Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Leo Griffin Spoffod papers
- Dates:
- 1942-1992, bulk 1946-1947
- Creators:
- Spofford, Leo Griffin and Lamb, Betty
- Abstract:
- Leo Griffin Spofford worked for a variety of government agencies from 1932-1947, including the WPA, the War Public Services Division of the Federal Works Agency, and the New Orleans Department of War Emergency Children's Service. In 1946, Leo became the Regional Director of the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association) and was sent to the Hunan Province, China. She spent 8 months in China, establishing refugee camps and orphanages. The collection primarily documents Leo's time in China, with correspondence, photographs, and personal belongings. Also included in the collection is a manuscript written by friend Betty Lamb, who interviewed Leo and wrote about her experiences in Tiger Bone Wedding: Leo Spofford's Letters from China, completed in 1985.
- Extent:
- .9 linear feet (2 boxes)
- Language:
- Languages represented in the collection: English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Leo Griffin Spoffod papers. Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Leo Griffin Spofford papers contain correspondence, photographs, and other personal belongings that document her time in China (1946-1947) working with the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association) and the CNRRA (Chinese National Relief and Rehabilitation Association).
Also included in the collection is a manuscripts written by Betty Lamb about Leo's experience in China, Tiger Bone Wedding: Leo Spofford's Letters from China, completed in 1985.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Date Event November 19, 1896 Leo Griffin Spofford born in Tiptonville, Tennessee 1917 graduated from the University of Tennessee, receiving her B.A. in sociology and home economics 1932-1936 Leo was a field worker for government relief work under the Unemployment Relief Committee in Shreveport, Louisiana 1936-1939 Leo worked as the State Director of the Women's and Professional Projects Division, where she supervised the activities of 10,000 non-construction workers, and the art, music and writers' projects of the WPA 1939-1942 Leo was the Chief Regional Supervisor for the Employment for Eligible Unemployed, WPA, New Orleans 1942-1943 Leo was the Regional Supervisor of the War Public Services Division, Federal Works Agency, Fort Worth, Texas 1943 Leo worked as the Special Assistant to Assistant Commissioner, Federal Works Agency, Washington, D.C. 1943-1946 Leo was the Director of the New Orleans Department of War Emergency Children's Service, where she created a plan for child care centers under federal supervision, making it possible for mothers to work in war plants. Leo was the Regional Director of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association) in Hunan Province for 8 months. Arriving in May 1946, she helped establish, at its highest point, 20 refugee camps and orphanages. 1947 Leo returned to her home to New Orleans 1949 Leo opened a gumbo restaurant and a praline shop in New Orleans - Acquisition information:
- Gift of Betty Lamb, 1992
- Physical location:
- Please consult repository.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- © 2005
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid created by Kelley Wolfe Bachli. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Access Database. Date of source: September 29, 2005.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Leo Griffin Spoffod papers. Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium.
- Location of this collection:
-
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.Claremont, CA 91711, US
- Contact:
- (909) 607‑3977