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From A Maine Woman Goes South, letters transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2003. This installment contains 16 letters. Historical dates appear with each letter; the article retains the original collection’s publication date.
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, Lee Academy, December 3, 1925
Source: PDF page 63; printed page 57.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 3, 1925
Dearest Mother;
I was too broken-hearted to write last night. Carlos is in love. I really don't have much to say, for I passed my chance up long ago, but yesterday and last night I wept quarts of tears. Today I don't understand how I happened to feel so badly. I'm as happy as a lark. That's exactly what I have always wanted him to do anyway, and I guess that she must think an awful lot of him although he is afraid that she doesn't. She is the one whom he went around with last year. She got engaged last summer but has broken it this fall. Perhaps the reason why I felt badly was that I paid two dollars out of my last check to get a beautiful frame for Carl's picture, and since it doesn't seem just right to keep it about now, I have no use for the frame. If I could only get another picture for the frame everything would be all right. Won't you ask Marion if she won't have one taken with her bob? The picture frame is quite large so I haven't any good picture to fit it. I'm so happy today that you would never know that I'm the same person. Why should I mind being an old maid the rest of my life when I can earn fourteen hundred dollars a year? I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.
I'm awfully glad that you didn't have a big crowd for Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, it would have been nice if they could have all gone away, but with Marion to help you it wasn't so bad.
I'm afraid that Ig [McDonald] wouldn't be able to teach, but I'm going to write to her this weekend and I will find out how she is feeling. She would make a very good teacher I think, although she has had no experience, of course. Will Winifred be at home after Christmas?
I had another long letter from Stelle Monday. She had had a nice Thanksgiving.
I suppose that Fred wrote to you about his and Marion's trip to New York. Being as near New York as they are, they are able to see a lot of good things.
It is a lovely warm day here, a "pretty day," my girls would say. We really wouldn't need our coats. All this week we have had nice clear weather. Whenever the sun shines it is beautiful and warm, when it rains it is very cold and disagreeable.
Carl wrote me that Ching Hammil, the big football man back at Hebron, was hit by an electric crane and killed. He had been making quite a success of himself in professional football lately.
Mr. Tuck-who spoke at Bell Hill last summer-and Mrs. Tuck, stopped off here to see a friend on their way to Florida. I spoke to them and he asked me if I remembered his talk at Bell Hill. I said ycs-although I remember the talk that we had about it when we got home better.
I must go down to study period now and attempt to keep peace and order for three quarters of an hour.
Write often, Lots of love, Your Sambo.
Don't you think that Sambo is more appropriate now.
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, December 6, 1925
Source: PDF page 64; printed page 58.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 7, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Dearest Mother,
We went on a bus ride this afternoon out through a beautiful part of the city-Morningside. It is all new-the cutest little houses. On the way, too, we saw the Georgia Tech buildings and went through the part of the city where the magnificent homes are. One thing that I couldn't understand when I came South is that there seem to be no poor people in Atlanta. One never sees a white person who isn't dressed fit to kill, and they all seem to own homes. The reason, of course, is that the poor people are mostly negroes and labor is so cheap that the white people don't have to do manual labor. After our bus ride we stopped at a little sandwich shop, run by Georgia Tech boys, for lunch. It seemed so good to be among college fellows, although they had rather strange ways of running a restaurant. They brought our coffee and then came with cream in the bottle and poured it in until we told them that we had had enough.
I finished my Christmas shopping and mailed the packages yesterday. Of course it is rather early, but I thought that it would be better to send them before the rush begins. The package which I sent you has yours and Stelle's things in it. The big package without a name inside is the dress which I got for you to give Stelle. I did it up, but left the card blank so that you could put your name on. You can easily undo it to look at it. I hope that Stelle likes the dress. If she shouldn't, or anything, it fits me quite nicely and I will take that one and get her another. It cost seven dollars but seemed to be of better goods than the others at that price. I sent Auntie a colander with pictures and verses for each week on it. For Uncle Sid I got an Edgar Rice Burroughs book, and a James Oliver Curwood one for Uncle Fred. I sent Grandpa [Pottle] an Irving Bachellor booki based on the life of Franklin, and to Leland James I sent a football. I got Mildred a box of paper and Ted a tie, both of them good looking, although neither of them were expensive. I sent Marguerite a little linen towel from Stelle and me, and Mell [Elizabeth Kingsley] and El and Ig [Grace McDonald] and Pudge [Alice McDonald] bath salts. I really enjoyed getting the things.... I thought of another thing last evening that I'd like and that is some candle sticks. I don't care about having such very nice ones, but we bum candles quite a bit after the lights go out, so candle sticks would be handy.
I hope that Stelle likes the things that I got for her. I got a tie and a scarf to march the dress, a pair of stockings and a box of nice paper. I'm afraid that I won't be able now to gt her a mem book, but perhaps I can get that later.
I sent Fred five dollars this week-half for him and Marion and half for Moult and Winifred. I'm going to send John and Sad theirs tonight. Those will be very nice presents, I think. We are going to have the nicest Christmas. Maijone's people came yesterday and they have invited me down there to their apartment for Christmas day. We are going to have a Christmas tree in the morning and then have a real Christmas dinner. I think that it's wonderful.
This weekend I have been averaging my ranks and they are very much better than they were at the end of the last six weeks. If they keep on improving I may get a respectable class soon. My high school classes are higher than the average, I think. But the Junior High classes are terribly low. I suppose that I expect too much of them when they are taking up Algebra for the first time. I have the most wonderful principals in both my Junior High and Senior High departments. It is awfully nice to have such good people to work under. Miss Rand, in the Junior High, is a Wellesley graduate. Miss
Kurellmeyer in the Senior High is a German from the West and graduated from a Cornell out there.
Auntie writes that they are talking of building a big hotel up on Bell Hill. That will give the town quite a boom if they do, won't it? It certainly would be a lovely place for one.
I haven't seen Ruth for several weeks. She keeps pretty busy over there and I've been fairly busy myself the last few weeks.
I had some Hudnut face powder which jut about mined the little complexion I have. I had some of their talcum powder and while I didn't notice that it itched, I didn't like it very well. I like their other things, though. I'm glad that you found out what it was that irritated you.
You must have some excitement in Lee. I never could understand the idea of putting people out [of] the church when they sin. It seems to me that is the time that they need the church most.
The year is a third up almost and I haven't been sorry yet that I came. I'd give an awful lot though to see you all tonight.
I must correct papers violently from now to bedtime-after I've written a few more letters.
Lots and lots of love, Your Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, December 6, 1925
Source: PDF page 66; printed page 60.
Postmark: Dec. 7,1925 Heading: Spelman College, Sunday
Dear Brute,
Do you for a moment suspect that I don't know why you have suddenly taken up writing to me? It is because Christmas is coming and you think that I'll give you a present. I sent my box home yesterday, and in it is a ten cent gift for you, so now I suppose that you won't write any more.
Well, first I will tell you the most important news. Your brother-in-law isn't going to be named Carlos Henry. Not that I ever expected he would be-but I thought that it might relieve you to know. I passed up my chance quite a while ago, so I haven't anything to say now that Carlos is in love with another lady. It's the one whom he went around with last year at Brown. In fact, I'm quite happy about it all, though I shall slightly miss his ceaseless chatter. It will be quite a miss, won't it? I'm free, single, disengaged, the joke of it is though that I shall be the rest of my life. May I please have old Madge for company?
Louis McBay must have changed a lot. I hope that he is good enough for True. I didn't suppose that it was as serious as that.
I'd surely like to go tobogganing. It seems as if it is cold enough today for it to snow, but it is only forty above and I guess that before snow comes the thermometer will have to go lower than that.
I told you some of the things that I wanted for Christmas. I would like, too, some candle sticks. I don't care about their being expensive ones, but when the lights here go out we bum candles. If you should all chip in together I'd like a Chi Omega seal ring-but those cost a lot.
I bought Ma some scissors. A nice umbrella would be a good thing to get if they didn't cost so much.
Marjorie's folks are back up here and have an apartment, so they are going to invite us all down there for Christmas dinner, and a Christmas tree. Won't that be fun? We are going to go down Christmas morning and have the tree in the forenoon and help get dinner. Yum yum.
Carl wrote me that Ching Hammil was killed by an electric crane a few weeks ago. You remember him at Hebron, don't you?
You will make a stunning English lady in The Shutting of the Door. Gosh! I bet that you and Sheik Marion will cut quit a figure. He's pretty good at acting though. Does Irma have a part?
I hope that you take in Caroline Herrick. She sounds nice and anyone who will turn down a bid from one fraternity for another will generally make a loyal member.
Do you mind being over at Foster House? I suppose that you spend quite a lot of your time over at Foss Hall.
I suppose that you will be getting ready to go home-I mean to Lee-by the time this letter gets to you. Write to tell me all about your Christmas. Be sure to send me a nice Christmas present. Love, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, December 8, 1925
Source: PDF page 68; printed page 62.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 9, 1925 Heading: Study Hall - 2:45 Tuesday
Dear Mother,
Any interruptions will be due to the fact that I am leaving my desk to go down to quell the disturbance among the bunch I'm overseeing. They are angelic today. I don't know just what has happened to them but yesterday and today one could not ask for a better bunch. I told them that I was going to lower their ranks if they didn't keep quieter. They surely hate to get low marks so they are making an heroic effort. My ranks are much higher this six weeks. In my advanced algebra class I'm failing only four, and in each geometry class only two. It is nice here because they prefer that we do not grade papers which we hand back to the children and only three ranks are given. F below 75, W between 75 and 80, and P above 80. The girls get no figures at all so marking is much easier..
I wondered from your letter yesterday if you remembered that we have no vacations. We have just the one day-that is Friday. As it comes this year we have the weekend. If I hadn't spent so much money for Christmas presents I might plan to go up to Lookout Mountain for the weekend. One of the teachers is going to be up there. That is where Fred was at the time of the war. Perhaps I'll plan to go up New Years. We have the day off then, too. Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years, and Lincoln's Birthday are our only days off. Very few of the children will be allowed to go home. They plan to have Christmas trees in each of the hall for them.
By the time this gets to you Stella Q. Will be with you, I suppose. I wish that I might be there too. This will be the first Chritmas that we three haven't been together. Last year it was Lee, the year before Winthrop, the year before Durham, the year before Hebron. Let's hope that we will be together somewhere next Christmas. Are Moult and Winifred still planning to stay in Lee for the vacation?
I am making Marion a luncheon set for Christmas. I hope that I will get it done by then. My eyes have been bothering me a little lately so I haven't been able to work on it. I think that Marion will like it, and linen is so cheap here. Doris Tozier said in her lettr that she had heard about how reasonable linen things are in Atlanta, so I guess that it is an established fact. I will get some other piece of linen for Marion from you. I think that she will like that as well as anything since she is filling her hope chest now.
It is the loveliest day today! I walked down to West End to the Post Office this afternoon. One would hardly suspect that it is the eighth of December. I noticed that the straw hats are in the windows down town. So spring is coming. Next month, they say, is likely to be cold and rainy, but it has surely been nice this month.
I have just been down helping one of my kids in advanced algebra - I'm up in my room now. She is a poetess and is very aesthetic but when it comes to algebra she is slightly dumb. I hate to fail those seniors, for some of them are passing everything else and it will mean that I keep them from graduating.
Marjorie's mother is in turning up her coat for her. Some of my clothes would probably look a whole lot better if they were under your supervision. My stockings were in such good condition when I came that I have only lately had to start darning them, but they need it now, surely.
I hope that the play comes off well. I suppose that Marion has been coaching it again this year.
I hope that the new teacher will be nice.
Winifred must be beginning to get excited. I'm glad that we are going to have some more family. It has seemed that for five of us we have done rather poorly. You wait until Stelle and I get started, though; we will give you some grandchildren which you'll be proud of.
The Spelman girls are going to broadcast from the Atlanta station after Christmas. Does Moult ever get Atlanta? I wish that you could hear them. We are on Central time, so if we broadcasted at eight here it would be nine in Lee.
My love, lots of it, to you all. Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Betsy Kemp, December 8, 1925
Source: PDF page 69; printed page 63.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 9,1925 Heading: Spelman, Tuesday
Dear Auntie,
It doesn't seem today as if it were December. We have been having some very lovely weather lately. In some of the stores downstreet they are selling spring hats. I think, though, that people who buy them now will be fooled and have to wear them in some cold weather.
Stella Q, I suppose, will be going to Lee the last of this week. She is probably pretty glad to be having a vacation. She can help Ma some so that she can have some vacation, too. I think that Winifred and Moult are going to be there too.
We have only Christmas Day off but that comes on Friday so we have the whole weekend. Marjorie Everingham's people are back up here and have hired an apartment, so they have asked us Colby girls down there for Christmas day. We are going to have a Christmas dinner and a Christmas tree.
I sent you a little Christmas present Saturday-something for you and for Uncle Fred and for Uncle Sid. Unless Ma sends something it is from her and Stelle, too. I sent it early to be sure that it got through before the Christmas rush began.
A hotel on Bell Hill will give Otisfield quite a boom. Who is financing the affair? I hope that they will get a desirable crowd of boarders.
Mr. Tuck, who spoke at Bell Hill last summer, and his wife, were here last week. They were on their way to Florida and stopped to see a teacher whom they knew here.
Mother wrote that John and Sade and Grandpa and Leland went to Lovell for Thanksgiving. I should have liked to have helped you eat your fowl.
I hope that you all aren't freezing up. Lots of love, Nellie Sam
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. and Estelle Pottle, December 9, 1925
Source: PDF page 70; printed page 64.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 10,1925 Heading: Spelman, Study Period, Wed.
Dear Mother and Stelle,
I must do something to amuse myself while my children are keeping so quiet-although nothing much to write about has happened since yesterday.
I had a letter from Elizabeth this afternoon. She is looking forward to her vacation. Stelle, I suppose will be starting for Lee after tomorrow.
Elizabeth wrote that Betty Cushman is going to have a big church wedding during Christmas vacation. I wonder if Marion will be home for it. They seem to think that the fellow whom Betty is marrying is quite a man. He is a friend of Drew Stearns-someone whom he knew at Maine.
Roland Hayes comes here to Atlanta Friday. I am looking forward to hearing him sing. He is supposed to be the greatest colored singer and as great as any singer-were he not colored.
We are going to have a birthday party at our table tonight. We celebrate everyone's birthday, although we usually celebrate them on Wednesday because that is the night that we have ice cream.
I hope that you and Stelle will write often during vacation.
Lots of love, Your Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, Lee Academy, December 13, 1925
Source: PDF page 71; printed page 65.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 13, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Dear 'Stelle,
Wait till I tell you! Since you are home I'll write this to you, although it is for the whole family. You may have gone to a Lee play and dance, but I bet that you didn't have the excitement which I had Friday night. Ruth called up Friday afternoon and asked me over for the evening, so I went. They had what they called a "Festival of the Nations." There were dances by girls representing the various countries. Almost all of their students are white, and the dances were very good. Then the excitement! One of the fraternities was giving a dance in one of the halls in the city. They had invited Ruth and one of the other young teachers to go, but they thought that since it was in a public dance hall perhaps they had better not. The girls at A.U. [Atlanta University] aren't allowed to dance, so the boys invited town girls. After the festival one of the town girls asked Ruth and the other teacher and me to chaperon[e] her down to the dance. Two of the fellows had a big car which we went down in. I asked Ruth if we would stop because we had explicit orders when we first came here that we weren't to dance. But Ruth said, No, that we would come right back. But when we got there Ruth suggested that we go in, and then she decided that we would dance. There was nothing in the world for me to do but to dance, too - although I knew that I might get fired if Spelman found it out.
It was the Dark Town Strutter's Ball I assure you. It was as nice a college dance as I ever went to. It is a national fraternity, the one which most of the colored boys in Northern colleges belong to. The hall was decorated very, very prettily in the fraternity colors - which, by the way, are cardinal and straw - although they do not call them that. The music was wonderful. My shiek [sic] was a most adorable Apollo - tall, blond, handsome as the Dickens and awfully nice. He reminded me of Gordon McDonald a little except that he was much better looking than Gordon. He is a perfect dancer and I got along with him wonderfully. He even told me that I am a good dancer. We were jazzing away in perfect oblivion of race and color and my guilty conscience when, what was my consternation to see a Spelman town girl only about two couples from me. I immediately shoved poor bewildered Sims to the other end of the hall. I was sure that she didn't recognize me, and Sims told me that he danced with her afterwards and that everything is all right. About that time Ruth said that it was time to go so I had to leave. I hated to for I was having a wonderful time.
Yesterday forenoon Ruth and I shopped in town. In the afternoon we went to a show and in the evening the Juniors were having a party and they invited us. It was one of the houses and we had a glorious time. We played games and had refreshments and then everyone had to speak. They called on me and applauded my speech, which was kind of them. Friend Sims was there and we talked together a lot again. Now wouldn't Karlos be sorry! It seems a shame that such a wonderful fellow as Sims is will have to always have the subordinated [role] which is given to all colored people. I should think that it would be even harder for him because he wouldn't have the slightest difficulty in passing as a white person. It doesn't seem to bother him in the least, though. We talked about colored people and white people just as we would talk about Englishmen and Frenchmen. He is a very brilliant student they say. I love to go over to A.U. weekends. While I had rather teach at Spelman, they have much more social life over there.
I just came back this morning. It is a perfect day. The last few days have been so warm that in the middle of the day we haven't needed coats. We are due for another cold snap about Christmas time I suspect.
Did you have to go into Lee in a sleigh this time? It is hard to realize that you have snow on the ground. Although the leaves are off the trees here the grass is much greener than it was when I came and the dandelions are all blossomed again. Nevertheless I wouldn't in the least mind the sight of a little snow.
Did the box come all right? It should have arrived by Thursday, anyway. I tied it up quite strongly but it had so far to go that I have been rather worried about it. I am going to send my Christmas cards the last of the week.
Is Marion at home now or did she go to see Gordon before she went to Hebron? I don't know whether I'll get the luncheon set done by Christmas or not. I have the large center piece nearly completed but I have the napkins to do yet. There isn't much work on them though.
Have you been riding on that wild Lee musta[n]g any? Old Madge doesn't know what she is missing because you aren't at home this vacation. What do you and Olga do for excitement? Do you go up to get the milk from Jimmy Smith?
Ruth and I talked last night until late and I'm sleepy. Had Mother heard that Marge Kemp is dead? Ralph Kemp and Mildred have a little girl.
Some of the teachers seem to be hoping that we will have the Thursday before Christmas off too. That will give us a whole long week-end if we do-but I doubt if we do. Ruth is going to visit one of her girls up in Athens, Georgia. They have Thursday off. I guess that I'll spend the holidays fixing up my clothes. They certainly need it.
How did your plays go off? I saw in the Echo an account of what they are to be.
I guess that I'll sleep until dinner time. Such a wild weekend is too much dissipation for me.
I don't mind telling you that I'd like to be with you all this weekend.
I dropped my pen point down - which accounts for one reason why this letter is such a mess. The other is that I'm sleepy.
Write a lot, often. Lots of love to you all, Sambo
Much love, Nellie.
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, Lee Academy, December 14, 1925
Source: PDF page 73; printed page 67.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 15,1925 Heading: Savannah Line [printed]; Monday night
Dearest Mother,
Although this paper reminds me of my seasick days, it is rather nice to have it now.
Miss Delanoe's children down in the grades had a sale today. None of the children are above the sixth grade so probably none of them are more than twelve years old but some of the things which they made are beautiful and many of the things they designed themselves. I bought a big spoon with a painted handle, and a turner-spadula [spatula?], is that what they call them?-for you for Marion. It is quite domestic like and I think that she will like them for her hope chest. It was a very little girl who did them. I bought a little leather calander [sic] from them too to send to Olga.
We are going to have faculty meeting when half-past seven comes. I hope that I don't go to sleep. I shall stay awake long enough at least to hear whether we have another day off at Christmas.
I had a very nice letter from Carlos today. He's working pretty hard this year besides having good times too I guess. From what he said I guess that you've been having some cold weather in the North.
I suppose that you've seen the papers about the fiddler who went from Norway out to play for Hemy Ford. [This was Mellie Dunham.] It gave me quite a thrill to see about it on the front page of the Atlanta Constitution.
I hear the old man down on the back street calling "Get coal!" None of these small houses down in this district have places to store coal, so he comes every night and early in the morning selling little bags of coal. He drives an old mule in a cart which has such wobbly wheels that one wonders how it ever holds.
I'm expecting Ruth and one of the other teachers over on Wednesday evening. Ruth is hoping that her mother will be down to spend March with her.
I wonder what you all are doing this evening. I should like to be there to see you.
Lots of love, Your Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, December 16, 1925
Source: PDF page 74; printed page 68.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 17,1925. Heading: Savannah Line [printed], Wednesday.
Dear Mother,
I wonder what you folks are doing tonight. It has been raining here all this weekend and is still rainy tonight. Marjorie and I went down to see her people after dinner-that's supper. Their apartment was supposed to be furnished, but the furnishings are a joke. There was one cup, a few plates, no silver, and hardly any cooking dishes. The landlady won't get anything and of course they hate to buy things like that which they can't take home. Otherwise the apartment is very nice. The large room which they use for a living room and bedroom is very nice. The house is an immense old place. It has all the appearances of an aristocratic old southern home. Marjorie and I had thought up all sorts of romantic tales about its history, back in slave days, and we found out today that the house is only thirty years old. One thing which is rather interesting, however, is that the people who had it built are the owners of Stone Mountain.
Your letter came yesterday. I'm in hopes that I'll get another one tomorrow.
I can't have you calling Carlos a "plump ordinary cuss." Although them days is gone forever I hold nothing against him. He has always been very very nice to me. No, this Jane in which he is interested now is not the girl whom I met last fall. Jane lives in Providence and goes to school there or something. No, they aren't engaged. I don't think that Carl would think of anything like that until he got through school anyway.
Mr. Tuck wrote back that he thought it was a very inspiring service the Sunday that he was here — he preached the sermon.
Poor Mr. Bullen, he is such a martyr. I hope that they do collect enough so that he can get home at Christmas time. It would make it a lot easier for you.
I didn't hear from Fred today. This has been the first time that I haven't had a letter from him every other Wednesday.
We get the Monday after Christmas off!!!* Isn't that glorious? Four whole days! It seems too good to be true. Only a very few girls whose people can come after them are going home.
I must get to studying now. I hope that there will be a letter from you tomorrow.
Lots and lots of love, Your Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, December 20, 1925
Source: PDF page 75; printed page 69.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 21, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Sunday evening
Dearest Marmie,
I've been celebrating again this week-end. Friday night I went to the Roland Hayes concert. Mother, he is wonderful. If he ever comes to the North you want to hear him. In my estimation of success, he is one of the most successful characters of the time. He was a poor uneducated negro boy from some small town here in Northern Georgia and he has made a name for himself so that he has sung for King George and many of the European nobility. He did very well in the classical music, but I liked best his old negro melodies and secular songs. We took about three hundred of the girls. It was a big night for them for the[y] very seldom get out to things. We had special cars chartered. The auditorium-it seats six thousand-was well filled. Of course the audience was mostly colored. There were perhaps five hundred white people there-no I guess that there were a thousand.
Yesterday morning I cleaned some of my dresses and laundred Marion's luncheon set. I didn't get the other napkins finished, but I had two done so she could see what they were like. I sent a box to Olga too. I sent her a box of stationery. I thought that she would like that.
In the afternoon I went to a party which some of the girls were having. Then Ruth and another A.U. teacher came over to have supper and spend the night with me. After supper we made candy and then went down to an A.U.-Morris Brown basketball game. The game was down at the Auburn Avenue Y.M.C.A. Auburn Avenue is the nice negro part of the town. They have some very beautiful churches and nice stores. The game was quite good except that A.U. got beaten by a big score. We came back and had cocoa and crackers and our candy. They had my room and I appropriated Marjorie's. Ruth likes to sleep as well as ever so I got breakfast for them over here and let them sleep over.
Almost all day I have been with them down at the Murphys. Mrs. Murphy is an A.U. graduate. Mr. Murphy is an A.B. from the University of Wisconsin. He is a printer of good standing in negro Atlanta. He does all of our work for us. They have three dear children-two white and one who is dusky but not very dark. The oldest-she is eleven-has lovely red hair. Isn't that funny?-several girls here in school have red hair. We had a wonderful time. Ruth and Ruth Wildie had to go in the middle of the afternoon but I stayed until supper time. They are well educated and highly cultured people and so it was very interesting to talk with them. She told me that she had the bluest of blue Southern blood, and I well believe it. It is a lovely family. They are all musical. The two little girls-seven and nine-play the violin and the oldest one plays the piano wonderfully.
Mr. Everingham is quite sick and unless he is better they are going to take him to the hospital Monday. Marjorie doesn't seem to know just what the matter is. I hope that he will be all right for it is terribly hard for Marjorie and Mrs. Everingham. I'm afraid that we won't have our Christmas celebration there, but we will amuse ourselves some way.
The girls give their Christmas concert tonight. I must go now for the bell is ringing. I will write more soon.
Lots of love, Nellie Sam. Haven't time to read this through. Forgive mistakes.
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, December 21, 1925
Source: PDF page 76; printed page 70.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 21[?], 1925 Heading: Spelman, Monday night.
Dearest Marmie,
The lights just went out and I am not as lucky as Abe Lincoln was to have a firelight so I am writing by the light of a quarter inch of candle. I wrote Stelle all there is to write this afternoon, I guess, but I was afraid that you might think of me on Christmas day as being homesick or something, so I'm writing a letter to get there, then.
I'm crazy to get your package, although I'm not going to open it until Christmas. I hadn't expected to have many presents down here and I seem to be getting quite a few.
I'm sorry that you worried about my going to the dance. I shall not be going to any more, probably. One of the colored teachers told me that her Morehouse man said he saw me there, but she has been to a dance herself so that is all right. If anything had been going to come from it, it would have happened before now. Don't worry about my falling in love with my negro hero. I have no intention or desire to fall in love with anyone.
I'm awfully glad that you gave the dress to Olga. It's a shame that it was too small for Stelle. I guess that I must be quite a bit thinner than I was when I came down because it was , plenty large enough for me. With Stelle's new red dress she won't need it so much, though. I hope that you and Stelle both like the things that I got for you. I wanted to get something more for you but I didn't know just what.
It is too bad that Winifred and Moult had to go before Christmas. I suppose that when you see Winifred again she will have a surprise for you.
I'm glad that Pa Bullen has gone away. You and Olga and Stelle will have a peaceful if not an awfully exciting time. I'd like to be with you.
Marjorie came back to the college tonight. Her father will be better in a few days, the doctor says. The worst part of it has been that he has had no sleep for several nights. We will probably not go down there Christmas day but we will have a good time here. Anna will probably be back from the hospital by then. She has been up there since Sunday. When anyone is in the hospital here it doesn't mean that they are very sick, necessarily, but they take them up there whenever they have any ailment. I guess that Anna had tonsilitis.
Do you think that this (over) is a very hard examination? [This letter is written on the back of an exam sheet.] Only ten out of my eighty ninth graders passed perfect tests.
This is morning now. The last quarter inch of my candle exhausted itself last night. It is very dark here today. Of course this is one of the two shortest days and it is still raining. I guess that it will get all rained out by Christmas.
A very very Merry Christmas to you all. Think of me on Christmas day and think of how much I love you and would like to see you. But I'll be very happy just to know that I have such a wonderful family-may it go thundering down through the ages!
Lots of love, Your own loving Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, December 21, 1925
Source: PDF page 78; printed page 72.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 22,1925 Heading: Savannah Line [printed], Monday
Dear Stelle,
This isn't just my idea of a beautiful Christmas season. It has been raining cats, dogs, and mules for two weeks. Here's hoping that the supply of live-stock gives out before Friday. I'm afraid that we won't be going down to Marjorie's for Christmas. Her father has been very much worse today. She has been gone all day so I don't know much about it but I think that they have taken him to the hospital. Maqorie says she thinks that it is something that he will get over all right. But if we don't go down there we will amuse ourselves here and have a good time someway.
I have five presents already-five dollars from Auntie, a picture from Sevia, and something from Mell, Ig, and El. I haven't opened them yet. I've had cards from Maurice and Anna and Lena and Evelyn Ventrees, and Dot Hannaford, and a "Tilly" from New Jersey-I don't know who that is, and another card with no name.
Your new dress must be the elephant's eardrums. I like the color too. I wish that I were with you folks so I could make me some clothes. I'm sorry that the dress didn't fit you. It fit me well-was a little large but I forgot that I am thinner than I was when I came down.
Our campus doesn't look very much like Christmas, except the holly trees and they are all pretty and green, with bright red berries.
So Jimmie is married boo-hoo! You know, when I remember that hair, I think that perhaps he has colored blood, and Mother says that I mustn't fall in love with the negro shieks [sic] so perhaps we'd better not be broken hearted after all.
I'm glad that Mother gave the dress to Olga. It would look nice on her I should think. It's too bad that I can't get you something to take its place and the things that I got you sort of went with it. I'm awfully excited to get your box.
Your red umbrella must be the reindeer's rump. Gosh all hemlock there's the bell.
Lots of love, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Betsy Kemp, December 22, 1925
Source: PDF page 79; printed page 73.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 23, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Tuesday
Dear Auntie,
This seems more like Christmas-even in the Southland. It has been raining for nearly two weeks, but this morning it grew colder and in the middle of the forenoon it snowed for about ten or fifteen minutes. Of course it was only a squall and the snow was so fine that it hardly showed in the air, and not at all after it reached the ground. The girls were very much excited, however. For several years there has been absolutely no snow here.
I was glad to hear that your package arrived safely. It had quite a way to go so I was wondering how it would stand the journey.
Thank you ever so much for your present. That is a good way to give it to me, where we are so far apart. I haven't bought anything with it yet, but after the Christmas rush is over in the stores I am going down and get some things which I would like very much.
That makes six presents in all that I have had. I haven't opened any of the others yet. They are from the McDonalds and Elizabeth Kingsley, and Elsie Bishop.
I am afraid that we won't be going down to the Everinghams for Christmas day. Mr. Everingham has been very sick. They think that he will be all right now, but he is not up around yet. But we will have a good time here together. Quite a few of the teachers are going away but nearly all of us in this hall are staying here.
I had cards from Lena and Anna and Maurice [all Kemp cousins] yesterday. It seemed good to get them.
I suppose that Mother and Stelle and Olga are alone now. I'm glad that Ma can get a little peace and quiet. She and Stelle and Olga can get up when they want to and eat what and where they want and not have other people bothering them.
Ruth Kemp was over here Sunday-stayed Saturday night with me. She is going to spend the Christmas holidays with one of her students in Rome, Georgia.
We have Monday off so we have quite a little holiday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
The holly trees on the campus are pretty now. They are a shiny green with bright red berries on them.
I suppose that by the time this gets to you, Christmas will be over and it is a Happy New Year which I should be wishing you all. 1925 has gone quite quickly and it has been a good year.
Since this is one of the shortest days of the year it is quite dark at half past four-our Central time.
Thank you all again a lot for the present. Love to you all, Nellie Sam
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle andEstelle Pottle, December 27, 1925
Source: PDF page 80; printed page 74.
Postmark: Atlanta, Dec. 27,1925 Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Dearest Mother and Stelle,
I am so pleased that you are sending me a notebook. The package hasn't come yet, but it will probably be here by tomorrow. I will have no trouble getting a filler here. They always keep all sizes in stock. I am glad that the package didn't come on Christmas day, for now I will have something more to look forward to.
Let me tell you what I have for presents. I didn't open them until Christmas mom ing after breakfast. First I opened Mell's and that was a lovely photograph album with snapshots of our camping trip at Windermere. The pictures were very good, especially of you. Elsie's present was an ivory powder box. Ig sent me a handkerchief done up like a little umbrella. Pudge sent me a paper weight-a crystal with liquid in it and some sort of a precipitate, so that when one shakes it, it snows on the little lighthouse in the crystal. Marjorie gave me a little flower for my coat. Leota gave me a very pretty brass bookmark and Fred sent some choker beads. They go beautifully with my tan dress. Then yesterday I had a handkerchief from Marguerite, and an apron from Vina. I was used very well, I think.
It was a rather peculiar Christmas, although we enjoyed it. Of the five of us who had planned to celebrate together, only Leota and I were left. Marjorie's father had his worst day on Christmas so she was down there. Win went up to Chatanooga [sic] for the holidays. Anna had her tonsils removed Wednesday so she spent the day in the hospital. Don't think, however, that Leota and I had a lonesome Christmas. About half past four the girls went around to the different halls singing Christmas carols-by the way I didn't hear them. I was so sound asleep. Then at about five the Morehouse boys came to hear them. They had some sort of a musical instrument with them which sounded like an organ. From then on people were coming by the door calling "Merry Christmas" so that it really seemed quite "Christmasy." We had a nice breakfast. Each one at the table had some little fool present, so that added to the amusement. After breakfast Leota and I walked down to leave Marjorie's presents and cards. Then we came back to devotions and after that we went up [to] the hospital and had a little tree for Anna. We had a very nice Christmas dinner-the same as we had for Thanksgiving. In the afternoon, we went over to see Miss Tapley's presents-she had some lovely things-and around to see the girls presents. Most of them had just heaps of expensive presents-more than I ever hope to have. The colored people seem to pride themselves on giving all that they can for Christmas. In the evening Leota and I read to each other. All in all, it was a very nice Christmas. The school makes a big thing of the day. Very few of the girls go home. For a week now all of the buildings have been decorated up with Christmas things. Christmas day was rainy and it seemed strange to hear firecrackers all day long and see fireworks in the evening, but aside from that it didn't seem so much different from Christmas up home - except that none of you people, whom I would have liked so much to see, were here. Wednesday it even snowed for about ten minutes to add to the Christmas atmosphere. It was just a little squall, and I could hardly believe that it was snow, but the girls went wild over it. I hope that you liked the napkins. You had better wash them again, when you are doing a washing. They say that unless anyone washes all the starch out of them, they crack along the folds, and besides, I didn't do them up very well. Anyway, they were a rather practical Christmas present, but I thought that they might be nice to have in the summer at home. The scissors seemed to be quite nice ones.
Stelle wrote that Winifred gave you an overnight case. That will be very nice.
Anna is coming back from the hospital today. She has been doing very well. The Phi Mu girls are going to a Phi Mu luncheon Monday afternoon. It is to be at the Biltmore, the most aristocratic hotel here, and they are quite excited about it.
Perhaps I'll write some more before I mail this. I hope that I will hear from you again tomorrow.
Just think of it-three of the girls teachers went home. One to New Jersey and two to someplace near Haverhill. They left Thursday afternoon, would get to Massachusetts Saturday morning and are starting back this afternoon. It seems like a lot of money to spend for so little time at home. Several of the teachers went to New Orleans. That will be a nice trip down into the warm country. We have been having very cold weather here. This morning it is down to twenty. It feels colder than anything I have ever felt, but our rooms are very nice and warm.
Have you and Stelle and Olga managed to keep warm? Thank Olga for the very pretty card which came to me yesterday.
An awful lot of love to you. Your own Sammy
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, Lee Academy, December 29, 1925
Source: PDF page 82; printed page 76.
Postmark: Dec. 29, 1925 Heading: Spelman College, Monday evening
Dearest Honey,
Your package came this morning and I'm tickled pink with it. Ma couldn't have got me anything that I'd like better than the notebook. And too, it is just the size that I like. I can have my name put on it here if I want to. And I won't have any trouble in getting the filler. The stockings are dandy ones. Some class to me wearing Phoenix stockings and carrying a Phoenix Life insurance. I feel like the mystic bird himself. The garters are nice ones; I shall get reckless and take my yearly bath before 1926 comes in with the soap. I'm glad to get some decent writing paper again; and handkerchiefs are always welcome to the nose, as chocolates and cookies are to the stomac[h]. You sure used me well.
I had a luncheon set from Marion today. Wasn't it a coincidence that she sent me one when I sent one to her? It is a beautiful one which she sent me. Perhaps you saw it. It is a lovely shade of yellow crepe, with Japanese designs, pretty big fat round lanterns and nice slender square lanterns with bright colored flowers on them. Two napkins have round lanterns and two have square lanterns. I'm crazy about it. I'm sorry that I didn't get all four napkins done for Marion. I had a dandy lot of presents this year. Be sure to write to tell me all the things that you have.
I suppose that the howling hoodlums will be back to molest your peace and quiet soon. No doubt you will hate to see them returning.
I'm seriously thinking about moving back North to a warm climate. We have had the coldest weather that has been known here for several years. Yesterday it was down to thirteen, and it felt like fifty below. How I would love some red flannels! But the cold can't last very long here-that's one good thought. My room is gloriously warm. Marjorie and I would like to go down to New Orleans. Nex weekend we have New Year's Day off, but I doubt if we do.
Well, Brute, have a good rest of vacation and go back to hit those midyears square between the eyes, thus bringing renown to the illustrious family.
A lot of love to you all, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, Lee Academy, Lee, Maine, December 31, 1925
Source: PDF page 82; printed page 76.
Postmark: Atlanta, Jan. 1,1926 Heading: Spelman, Thursday evening
Dearest Marmie:
It seemed so good to get your nice long letter today...
[Thanks her for the Christmas gifts.] All the girls were getting candy for Christmas so I was especially pleased with the box of chocolates.
Our family is all together again and it certainly seems good to have us so. Marjorie is back up here again; Anna came back Monday and Win returned last night.
You haven't had all the cold weather. I think that it was Monday which was so cold. The thermometer dropped to six above. I'm sure that it never felt any colder than that at home. That was the minimum temperature for several years....
How would you like to come down to Georgia next year? It's cold for a little while but not cold for so long. We haven't a real matron in this hall this year, but I imagine that you could get at least your board for doing the duties, and all those would be would be [sic] seeing that the place is locked at night and that everything is kept in repair. Until this year they have had a matron in Giles, but they didn't get one for some reason or another, and one of the teachers has charge. She is taking graduate study next year so she won't be back.
I'm putting in two of the pictures we took on top of Stone Mountain...In the standing one the girl next to me is Stella Wagner, one of the secretaries in the treasurer's office, and the other is Win Dunbrack.
Tomorrow will be a big holiday, since it is Emancipation Day. I hear the fireworks already. One of the girls set off a firecracker in Majjorie's class Tuesday. I expect that they will be trying something similar in my classes soon. We have some funny experiences. Many of them come through the fact that now we are absolutely unconscious of the fact that they are colored and forget all about their being negroes. In Christian Endeavor at Thanksgiving time, I was talking glibly about our forefathers before the humor of the situation occured [sic] to me. Some one in one of Marjorie's classes was criticizing the early church and Marjorie reminded them that they must remember that it was the church of our ancestors. Yesterday in History they were hearing about the Black Death. She asked them why it was called that and no one knew. She knew that they hadn't been studying the details of the lesson as they should, and so she stressed the matter quite a bit and finally told them that it was called that because after the afflicted people die their bodies turn black. She didn't realize until after she had said that, that these poor youngsters' bodies couldn't turn black. They always take things like that as a big joke.
...Lots of love to my own dear Mother, her Sammy
Source and transcription
Original complete PDF, transcribed by Jean F. Hankins, 2003. Original spelling, bracketed notes, and omissions marked with dots are retained. This web edition was extracted from the scanned transcription; consult the PDF when an exact reading is important.