Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection

The majority of the contents of the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Collection (referred to as the “Smith Family Papers”) includes letters and diaries among family members and friends, with most letters from members of the Smith Family--Pauline and Sam H, and their children, Bernice, Christine, Martha, and Sam E (or “Sonny Boy.”). The geographic center of the collection is Pittsboro (or Calhoun County) Mississippi, where the family maintained their home since 1914, and where Pauline wrote most of her letters. Several letters from Jackson, MS are from Sam H. Smith, who was a state senator between 1932 and 1936. Letters to and from Columbus, MS are from Bernice, Christine, and Martha, who each attended the Mississippi State College for Women between approximately 1931 and 1938. As Pauline and Sam H. grow older and continue to write from Mississippi, the children move around the country, and with a few military appointments, around the world. The letters reflect this.

Language Note: We recognize that items in this collection use outdated and/or racist language. Unless otherwise noted, this is the language used by the record creator(s) and not imposed by the Beulah Culbertson Archives and Special Collections. Visit our website to read our harmful language policy.

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Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith; December 22, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith; December 22, 1943. Sonny Boy tells his mother about the cold weather at Camp Myles Standish, getting along with other men in his company, and fixing his watch.
Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith; September 10, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith; September 10, 1943. Sonny Boy describes basic training to Martha and mentions that he will be trying a new gun soon.
Letter form Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; October 27, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter form Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; October 27, 1943. Sonny Boy continues to speculate about battle training, the final task of his basic training. He shares with his mother that he recently took part in a "show for some generals" in which he fired machine guns, drove a tank into mud, and cleaned mud off the guns.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Bernice and Christine Smith; December 17, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Bernice and Christine Smith; December 17, 1943. Sonny Boy thanks Bernice and Christine for the Christmas presents they sent him and updates them on what other family members have recently sent. He tells them that he recenly got his watch fixed and shares a story about a tank in a convoy he was in flattening part of a car.
Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Bernice Smith; September 18, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Bernice Smith; September 18, 1943. Sonnyboy has been transferred to a new company in the Army Training Corps and is not enjoying life on bivouac. He tells Bernice about a Leiutenant that he enjoys working with and shares a story about having to prepare vehicles for inspection by Generals.
Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Martha Smith; December 13, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Martha Smith; December 13, 1943. Sonnyboy shares that he just finished off a week full of tank training (maneuvring). He notes the conditions they had to go through while going through the training. He also tells Martha not to send his Christmas gifts, just to hold onto them as he thinks he's getting shipped out soon.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Martha Smith; December 6, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Sonny Boy Smith to Martha Smith; December 6, 1943. Sonny Boy starts off saying he's made it to Maryland, noting he has new equipment. Sonny Boy mentions "going on a tank problem tomorrow." He mentions crossing the Patomac via a bridge that may not hold up the tank. He also mentions being shipped out in two weeks to a port then overseas. Sonny Boy points out they got paid on the 6th, he mentions having a good co-commander. He mentions when he was home, having gone hunting for squirrel. He also mentions food from when he was home as well.
Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Martha Smith; November 15, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Martha Smith; November 15, 1943. Sonny Boy is writing just after returning from battle training. He recounts volunteering to unload trucks which causes him to miss chow for the day but was allowed a ride back to camp (14 miles) as compensation. The soldiers had another boxing match that Sunday. Sonny Boy shares the location of "the boys" that have been transferred and expects furlough in the upcoming weeks.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Martha Smith; October 18, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Martha Smith; October 18, 1943. Sonny Boy's army training has intensified as it draws to an end, he shares with Martha that he has taken part in simulated "village fighting", close combat firing, and bombings. He reports that he excelled at shooting various kinds of machine guns and shares an unfavorable view of a U.S.O. show he recently attended
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; December 14, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Sonny Boy tells his mother about driving a tank down a highway and receiving a note from Martha. He wants go to Baltimore to see if he can find someone who can fix his watch.