Mary Greiner Papers 1892-1912

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:

The Papers consist of six letters written to Mary E. Greiner from 1892 to 1912 and one written in 1895 to her mother Mattie C. Stevens Greiner.

Biographical / historical:

Mary E. Greiner (1876-1959) was the daughter of Rev. John Bryson Greiner (1841-1917) and Mattie C. Stevens Greiner (1844-1931). A prominent Lutheran minister, Greiner and his wife had four other children including Dr. Albert Bryson Greiner, Mattie Louise Greiner (1882-1949), Etta Mae Greiner, and Margie Greiner.

Ordained in 1870, Rev. Greiner served congregations from Botetourt to Washington counties in Virginia until his death in 1917. Much of his pastorate was served at Grace and St. Paul's Lutheran churches in Rural Retreat, Wythe County. From 1888 to 1904 he preached at Grace while from May 1905 to December 1907 he ministered at St. Paul's.

The entire Greiner family also was involved in educational endeavors. Dr. Alfred Bryson Greiner probably graduated with a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia while his sisters Mary and Margie taught at Hawkins Chapel School in Rural Retreat. Their father supervised Hawkins Chapel from 1892 to 1898. Mary oversaw the preparatory department while Margie instructed youngsters in art. Previously, Rev. Greiner and his wife both taught at Marion College; he taught Latin and mathematics while she demonstrated the art of "wax works" to young ladies.

Evidently Mary either attended or taught at Elizabeth College in Charlotte while Margie continued teaching at the Hawkins Chapel School. However, by November 1899, Mary returned home to Rural Retreat. All his daughters remained with Rev. Greiner and his wife, moving to Damascus in 1914. Rev. Greiner suffered a stroke while preaching and died a week later on 7 May 1917.

Acquisition information:
Purchased in 1997.
Physical description:
7 items.