Collection Overview
Marsh, Dorothy, 1899-1979
Dorothy Marsh Paperscirca 1911-1973
4 boxes
(1.5 linear ft.)
English, Hungarian
Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Travel specialist and tour guide; and Red Cross official, World War II. The Collection includes correspondence, printed material, press articles, photographs, and memorabilia relating to Marsh's travel agency, Marsh Tours, Inc. Also correspondence and reports from Dorothy's work as a Red Cross teacher in Budapest, 1925, and as Regional Director of Red Cross Service Clubs during World War II; and material on the New York Women's Council and International Executive Service Corps.
Biographical Note
Dorothy Marsh in Thailand, 1970
Dorothy Marsh was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1899. In 1927 she established Marsh Tours, Inc. in New York City with her sister Marjorie Marsh Enfield. The agency specialized in college tours and student travel. They later opened offices in London and Paris. Marsh was the travel advisor to Smith College to Europe, Asia, and other regions, handling arrangements for Junior Year Abroad trips, and other groups. During World War II, Marsh volunteered at the American Hospital in Paris for the French Red Cross. She served as the regional director of Red Cross Service Clubs with the Overseas Task Force manager and was stationed in North Africa, France, and Germany. She volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps (an "executive Peace Corps" to underdeveloped nations) in Bangkok in 1970, and East Malaysia in 1971. Her other accomplishments included embarking upon a special teaching mission for Red Cross in Budapest from 1925 to 1926; managing the American Women's Club in Paris from 1926 to 1927; being secretary to Air Attache, U.S. Embassy, Paris, 1923 to 1934; and membership in the New York Women's Council from 1959 to 1969. Dorothy Marsh died in 1979.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Marsh Papers include correspondence, printed material, articles, photographs, and memorabilia relating to the career of Dorothy Marsh as a travel executive. Some material concerns her sister, Marjorie Marsh Enfield, her partner in Marsh Tours, Inc. Highlights of the collection include correspondence and reports from Dorothy's work as a Red Cross teacher in Budapest, 1925, and as Regional Director of Red Cross Service Clubs during World War II. There is a wealth of material on Marsh Tours, Inc., as well as some on the New York Women's Council and International Executive Service Corps. The photographs in Series I include images of Dorothy and her sister, Marjorie Marsh Enfield; Marsh Tours parties in various countries from, circa 1928-59; the Marsh Tours' Paris office; and American Red Cross activities (one with General De Gaulle during World War II).
Organization of the Collection
This collection is organized into two series:
-
[BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS](list-ser1)
-
[PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES](list-ser2)
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.
Copyright ownership for this collection is unknown. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Dorothy Marsh Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
Dorothy Marsh (Smith College class of 1921) donated her papers to the Sophia Smith Collection from 1971 to 1977.
Marsh, Dorothy, 1899-1979
International Executive Service Corps-History
Marsh Tours, Inc. (New York, N.Y.)-History-Sources
New York Women's Council-History
Businesswomen-United States-Biography-Sources
Tourism-United States-History-20th century-Sources
Travel agents-United States-Biography-Sources
Women owned business enterprises-United States-History
Women travelers-History-20th century-Sources
World War, 1939-1945-War work-Red Cross
World War, 1939-1945-Women-Personal narratives, American
Europe-Description and travel-Sources
Budapest (Hungary)-Description and travel-Sources
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
1
Contents
1
1
Biographical writings, 1945-73
1
2
Obituary, 1979
1
3
Passports, 1941-76
1
4
Articles written by Marsh, 1929-68
1
5
Articles about Dorothy and Marjorie Marsh, circa 1915-70
1
6
Memorabilia: invitations, maps, menus and miscellaneous items, 1929-74
1
7
Miscellaneous articles, 1924-72
1
8
Awards, 1885-1946
1
9
New York State Distinguished Achievement Award, "Salute to Women": programs and correspondence, 1962-66
1
10
Awards: American Society of Travel Agents Rosenbluth award, 1973-75
1
11
Photographs 1911(?)-70
Correspondence
1
12
To Dorothy Marsh (largely professional), 1915-76
1
13
From Dorothy Marsh (Marsh Tours and miscellaneous), 1948-71
1
14
Miscellaneous, 1923-67
SERIES II. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2
1
Employment agreements and miscellaneous documents, 1923-45
2
2
Paris American Players: correspondence, 1929-72
American Red Cross, World War II
2
3
Correspondence, 1942-46
2
4
Reports (Casablanca, Capri, South France, Overseas task force), 1943-45
Playground course, Hungary (Ligue des Societes de la Croix - Rouge)
2
5
Correspondence, 1924-26
2
6
Introductory speech, lesson plans and final report, 1924
2
7
Manual (in Hungarian), 1925
2
8
American Women's Club of Paris: letters to Dorothy Marshy (house manager), 1927
New York Women's Council
Correspondence
2
9
From Marsh, 1959-69
2
10
To Marsh (including Nelson Rockefeller and Jane Todd), 1959-69
2
11
Pamphlets, reports, newsletters and miscellaneous items, 1959-1969
VIP Tour 1965
2
12-13
Correspondence, 1964-66
2
14
Itineraries, publicity and miscellaneous correspondence
Florence Floods: Travel Industry Relief Fund
Correspondence
2
15
From Dorothy Marsh, 1966-67
2
16
To Dorothy and Marjorie Marsh, 1966-67
2
17
Publicity and miscellaneous correspondence, 1966-67
International Executive Service Corps
3
1
Pamphlets, articles and news, 1967-72
3
2
Correspondence, 1971-75
Malaysia
3
3
Correspondence, 1971-72
3
4
Reports, articles and pamphlets, 1964-75
Thailand
3
5
Correspondence and mementos, 1970-72, n.d.
3
6
Reports, pamphlets, and articles, 1970
Marsh Tours, Inc.
4
1
Itineraries, 1941-68
4
2
Business tours, 1959-64
4
3
Profit sharing plan and insurance, 1961-65
4
4
Promotion, 1950
4
5
Traveling information, 1951-67
4
6
Spring vacation tours, 1955-67
4
7
Staff meetings, memoranda, and instructions, 1951-65
4
8
Pamphlets, 1929-68
4
9
Dorothy Marsh's personal pamphlets, 1948-68
4
10
Theatre tours, 1933-74
4
11
Workshop in international understanding, 1949-77
American Society of Travel Agents Inc. (ASTA)
4
12
Miscellaneous, 1962-76
4
13
Southwest chapter meeting, 1958
4
13
Pamphlets and list of members, June 1951
4
13
"A Pictorial Record of the 21st Annual Convention of the American Society of Travel Agents, Paris, October 21st-27th, 1951", 1951
4
14
South Africa picture book, 1956
4
15
Miscellaneous pamphlets, 1948-73