Summary

Creator:

Simons, Jessie Vanderbilt

Abstract:

Jessie Vanderbilt McNamee was born in 1874 to a wealthy family residing in Staten Island, New York (Richmond County). In 1901 she married Charles Dewar Simons (1874-1922) and they had one child, Charles Dewar, Jr. Simons served as a volunteer ambulance driver with the Dongan Hills Motor Corps; helped found and served as the ranking member of the Richmond County chapter of the Red Cross Motor Corps during World War I; served as Vice President of the National Federated Workers for Disabled Soldiers; and was an active member of the Veteran Association of Women War Workers. Her travels throughout Europe during the 1920s and 1930s are documented in diaries, correspondence, and other materials in this collection. Ms. Simons was a friend and neighbor of Alice Austen, a noted photographer who also served in the Richmond County Motor Corps. The Jessie Vanderbilt Simons papers contain materials dating from 1870 to 1936, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1890 to 1936. Materials in the collection primarily document Simons' travels through Europe during the 1920s and 1930s and her work with the Richmond County chapter of the American Red Cross Motor Corps. Twenty-nine yearly diaries detail daily life, family life, travel, participation in the Motor Corps, and other philanthropic activities. Correspondence with her son, family, and friends is also included; as are receipts, invoices, and other financial materials, primarily from travel to Europe; correspondence, printed materials, a scrapbook, and other items documenting Simons' service with the American Red Cross Motor Corps; material relating to friend, photographer, and fellow Motor Corps member Alice Austen; and photographs.

Extent:

6.5 Linear Feet
1000 Items

Language:

Material in English and German

Collection ID:

RL.01193

Background

Scope and Content:

The Jessie Vanderbilt Simons papers contain materials dating from 1870 to 1936, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1890 to 1936. Materials in the collection primarily document Simons' travels through Europe during the 1920s and 1930s and her work with the Richmond County chapter of the American Red Cross Motor Corps. Twenty-nine yearly diaries detail daily life, family life, travel, participation in the Motor Corps, and other philanthropic activities. Correspondence with her son, family, and friends is also included; as are receipts, invoices, and other financial materials, primarily from travel to Europe; correspondence, printed materials, a scrapbook, and other items documenting Simons' service with the American Red Cross Motor Corps; material relating to friend, photographer, and fellow Motor Corps member Alice Austen; and photographs.

Biographical / Historical:

Jessie Vanderbilt McNamee was born in 1874 to a wealthy family residing in Staten Island, New York (Richmond County). In 1901 she married Charles Dewar Simons (1874-1922) and they had one child, Charles Dewar, Jr. Simons served as a volunteer ambulance driver with the Dongan Hills Motor Corps; helped found and served as the ranking member of the Richmond County chapter of the Red Cross Motor Corps during World War I; served as Vice President of the National Federated Workers for Disabled Soldiers; and was an active member of the Veteran Association of Women War Workers. Her travels throughout Europe during the 1920s and 1930s are documented in diaries, correspondence, and other materials in this collection. Ms. Simons was a friend and neighbor of Alice Austen, a noted photographer who also served in the Richmond County Motor Corps.

Acquisition Information:

The Jessie Vanderbilt Simons Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2007.

Processing information:

Processed by Jodi Berkowitz and Melody Rowell, November 2008

Encoded by Jodi Berkowitz, November 2008

Accession 2007-0149 is described in this finding aid.

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:

World War, 1914-1918 -- Women
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- United States
Women volunteers in social service -- United States
Women artists
Photographers -- United States
Voluntarism -- United States
Women -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Women -- New York (State) -- History -- 20th century

Formats:

Diaries
Invoices
Photographs
Receipts (financial records)
Scrapbooks

Names:

American Red Cross. Women's Motor Corps
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Simons family
Austen, Alice -- 1866-1952
Simons, Jessie Vanderbilt

Places:

Europe -- Description and travel -- 19th century
Richmond County (NY.) -- History
Staten Island (New York, N.Y.) -- History