Natalie Lancaster letter to H. A. Anderson

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box#, folder #], Natalie Lancaster Letter to H. A. Anderson, 1923 February 6, SC 0329, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
0.08 cubic feet 1 folder
Creator:
Lancaster, Natalie (1882-1952) and Anderson, H. A.
Abstract:
The Natalie Lancaster Letter to H. A. Anderson, 1923 February 6, comprises a one-page typed letter from Lancaster, as social director at the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg, to H. A. Anderson, likely a student affiliated with the Virginia Tech Minstrels. Lancaster thanks Anderson for his most recent letter and reacts to the Minstrels January 1923 performance at the Normal.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box#, folder #], Natalie Lancaster Letter to H. A. Anderson, 1923 February 6, SC 0329, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Natalie Lancaster Letter to H. A. Anderson, 1923 February 6, comprises a one-page typed letter from Lancaster, as social director at the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg, to H. A. Anderson, likely a student affiliated with the Virginia Tech Minstrels. Lancaster thanks Anderson for his most recent letter and reacts to the Minstrels' January 1923 performance at the Normal.

The correspondence is printed on letterhead from the Office of the Social Director at the State Normal School for Women, Harrisonburg Virginia and is addressed to H. A. Anderson, V. P. I., Blacksburg, Virginia. Lancaster thanks Anderson for his letter and relates her appreciation for the recent visit of the "Tech Minstrel" troupe to the Harrisonburg campus. Lancaster is likely referencing the January 20, 1923 performance of the Virginia Tech Minstrels. The Virginia Tech Minstrels was an all-male traveling theatrical student group comprising white actors in blackface engaging in minstrelsy.

Lancaster refers to the Normal students as "my girls" and relates that they look forward to the visit of the troupe as "an event of the session." Lancaster also relates that she has shared with Dr. Julian Burruss her high regard for the performance and troupe, and appreciation of the "bearing and gentlemanly conduct of the students of V.P.I." Burruss was the former president of the Normal at Harrisonburg and, at the time of this letter, president of Virginia Tech.

Biographical / historical:

In 1909, Natalie Lancaster (1882-1952) was hired by the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg as the mathematics instructor. She had previously taught at the State Female Normal School at Farmville (now Longwood University). During her time at the Harrisonburg Normal, Lancaster also served advisor to the YWCA and as social director, later known as dean of women. The social director position was responsible for supervising dormitory conduct as well as the overall social life of the students. Lancaster resigned in 1923 to accept the position of dean of women at the Presbyterian Assembly's Training School in Richmond.

The identity of H. A. Anderson, the recipient of Lancaster's letter, is unknown though presumably, given the address line, he was a Virginia Tech student or faculty. It's possible Lancaster addressed the letter in error and the recipient's name was actually H(arvey). W(ilson). Anderson ('23) who, during the 1922-1923 academic year, served as the assistant director of the Virginia Tech Minstrels.

Acquisition information:
Letter was found framed in Special Collections storage in 2022.
Custodial history:

Framed letter is presumed to have been transferred from a JMU office, where it was likely once on display.

Processing information:

The letter was removed from its frame in March 2022 and the frame discarded.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard