Emelyn (Hemmie) Sheffield Gilmore '58

Emelyn (Hemmie) Sheffield Gilmore, 1958 Graduate

Assorted memorabilia, Hollins Abroad Paris, 1956-1957 

Emelyn (Hemmie) Sheffield Gilmore was a Hollins University student who spent an academic year abroad from 1956-1957 through the school's old Hollins Abroad program. During her time abroad, Hemmie collected all sorts of objects to take home as a reminder of her time. She referred to herself as a “keeper,” someone who enjoys collecting and preserving things as reminders. Though Hemmie doesn't just have marital souvenirs, she also gained countless priceless memories to share with friends and family. During her year abroad, Hemmie wrote many letters to her family, who appreciated the letters so much that they had them printed in the local newspaper. While on a three-month bus tour, Hemmie kept a diary that she wrote in every day during the duration of the trip. She wrote down her immediate impressions of the experiences she had during the trip. While celebrating Christmas abroad, she was gifted a little stuffed donkey, known as a “Petit Ane” in French. This was a gift she received from her friend and roommate, Sue Switzer. 

—Lisa-Marie Bastian ‘25