Emma French Randel papers, 1943-1947
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Summary
- Creator:
- Randel, Emma French, 1926-2025
- Abstract:
- Emma French was an undergraduate student at Duke University's Woman's College from 1943 to 1947 and graduated with a degree in Economics. She married James Randel, Jr., in 1951. The collection contains some of French's coursework, correspondence, writings, and photographs from her time at Duke.
- Extent:
- 0.25 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Most materials in English, with a small amount in French.
- Collection ID:
- UA.30.01.0109
- University Archives Record Group:
- 30 -- Student and Alumni Papers and Materials
30 -- Student and Alumni Papers and Materials > 01 -- Individuals
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection consists of materials documenting Emma French's years as an undergraduate student at Duke University's Woman's College from 1943 to 1947. The collection includes coursework from four classes: Accounting, French, Political Science, and Statistics, primarily completed in 1945. Personal correspondence from 1943 and 1944 consists of letters exchanged from French's mother, Lena, discussing events back home, her grades, and personal matters. There is also additional correspondence with Emma French's father, brothers, and friends—letters from her brothers and friends discuss some matters related to World War II, as they were serving as soldiers at the time. Also included are several short stories written by French, notes related to planning a sorority social event, and three photographs depicting her student life and social activities.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Emma Elizabeth French (1926-2025) was born November 1, 1926, in Woodstock, Virginia, to Warren B. French, Sr., and Lena Sheetz French. She was the third of eight children—her siblings were Warren B. French, Jr., Millson S. French, Sr., F. Douglas French, Sr., Ellen French, Lena French, Orrin L. French, Sr., and Sally French. Emma French graduated as valedictorian of Woodstock High School at age sixteen and then attended Duke University's Woman's College. She became a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and she earned a degree in Economics from the Woman's College in 1947. After working in Washington, D.C., she married James B. Randel, Jr., in 1951. The couple later settled in New Jersey, where they raised five children.
In 1972, the Randels returned to Virginia, and in 1976 they began growing grapes to make wine and established Shenandoah Vineyards in Edinburg, V.A. Following her husband's death, Emma French Randel continued to manage the winery for more than four decades. Outside her work in viticulture, she was active in local civic life through the Woodstock Rotary Club, the Woodstock Bridge Club, and the Woodstock United Methodist Church. She remained a resident of Woodstock until her death on March 21, 2025.
Biographical note adapted from: Obituary for Emma French Randel, Heishman Funeral Home wesbite, https://www.valleyfs.com/obituaries/emma-randel/#!/Obituary (accessed 2025 October 22).
Additional source: Virginia Marriage Records, accessed via Ancestry.com 2025 October 23.
- Acquisition information:
- The Emma French Randel papers were received by the Duke University Archives as a gift from Haley Randel in 2025.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Reina Henderson, October 2025.
Accessions described in this collection guide: UA2025-0035.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged alphabetically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright for official university records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Emma French Randel papers, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1mn1s