Catherine Cameron Figart papers, 1940-1994
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Summary
- Creator:
- Figart, Catherine Cameron, 1916-2008
- Abstract:
- Catherine Cameron Figart was a woman living in New York City who kept a daily journal for much of her life. The Catherine Cameron Figart papers primarily consist of 33 bound diaries written by Catherine Figart, as well as a few loose papers and pieces of correspondence.
- Extent:
- 3.5 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.12038
Background
- Scope and content:
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The Catherine Cameron Figart papers primarily consist of 33 bound diaries written by Catherine Figart, as well as a few loose papers and pieces of correspondence.
Each individual bound diary contains printed pages for each date in the year. Figart handwrote entries for many days in each year but no diary includes entries for every day. For many of the volumes, the entries are written in pencil and some entries are slightly faded; for other volumes the entries are written in blue ink. Some of the earlier volumes have materials tipped between some pages.
The diary entries often include comments on the weather, on Figart's emotional state, as well as on family interactions and events, and very occasionally comment on current events outside the family. Frequent topics include interactions with Figart's parents, including her mother (these interactions were sometimes fraught or included arguments); Figart's church attendance and involvement in her church's committees or activities; Figart's job; Figart's outings with friends including to attend plays, museums, and movies; her efforts to study and practice art in the earlier volumes; and many other subjects.
The loose papers may be additional diary entries intended to be added to the bound volumes, but are undated. The pages appear to be written in a similar style as the diaries. There are a few pieces of correspondence apparently from family members or friends.
- Biographical / historical:
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Catherine Cameron Figart was a woman living in New York who kept a daily journal for much of her life.
Catherine Cameron Figart was born 1916 June 04 to David and Nettie Figart. She had two younger brothers, Ian and Lincoln. The family lived in Yonkers, Westchester, New York, although Catherine was born in Singapore and some records indicate she may have traveled or spent some time in England or Ireland in the 1920s and 1930s. She began regularly writing in a diary by at least 1940. She attended college for about two years, worked as a commercial artist, and joined the Women's Army Corps in 1944.
Catherine Figart was very involved with her church, an Episcopal parish, attending church services regularly and participating in various church committees as well as helping to clean and set up the church for services. She appears to have lived with her parents for most of her life.
Catheron Cameron Figart died on 2008 January 29 at 91 years old.
Sources: Ancestry.com, viewed 2022 August 15.
- Acquisition information:
- The Catherine Cameron Figart papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2012.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Tracy M. Jackson, August 2022
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2012-0171
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Catherine Cameron Figart papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1jj0r