Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family

Viola to Harriet Anna Yancey, undated
Viola sends Nellie's new address to Harriet Yancey.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, Undated
Harriet Yancey discusses the new stove with her daughter, May. She warns May to be careful and burn her letters.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, September 10,
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, to tell her the news from Esmont, Virginia

Benjamin Franklin Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, April 27, 1906
B.F. Yancey, working in Richmond at the Lexington hotel, writes home to his wife in Esmont, Virginia. He informs her of the clothing and cloth he has bought for her as well as money he plans to send home in the near future.

Benjamin Franklin Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, May 6 1906
Benjamin Franklin Yancey, working at the Lexington Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, wants his wife, Harriet, to send him a list of things she needs. He discusses gossip concerning community happenings in Esmont, Virginia.

Harriet Anna Yancey to Benjamin Franklin Yancey, August 12 1908
Harriet Yancey writes that all is well at home and seeks advice from her husband on a medical treatment that she is considering.

A.W. Cawthorn to Benjamin Franklin Yancey, December 30 1909
A.W. Cawthorn, of Appomattox, Virginia, writes a note of greetings to B.F. Yancey. He promises to visit as soon as possible, maybe the following August.

Rosa Bell Simpson to Benjamin Franklin Yancey, October 30, 1910
Rosa Simpson, a student at the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute, writes her former teacher, B.F. Yancey, to say thank you and wish him well.

Benjamin Franklin Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, May 31 1911
Writing from the Lexington hotel in Richmond, Virginia Benjamin Franklin Yancey tells his wife of the heat and dry weather plaguing Richmond. He is planning to come home soon and take the boys to Yellow Sulphur.

S.F. Mason to Benjamin Franklin Yancey, September 18, 1911
S.F. Mason inquires if B.F. Yancey knows of any open positions.

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, October 21, 1918
Roger Yancey, writing from school, tells his mother about the enforced quarantine resulting from a deadly flu outbreak. He discusses war preparations.

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, October 30, 1918
Roger Yancey tells his mother that he has moved and also quit the band.

Harriet Anna Yancey to Roger McKinley Yancey, December 3, 1918
Harriet Yancey tells her son, Roger, about all the happenings in Esmont, Virginia. Her friend, Elinore Coaltrain, is visiting.

William M. Scott to Harriet Anna Yancey, November 28, 1919
William Scott tells his cousin Harriet Yancey about his decision to attend theology school.

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, March 29, 1920
Roger Yancey tells his mother, Harriet, about his life at the Hampton Institute. He discusses rifle practice.

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, April 14, 1920
Roger Yancey tells his mother, Harriet, about happenings at the Hampton Institute, including rifle practice. He suggests that his sister, May Yancey, should attend school in Petersburg.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, October 27, 1920
Harriet tells her daughter, May, all the news from Esmont, Virginia. She baked May a cake for her birthday, but May's brother, Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr., accidently smashed it.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, November 15, 1920
Harriet Yancey tells her daughter, May, all the news from home. She shares her concerns with May about her son, Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, December 2, 1920
Harriet Yaney tells her daughter, May, all the news from home. She apologizes for not being able to send more in her Thanksgiving care package.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, December 29, 1920
Harriet Yancey tells May, her daughter, about her lonely Christmas with two of her children away at school. She is glad May enjoyed her care package.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, January 6, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, to tell her all the news from Esmont, Virginia. Harriet gives May a lecture on how to be a "good girl" in college.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, February 1, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes May, her daughter, to tell her about her sickness and Aunt William Brown's sudden death.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, February 8, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes May Yancey to tell her about the news from Esmont, Virginia. She is afraid that her son, Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr., may be getting the measles.

Nora D. Vaughn to May Elizabeth Yancey, March 14, 1921

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, March 15, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter. May, to tell her the happenings at home in Esmont, Virginia. She ordered her daughter a new pair of shoes.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, March 17, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, about a new pair of shoes she ordered her as well as community happenings in Esmont, Virginia.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, March 30, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes May, her daughter, to tell her the news from Esmont, Virginia including weather difficulties and local deaths.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, April 13, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, to tell her the news from Esmont, Virginia. She is trying to decide whether she can afford to send her youngest son, Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr., to seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, April 25, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes May, her daughter, to tell her the news from Esmont, Virginia. She hopes that May received the package she sent.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, May 5, 1921
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, about her heavy work load as well as her efforts to provide new clothing for her three children.

Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr. to May Elizabeth Yancey, April 28, 1924
Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr. writes May Yancey to tell her that he broke up with his girlfriend.

William M. Scott to Harriet Anna Yancey, May 13, 1925
William Scott tells his cousin, Harriet, about his recent trip to Esmont, Virginia, which he did not enjoy. He tells her that Congressman Dyer will speak at commencement and sends her an article from the NAACP's newspaper, The Crisis as well as a story by W.E.B. Du Bois.

Helda B. Johnson to May Elizabeth Yancey, December 5, 1925
Helda Johnson tells May Yancey about various happenings in her life including how she spent Thanksgiving.

to Harriet Anna Yancey, February 9, 1926.
Incomplete letter to Harriet Yancey. The author discusses community happenings in Esmont, Virginia.

J. E. Simpson to Harriet Anna Yancey, April 27, 1926
Simpson writes Harriet Yancey concerning unnamed friends who recently moved to Charlottesville, Virginia.

May Elizabeth Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, May 14, 1926
May Yancey discusses her college graduation plans with her mother, Harriet.

May Elizabeth Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, June 2, 1926
May Yancey discusses her upcoming commencement exercises with her mother, Harriet.

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, November 22, 1926
Roger Yancey tells his mother, Harriet, about hearing A. Phillip Randolph speak. He discusses potentially visiting her at Thanksgiving.

Virginia to May Elizabeth Yancey, August 24, 1928
Virginia writes May Yancey that she has returned safely home to Esmont, Virginia.

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, September 26, 1928
Roger Yancey asks his mother, Harriet Yancey, for advice about a new job and potential new residence. He describes his initiation into Omega Psi Phi.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, October 1928
Harriet Yancey send her daughter, May, money to pay her insurance.

May Elizabeth Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, October 14, 1928
May Yancey tells her mother, Harriet, about her life in Esmont, Virginia. She asks to borrow money from Harriet, who is working in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Reba Carey to May Elizabeth Yancey, November 16, 1928
Reba Carey writes May Yancey to inform her of the gossip from Plainfield, New Jersey

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, November 23, 1928
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, about a stove she is ordering from Sears and Roebuck. She instructs her daughter about taking care of her health.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, November 29, 1928
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, to instruct her on curing her cold and caring for the house in Esmont, Virginia.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, December 13, 1928
Harriet Yancey writes her daughter, May, concerning Christmas plans and repairs to their house in Esmont, Virginia

L.P. Harris to May Elizabeth Yancey, December 13, 1928
L.P. Harris writes to May Yancey concerning some photos May sent.

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, February 14, 1929
Harriet Yancey tells her daughter, May, about events in Plainfield, New Jersey. She tells May that Aunt Joe will visit Esmont, Virginia soon.

Helen Green to Harriet Anna Yancey, July 11, 1940
Helen Green, a long lost friend, writes Harriet Yancey and tells her about her life.

Pollie Tunstall to Harriet Anna Yancey, September 3, 1945.
Pollie Tunstall tells her friend, Harriet Yancey, about her busy summer. She catches her up on happenings in Plainfield, New Jersey including sicknesses, deaths, and the upcoming Baptist national convention.

W.A. Harris to Harriet Anna Yancey, March 10, 1949
W.A. Harris writes Harriet Anna Yancey concerning a lot in Esmont, Virginia that he is considering selling to her.

W.A. Harris to Harriet Anna Yancey, July 19 1949
W.A. Harris talks about the work he is doing in Richmond. He says that he is considering moving back to Esmont, Virginia.

W.A. Harris to Harriet Anna Yancey, November 22, 1949
W.A. Harris writes a note of greetings to Harriet Yancey. He inquires about life in Richmond.

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