Ethel Armes letters, W.0146

Abstract: Letter to Robert Jemison Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, about uncredited copying of material from her book, The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama, and a letter to her brother about a promotion.Scope and Content Note: Letters from Ethel Armes to Robert Jemison Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, and her brother Edmund Armes. To Jemison she clarifies the publication history of her book, The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama. In the letter she reminds Jemison of the problems she had in getting the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to publish it. In reference to a book by Mr. Hornaday, given to her by Jemison, she stated that "the bulk of the data of fully four chapters is taken direct from the Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama and not a sign of credit is given for this." In her letter to her brother, a civilian army officer, she offers advice regarding a transfer or promotion.Biographical/Historical Note: Ethel Marie Armes, second daughter of George Augustus and Lucy Hamilton Kerr Armes, was born on 1 December 1876 in Washington, D.C. She was a journalist and author who wrote for the Chicago Chronicle, Washington Post, and the Birmingham Post-Herald. She also wrote several books, including The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama and Stratford Hall: The Great House of the Lees.Although she never married, in 1925 she adopted Catherine Claiborne, a ten-year-old girl for whom she'd been a foster parent. According to Ethel's letters, Catherine was a beautiful and talented girl, much courted by beaus and Hollywood. In the early 1930s, Ethel signed a contract with Paramount Studios (Mrs. Cecil B. de Mille was her chaperone). Catherine went to Hollywood in 1933. By May of 1945, Catherine had married Richard W. Millar and had two sons, Richard Jr. and Roger.Ethel Armes died on 28 September 1945 in Peterborough, New Hampshire