This collection consists of correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, and other papers pertaining to Natalie Vivian Scott, a New Orleans journalist, author, and activist. Included are letters written during her service in a field hospital in World War I; papers documenting the New Orleans literary community of the 1920s; letters written during Scott's service with the Red Cross in World War II, and documents pertaining to Taxco, Mexico. There are letters to Martha G. Robinson, and a letter from Ruth McEnery Stuart. The collection includes a condolence letter from Lyle Saxon to Scott on the death of her brother Nauman in 1926, and William Spratling's portrait of John Dos Passos, signed by artist and subject.

Biographical Note

Natalie Vivian Scott was born on July 18, 1890 in Bristol, Virginia, to Nathaniel Craves Scott and Martha Vivian Fauver. The family moved to New Orleans, where her father worked as a railroad contractor. Natalie Scott graduated from Newcomb College in 1909, and continued her studies there, earning a Master's degree in 1914, writing her thesis on Zuripidos, Seneca, and Corneille. During World War I, she served with the Red Cross in a field hospital in France, then returned to New Orleans with the intent of becoming a journalist. She wrote a society column for the New Orleans States, as well as news stories about such topics as the murder trial of Andrew J. Whitfield in 1920. She associated with the literary group that centered in the French Quarter. Its more notable members included William Faulkner, Sherwood Anderson, Lyle Saxon, and William Spratling. Through her collaboration with Spratling, Scott became interested in Mexico. She made her first trip there in the late 1920s and moved there in 1930. During World War II, Scott rejoined the Red Cross, seeing North Africa, Germany, and the Phillipines, returning later to Mexico and New Orleans. She created a day nursery in Taxco, Mexico; the building was named in her honor. She died November 18, 1957, and is buried in Taxco.

Subject/Index Terms

Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970.
France -- History -- 20th century.
Journalists -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Mexico -- History -- 20th century.
New Orleans (La.) -- History -- 20th century.
New Orleans (La.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th century.
Red Cross and Red Crescent -- History.
Robinson, Martha Gilmore.
Saxon, Lyle, 1891-1946.
Scott, Natalie, 1890-1957.
Scott family.
Spratling, William, 1900-1967.
Vieux Carré (New Orleans, La.) -- History -- 20th century.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Medical care.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 10 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Martha Gilmore Robinson and others.

Preferred Citation: Natalie Scott papers, Manuscripts Collection 123, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011. Revised by LAC Group 10/17/11.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 402770848

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Correspondence],
[Box 2: Correspondence],
[Box 3: Correspondence],
[Box 4: Correspondence],
[Box 5: Correspondence],
[Box 6: School papers, Red Cross records, and other papers, 1897-1958],
[Box 7: Family papers, 1856-1960],
[Box 8: College papers, 1905-1950],
[Box 9: College papers, 1905-1950],
[Box 10: Scrapbooks, circa 1882-1957],
[Box 11: Address books and other materials, 1910-1957],
[Box 12: Photographs, circa 1890-1957],
[Box 13: Newspaper clippings, 1897-1967],
[Box 14: Printed materials, 1917-1958],
[Box 15: Printed materials, 1917-1958],
[Oversize folder 1: 1902-1951],
[Oversize folder 2: 1917-1926],
[Oversize folder 3: undated],
[All]

Box 6: School papers, Red Cross records, and other papers, 1897-1958

Contains early school papers of Scott's. Red Cross papers from World War I, her Croix de Guerre papers, typescripts of two short stories she wrote ("Semi-Scientific" which is incomplete, and "The Mark"), etc.

Folder 1: Subscription note, 1897 July 18
Folder 2: School papers, 1904-1908
Folder 3: Poems, 1916
Folder 4: Drawings, 1918
Folder 5: Memo, circa 1917
Folder 6: Red Cross certificate, 1916 July 7
Folder 7: Her account of a voyage, 1917
Folder 8: Travel authorizations, 1917-1918
Folder 9: Red Cross report, 1918
Folder 10: Citation papers, 1919
Folder 11: Money cables, 1917-1918
Folder 12: Receipt, 1921
Folder 13: Short story, circa 1953
Folder 14: Natalie Scott speech, 1926
Folder 15: Short story, circa 1953
Folder 16: Poems, 1957
Folder 17: Funeral notice, 1957
Folder 18: Story, 1958
Folder 19: Memoir (Sidonie Scott), 1958
Folder 20: Speech, 1958
Folder 21: New Orleans property survey, 1922
Folder 22: Tour pamphlet, 1923
Folder 23: Passports, 1947, 1951
Folder 24: Checks (canceled), 1911-1956
Folder 25: Calling cards, circa 1920

Tulane University Special Collections