Julia Tayloe Stokes Letters

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0172

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Julia Tayloe Stokes Letters date from 1896 to 1903 and contain correspondence written by Stokes' parents, siblings, relatives and friends. Most of these letters were addressed to Julia while a student at the State Normal, however, a few were written to Julia after her student days. A letter of 1900 makes reference to Julia being a teacher, although there is no indication of her location.

The letters primarily contain information on daily life in Windsor, as well as the latest news on marriages, illnesses and deaths. Both parents offered advice to Julia on how to stay healthy and how to conduct her affairs, both professionally and personally.

In one letter of October 14, 1896, J.B. Stokes advises his daughter "to be very friendly with Miss Kirkland, it will pay you in the long run." According to the Annual Catalogue, Miss Kirkland was "Lady Principal" at the State Normal, being "referee in matters social and domestic."

In a letter from Mrs. Stokes dated October 30, 1896, she offers this advice: "Your papa says don't be too free writing to WJ ...rather you would be scarce with letters to him for you know it would be quite an honor to let people think that Julia Stokes would corespond [sic] with him."

Likewise, letters from friends and graduates of the State Normal discussed "beaux" with Julia. A letter of October 20, 1896, from a friend, Annie, who was working as a teacher, stated: "...all the young men here are very handsome and good...They are not fast, flirty, conceited, young men. I hear nothing of any of our beaux in E. City, Hertford, or the other noted places we visited during the summer."

A few letters from Mrs. Stokes referred to another student from Windsor, Nellie Bond, who eventually became an instructor at the State Normal and Industrial School.

The bulk of these letters were written in the Fall of 1896 and the Spring of 1897. The last piece of correspondence is a postcard dated September 9, 1903, and addressed to Julia's sister Lizzie, a member of the State Normal and Industrial School Class of 1905.

Dates

1896 - 1903

Creator

Stokes, Julia Tayloe (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical or Historical Information

Julia Tayloe Stokes was a student at the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG) from 1894 to 1897. Her hometown was Windsor, North Carolina, and her father, J.B. Stokes, was a peanut farmer who also raised hogs and served as chairman for the Democratic Executive Committee working for the presidential election of William Jennings Bryan in 1896.

Extent

0.20 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Julia Tayloe Stokes was a student at the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG) from 1894 to 1897. These papers contain letters written to Julia by her family and friends.

Method of Acquisition

Gift of Jack Powell, January 2001.

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