Bismarck, Mona (1897-1983) Papers, 1916-1994
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Bismarck, Mona, 1897-1983
Title: Papers, 1916-1994
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 7 cubic feet
Location Number: Mss. A B621
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Mona Bismarck span the years 1916 to 1994. The majority of the correspondence is comprised of letters written between 1938 and 1982. Many of her correspondents were people prominent in business, politics, the arts and society.
Letters written during World War II by Derek Hill, Cecil Beaton and Randolph Churchill include descriptions of life as a conscientious objector (Hill), and the life and attitudes of the English toward the war and its outcome.
Jean Schlumberger writes poignantly about life on the front lines, while the letters of Prince Faucigny-Lucinge reflect the view of a Frenchman in Occupied France.
The letters written by Bettina Bergery, from the 1950s through the 1970s. cover a wide variety of subjects. She worked for a number of fashion designers and commented on their clients and speculated on the reasons for their successes and failures. Bergery also commented on the political scene with an anti-Gaullist slant. She may have reflected her husband’s views, as he had been the Vichy governments ambassador to Russia and Turkey.
Bismarck corresponded with the artists Dali, Sert and Alajalov (many of his sketches are included in the collection).
Overall, the letters convey an impression of the life of an extraordinarily rich woman who, at various times, had five husbands and houses on Long Island and Capri as well as in New York, Rome and Paris.
Also included in the collection are newspaper and magazine articles that were of interest to Bismarck, poems to and from her, copies of her awards, photos, school and legal records (divorce decree and will), a biography written by her foundation, books of fashion photography, and her letters to Jean Howard.
Folder List
Box 1
Folder 1: correspondence, Nov.1916-May 1938.
Folder 2: correspondence,1939.
Folder 3: correspondence, no date 1930s.
Folder 4: memoir Guatemala 1940.
Folder 5: correspondence,1940.
Folder 6: correspondence,1941.
Folder 7: correspondence,1942.
Folder 8: correspondence,1943.
Box 2
Folder 9: correspondence,1944.
Folder 10: correspondence,1945.
Folder 11: correspondence,1946.
Folder 12: correspondence,1947.
Folder 13: correspondence,1948.
Folder 14: correspondence,1949.
Folder 15: correspondence, no date 1940s.
Folder 16: correspondence,1950-1952.
Folder 17: correspondence, Jan.1953-Nov.14,1953.
Box 3
Folder 18: correspondence, Nov.15,1953-Dec.1953
Folder 19: correspondence, no date 1953.
Folder 20: correspondence,1954-1955.
Folder 21: correspondence,1956-1957.
Folder 22: correspondence,1958-1959.
Folder 23: correspondence, no date 1950s no. 1
Folder 24: correspondence, no date 1950s no.2.
Box 4
Folder 25: correspondence,1960-1961.
Folder 26: correspondence,1962.
Folder 27: correspondence,1963-1964.
Folder 28: correspondence,1965.
Folder 29: correspondence,1966.
Folder 30: correspondence,1967.
Folder 31: correspondence,1968.
Box 5
Folder 32: correspondence,1969.
Folder 33: correspondence, no date 1960s.
Folder 34: correspondence, Jan.-Oct.1970.
Folder 35: correspondence, Nov.1970-0ct.1971.
Folder 36: correspondence, Nov.-Dec.1971.
Folder 37: correspondence,1972.
Box 6
Folder 38: correspondence, Jan.1973-July 1973.
Folder 39: correspondence, Aug.-Dec.1973.
Folder 40: correspondence, Jan.-June 1974.
Folder 41: correspondence, July-Dec.1974.
Box 7
Folder 42: correspondence, Jan.-Apt.,1975.
Folder 43: correspondence, May-Sept.,1975.
Folder 44: correspondence, Oct.-Dec.,1975.
Folder 45: correspondence, Jan.-April,1976.
Box 8
Folder 46: correspondence, May-Aug.,1976.
Folder 47: correspondence, Sept.-Dec.,1976.
Folder 48: correspondence, Jan.-May,1977.
Box 9
Folder 49: correspondence, June-Aug.,1977.
Folder 50: correspondence, Sept.-Nov.,1977.
Folder 51: correspondence, Dec.1977-Jan.,1978.
Folder 52: correspondence, Jan.,1978.
Box 10
Folder 53: correspondence, Feb.-Apr.,1978.
Folder 54: correspondence, May-June,1978.
Folder 55: correspondence, July-Nov.,1978.
Folder 56: correspondence, Dec.,1978.
Box 11
Folder 57: correspondence, no date,1978.
Folder 58: correspondence, Jan.-May,1979.
Folder 59: correspondence, June-July 8,1979.
Folder 60: correspondence, July 9-no date July,1979.
Box 12
Folder 61: correspondence, Aug.-Sept.,1979.
Folder 62: correspondence, Oct.-Dec.,1979.
Folder 63: correspondence, no date,1970s no.1
Folder 64: correspondence, no date,1970s no.2.
Box 13
Folder 65: correspondence, Jan.-March,1980.
Folder 66: correspondence, Apr.-June,1980.
Folder 67: correspondence, July-Sept.,1980.
Folder 68: correspondence, Oct.-Dec.,1980.
Box 14
Folder 69: correspondence, Jan.-March,1981.
Folder 70: correspondence, Apr.-May,1981.
Folder 71: correspondence, June-July,1981.
Folder 72: correspondence, Aug.-Sept.,1981.
Box 15
Folder 73: correspondence,1982.
Folder74: correspondence, no date 1980s.
Folder 75: correspondence, Bismarck to Jean Howard,1969-1982
Folder 76: correspondence, Constantin Alajalov with drawings.
Folder 77: correspondence concerning Bismarck donation to Filson Club.
Folder 78: copies of school records, newspaper obits, Jean Howard speech to Filson Club.
Folder 79: condolence cards.
Box 16
Folder 80: correspondence, no date.
Folder 81: correspondence, no date.
Folder 82: correspondence, no date .
Folder 83, divorce decree, will.
Folder 84: poems by Harrison Williams. Mona Bismarck essay.
Folder 85: poems to and by Mona Bismarck, essay on garden.
Box 17
Folder 86: miscellany
Folder 87: miscellany.
Folder 88: miscellany.
Folder 89: miscellany.
Folder 90: miscellany,
Box 18
Folder 91: miscellany
Folder 92: newspaper clippings.
Folder 93: newspaper clippings.
Folder 94: newspaper clippings.
Folder 95: empty envelopes.
Folder 96: empty envelopes.
Box 19 (record center box): miscellany, copies of Mona Bismarck biography, Balenciaga and Cecil Beaton fashion books, mementoes, brochures from Mona Bismarck Foundation.
Partial List of Correspondents
Folder 1
Constantin Alajalov: 28 August 1934
Elsie Mendl: 1937
Folder 2
Edward Daladier: 9 November 1939
Gaston Henry-Haye: 20 October 1939, 28 October 1939, 18 December 1939
Jean Schlumberger: ca 1939, 4 September 1939, 25 September 1939, 30 September 1939, 11&12 October 1939, 30 November 1939, 25 December 1939, ca 1939
Folder 3
Constantin Alajalov: no date ca. 1930’s Cristobal Balenciaga: No date ca. 1930’s Cecil Beaton: 4 letters – no date ca 193 0′ s Marlene Dietrich: No date ca 1930’s Glenway Wescott: 20 January ca 1930s
Folder 5
Cecil Beaton: 8 August 1940, 20 November 1940, 2 no date 1940
Gaston Henry-Haye: 29 January 1940, 31 May 1940
Elsie Mendl: 4 March 1940
Jean Schlumberger: 18 February 1940, 12 March 1940, 25 August ca 1940?(could be 40’s)
Folder 6
Cecil Beaton: 5 April ca 1941, 2 April 1941, 22 September ca 1941, 30 August ca 1941, 20 March ca 1941, ca 1941, ca 1940-41
Glenway Wescott: 31 July 1941, 1 December 1941
Folder 7
Cecil Beaton: 11 January 1942, 4 February 1942, 30 April 1942, 30 April ca 1942, 16 May ca 1942, 2 letters ca. 1942
Jean Schlumberger: 30 November 1942
Folder 8
Jean Schlumberger: 9 September 1943
Glenway Wescott: 16 December 1943
Folder 9
Cecil Beaton: 24 December 1944
Henry Ringling North: 21 January 1944
Folder 10
Jean Schlumberger: 1 December 1945
Glenway Wescott: 3 January 194 5
Folder 11
Salvador Dali: 1946
Diana Vreeland: No date ca 1946
Folder 12
Salvador Dali: No Date
Folder 13
Cecil Beaton: 14 July 1948, 2 June ca 1948
Salvador Dali: 14 February 1948, 2 letters ca 1948
Herbert Hoover: 21 September 1948
Emilio Pucci: 16 January 1948
Folder 14
Rose Kennedy: 15 January 1949
Folder 15
Bernard Baruch: No date ca. 1940’s
Cecil Beaton: No date ca 1940’s
Glenway Wescott: 9 June ca 1940;s, 15 May ca 1940’s, 18 December ca. 1940’s, No Date ca 1940s
Folder 16
Salvador Dali: 17 April 1950
John Foster Dulles: 26 November 1952
Dwight D. Eisenhower: 9 November 1952
Gaston Henry-Haye: 26 November 1950
Wallis, Duchess ofWndsor: 17 January 1950
Folder 18
John Foster Dulles: 20 November 1953, 19 December 1953
James A. Farley: 16 November 1953
Gaston Henry-Haye: 18 December 1953
Horst P. Horst: 2 December 1953
Edwina Mountbatten: 15 November 1953
Folder 19
Cecil Beaton: No date ca 1953 (?)
Carmel Snow: No date ca 1953
Folder 20
David Bruce: 17 July ca 1955
John Foster Dulles: 26 February 1954, 31 March 1954, 27 December 1954, 17 December 1955
Gian Carlo Menotti: 24 September 1955
Cole Porter: 1 December 195 5
Folder 21
Cecil Beaton: 14 August 1956, November ca 1956
Ingrid (Rossellini) Bergman: 22 November 1956
John Foster Dulles: 29 March 1956
Cole Porter: 17 August 1957 ( copy of letter to Jean Howard) Wallis, Duchess ofWndsor: No date 1956
Folder 22
Cecil Beaton: 15 June 1959
Aristotle Onassis: 9 December 1959
Folder 23
Cecil Beaton: 22 April ca. 1950’s, no date ca 1950’s
A. J. Cronin: 15 December ca 1950’s
Diana Vreeland: No date ca 1950’s
Folder 24
Cecil Beaton: 14 April ca. 1950’s, 3 letters No date
Folder 25
Joseph P. Kennedy: 19 December 1960
Folder 27
Cecil Beaton: 27 January 1963, No date ca 1963
Gracie Fields: 9 July 1963
Rose Kennedy: November or December 1963
Diana Mitford Mosley: 26 December 1963
Diana Vreeland: No date ca 1964
Wallis, Duchess ofWndsor: 29 March 1963
Folder 28
Cecil Beaton: 11 November 1965
Diana Mitford Mosley: 26 December 1965
Jean Schlumberger: 14 October 1965
Folder 29
Cecil Beaton: 15 January 1966
Serge Obolensky: 23 June ca 1966
Folder 30
Constantin Alajalov: 21 August 1967, 25 August 1967, 27 August 1967, 6 September 1967, 26 September 1967
Cristobal Balenciaga: 9 February 1967
Cecil Beaton: 5 August 1967
Serge Obolensky: 31 July ca 1967 (x2?)
Jean Schlumberger: 2 May 1967
Stuart Symington: September 1967, 30 October 1967
Gore Vidal: 11 September 1967
Diana Vreeland: April ca 1967, 30 May ca 1967
Wallis, Duchess ofWndsor: 2 February 1967
Folder 31
Alexander, King of Yugoslavia: 8 March 1968
Cecil Beaton: No date ca 1968
Serge Obolensky: 17 July 1968
S. Dillon Ripley: 10 April 1968, 22 July 1968
Diana Vreeland: June 1968
Folder 32
Constantin Alajalov: 14 June 1969
Hubert de Givenchy: 10 December 1969, 16 December 1969
Diana Mitford Mosley: 10 May 1969
Gore Vidal: 11 July 1969
Jacquiline Onassis: 26 June 1969
Folder 33
Constantin Alajalov: 29 September ca 1960’s
Bernard Baruch: No Date ca. 1960’s
Cecil Beaton: 31 March ca 1960’s, 7 June ca 1960’s, 20 July ca 1960’s, 4 letters No date 1960s, 15 February ca 1960’s, 20 July ca 1960’s
Aristotle Onassis: ca 1960’s
Diana Vreeland: 12 December ca 1960’s, No date ca 1960’s
Wallis, Duchess ofWndsor: 16 March ca 1960’s, No date ca 1960’s
Folder 34
Constantin Alajalov: 11 March 1970, 13 April 1970
Cecil Beaton: 6 April 1970, 9 October 1970
Serge Obolensky: 9 April 1970
Aristotle Onassis: 25 August 1970
Jean Schlumberger: 2 September 1970
Folder 35
Constantin Alajalov: 22 November 1970, 27 October 1971
David Bruce: 11 December 1970
Gracie Fields: 19 November 1970
Serge Obolensky: 28 December 1970, 26 January 1971
Stuart Symington: 24 April 1971 (on back of Cooper letter)
Gore Vidal: 11 December 1970, 12 June 1971
Diana Vreeland: 24 January 1971
Jacquiline Onassis: 2 letters no date 1970
Folder 36
Constantin Alajalov: December 1971
Diana Vreeland: I November 1971
Folder 37
Cecil Beaton: 8 June 1972
Hubert de Givenchy: 7 December 1972
Diana Mitford Mosley: 6 June 1972
Jacquiline Onassis: 3 May 1972
Folder 38
Constantin Alajalov: 9 April 1973, 10 May 1973, 30 May 1973
Cecil Beaton: 15 February 1973
Diana Mitford Mosley: 6 June 1973, 16 July 1973, 23 June 1973
Hubert de Givenchy: 5 May 1973, 20 July 1973, 23 July 1973
Gore Vidal: 17 July 1973
Diana Vreeland: 28 April 1973
Folder 39
Constantin Alajalov: 27 September 1973, 30 September 1973, 19 December 1973
Folder 41
Cecil Beaton: 28 November 1974
Hubert de Givenchy: December 197 4
Umberto, King ofltaly: 15 September 1974
Folder 42
Cecil Beaton: 7 March 1975, 14 March 1975
Hubert de Givenchy: 16 January 1975
Diana Mitford Mosley: 2 January 1975, 16 February 1975
Jacquiline Onassis: 19 February 197 5
Folder 43
Hubert de Givenchy: 23 May 1975, 5 June 1975, 22 August 1975
Gore Vidal: 31 July 1975
Folder 44
Constantin Alajalov: 10 October 197 5
Cecil Beaton: 9 December 197 5
Hubert de Givenchy: 2 letters December 1975
Diana Mitford Mosley: 23 November 1975, 27 December 1975
Folder 45
Cecil Beaton: 8 April 197 6
Hubert de Givenchy: 2 February 1976
Serge Obolensky: 9 March 197 6
S Dillon Ripley: 27 May 1976
Umberto, King ofltaly: 1 January 1976, January 1976
Folder 46
Gore Vidal: 30 May 1976
Folder 47
Constantin Alajalov: 10 December 1976
Cecil Beaton: November 1976, 20 December 1976
Folder 48
Constantin Alajalov: 25 January 1977
Clarence Douglas Dillon: 22 February 1977
Hubert de Givenchy: 10 January 1977, 15 April 1977, 3 May 1977 Diana Mitford Mosley: 5 January 1977
Jean Schlumberger: 29 May 1977
Folder 49
Hubert de Givenchy: 7 July 1977, 2 June 1977
Folder 50
Hubert de Givenchy:22 ‘September 1977, 5 October 1977
S. Dillon Ripley: 19 October 1977
Cecil Beaton: 25 October 1977
Serge Obolensky: 31 October 1977
Constantin Alajalov: 19 November 1977
Folder 51
Constantin Alajalov: 16 December 1977
Cecil Beaton: 8 December 1977
Hubert de Givenchy: December 1977
Diana Mitford Mosley: 4 December 1977, 29 December 1977 Jean Schlumberger: 26 December 1977
Shirley Hazzard Steegmueller: 20 December 1977
Folder 52
Constantin Alajalov: 16 January 1978
Diana Mitford Mosley: 26 January 1978
Folder 53
Constantin Alajalov: 5 February 1978
Cecil Beaton: 26 April 1978
Hubert de Givenchy: 6 February 1978, 7 February 1978, 30 March 1978 Diana Mitford Mosley: 2 February 1978
Diana Vreeland: February 1978
Folder 54
Diana Mitford Mosley: 18 May 1978
Folder 55
Cecil Beaton: 12 October 1978
Diana Mitford Mosley: 10 August 1978
Gore Vidal: 27 July 1978, 6 October 1978
Folder 56
Constantin Alajalov: 13 December 1978 Cecil Beaton: 27 December 1978 Diana Mitford Mosley: December 1978
Folder 57
Aileen Brancca: ca. 1978
Guinlla Oswald: ca. 1978
Marjorie: ca. 1978
Valintine Abdy (?): ca. 1978
Folder 58
Constantin Alajalov: 5 February 1979
Cecil Beaton: 19 February 1979
Clarence Douglas Dillon: 8 March 1979, 8 May 1979
Hubert de Givenchy: 10 April 1979
Diana Mitford Mosley: 5 January 1979, 2 February 1978 or 79?, 6 February 1979 Shirley Hazzard Steegmueller: 30 May 1979
Diana Vreeland: February 1979, 24 February 1979
Folder 59
Diana Vreeland: 7 July 1979
Gore Vidal: 4 July 1979
Shirley Hazzard Steegmueller: 2 June 1979, 6 June 1979, 5 July 1979
Diana Mitford Mosley: 2 July 1979
Folder 60
Cecil Beaton: 12 July 1979
Jean Schlumberger: 10 July 1979
Folder 61
Constantin Alajalov: 3 September 1979
Diana Mitford Mosley: 13 September 1979
Diana Vreeland: 16 September 1979
Folder 62
Constantin Alajalov: 12 October 1979
Hubert de Givenchy: 9 October 1979
Diana Mitford Mosley: 7 November 1979
Umberto, King of Italy: December 1979
Folders 63
Cecil Beaton: 1 undated letters ca. 1970’s
Hubert de Givenchy: 3 letters ca 1970’s
Jacquiline Onassis: 2 letters ca 1970′ s
Folder 64
Cecil Beaton: 1 undated letters ca. 1970’s
Hubert de Givenchy: I letters ca 1970’s
Folder 65
Constantin Alajalov: 27 January 1980
Diana Mitford Mosley: 29 January 1980, 13 March 1980
Yves Saint Laurent: 19 March 1980
Folder 66
Constantin Alajalov: 24 June 1980
George Bush: 17 April 1980
S Dillon Ripley: 7 May 1980
Folder 67
Umberto, King of Italy: July 1980
Gore Vidal: 27 August 1980
Diana Vreeland: 28 July 1980
Folder 68
Constantin Alajalov: l 8December 1980
Cecil Beaton: December 1980
Diana Mitford Mosley: 9 December 1980, 18 December 1980, December 1980
Folder 69
Diana Mitford Mosley: 23 January 1981, February 1981, 11 February 1981, 3 March 1981, 6 March 1981, 31 March 1981, 17 January 1981, 14 February 1981
S Dillon Ripley: 2 February 1981
Diana Vreeland: 24 March 1981
Folder 70
Constantin Alajalov: 24 May 1981
Hubert de Givenchy: 15 May 1981
Diana Mitford Mosley: 1 May 1981
S Dillon Ripley: 7 April 1981
Folder 71
Constantin Alajalov: 24 June 1981
Hubert de Givenchy: 16 June 1981
Diana Mitford Mosley: 12 June 1981
Folder 72
Constantin Alajalov: 22 September 1981, ca. Xmas 1981 Horst P. Horst: Xmas 1981
Diana Mitford Mosley: 19 August 1981, 3 October 1981
Folder 73
Diana Mitford Mosley: 5 January 1982, 23 January 1982 S Dillon Ripley: 1 June 1982
Folder 74
Constantin Alajalov: 1 Undated letter
Folder 75
Jean Howard: 2 April 1988
Mona Bismarck: 11 Jan 1969, 18 Feb 1970, ca. 17 Dec. 1970, 12 Dec. 1971, 1 April 1961, 6 Feb. 1972, 24 March 1972, 23 May 1972, 26 Oct. 1972, 19 Dec. 1972, 7 Feb. 1973, 10 June 1973, 30 July 1973, 12 Feb. 1974, 13 Sept. 1974, 23 Jan. 1976, 26 Feb. 1976, 9 June 1976, 22 Oct. 1976, ca. Dec. 1977, 22 Feb. 1977, 2 March 1977, 1 Jan. 1977, 8 Sept. 1978, 18 Dec. 1978, 1 Oct. 1980, 2 Feb. 1981, n.d.
Folder 76
Constantin Alajalov: 26 Items undated
Folder 80
Cecil Beaton: No date
Hubert de Givenchy: No date
S Dillon Ripley: No Date
Yves Saint Laurent: No date
Gore Vidal: No date
Diana Vreeland: No date
Folder 81
Constantin Alajalov: No year 5 April Cristobal Balenciaga: No date Hubert de Givenchy: 2 letters No date S Dillon Ripley: No date
Folder 82
Cecil Beaton: 4 letters no date
Jean Schlumberger: No date [missing]
Gore Vidal: No date
Wallis, Duchess of Windsor: No date Hubert de Givenchy: 5 letters no date
