DONOR:

Gloria Shelley Campbell

SIZE:

One folder, One soft-bound diary

SCOPE & CONTENT:

The collection consists of the Diary of Elisabeth Shelley, circa 1914.

BIOGRAPHY:

Elisabeth Shelley describes in a foreword her purpose in writing this book - "to set down for you" ("my Boga") memories of episodes which brought a beloved child into her life.

The time is 1914-1916. The memoirs are set against the backdrop of World War I as it was raging in Europe.

Shelley introduces herself as one who in 1914 "belongs to an increasing class of unattached women for whom this war has reopened the doors of idealistic...and inspiring usefulness". She felt the need to "do something. But what? I had no gift for knitting wool". Driven to action, she announced to her "small circle of intimates:" that she was going to Europe as a nurse.

Finding that desire to "do something" was not enough, Shelley used considerable influence of family friends to obtain an abbreviated nursing course. Armed with nursing credentials and apparent willingness to adjust to the most difficult and trying circumstances, she was accepted for service with relief units in Serbia. She sailed for Europe in July, 1915, along with a Serbian official fund-raising mission. Her personal typewriter and secretarial skills were put to use assisting the treasurer of the mission.

After official stops of the Serbian group in European capitals, Shelley arrived in Nisch, the War Capital of Serbia, in late summer of 1915. Here she became part of international relief efforts, and was assigned to the Baby Hospital Unit. The Unit consisted of a medical head, supervising nurse, Red Cross nurse, two interpreters, English lady housekeeper and chauffeur. The Unit was organized to care for homeless, orphaned and sick children, but also became a hospice for many suffering Serbians displaced by the ravages in their occupied country.

The winter of 1915 saw Serbian forces at the "front". With the advance of Germans, Austrians and Bulgarians, the Serbs suffered bitter defeat and retreated, with many wounded arriving at Nisch. Elisabeth Shelley served not only at the Baby Hospital, but also fulfilled her original purpose of caring for the wounded at Teohle Koula (hospital).

Shelley's journal vividly describes life under occupation of victorious "enemy" forces. Heroic efforts were required to provide basic necessities. Resources became more and more scarce as the various international relief units were ordered to leave conquered Serbia to its new officials.

The Baby Hospital was finally closed and its staff dispersed. Shelley was among the last to leave Nisch, and had delayed her leaving as long as possible. She could not leave "my Boga" behind to an unknown future. Who was "Boga"? Boga was, in Shelley's journal, a baby brought to the hospital without identification, either written or oral. Nothing was learned about his origin. No one came to claim him, nor to inquire about him. He became Shelley's special charge. She determined that he would go to America with her.

Undaunted by many difficulties and delays, the precious "papers" were secured and all was arranged. Shelley set out with Boga to leave Nisch via Belgrade and Vienna, to safe passage through Switzerland.

At the moment of departure the Swiss border was closed, and here the journal ends. The reader is left with many unanswered questions as to the future.