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Language Note: We recognize that items in this collection use outdated and/or racist language.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

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

Letter from Sonnyboy to Martha Smith; September 23, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy to Martha Smith; September 23, 1943. Sonnyboy recounts stories of his life in military training.
Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith; November 19, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonny Boy to Pauline Smith; November 19, 1943. Sonny Boy tells his mother about day-to-day tasks at Fort Knox, his upcoming duties, and seeing a film called Guadalcanal Diary.
Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; October 3, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; October 3, 1943. Sonnyboy often takes to hiding to avoid having to do work. He shares a story about driving a tank up a tree stump and complains that he had to clean the tanks for an inspection by a colonel.
Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; September 27, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; September 27, 1943. Sonnyboy writes to his mother about his time on bivouac and his increasing skill in driving tanks. He shares his frustrations with trying to eat among other soldiers and compete for food.
Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; September 29, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; September 29, 1943. Sonnyboy updates his mother on army training. He tells her about his adventures learning to drive tanks and tie knots and assures her he is eating well.
Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; September 30, 1943

Sam Ellard Smith

Letter from Sonnyboy to Pauline Smith; September 30, 1943. Sonnyboy is roughing it in the army now that he is finished driving tanks. He complains to his mother about the bivouac and says that the place is crawling with skunks, but is cheered by the fact that he is gaining weight and has $26 to buy a watch.
Letter from Robert Young to Bernice Smith; November 15, 1943.

Robert Young

Robert tells Bernice about his travels and the conditions of the different locations he's traveled to. He tells her stories about visiting family, and recalls a story about a man in his company who fathered a child with a woman who was unfaithful to him.
Letter from Robert Young to Martha Smith; November 17, 1943

Robert Young

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Robert Young to Martha Smith; November 17, 1943 Robert tells Martha about traveling, and includes a story about helping a sargeant escort two drunken "girls" home. Furthermore, besides reflecting on the miserable frigid weather he experiences as a soldier, Robert describes his experience riding in the train.
Letter from Foss Ellard to Pauline Smith; January 10, 1942

Jack Foster Ellard

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Foss Ellard to Pauline Smith, expressing concern about the health of Chess Smith and Sam Smith and sharing opinion about a recent heart attack Chess Smith experienced.
Letter from Foss Ellard to Pauline Smith; January 1, 1942

Jack Foster Ellard

From the Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection. Letter from Foss Ellard to Pauline Smith, giving updates on the holidays and requesting information for family tree research.