Temporary record

The privileged daughters of an elite family from Watertown, N.Y., Kate and Emma Lansing led adventurous lives during the first decades of the 20th century. Like their better-known brother, attorney and Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, the sisters were oriented toward public service, contributing much to the commonweal of the nation.

Having experienced Europe first hand during a tour with their aunt in 1909-1911, Emma and Kate volunteered to assist the beleaguered allied armies during the First World War, working at the "Cantine de Deux Drapeaux" in Epernay, France, of which Emma was eventually appointed director. For their heroic, and often peril-fraught efforts, both were awarded the "Croix de Guerre" in 1918, the first American women so honored. After the war the women returned to Watertown, remaining in contact with some of their French correspondents. Kate died in December, 1933, after a lengthy illness, leaving Emma without any immediate family.

Scope and contents:

The Lansing Papers contain the personal correspondence of Emma Sterling Lansing, Kate Lansing, and their brother, Robert Lansing (1864-1928), a prominent figure in international legal circles and Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson from June 23, 1915 to February 13, 1920.

The collection includes over 300 letters from Robert Lansing to his sisters between the late 1870s and the time of his death in 1928. These detail nearly every aspect of his professional career, from his work on the Bering Sea Tribunal (1892), the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal (1903) through the Mexican Crisis of 1916, the First World War, and his falling out with Wilson in 1919-1920. They provide a unique and extraordinary personal insight into the Wilson administration, Washington society, and political life in the first quarter of the 20th century.

The collection also includes 44 letters written by Kate and Emma while on their European tour in 1909-1911. These include fine descriptions of European cities, transportation, hotels, sights, weather, clothing, acquaintances such as Mr. Melon from Pittsburgh, and occasionally, politics. During the First World War, Kate and Emma received numerous letters from French soldiers describing life in the trenches and in camp, injuries, relations with American soldiers, or conveying thanks for letters and gifts that were sent. In the post-war period, many of these soldiers continued to write, informing the sisters of changes in their daily lives in France, their family, and the state of current European politics. With a few exceptions, most of these are in French. Also included in the collection are 8 photographs of various French subjects, one of Kate and her Aunt in Venice, and one of a prize show dog!

Related materials:

Additional papers of Robert Lansing are located at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library (Princeton University), the Jefferson County Historical Society (Watertown, N.Y.), and the Library of Congress.

Provenance:

The Lansing Papers have been acquired through the generosity of Dr. D.N. Diedrich and through purchase.

M-2991, M-3300

Subjects

France--Description and travel
France--Politics and government
France--Society and culture
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Soldiers--France
United States--Politics and government--1913-1921
War Work--France
Women in War
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918--Women

Back to brief guide

Return to:

Homepage	Manuscripts	Collections	Staff	Hours and policies