RAOUL FAMILY.
Raoul family papers > Letters and personal papers > Rebecca Barnard Raoul papers

Biographical Note

Rebecca Raoul was born on September 21, 1878 in Macon, Georgia. She was educated at various schools in New York and Atlanta, including the Washington Seminary. Following her debut in Atlanta (1897) and a tour of Europe (1899), she worked as volunteer district secretary of the Associated Charities of Atlanta and took active part in city social life. In 1908, Rebecca married Captain Frederick William Altstaetter of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Three children were born to them, Mary Wadleigh (b. 1909), William Raoul (b. 1911), and Antonia (b. 1915). Between 1908 and 1918, the Altstaetter family lived in Wheeling, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1918, they took up permanent residence in Savannah, where Rebecca was active in the League of Women Voters. She died on May 14, 1962.

Scope and Content Note

Letters from Rebecca Barnard Raoul, primarily to her mother and also to her sisters, date from 1883 to 1930. A few letters from her husband Frederick Altstaetter to his mother-in-law (1910-1919) are included. Many of Rebecca Raoul's letters were written during her frequent travels to Europe (1899 and 1903), Asheville and New York (1899-1900), Seattle (1902) and Japan (1905). On several occasions, she accompanied brother Tom on his search for a healthy climate. Letters from their trips West (1896-1897 and 1904) and their stay at a sanatorium in the Black Forest of Germany (1903) are included. Letters after 1908 from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Rebecca's letters discuss family relationships, her brother's illness, social life in Atlanta, beaux, children and servants, travels, pregnancy and childbirth.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in chronological order.