RAOUL FAMILY.
Raoul family papers > Letters and personal papers > Rosine Raoul papers

Biographical Note

Born on January 8, 1885 in Savannah, Rosine Raoul was educated at Washington Seminary in Atlanta and at Pratt Institute and the Veltin School in New York City, where she studied art. She made her debut in Atlanta in about 1904 and for the several years thereafter maintained an active social life in that city, often taking part in theater productions. In 1909, Rosine became ill with tuberculosis. Her next six years were spent primarily at sanatoriums in the Black Forest of Germany, Asheville, North Carolina, and Loomis, New York. From 1915 to 1918, she resided in Highlands, North Carolina. She died November 22, 1918 in Atlanta. Rosine Raoul was a published poet, essayist, and illustrator.

Scope and Content Note

Rosine Raoul's papers consist primarily of letters to her family from 1892 until her death in 1918. These letters, which bulk between 1898 and 1912, are mainly to her mother. The subseries also contains letters from friends, memorabilia, and samples of her drawings, poetry, and other writings.

Rosine's earliest letters describe visits to Great Hill Place, Washington, D.C., Mexico, and Asheville (1892-1900); her brief enrollment at the Pratt Institute in New York (1899); and her years at the Veltin School in New York (1901-1903). Letters from 1904 to 1908 describe her active social life, courtships, travels, and art classes. Her letters from Arizona in 1906 and Germany in 1908 concern the poor health of brother Tom with whom she was travelling. Her own ill health, including a breakdown, is the subject of letters between 1906 and 1908.

Rosine Raoul's letters from 1909 to 1918 document her losing battle with the "White Plague," tuberculosis. The letters from Germany detail the symptoms of her disease and the treatment she received at two Black Forest sanatoriums, Reiboldsgrun and Wehrawald. From 1910 to 1911, she wrote from Asheville, primarily from St. Joseph's Sanitarium, while other letters describe her stay at the Loomis Sanatorium in New York from 1911 to 1912.

The writings of Rosine Raoul include her poetry notebook (1907-1908), and other poems, some of which appear in their published versions. Several were written during her stay at St. Joseph's and Loomis sanatoriums. Also included are short stories, reviews, other articles, and a play (1896). An additional article by Rosine on suffrage is filed in Subseries 1.12, papers of Eleonore Raoul (box 33, folder 1).

Arrangement Note

Arranged by record type.