Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family

Adele Smith to Harriet Anna Yancey, January 11, 1923

Education--school-related activities | Education--studying | Family | Place--Hampton, VA

Adele Smith introduces herself to Harriet Yancey, her future mother-in-law. Smith tells Yancey about the sewing and cooking classes she is taking.

To: Mrs. Harriet A. Yancey
916 Grant Avenue
Plainfield
N.J.
From] Adele Smith
Hampton Inst.
Hampton, Va.
Postmark: Hampton VA
[missing text] 1923
3 [missing text]

January 11, 1923

Dear Mrs. Yancey,

No doubt you will be quite surprised to receive this letter from me, but it is my desire to become better acquainted with you. Although I've never seen you, I feel almost as if I know you, because I so often hear your son, Roger, speak of his dear Mother; but, sometime in the near future I hope to have the privilege of meeting

(page 2)

you face to face. Roger told me that he was trying to persuade you to come down to commencement exercises, and I hope that you will decide to come, because Hampton is such a beautiful place especially in the spring.

I have known Roger for about three years, and, he has proved to be a perfect gentleman; and, I'm sure the Mother

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should be credited with all the honor.

This is my fourth year at Hampton, and now, I am taking the straight Academic course; but, since two extra years have been added to the course, I am planning on specializing in Home Economics. Of all the different subjects I have I'm particularly fond of sewing. From the beginning of school until the first of February, I

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am taking cooking. My class is very small and I enjoy it ever so much, because each girl has the opportunity of experiencing one of the many duties of a housekeeper; for instance, I had to cook a dinner and do everything that a hostess would have to do. I was given two hours and a half to cook, serve my guests, and clean after having finished my dinner. From the first of February until the close of school, I

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shall be taking sewing lessons. This year, I shall have to draft a paper waist, make one out of material, and make either a serge dress or a serge plaited skirt. During the spring session, we have an exhibit of the best work done by the girls, and I will try to make my work among the best.

I know that you are proud that Roger is expecting to graduate in

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the spring, for, I know that you are glad to see him make a successful start in life. Hoping that you are enjoying the best of health, and will continue throughout the New Year, I am

Sincerely Yours,
Adele Smith

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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