William Halsey and Mary Price correspondence collection

William (Bill) Darrach Halsey and Mary (Polly) Flagg Price were born on February 26, 1890 and May 19, 1895 respectively in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. They had known each other since childhood, as they attended the same school and Polly was best friend's with Bill's sister.

Bill graduated from Swarthmore College in 1912. In 1916, Polly graduated from a two year course at Drexel Institute (later Drexel University). In the fall of 1915, Bill accepted a teaching position as an instructor of mechanical engineering at The George Washington University. From 1915 until 1920, he taught courses in Thermodynamics, Mechanism, Mechanical Laboratory, Heating & Ventilating, Gas Engines, Steam Turbines, and Descriptive Geometry.

While Bill was in Washington, DC, Polly obtained a job as a companion and helper to Mrs. Hollis Godfrey, the wife of the President of Drexel. Bill and Polly were married in 1918.

In 1920, Bill accepted a position with the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut where he lived until his death in 1948. Polly continued to live in Hartford after Bill's death until 1962 when she moved to Maine to live with her daughter. Polly died in 1985, four months before her 90th birthday.