Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: Staff/Personnel
LEON DESCHAMPS CORRESPONDENCE
July 11?, 1921 – September 8, 1960
TAGS: Leon Deschamps Correspondence ; Pine Mountain Settlement School ; May Ritchie ; Ritchie family ; WWI ; Belgium ; forestry ; farming ; agriculture ; forest fires ; silviculture ; architecture ; French ; construction ; education ; industrial training ; Katherine Pettit ; Milford, PA ; Mr. Browning ; Ethel de Long Zande ; Mr. Browning ; Luigi Zande ; Lexington, KY ; Carol Deschamps ; Mr. Manning ; Evelyn Wells ; Elizabeth Hench ; George Peabody College ; Nashville, TN ; Bognert Bros. ; Mrs. John C. Campbell ; job search ; letters of recommendation ; Perfect Acre ; John C. Campbell Folk School ; Brasstown, NC ; Hubert Hadley ; Glyn Morris ; reservoir ; Darwin D. Martin ; (Mary Rockwell) Hook ; Swannanoa, NC ; Mildred Mahoney ;
CONTENTS: Leon Deschamps Correspondence
NOTE: All letters to Deschamps are typewrItten carbon copies for the Office files, therefore usually unsigned. The addressees would have received the signed original letters.
1921 – 1923
[001] July 11(?), 1921
[unsigned] “KP” (Katherine Pettit) to Deschamps in Milford, PA: Miss Gaines; Mr. Browning; Golden and Justus; Boone; Mrs. (Ethel de Long) Zande; Leon’s return to PMSS.
[002] May 12, 1922
[unsigned] “E?”, probably Ethel Zande, to Leon, c/o V. Bogart Co., Lexington, KY: Lonesome without you and May; Carol; encloses salary check.
[003] May 31, 1922
[unsigned] to Deschamps in Brussels, Belgium: Mrs. Morton; visited Hindman and Miss Furman, Kelly Day and family; gardens; forestry; Rest Cottage; Mr. Browning; Colon and Golden.
[004] July 22, 1922
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Deschamps c/o Balus Ritchie, Viper, KY: Leon back with May and Carol again; please order Farm Forestry book.
[005] Nov 7, 1922
[unsigned] to Leon: Miss Pettit and I agree that PMSS ought not to acquire Leon’s estate in settlement of the notes the School holds against him, but that the School should have a cash return; Mr. Mensell agrees; Mr. Browning; mortgage; insurance papers; Luigi (Zande).
[006] July 10, 1923
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Leon and May, c/o V. Bogart Co., in Lexington, KY: New baby to arrive; Carol; Mother and Helen (de Long) miss you; new bridge over creek; church building; swimming pool; mortgage; Physical Geographics from The American Book; Dryers High School Geography; babies; teachers.
[007] July 10, 1923
[unsigned] to Leon Deschamps in Lexington, KY: Cannot find Leon’s papers in the vault; Miss [Bessie V.] Gaunt is away; ask Mr. [Charles N.] Manning.
[008] Aug 29, 1923
[unsigned] “KP” (Pettit) to May (Deschamps) at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lexington, KY: Greetings to you and new baby; encloses a letter; Carol is well cared for.
1924
[009] March 13, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Rebecca R. Mack in Chicago, IL: Asks for suggestions for young man (Deschamps) who has been teaching French, and science at PMSS and wants to get ahead professionally; describes his credentials; Miss (Evelyn) Wells sorry to miss talking at the Faulkner School in Chicago.
[010, 010a] March 14, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Miss Mina Kerr, Executive Secretary, AAUW, Washington, DC: Asks for suggestions for young man (Deschamps) who has given up forestry and has been teaching French, physics and general science at PMSS; wants to specialize in French, which isn’t needed at PMSS; describes his credentials.
[011] March 14, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Elizabeth Hench in Indianapolis, IN: Same letter as [010].
[012] March 14, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Miss Amy Burt at Central Michigan Normal School, Mt. Pleasant, MI: Same letter as [010].
[013] March 15, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Friends” at Peabody College, Nashville, TN: Asks for information.
[014] n.d.
Description of Deschamps’ character and credentials. Handwritten signature “Katherine Pettit.”
[015] March 20, 1924
“To whom it may concern”: Description of Deschamps’ character and credentials (with handwritten notations). Handwritten signature: “Ethel Zande.”
[016] March 20, 1924
Evelyn Wells, Secretary, Pine Mt. School “to whom it may concern”: Draft letter of recommendation for Deschamps.
[017] March 22, 1924
Mina Kerr, Exec. Secy., American Association of University Women in Washington, DC, to “Ethel” (DeLong Zande): Responding to March 14 letter: Will forward Deschamps’ name to Mr. Fisk, whom she knows well; AAUW information.
[020] March 25, 1924
Everett O. Fisk to Mrs. Zande: Received copy of Zande’s letter from Miss Kerr; will waive Deschamps’ registration fee; cannot give strong encouragement because of his lack of a college degree and that he is “born in a foreign country.”
[021] March 25, 1924
Fisk to Kerr: Informs Kerr of his response to Mrs. Zande.
[018] March 26, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Mina” (Kerr): Thanks Miss Kerr, provides Deschamps’ name, invites her to visit.
[022] n.d.
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Gurry” (G.E. Huggins, NYC): Introduces Deschamps and asks for information about working in an export house as an interpreter.
[019] April 1, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to Mr. Everett O. Fisk, Fisk Teachers’ Agency Boston, MA: Appreciates Fisk’s interest in Deschamps.
[023] May 23, 1924
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Leon” (Deschamps), care Bognert Bros., Lexington, KY: Miss Wells heard from Mr. Holt that export business is doing very poorly.
[024] June 6, 1924
[unsigned] “KP” (Katherine Pettit) to Dr. William J. Hutchins, Berea College, Berea, KY: Recommends Deschamps for a position.
1925 – 1927
[025] February 17, 1925
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Sirs” at Peabody College, Nashville, TN: Asks about length of time to study for a college degree to teach French.
[026] Februrary 17, 1925
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Sirs” at Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Asks for information about courses to study and length of time to get a degree.
[027] June 2, 1925
[unsigned] to Dr. Bruce Ryburn Payne at George Peabody College, Nashville, TN: Mentions mutual friend, Mrs. John C. Campbell; Asks Payne to help Deschamps find a teaching or tutoring job while attending Peabody.
[028] June 5, 1925
[unsigned] to The Registrar, George Peabody College, Nashville, TN: Note introducing Deschamps.
[031, 031a] June 7, 1925
“Leon” (Deschamps) from Peabody College, Nashville, TN, to Zande: Will work for a degree and stay in teaching: Still interested in staying at Pine Mt.
[029] June 8, 1925
Secretary to the President, George Peabody College to Zande: Acknowledging her letter; will be of any assistance possible to Mr. Deschamps.
[030] June 11, 1925
[unsigned, probably Zande] to “Leon” at Peabody College: Informs Deschamps of letter from Peabody College; waiting for answer from candidate for principal’s position.
[032] June 15, 1925
[unsigned] “KP” (Katherine Pettit) to Deschamps: Mentions her memories of Dr. Bruce Payne; PMSS has new preacher.
[033, 033a] Aug 3, 1925
Deschamps to Zande: Updates on his job search; will seek a part-time position in a small college and continue taking courses at Peabody; asks for letters of recommendation.
[034] Aug 7, 1925
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Leon”: Job search results may improve in August; Mrs. Ritchie; Truman; Bessie Mary; election; Boy’s House housemother has arrived.
[035] Oct 15, 1925
[unsigned] “KP” (Katherine Pettit) to “My dear Friends” (Mr. and Mrs. Deschamps): We still miss Aunt Sal, too; Nance Lewis; graveyard; Columbus (Creech); English ivy; visitors (Liliath Robins and husband, Turkish gentleman, Dr. Abell, moving picture makers, three Pittsburgh dentists, Berea people, preacher); Perfect Acre; walnut trees; Limestone Branch; potatoes; Mr. and Mrs. Browning; forest fire danger; fire line; Mr. Zande.
[036] Nov 2, 1925
[unsigned] “KP” (Katherine Pettit) to Deschamps: fossils; ask Mrs. John C. Campbell about work in NC; ask about Community School at Star, NC; write to Miss Furman in FL; shooting at Turkey Fork involved [ ?] Turner and Floyd Smith.
[037] Nov 3, 1925
[unsigned] “EKW” (Evelyn K. Wells) to Deschamps: Received note from President Morgan of Antioch to Mr. Zande asking about Deschamps studying there.
[038, 039] Nov 9, 1925
[unsigned] to “Leon”: article on dialect; workers’ charades.
[040] Dec 9, 1925
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Leon”: Article on dialect; will send box of things for family; Hugh Irvin died; Uncle John & Aunt Louise; carols.1926 & 1927
[041, 041a] Jan 6, 1926
Deschamps to Zande: Applied to 80 private schools; Deschamps’ record of education and experience; mechanical drawing; Carol;
[042] n.d.
Deschamps in Brasstown, NC [no salutation]: community building; Mrs. Campbell; Mr. and Mrs. Lange; John C. Campbell Folk School.
[043] August 27, 1927
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “Leon”: Asks Deschamps to pay towards his loan from PMSS; Granny Creech.
[047] Aug 29, 1927
Deschamps in Brasstown, NC, to Zande: Describes his plans to pay on his debt; Luigi’s letter; Zande’s health; [handwritten notations on this letter indicates payments and balances].
[044, 044a] n.d.
Draft of a mortgage statement (with blanks) indicating that Deschamps would sign over his mortgage on a Pine Mt. property to (blank, possibly PMSS) in order to pay his debt, if he doesn’t pay the debt in thirty days.
[045] Feb 22, 1927
[unsigned] “EZ” (Ethel Zande) to “May” (Deschamps) in Brasstown, NC: Granny Creech; Reny; Hattie’s new baby, Denver; Mallie ready to make the puffs when May sends the wool: Carol; Berto.
[046] various dates
Handwritten list of interest payments to 9/1/27 and balance due for year 1928-29.
1928
[048] April 17, 1928
[unsigned] “EKW” (Evelyn K. Wells) to “Mr. Deschamps”: Asks about missing French record for student Vergil Smith which is needed for Berea credit; Kitty; misses Ethel Zande.
[049] July 2, 1928
[unsigned] “KP” (Katherine Pettit) to Deschamps: Asks Deschamps permission to clear underbrush from the Perfect Acre; ironweed, dock, ragweed; Mr. Browning; Kitty; KP’s visit to Brasstown.
[050] July 16, 1928
Deschamps to “The Secretary” at PMSS: Payment of interest on debt.
1930-1932
[051] Dec 12, 1930
Deschamps to “The Secretary” at PMSS: Payment of interest on debt; PMSS refuses offer of his “transit” as part payment.
[052] Dec 18, 1930
[unsigned] “HH” (Hubert Hadley, Director) to Deschamps: Explains why PMSS cannot take Deschamps’ transit.
[053] July 27, 1931
Deschamps to “The Director” at PMSS: Asks for statement of his account.
[054] July 30, 1931
PMSS Bookkeeper to Deschamps: Sends statement to Deschamps.
[055, 056] Aug 2, 1931; Sept 10, 1931;
Deschamps to PMSS: Payment of interest on debt; handwritten calculations.
[057] Sept 13, 1931
PMSS Bookkeeper to Deschamps: Sends receipt; handwritten notation.
[058] Oct 22, 1931
[unsigned] “GAM” (Glyn Morris, Director) to Deschamps: Welcomes him to PMSS for a week’s visit; reservoir’s main water line has burst.
[059] Jan 10, 1932
Deschamps in Brasstown, NC, to Darwin D. Martin in Buffalo, NY: Asks Martin to use his influence to remove interest charges from his PMSS debt; Morris has asked Deschamps to visit PMSS for consultation but must credit travel expenses against the debt; visited Mr. Zande in Asheville, NC.
[060] Jan 15, 1932
Martin to Morris: Encloses Deschamps’ Jan. 10 letter; agrees to Deschamps’ request if Mr. Manning concurs.
[061] Feb 20, 1932
Morris to Manning: Asks Manning’s opinion of Martin’s request.
[062] Feb 24, 1932
[unsigned] Director to Deschamps: Mr. Manning of the Security Trust Co., agrees to waive interest on debt if principal is paid in 6 months; School will pay for Deschamps’ visit.
[063] March 10, 1932
Deschamps to Morris: payment on debt; re-negotiates Mr. Manning’s proposal.
[064] March 15, 1932
[unsigned] Director to Deschamps: Waiting to hear from Manning; asked for Deschamps’ plans to visit.
[065] March 22, 1932
Manning to Morris: Re-negotiates Deschamps’ request; handwritten notation indicates forwarding this letter to Deschamps.
[066] March 24, 1932
Morris to Deschamps: Typewritten version of handwritten notation on [065].
[067] April 5, 1932
Deschamps to Morris: Thanks Morris for his efforts concerning the debt; will try to pay monthly; will visit PMSS for consultation if expenses are paid; handwritten note indicates expenses will be deducted from his debt.
[068] April 8, 1932
Morris to Deschamps: Typewritten version of handwritten notation on [067].
[069] May 3, 1932
Deschamps to Morris: payment on debt; cannot say when he will visit.
[070] Dec 6, 1932
Deschamps to Morris: Payment in settlement of his debt.
[071] Dec 17, 1932
Morris to Deschamps: Thanks Deschamps for settling debt and invites him to visit.
[072] Dec 20, 1932
Deschamps to Morris: Received receipt, but also requests the “note” so that he can ‘destroy it.”
1936 & 1940
[073] April 29, 1936
Deschamps to Morris: Visited with Pettit in Lexington; PMSS received gift to rebuild the shop; Frank Smith; Jack Niles.
[074, 074a] April 1, 1940
[unsigned] to Deschamps: Welcomes Deschamps to PMSS to spend the summer to help Mrs. (Mary Rockwell) Hook with stonework and carpentry; asks him to be foreman for the construction of Laurel House and girls’ house on Pole House Hill; states living arrangements and terms.
[075] April 21, 1940
Deschamps to Morris: Advice about buying pine lumber.
[076] April 30, 1940
[unsigned] to Deschamps: Delay in plans; expecting Hook soon; asks Deschamps to help with girls’ house.
[077] May 19, 1940
Deschamps to Morris: Too busy at Campbell Folk School to come to Pine Mountain.
1960
[078] Sept 7, 1960
Deschamps in Swannanoa, NC, to “The Director” at PMSS: Asks for a copy of the PMSS calendar.
[079] Sept 8, 1960
Mildred Mahoney, PMSS Secretary, to Deschamps: Will send 1954 calendar; Burton Rogers is on vacation; invites Deschamps to visit PMSS.
GALLERY: Leon Deschamps Correspondence
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_001.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_002.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_003.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_004.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_005.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_006.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_007.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_008.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_009.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_010.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_010a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_011.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_012.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_013.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_014.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_015.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_016.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_017.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_018.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_019.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_020.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_021.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_022.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_023.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_024.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_025.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_026.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_027.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_028.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_029.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_030.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_031.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_031a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_032.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_033.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_033a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_034.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_035.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_036.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_037.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_038.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_039.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_040.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_041.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_041a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_042.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_043.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_044.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_044a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_045.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_046.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_047.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_048.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_049.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_050.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_051.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_052.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_053.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_054.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_055.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_056.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_057.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_058.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_059.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_059a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_060.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_061.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_062.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_063.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_064.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_065.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_066.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_067.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_067a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_068.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_069.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_070.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_071.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_072.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_073.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_074.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960.[deschamps_074a.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_075.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_076.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_077.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_078.jpg]
- Leon Deschamps Correspondence, 1921-1960. [deschamps_079.jpg]
See Also:
LEON DESCHAMPS Biography
MAY RITCHIE Biography