Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, February 23, 1920

Clothing and fashion | Entertainment | Gifts and money | Holidays, birthdays and celebrations | Military | Place--Esmont, VA | Place--Hampton, VA

This letter has one enclosure: a dance card.

To: Mrs. Harriet A. Yancey
# 171 Warren Ave.,
Esmont,
Virginia,
Albermarle, County.
From: ?Roger McKinley? Yancey.
Hampton Institute,
Hampton, Virginia.
Postmark: Hampton Inst.
FEB [missing text]
1-30 PM

February 23, 1920

My Dear Mother

I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I am well and hope you and Children are the same. Well Mother I have seen General John J. Pershing, U.S.A. [missing text] Forces he inspected the Battalion here at Hampton Saturday at 5 P.M. and we had to pass in review before him. He inspected the band while we were playing and pass so close to me until he brushed my elbow and I lost the place where I was playing ha. ha.

(page 2)

(2)

after the Inspection he spoke to us in Ogden Hall He is just like his picture His staff was with him. Today we are observing Washington's Birthday and this evening we will have a Basketball game with Howard University and to-night we will have a social in the gymnasium Saturday night We had the Band Social and I am sending you one of the Programs you can keep it, I had a very nice time. Mother I would like to have a pair of dress shoes as I had to borrow a pair from a friend to wear to private dances and socials.

I was 18 yrs old Thursday and the Band

(page 3)

(3)

Boy picked me good. Alta sent me a pair of sleeve supporters. Well all of the boys have boxes of candy for their girls tonight.

Mother you did not tell me whether you were going to write Miss Mary for the money or not. Please do. Tell Harold Taylor to answer my letter. Give my love to Mr. and Mrs. Harris and Guirleys and all of the good folks of Esmont. ha ha. Ask May can she do those dances on the program. Put the programs on the bureau so I can see it when I came home.

(page 4)

(4)

This is leap year tell May she has to send me a box of candy instead of me sending her one. How are the girls getting along now at home Give my love to Aunt Joe. I dreamt of Benny the other night. How is food, wood, and water at home now. Hoping to hear from you all real soon

I am your loving son
R. M. Yancey

better known as Roger ha ha
P.S. Those girls name on program are the one's I danced with. I am not an officer in the Band.

Order of Dances
1 New York Schottische
Alice
2 Twentieth Century
Elizabeth
3 Intermission
4 Manhattan Schottische
Lillian
5 Band Special
Alice

Band Officers
Wm. M.O. Tessmann, Bandmaster
S.W. Ginn Jr., Chief Trumpter
F. McD. Owl, Principal Musician
Wm. M. Ball, First Sergeant
J.H. Calhoun, Second Sergeant
A.S. Ewing, Third Sergeant
P.T. Brown, Fourth Sergeant
E.L. Hill, Fifth Sergeant
E.J. Harllee, Sixth Sergeant
J.W. Green, Seventh Sergeant
W.M. Jett, Eighth Sergeant
W.M. Hubbard, First Corporal
F.T. Wheelock, Second Corporal
J.E. Newby, Third Corporal
L.G. Brown, Fourth Corporal
N.B. Young, Drum-major

Published by: Virginia Center for Digital History

Source copy consulted: Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family (MSS 11599), Alderman Library, University of Virginia

Text and images (c) copyright 2001, by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia

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