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Language Note: We recognize that items in this collection use outdated and/or racist language.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, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; December 26, 1943. Sonny Boy tells Pauline about how he dislikes his current camp, mostly because of how cold it is. He assures his mother that he is eating well and looks forward to moving to the next place.
Letter from Sonnyboy Smith to Pauline Smith; September 20, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Sonnyboy shares his discomfort with the recent cold and rainy weather. He talks about driving a tank and the soldiers putting on a show for the high officers.
Letter from Sonny Boy to Christine Smith; September 7, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy to Christine Smith; September 7, 1943. Sonny Boys describes his experiences in basic training.
Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith and S.H. Smith; September 13, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith and Sam H. Smith; September 13, 1943. Sonny Boy describes recent events in basic training. He is in the midst of learning to drive tanks and was yelled at by a Sergeant during training.
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.