Title: Sharp and Lauderdale Family Papers

Date/Date Range :   circa 1880-2003 (bulk 1920s-1960s)

Extent: 5.5 linear feet

Abstract:

This collection contains the papers of Winnifred (Watson) Sharp and her daughter Maywin (Sharp) Lauderdale from the 1880s through 2003, primarily 1940s to 1990s. Materials include baby books and Winnifred Sharp's diaries from the 1920s through the 1960s, a large collection of mostly American postcards, spanning the 20th century, and numerous family photographs from the 1880s to 2000s. There are also numerous newspaper articles, collected by Winnifred (Watson) Sharp, from the early to mid-20th century.

Call number: MS-3061

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

Collection was purchased by UT Special Collections Library in February 2007.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], Sharp and Lauderdale Family Papers, MS-3061. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection contains five boxes in four series:

1. Series I. Books and Diaries, 1903, 1924-1967
2. Series II. Personal Documents, 1893, 1905-2002
3. Series III. Postcards, 1930-2003
4. Series IV. Photographs, 1880-1971, 2000

Winnifred Watson (1888-1974) was born to Alexander and Frances (Sutton) Watson, who also had four other children. She married Marlay Albert Sharp (d. August 26, 1959) on June 30, 1923, in Pierre, South Dakota. The couple had Maywin on June 9, 1925, and Watson Marlay on October 1, 1926. In 1937, Marlay became head of the Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK).

Maywin Sharp earned a bachelor's in sociology in 1947 from UTK. The next year on August 21, she married Robert Amis "Bob" Lauderdale, Jr., (1922-1999) of Johnson City, Tenn. He studied chemical engineering at UTK, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1944 and with a master's in 1948. The couple had a son, Robert Amis "Robbie" III, on October 7, 1951. Unfortunately Robbie died on December 13, 1955, of a brain tumor, but the Lauderdales had a second son shortly afterwards on May 31, 1956. Two years later, Bob received a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in civil and sanitary engineering. He became professor at the University of Kentucky, and in 1964 established the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute to ensure the quality and quantity of water available to the population.

This collection contains the papers of Winnifred (Watson) Sharp and her daughter Maywin (Sharp) Lauderdale from the 1880s through 2003, primarily 1940s to 1990s. Materials include baby books and Winnifred Sharp's diaries from the 1920s through the 1960s, a large collection of mostly American postcards, spanning the 20th century, and numerous family photographs from the 1880s to 2000s. There are also numerous newspaper articles, collected by Winnifred (Watson) Sharp, from the early to mid-20th century.

Series I. Books and Diaries, 1903, 1924-1967, primarily contains the diaries of Mrs. Winnifred Sharp from 1928 to 1931 and 1941 to 1967. They record the day-to-day happenings in Mrs. Sharp's life, as well as her various road trips in the United States. There is also a baby book for Maywin Watson from 1924 to 1925 and for David Lauderdale from 1956 to 1957.

Series II. Personal Documents, 1893, 1905-2002, contains correspondence for the Lauderdales and the Sharps, newspaper articles, and various personal papers, including the marriage certificate for Marlay and Winnifred Sharp.

Series III. Postcards, 1930-2003, contain sent and unsent postcards, collected by Maywin (Sharp) Lauderdale from the 1930s to 2003. There are three sub-series: A. Sent Postcards, which are sorted chronologically and were posted through the mail to the Lauderdales; B. Unsent American Postcards, which are organized alphabetically by state; and C. Unsent Non-American Postcards, which are from various European countries, China, and Canada.

Series IV. Photographs, 1880-1971, 2000, consists of six sub-series: A. Photograph Albums; B. Framed and Matted Photographs; C. India Trip; D. Photograph Collections; E. Negatives; F. Loose Photographs; and G. Other Material. The bulk of the photographs are from the 1920s through the 1950s and primarily are of the Winnifred Watson, Marlay Sharp, and Maywin Lauderdale families. The photograph collections and negatives remain in original division with original (or near original) titles.

N.B. Winnifred Sharp is Winnifred Watson's married name. Maywin Lauderdale is Maywin Sharp's married name. Robbie Lauderdale refers to Maywin and Robert Lauderdale's son, Robert Lauderdale III.

• Lauderdale, Maywin Watson Sharp, 1925-.
• Sharp, Winnifred Watson, 1888-1974.
• Photographs -- 19th century.
• Photographs -- 20th century.
• Postcards.
• Diaries.