Correspondence

Scope and content:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1943-1949, largely comprises love letters between Betty Brown Clemmer and Willis Clemmer during their courtship and subsequent engagement when Betty was a student at Madison College. They are sentimental and endearing overall, but are also gossipy and newsy in nature, providing updates on family members, community happenings, and each other's social life.

Correspondence to Betty primarily comprises letters from Willis written during their courtship and are, as a result, affectionate and longing in nature. In writing to Betty, Willis also describes his daily activities of playing sports, driving cars, and seeing movies, in addition to providing updates on family and neighbors. Letters to Betty also include early love letters from gentleman callers other than Willis. She received letters from boys who were attending Virginia Tech, Randolph Macon, and Fork Union Military Academy. Letters presumably from high school beaus are also included. Other correspondents include Betty's mother Ruth Moseley Brown, Betty's grandmother Nannie Clay Brown, and fellow Madison College students. A March 15, 1949 from one of Betty's former classmates, Bunny Maifield, describes the goings-on at Madison College including girls getting caught by the watchmen "night riding" as well as a "bunch of drunk Virginia boys came over and took over the place."

Willis' letters are primarily from Betty, but also include letters from friends and family. A selection of 1945 letters were written to Willis while he was stationed at Keesler Field in Mississippi. The content of these letters describe tales of escapades back home and friends going to Madison College on dates. While Betty's letters to Willis are mostly affectionate and playful in nature, they also document her school and home life. Of particular interest is an August 11, 1948 letter from Betty to Willis while she is home in Baskerville for the summer. She describes an incident with an African-American child stepping on a nail and not receiving proper medical care. In describing this incident, Betty uses racist language and characterizations of the child's family.

Beyond their overall sentiments of affection, Betty's letters to Willis provide insight into her life as a student at Madison College. Betty comments on her schoolwork, exams, studying, social life, entertainment, going downtown (buying food, going to the movies, going to Friddles), and rules and regulations (March 23, 1948: "All my plans for going home have gone 'hay-wire.' Dr. Duke said today that we had to have a chaperone and at this late date we can't find anyone. I could cuss him - wonder what he thinks a busload of girls are going to do in broad open daylight - must think we are terrible"). Betty frequently mentions her dissatisfaction with school and refers to Madison College as Hell or a hell-hole. Additionally, in several letters to Willis (December 4, 1947; September 28, 1948; etc.), Betty describes her presumed struggles with an apparent eating disorder.

A selection of "special letters" (as designated by the donor) concern Betty's engagement announcement, upcoming wedding, and Ruth Moseley Brown's visit to Chicago, etc. These letters are interfiled according to date and include Betty to Willis, April 13, 1949; Ruth Brown to Betty, September 17, 1947; Ruth Brown to Betty, September 15, 1947; Ruth Brown to Betty, April 8, 1948 ("hoping you'd set the world on fire before getting married"); Willis to Betty, April 11, 1949; Nannie Clay Brown to Betty, January 14, 1949 (letter after quitting school to get married); Nannie Clay Brown to Betty, May 3, 1948; Rev. Claude Moseley (uncle) to Betty, March 31, 1949; Ruth Brown to Betty, March 9, 1948.

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