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Beverly Simonton Kelly Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries
Gift of Beverly Simonton Kelly, 2018
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.
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.