Resource: Mary Churchill Humphrey papers

The Mary Churchill Humphrey papers include drafts and manuscripts of her unpublished writings, correspondence with family, friends and associates. Much of both the writings and correspondence are in French. The collection also includes photographs and scrapbooks, with three scrapbooks of material related to Mary Churchill Humphrey’s grandfather The Rev. E.P. Humphrey. Of particular interest is Humphrey’s extensive correspondence with François Monod (d. 1952?). The collection includes Humphrey’s letters as well as Monod’s, and spans the years 1928-1951. The collection was retrieved from a warehouse following Mary Churchill Humphrey’s death.

Dates

1887-1969
Majority of material found within 1920-1969

Creator

Humphrey, Mary Churchill, -1972 (Creator, Person)

Extent

14 linear feet

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Mary Churchill Humphrey was born August 21, 1887 in New Albany, Indiana to Alexander Pope Humphrey (1848-1928) and Mary Moss Churchill Humphrey (1848-1926). The following year the family moved to Glenview, Kentucky and occupied the Fincastle Club, eventually renovating and purchasing the property in 1906. According to Nanine Hilliard Greene (Book 6) the Humphreys had five children: Ethel, Mrs. Edward P. Mellon, (b. 1880), Edward (1881-1886), Alexander Pope, Jr. (1883-1917), Churchill (b. 1885-1970]), and Mary Churchill “Poppy “ (1887-1972). Alexander Pope Jr. died in an airplane accident while training for World War I. In 1916 the Humphreys built a residence, “Redflower Cottage” for their daughter on the estate. Mary Churchill Humphrey also had a residence in Paris at 17 rue du Cherche Midi. Mary Churchill Humphrey was a philanthropist, humanitarian and patron of the arts. During World War II she served on committees providing relief for refugees of Alsace-Lorraine. In 1948 she established the Humphrey Centenary Scholarship at the University of Louisville. The scholarship, given in memory of her parents who were charter members of the English Speaking Union, allows a University of Louisville student or faculty member to spend a year at an English university. Mary Churchill Humphrey died August 18, 1972 and is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

Related Materials

The Pope-Humphrey family papers, 1807-1938, at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville includes unpublished manuscripts and other papers of Mary Churchill Humphrey, as well as correspondence and papers of her parents Alexander Pope Humphrey and Mary Moss Churchill Humphrey, and her brother Alexander Pope Humphrey, Jr. (ca. 1883-1917). Also at the Filson Historical Society, the Bullitt Family Papers holds extensive material relating to the Humphrey family, and correspondence between Mary Churchill Humphrey and William Marshall Bullitt.