Papers of Evelyn Lorraine Schmitt Wallace, 1934-1981

The collection consists primarily of diaries, notebooks, correspondence, and household account books detailing her daily activities, menus, housekeeping chores, and finances. Also included are papers and certificates from Wallace's childhood and from her academic career. There are also some photocopies of photographs in the collection, the originals were not included (see folders #14,15, and 121).

Her diaries, which were transcribed and annotated in detail by her husband, describe her daily activities as a housewife and mother. The later diaries become more personal and reflective, as her illness progresses. She describes her experiences as a cancer patient and her ways of coping with the disease. There is one letter in particular that is addressed to her family, in which she reveals her acceptance of the disease and, ultimately, her fate. The letter was inserted by Wallace in the 1980 diary (see folder #43).

In organizing Wallace's correspondence, David Wallace arranged it by correspondent and provided short biographical descriptions. As a young adult, Wallace would use her last name (Schmitt) and the anglicized version (Smith) interchangeably. She is also addressed by an apparent nickname, "Mike," in the early correspondence with her sister Edith and friend Doris (Borrup) Kelly.

Many of the notebooks and diaries were held together with metal fasteners. These were removed and the pages numbered. There were also many clippings, cards, lists, and photographs which were included in various volumes. Most of these items were removed and refoldered as necessary. Wallace had a habit of flagging sections in the household journals with tabs attached with tape. These were removed and replaced with strips of acid free paper with the appropriate titles printed on them.