The Coe papers consist of 20.06 linear feet and contain a wealth of material relating to Christine Sadler Coe’s life long career in journalism and to that of her husband, Richard Coe who was the longtime theater critic for the Washington Post. The papers are comprised of seven series which document her life as well as the mid-century events and crises of America and the world. A leader in the field of journalism her papers follow her career trajectory and experiences as a female journalist in a male dominated field.

In the Writings Series are manuscripts and research for her two books America’s First Ladies (1963) and Children in the White House (1967) and for an unfinished work on Nelly Parke Custis, descendant of George Washington. Also significant in this collection are articles she wrote for the Washington Post and McCall’s magazine; and correspondence, invitations, programs, notebooks, and photographs that reflect her many personal and professional friendships with first families, ambassadors, politicians, and other prominent figures in Washington, D.C. in the four decades that she lived there.

The Series:

Correspondence

Personal and Biographical

Career in Journalism

Writings

Subject Files

Photographs

Oversize materials in Flat box