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 9: College papers, 1905-1950

Papers concerning Natalie Scott's education at Newcomb College, from which she graduated in 1909. She subsequently took a Master's degree there in 1914. Her thesis title was a Comparison of Certain Plays of Euripides with Later Plays on the Same Subject, which appears here along with early handwritten drafts. (Box 9 contains some miscellaneous material).

Folder 1: Report card, 1905
Folder 2: Newcomb yearbook, 1909
Folder 3: Natalie Scott poem, 1909
Folder 4: Graduation material, 1909
Folder 5: H. Muller story, 1909
Folder 6: French lecture ticket, 1918
Folder 7: Anonymous poem, undated
Folder 8: Red Cross memos, 1917, 1918
Folder 9: Small flags and flowers, circa 1917
Folder 10: Pressed flowers, 1917
Folder 11: Tempera painting, circa 1945
Folder 12: Trip brochure, circa 1910
Folder 13: Other papers, 1950
Folder 14: Flag and decoration, undated

Tulane University Special Collections