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Letter to Josephine
This letter, written to Louisa County resident Josephine Neal by her mother during the Great Depression. It tells of the unusually warm weather's effect on the family and the many visitors passing through; she also tells of eating melons, family…
Tags: Great Depression
Page from 'The New Fun With Dick and Jane'
Dick and Jane were the main characters in a series of basic readers written by William S. Gray and Zerna Sharp and published by Scott Foresman, that were used to teach children to read from the 1930s through to the 1970s in the US. This page is from…
Tags: Education
Page from McGuffey’s Eclectic Readers
McGuffey’s Eclectic Readers were written by William Holmes McGuffey and his brother Alexander in the 1830s and 1840s, and were used for decades throughout the US for primary-level students. The Readers emphasized spelling, vocabulary, and formal…
Tags: Education
Alice's Letter to Lizzie #3
In this final letter from Alice to Lizzie, dated December 17, 1937, the financial issues surrounding the arrangements for Uncle August's expenses have been settled. Just as a reference point, today's equivalent for the $10.00 check given to Alice by…
Tags: Great Depression
Alice's Letter to Lizzie #2
In this follow-up letter, Alice attempts to alleviate some of the tension by explaining how the previous letter's contents were based upon a misunderstanding. It is claimed that Lelia, the "she" referenced in both this letter and the previous one,…
Tags: Great Depression
Alice's Letter to Lizzie #1
This hastily-written five-page letter is the first in a series of letters from Alice to Lizzie in December 1937. This particular letter sheds some light on the topics of family and death during the Depression. While little is known about the…
Tags: Great Depression
Price Comparison Sheet
This price comparison sheet from 1931 provides some insight into the value of items of the period. Below is a list of what these items would cost today, calculating for inflation:
100# Sugar $ 71.77
1 Bbl. Flour $ 50.24
10# Meat $ 11.48
1#…
Tags: economy, Great Depression
Letter from Cousin Annie to Mary
This letter, from Cousin Annie to Mary, was written in the early years of the Great Depression. The second paragraph depicts how Louisa was the victim of both terrible drought and frosts; the agricultural-based facets of Louisa’s economy suffered…
Tags: Great Depression
Virginia Bankers Association Letter
This 1933 notice, from the Virginia Bankers Association, lets bank employees know about the legal holiday declared by Governor Pollard. Notice the wording of this letter, such as the phrases “unusual situation†and “cool thoughtâ€; these…
Tags: economy, Great Depression
Joseph Porter's Certificate of Service
This certificate verifies Captain Joseph N. Porter's role in the Army of the United States between October 1942 and December 1944; the certificate also notes the ribbon and medal to be awarded to Mr. Porter for his service as an Exchange Officer in…
Tags: military, World War II
Report of Separation for Joseph N. Porter
First Lieutenant Joseph N. Porter was initially an Army Exchange Officer and later a Supply Officer, Administrative. Between October 1942 to December 1944, Porter handled the requisition and distribution of Army post exchange supplies to the entire…
Tags: military, World War II
Byrd Long WWII Medal
This World War II medal, awarded to Byrd W. Long for his service in the United States Navy, is known as the World War II Victory medal. Made of red brass, the medal is a little less than 1.5 inches across; all members of the Armed Forces of the…
Tags: World War II
Junk Drives
During World War II, there was a great demand for various materials, such as rubber, iron, and steel. Junk drives, scrap drives, and other types of collection initiatives were made in an attempt to get the public involved and to donate old, unused…
Tags: economy, World War II