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Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-080-001
This volume, compiled by Kathleen Kennedy, chronicles her service as a Staff Assistant for the American Red Cross in London, England, during World War II, primarily between May and July, 1943. A handwritten note in pencil on the front cover reads, “Kathleen Hartington / [Keep/Keys(?)] Keep RFK / July 1949.” Diary entries are inscribed directly on the pre-printed ruled pages in pencil and black ink, as well as typed on the back of American Red Cross notepaper sheets. In her diary entries, Kathleen writes about the completion of her Red Cross training; her preparations for and departure to England, including crossing the Atlantic Ocean aboard the R.M.S. Queen Mary, converted to a troopship; her work at American Red Cross service clubs in London; and dinners, parties, weekend trips, and other social events. Of note is an undated, unstamped, and blank telegram with a handwritten note in black ink signed, "Your loving brother : Kennedy," inserted at the front of the book. Also of note are three handwritten letters written in black or blue ink between Kathleen and her husband, William “Billy” Cavendish, the Marquess of Hartington, placed in an envelope addressed to “Capt. : The Marquess of Hartington : 5th Bn.: Coldstream Guards : British Liberation Army,” in Kathleen’s hand, postmarked July 17, 1944. This volume contains 30 telegrams, 10 typed diary entries, five handwritten letters, four newspaper clippings, three photographic prints, two magazine clippings, and various printed ephemera, including a schedule, vaccine card, matchbox, invitation, shipping ticket, menu, handwritten notes, and miscellaneous booklets and pamphlets.
Textual folder
Kennedy Family Collection
KFC-079-001
This scrapbook, compiled by Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, chronicles her service as a Staff Assistant for the American Red Cross in London, England, during World War II, from 1943 to 1944. The scrapbook contains pre-printed ruled pages, with the first section including alphabetical tabs along the right edge. It contains newspaper and magazine clippings and other pieces of printed ephemera that relate to a wide range of topics, including British involvement in World War II; Kathleen’s arrival in London; her brother John F. Kennedy’s service in the United States Navy and his command of the motor torpedo boat, PT-109, in the Solomon Islands; William “Billy” Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington (formally referred to as “Lord Hartington”), and his candidacy for the West Derbyshire by-election of 1944; Kathleen’s marriage to Billy Hartington; and society and entertainment news and events. In addition to Kathleen, those pictured in photographs and identified in original captions include American Red Cross volunteer Mildred “Mid” Eberle; United States Navy Lt. Oren Root; Lady Anne Cavendish; Deborah Vivien "Debo" Freeman-Mitford Cavendish; Billy; Anthony “Tony” St. Clair-Erskine, the 6th Earl of Rosslyn; Sir John Charles Peniston “Buffles” Milbanke; Sheila Milbanke; Lady Elizabeth Cavendish; Lord Edward Norman “Ned” Fitzmaurice; Hon. Charles Richard Strutt; British jockey and member of the British Guards Armoured Division, Major Peter Cazalet; British steeplechaser and member of the Welsh Guards, Captain Anthony Mildmay; Lady Jean Ogilvy Lloyd, Baroness Lloyd; members of the American Red Cross Hans Crescent Golf Team; American golfer Howard Scoggins; member of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Lt. Richard F. Wood; and British rugby player and Member of Parliament, William Wavell Wakefield. Other items of note include an “Artiste’s salary voucher” for Kathleen’s role as an extra in the film “English Without Tears”; correspondence with the American Red Cross regarding her violation of wartime censorship rules and her potential violation of Red Cross policies regarding political activities; a souvenir golf scorecard for a match between the Hans Crescent Golf Club and the Muswell Hill Golf Club; documentation allowing Kathleen to vote in the Parliamentary bi-election; a typed account sent to Kathleen from the Regimental Headquarters of the British Army’s Coldstream Guards that details the activities of her husband Billy’s regiment in the weeks prior to his death during a military campaign in Belgium on September 9, 1944; a draft of remarks given by Kathleen at a Derbyshire Federation of Women's Institutes exhibition; magazine clippings featuring Fred and Adele Astaire; and photographic postcards featuring Levens Hall and Chatsworth House, both in England, and Lismore Castle in Ireland. A final item of note is a contact print of a strip of six 35mm black and white negatives featuring images of a cross marking the site near the town of Heppen, Belgium, where Billy was killed in action. Original handwritten captions are written in black and blue ink and pencil on many of the leaves. This scrapbook contains 175 pieces of ephemera, including newspaper and magazine clippings, letters, notes, invitations, and political pamphlets, as well as 35 photographic prints.