Gladys Hinckley Werlich Series, 1908 - 1972
Scope and Contents
Papers of Gladys Hinckley Werlich, Washington social matron, consisting of correspondence, diaries, journals, commonplace books, accounts, and newspaper clippings. The series documents Gladys Werlich's early years in Washington society (1905 - 1923); her marriage to foreign service officer McCeney Werlich (1923 - 1936); and her extensive travels before and after her marriage (1908 - 1972).
The series concerns Gladys Werlich's years as the wife of a career foreign service officer, her involvement in Washington society, and her extensive travels. Included is correspondence (1928 - 1935) from McCeney Werlich, describing his activities, both official and social, including a lengthy run of correspondence while stationed in Liberia, detailing his activities, both official and social, including a lengthy run of correspondence while stationed in Liberia, detailing his views on Liberian domestic affairs, as well as the state of U.S.-Liberian relations. Also included are two journals kept by Gladys Werlich while living in Latvia and Poland, as well as a series of journals, containing recollections of her courtship with McCeney, their early years in Paris, and their subsequent life in Warsaw and Costa Rica. Gladys Werlich's social activities are recorded in great detail in her numerous journals and diaries. See in particular diaries and recollections, recording the events of her life between the years 1909 and 1922 (Boxes 13 and 14). Finally, the series contains journals kept by Gladys Werlich between 1909 - 1972 which document her experiences while traveling through Europe, China, Japan, Russia, Egypt, and Africa, among other places. Mrs. Werlich's diaries and journals are usually rich in describing her wide circle of friends and acquaintances which included many prominent individuals. Box 11 contains correspondence, filed alphabetically, which includes letters from Shane Leslie, Anya Seton Chase, Comtesse Koutouzow Tolstoy, Senator Theodore Francis Greene, Perle Mesta, and Helen Keller, among others.
Dates
- 1908 - 1972
Conditions Governing Access
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Biographical / Historical
Gladys O'Donnell Hinckley was born in Washington, D.C. on 9 May 1891, the daughter of Robert Hinckley, portrait artist, and Eleanora O'Donnell Hinckley, a native of Baltimore. Proclaimed by a visiting Russian as "the most beautiful girl in Washington," Gladys Hinckley was, in the years following her 1909 debut, "as well known at least all up and down the eastern tier of cities, from Boston to Baltimore by way of New York and Philadelphia, as any girl in Washington." n 1923, Gladys Hinckley married McCeney Werlich, the European Representative of the American Locomotive Company, residing in Paris. After his acceptance into the foreign service in 1925, Gladys Hinckley Werlich joined her husband at his various diplomatic posts in Latvia, Poland, Costa Rica, and Paris. [She did not accompany her husband during his tour of duty in Liberia between 1933 - 1934.] Gladys Werlich was widowed following the death of her husband in Paris in 1936. They had one son, Robert O'Donnell Werlich. After her husband's death, Gladys Werlich continued to remain socially active, both as a Washington hostess and through her travels to exotic locations. She died on 19 January 1976.
Extent
3.5 Linear Feet (7 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu