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Language Note: We recognize that items in this collection use outdated and/or racist language.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 Smith to Pauline Smith; December 26, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy writes his mother on his birthday, telling her about Christmas gifts he's received from his sisters.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; February 10, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy tells his parents that mail is catching up to him. He shares that he was not allowed to tell what he was doing at his last camp.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; February 18, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy tells his parents about life at camp and how much he likes the group he's with now. He says he's been moving around a lot and cannot share where he is or what he's doing.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; February 20, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy tells his mother about life at camp, including role assignments and shows put on by other soldiers. He mentions news of the war and family correspondence as well as the weather and food in England.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 26, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy explains that fair weather is important for the army participants. He provides an overview of his letter correspondences.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; June 11, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy conveys that he has not been negatively impacted by "the invasion" and believes she has the wrong idea of his location. He has received his harp but has a limited reportoire for putting the instrument to use.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; March 12, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny boy discusses the newspaper to which he has access, Stars and Stripes, which he explains includes comics about Terry and the Pirates and Lil Abner. Furthermore, Sonny explains that he limited in what he is able to share about his position but does explain that he is working differently than how he had been prepared to work in the army.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; March 13, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Besides reading letters he receives, Sonny Boy can be entertained by singing with the other soldiers and watching a kind of "picture show" (2). Thus, Sonny Boy requests that his mother send him lines from certain songs that he desires to be able to sing.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; March 19, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy explains that censorship limits what he can say in his letters. He explains how he is going to improve his bonds and gives a sense of what some of the other men he knows are like.
Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; March 2, 1944

Sam Ellard Smith

Sonny Boy tells his mother that he is doing well in his current base camp, that he is happy, and that even though his letters to her are censored, hers are not.