Eugene Edward Chiles papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 14439, Eugene Edward Chiles papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, at the University of Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
3 Cubic Feet 7 document boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 14439, Eugene Edward Chiles papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, at the University of Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Eugene Edward Chiles papers, (3 cubic feet, 1915-1922) contain love letters from his girlfriend, Eugenie O'Neill who is traveling in European circles with wealthy and or famous acquaintances, while he is working as a realtor in Pittsburgh, PA. and Stephens City, Virginia, after the war. Her letters mostly describe her feelings for him and mention (briefly) famous places, people, and events from the Twenties. Topics consist of post war conditions, unemployment, strikes, feminism, racism, and the Sinn Fein rebellion (newspaper clippings). Included are a few letters from Eugene and letters from his mother, and girlfriends (1915-1922). There are also financial, military, miscellaneous, and personal papers belonging to Eugene Chiles.

Biographical / historical:

Eugene Edward Chiles was a lieutenant in the United States Army who settled in Pittsuburg, Pennsylvania after the war. From 1918-1921, he received love letters from his girlfriend, Eugenie O'Neill (1888-1973), who was also from Pittsburgh but left to sail on the White Star Line for travel in London and France with her mother. She was the daughter of Florence O'Neill who was a writer for the Pittsburgh Dispatch. His father owned the newspaper and their family line descends from Hugh O'Neill (1781-1859 Ireland). Eugenie breaks up with Eugene after her parents divorce and financial issues arise. She marries Robert William Whitty Cryan.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_O%27Neill_(editor) https://www.geni.com/people/Florence-O-Neill/1826727

Acquisition information:
Purchased October 31, and November 11, 2008.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into 4 series: Series 1. Correspondence, Series 2. Financial papers, Series 3. Military papers, and Series 4. Miscellaneous and personal papers.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard