Typed letter from Ruth Duell to Charles [van Ravenswaay]. Regarding her visit with Mrs. A. B. Smith and her efforts to persuade Mrs. Smith to give all of her papers relating to Pearl Curran and Patience Worth to the Missouri Historical Society. States Mrs. Smith’s belief that Mr. van Ravenswaay’s initial letter to her was “instigated” by Patience Worth. Also states that she herself is not a believer in Patience Worth, and speculates that Mrs. Curran was a case of disassociated personality. (1 item), 1957 July 15

Item — Box: 2, Folder: 9

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection includes correspondence of Pearl Curran and miscellaneous material relating to her career; 29 typescript volumes of dialogues between Patience Worth and the family and friends of Pearl Curran, 1913-1937; loose typescripts of selected dialogues, 1916-1928; one bound volume titled “Odds and Ends” of miscellaneous writings, poems, etc. by Patience Worth; a typescript by Casper Yost of Patience Worth’s The First Book of Panda, 1915-1916; partial typescript manuscripts of Patience Worth’s works Redwing and The Merry Tale; a book of poetry written by Patience Worth for members of the Parrish family; loose poems written for Mrs. Dudley French and others; original and photocopy newspaper clippings regarding Pearl Curran and Patience Worth; a photograph of Pearl Curran’s gravesite; and correspondence of the Missouri Historical Society with donor Mrs. A.B. Smith.