Correspondence

Scope and content:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1891-1939, is comprised primarily of postcards, Christmas cards, and general correspondence sent to and between Heatwole family members. The correspondence is arranged primarily by recipient, but in cases where the recipient is unknown (e.g. non-specific salutations and greetings or lack of return address), the correspondence is filed by author.

Given that the bulk of this series is comprised of postcards and Christmas cards, the correspondence is generally chatty and newsy in tone. The contents often relates to family and community news and also includes sentiments of longing for correspondence in return. The postcards themselves portray local and national places of interest (and in some cases international places) as well as holiday imagery. General correspondence is more substantive and includes letters written by Leonard Heatwole to family members while he was serving in WWI.

Daniel F. Heatwole correspondence includes a draft letter to the Honorable Charles Triplett O'Ferrall regarding O'Ferrall's petition to change mail arrangements and an October 5, 1908 letter from Cornelius Heatwole in which "Corney" alerts Daniel that "I made my will before leaving Virginia, and in it, named you as my executor without consulting you about it." A letter from an unknown correspondent is included in which the author furnishes Daniel Heatwole with "some traditional history of our beautiful valley not generally known to the present generation."

A folder of correspondence related to Trumbo family genealogy is located in Series 5.

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Contents