers the period 1898 to 2011 and is divided into 5 series: Awards and Tributes, Indentification and Membership Cards, Invitations, Miscellaneous, and Postcards. The materials are loosely arranged in chronological order.

Biographical / Historical:

Born on November 22, 1912, Doris Duke was the only child of James Buchanan (J.B.) Duke, a founder of the American Tobacco Company and Duke Energy Company and a benefactor of Duke University, and Nanaline Holt Duke. Inheriting a bulk of her father's estate in 1925, which included Duke Farms in New Jersey, Rough Point in Newport, R.I., and a mansion in New York City, Doris was soon dubbed by the press as "the richest girl in the world." Although Doris did her best to live a private life, she carried on the Duke family's pattern of philanthropy by contributing to a number of public causes such as the arts, historic preservation, and the environment. Doris Duke died in October 1993 at the age of 80. In her will she left the majority of her estate to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Acquisition Information:

The Doris Duke Memorabilia Collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a donation from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in June 2009.

Processing information:

Processed by Mary Samouelian, June 2012

Encoded by Mary Samouelian, June 2012

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: UA2009-0030

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related

Related Material:

• Duke Family Papers, 1885-1992 (bulk 1892-1927) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
• Doris Duke Papers, 1798-2003 and undated (bulk 1930-1999) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
• Doris Duke Papers on the Duke Farms Residence, 1859-2004 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
• Doris Duke Papers on the Rough Point Residence, 1922-1997 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:

Cromwell, James H. R. (James Henry Roberts), b. 1896
Duke family
International travel
Souvenirs (Keepsakes)

Names:

Duke, Doris
Duke, Nanaline Holt Inman
Duke, James Buchanan, 1856-1925