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Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Eleanor W. Perrin Diaries, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Gift

Processing Information:

Processed by Ellen Strong in 2000.

Biographical Information:

Eleanor Wormley Perrin (1883-1975) was born at Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of John Tayloe Perrin (1836-1904) and Maud Prosser Tabb (1836-1925) (or Evelina Matilda Tabb, 1848-1925). During the early 1920s Eleanor worked as a secretary in Baltimore, but in the latter 1920s she moved to"Goshen," Gloucester County, Virginia. ( In 1922, at age 39, Eleanor began keeping a diary of her daily life which she continued until age 84, when illness and dementia took her ability to continue writing. She lived for another eight years in a nursing home before passing away in 1975 at Pinero, Gloucester County, Va. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Diaries; 1922-1967, of Eleanor Wormley Perrin of "Goshen," Gloucester County, Va. These forty-five diaries span nearly a half century, from 1922 to 1967, and document life in 20th century Virginia. Perrin's diaries discuss local events, female social life, national events such as wars and politics, hurricanes, the death of family and friends, and other topics. Toward the end of Perrins's life her diary entries increase in length and intimateness, often expressing loneliness and reflecting upon the complexities of life.

Related Material

See also:

John T. Perrin Papers, 1770-1931. 11 boxes. Collection number: Mss. 65 P42

Perrin Family Bibles Collection, ca. 1740-1938. 3 items. Collection number: Mss. 93 P42

William K. Perrin Papers  Mss. 95 P42

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• American diaries--Women authors
• Diaries
• Gloucester County (Va.)--History--20th century
• Perrin family
• Virginia--History--20th century
• Women--History--Virginia
• Women--Virginia--Social life and customs