Sallie Peirce Blair Friendship Book [1888-1934]

Access and use

Location of collection:
Wytheville Community College
F.B. Kegley Library
Wytheville Community College
Smyth Hall, Room 103
1000 East Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Contact for questions and access:
POC: William A. “Bill” Veselik
Phone: (276) 223-4876
POC: George Mattis
Phone: (276) 223-4744
Fax: (276) 223-4745

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Judging from notes by W. Randolph Chitwood and newspaper clippings found with the book, this friendship book probably belonged to Sallie K. Peirce Blair of Wythe County, Virginia. On the front cover board is inscribed "Germa from Flora, Illustrated" with elaborate decorations in gold leaf. Scattered throughout the book are color illustrations of flowers, poems, and greetings by various people. Names included (with date greeting written) in the book include Sophronia Hill (1892), Carrie V. Hall of Red Bluff, Va. (1889), Mary C. Mays (1888), Alice K. Mays, Gladys Blair (1934), L. S. Brown, Maggie Gray (1889), and M. L. Blair.

Biographical / historical:

The daughter of Alexander Peirce and his third wife, Elizabeth F. Bell, Sallie K. Peirce was born on 14 February 1838. She married Francis S. Blair (1839-1899) on 15 November 1865. He served in the Confederate Army and as Virginia Attorney General from 1881 to 1885. They had six children including Alexander Peirce Blair (1866-1891), John Chester Blair (1868-1907), Francis Joseph Blair, Robert William Blair (1873-1924), David Sullins Blair (1875-1960), and Florence Bell Blair who married Thomas Wilson Preston.

Francis S. Blair died on 14 January 1899 in Wytheville, Virginia. Sallie K. Peirce Blair died on 17 April 1921 in Bristol, Virginia. Both are buried in East End Cemetery in Wytheville, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Ruth Ann Chitwood in 2001 as part of the W. Randolph Chitwood Collection.
Physical description:
1 volume.