Beverly Simonton Kelly Letters

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Beverly Simonton Kelly Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Summary

Extent:
1.0 Linear Feet
Creator:
Kelly, Beverly Simonton
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Beverly Simonton Kelly Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes letters written by Beverly Simonton Kelly to her parents from her freshman year at William & Mary in 1949, until her graduation in 1953.

Her letters mention and/or discuss a number of subjects, including (but not limited to) registration, purchasing her Duc cap for $1.00, her first curtsy to Lord Botetourt, freshman customs, the honor system, her class schedules, cost of books, social rules for women, the campus, social events and activities, Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, dating, sororities, faculty/staff, the cafeteria, grievances about the bus which transported freshman out-of-state women between campus and Ludwell, wearing ribbons on the weekends instead of Duc cap, field hockey, fraternity lodges, Homecoming, W&M athletics, the Pagoda Room, the Judicial Committee, Carl "Pappy" Fehr and the W&M Choir.

She also describes several instances of feeling overwhelmed by her classes and commitments, concerns about grades, and the mental health of her friends. She mentions several cases of students getting the mumps in 1950, Constance Appleby (November 1949), the school laundry burning (1950), a coal shortage (1950) which almost closed the campus, her Supper Club entertaining the campus "Jewish group," "Common Glory," Dr. Chow - her Chines Government instructor (1951), Phillies baseball, roommate problems, Rushing, exams, parties, elections, movies she saw, and also references the Korean War.

Kelly also refers to the Athletic Scandal of 1951 and one letter describes the campus vibe after the resignation of the Dean, Nelson Marshall. She wrote, "Everyone of my instructors today spoke of his resignation and felt that W&M has just suffered its greatest loss." She also states that while one published article suggests new president, Alvin Duke Chandler, was welcomed by students, in fact, the students were solidly behind the faculty and questioned his qualification to be president. In addition, Kelly also wrote about the investigation into the fraternity lodges and the accusation of embezzlement against an administrator

Additionally, her letters detail the start of her courtship with her future husband, W&M alumnus James S. Kelly.

Biographical / historical:

Beverly Simonton Kelly, from York, Pennsylvania, entered William & Mary in 1949 and graduated in 1953. She was an active and engaged undergraduate, serving on/participating in a number of activities, including the Judicial Committee, Delta Delta Delta, and W&M Choir.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Beverly Simonton Kelly, 2018
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard