Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family

Roger McKinley Yancey to Harriet Anna Yancey, May 24, 1925

Education--other | Education--school-related activities | Gifts and money | Legal matters | Place--Hampton, VA | Place--New Jersey | Place--Virginia, other | Romantic relationships | Travel

A 1925 commencement program from Christiansburg Normal and Industrial Institute accompanies this letter.

Roger writes home to his mother, Harriet, about commencement week, financial difficulties, campus scandals, and law school preparations.

To: Mrs. Harriet A. Yancey
916 Grant Avenue
Plainfield, New Jersey
From: Roger M. Yancey
C.N. and I.I.
Cambria, Va.
Postmark: Cambria, VA
8 AM
MAY [missing text]

May 24, 1925

My dear Mother,

Your letters received and I was very glad to hear from you I sincerely trust that you are well and enjoying the very best of health.

This has been a busy week for us here. Fortunately I have corrected all of my papers. Commencement week began today. The Baccalaureate Sermon was preached by Rev. Howerton, D.D. an A.M.E. minister of Roanoke, Virginia.

Mother, I am sending May the $20. I have $100 in bank now and I am not going to touch it. But sending May those $20 is breaking me. You see I have only $13 of my salary now because I some few bills to pay. Every thing here call for money. Next week I will get my last check for $36.50 but I am not sure whether that will carry me by Hampton on to New Jersey or not. Then too I have got to by Adele a graduation present. Now I may get broke on the road and

(page 2)

if I do, I am going to telegraph you or May for some money. I don't want to take my money out of the Bank for fear I will spend it. Write and tell me whether you will have any to spare about June 5th or 6th. I am leaving my trunk and books here until I get a job for the summer some where in New Jersey.

I sent my application to the Law School but they said that I will have to get a Law School Certificate from the State Bar Examiners by showing them my diploma, then too I did not send them a birth certificate. They require all persons under 25 years of age to send or show them a Certificate of Birth. You do not have a Certificate of my birth issued by the State of Virginia do you? I am afraid that Va. did not begin to issue them when I was born.

The Principal dismissed two of our men teachers recently for immorality among men students. I was instrumental along with the Y.M.C.A. cabinet in exposing the dirt. I will tell you more when I see you.

Yes, Adele and I are O.K. altho I must confess I have met another here, Miss Jones who is equally desirable- and yet she has a friend as well as I.

Let me hear from you at once.

Lovingly Your Son,
Roger

Commencement
Christiansburg Normal and Industrial Institute
Cambria,
Virginia 1925

Sunday, May 24th_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2:30 P.M.
Annual Sermon, Rev. W.R. Howerton, D.D.,
Pastor A.M.E. Church, Roanoke, Virginia.

Monday, May 25th- Closing Exercise of Hill Street _ _ 8:00 P.M.

Tuesday, May 26th- Class Day Exercises_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _10:30 A.M.
Anniversary of Literary Society_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _8:00 P.M.

Wednesday, May 27th- Alumni and Former Students' Day
Services in Memorial of Principal E.A. Long_ _ _3:00 P.M.
Unveiling of Monument_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _4:00 P.M.
Remarks by Atty. A.J. Oliver.

Anniversary Program_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _8:00 P.M.
Address by Dr. G.A. Rogers, Bluefield, W.Va.

Thursday, May 28th- Graduating Exercises_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2:00 P.M.
Address by Rev. C. Harold Stepteau, D.D.,
Presiding Elder Baltimore District, A.M.E. Church,
Baltimore, Md.
Industrial Exhibits Wednesday and Thursday.
You are cordially invited to attend.
Mrs. E.A. Long, Acting Principal.

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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