Collections

The collection contains more than 450 letters written between Lieutenant Frank Owen Wilson from Wilson, Arkansas, who was a University of Virginia graduate and his Charlottesville girlfriend, Susan Smith Rinehart (1925-1995), whose family lived on an estate called "Boxwood." There are 276 letters from Wilson and 180 letters from Rinehart. Wilson's early letters are from Saint Elmo Hall at the Univeristy of Virginia. His letters while in military service were not subject to censorship, yet describe his training in detail. Frank's letters are usually hand-written but many of the letters are typewritten and some are accompanied by printed ephemera. The letters describe their courtship, his military service, their families, and her pregnancy, among other topics. Susan was from a wealthy family and her letters reflect how she and her family lived through the war without seemingly any financial concern. Letters describe Albemarle County horse rides and related activities. Her letter of June 6, 1994, regarding D-Day, is of historical interest.

The Guy Elwood Webb papers (1941-1952; 1 cubic foot) consists of letters to Guy Elwood Webb from his devoted girlfriend and later wife, Linnie Ethel Davis, her mother, Mrs. D. V. Davis, and his own mother, Lulu Green, as well as family members and friends (1944-1945). Guy Webb is in boot camp in the Great Lakes, Illinois, and continues his service in Shoemaker, California, and Hawaii. There are also some telegrams and greeting cards from Guy Elwood Webb in a scrapbook that was made by his wife.

Collection contains letters sent to Irene Orzechowski from people, primarily men, serving in the military during and after World War II. Early letters from 1943 are from Franklin C. Foulks who was in the Navy stationed in the United States and the western pacific, Japan and Korea. Letters included in the collection also come from her sister, Genia Maslowski. Other letters are from Frederick Stein in the Navy to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stein of Atchison, Kansas and from Eddie Maslowski and Franklin Foulks while stationed at Camp Peary, Virginia and overseas.

Over 200 letters exchanged between Milton Kerrick and Maude Howdershell from 1908 through the 1930's. Both lived in Alexandria, Virginia and most of the letters are personal in nature as Kerrick actively courted Howdershell during this time. Kerrick was openly expressive in his love for the more reserved Howdershell. On October 8, 1919 the two were married, but their love letters continued as Kerrick was often away with his work for the Southern Railroad Company. There are also some letters addressed to Maude and their daughter, Elizabeth, from various friends written after Milton had passed away in 1941.

This collection contains 268 letters Virginia Scott Cocke wrote to David Russell Lyman, whom she would marry in 1905. The letters date from 1898 to 1905 and document their courtship. Also included are photographs, a postcard, a bookplate, an album, marriage certificates, transcripts of the letter, and a thumb drive.