Henry L. and Maurice K. Francis Letters
Scope and Content
This collection contains letters written by brothers Henry K. Francis--a corporal in Company F, 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War--and his brother Maurice K. Francis, an iron molder, written to their mother, Eliza A. Francis, in Floyd County, Virginia. Most of Henry Francis's letters are written from Camp Cuba Libre (Jacksonville, Florida) and relate to personal matters, chiefly the trouble he is having with estranged wife Harriet (usually referred to in the letters as "H"). He touches only briefly on military affairs. His final letter discusses his imminent return home.
Maurice Francis's letters, commencing from Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1896, also relate to personal matters: his living quarters, family relations, job prospects, and his personal finances and health. In his letter of May 1, 1898, he expresses concern over his brother Henry having volunteered for military service.
The collection also contains a photographic portrait of an unidentified man--presumably Henry L. Francis--in uniform, with a "VA" insignia on collar.
Dates
- 1896 - 1899
Creator
- Francis, Henry (Person)
- Francis, Maurice K. (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the colletion are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Henry Lewis Francis, Sr., son of William H. and Eliza Attaway Shelor, was born in Floyd County, Virginia, on September 24, 1876. In 1897, while working for the Roanoke Times, he married Harriet R. Massie. The marriage would apparently later end in divorce. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Francis volunteered for military service and served as a corporal in Company F, 2nd Virginia Regiment. He continued to serve in the Roanoke Blues (a volunteer militia company) and in the Roanoke National Guard company, after the war. On December 12, 1906, Francis--still working for the Roanoke Times--married Agnes Mayo (1885-1988) in Roanoke. The 1910 census shows Francis living in Roanoke with wife Agnes and a nine-month-old son while working as a merchant for a confectionary. (The Francises would have at least two more children.) By 1912, Francis was working as salesman for the Virginia Real Estate Exchange, Roanoke. He continued to work in real estate sales for the rest of his life. Henry L. Francis died in Roanoke on June 25, 1945.
Maurice Kemper Francis, older brother of Henry L. Francis, was born in Floyd County, Virginia on January 8, 1874. By late 1896, Francis was living and working in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1899, he was working for P. Kennedy's Foundry in Baltimore, but the 1900 census found him again in Chattanooga, boarding in the home of Victoria Vioux while working as an iron molder. By 1905, Francis had returned to Virginia and was working for the Roanoke Machine Works as a molder while living with his mother and brothers in the city. On July 29, 1905, he was murdered in Floyd County and was buried in Fair View Cemetery, Roanoke.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Letters of brothers Henry Lewis Francis, Sr. (1876-1945), corporal in Company F, 2nd Virginia Regiment during the Spanish-American War, and Maurice K. Francis (1874-1905), an iron molder, written to their mother, Eliza A. Francis of Floyd County, Virginia.
Source of Acquisition
The Henry L. and Maurice K. Francis Letters were purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Henry L. and Maurice K. Francis Letters by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
General
This collection had long held the title "Henry Francis Correspondence," but a closer look at the contents during processing suggested that "Henry L. and Maurice K. Francis Letters" would be a more accurate title.
Processing Information
The processing and description of the Henry L. and Maurice K. Francis Letters commenced and was completed in January 2022.
- Title
- Henry L. and Maurice K. Francis Letters, 1896-1899
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- John M. Jackson
- Date
- 2022 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2020-08-27: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
- 2021-04-26: LM Rozema added missing notes for an unprocessed collection, added FA title, added FA date from EAD, and added component with instances previously attached to collection level.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu