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Letters, May-December 1918

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 7

Scope and Content

From the Collection:

The Turner Family Papers consists of multiple sets of correspondence to members of generations of the extended Turner family written between 1830 and 1944. The bulk of the collection is letters between Lexie Fox and his wife, Bessie, written during World War I. Late 19th century correspondence is written to Bessie’s cousin, Minnie Rawlings. Minnie's letters describe the daily life of family, friends, and Miles Taylor, the man whom she would eventually marry. There is a small group of Civil War correspondence written to different people (Turner ancestors).

In their love letters, Lexie and Bessie Fox frequently talked about how much they missed one another. Lexie remained homesick while in France, and discussed his health, longing for home, travels in France, and asked for news about family and friends. Bessie praised her husband in her letters and kept him updated on life at home.

In addition, the collection contains military documents and a notebook Lexie purchased in France. These documents include a notice from the Treasury Department’s Bureau of War Risk Insurance, a certificate of Farm War Service, a note from the Adjusted Service Bonds, and a letter from the Commander in Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces.

Dates

  • May-December 1918

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.6 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308