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Katherine Yocum Collection

2 boxes (0.75 linear feet)

(1922 – 1938)

bulk 1922-1926

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier SC2021.013
Creator(s) Yocum, Katherine
Acquisition

Aqcuried by Dr. Beatriz Hardy (Dean of Libraries and Instructional Resources) in November 2020.
Language(s) English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding Aid written by Kate Harris, August 2021
Related Materials None
Separated Materials See Nabb Center Staff
Abstract

This collection consists of personal correspondence of Katherine Yocum from 1922-1938. Most of the correspondence was between Yocum and Nelson Burns. The letters begin when Yocum and Burns were freshmen at Bethany College, West Virginia and follow their, often tumultuous, relationship over the next four years. Many of the letters are addressed to Yocum at her parent's house in Steubenville, Ohio and follow Burns' work and school career through Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. The letters contain details of 1920's University life, family and work through their courtship, engagement and eventual breakup. While the bulk of the collection is letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, it also contains some of Yocum's responses as well as letters to and from Yocum's parents and brothers, Floyd and Julian, as well as letters to Yocum from Bob Salmon.

Biographical History

Katherine Virginia Yocum was born in Stubenville, Ohio on April 30,1903 to Floyd Middagh Yocum and Katherine Lloyd Yocum. Katherine had two younger brothers, Floyd Harold Yocum and Julian Giles Yocum.  Katherine attended Bethany College in West Virginia from 1922 to 1925 and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.  She married George Morrison on June 18, 1932 in Jefferson, Ohio. Katherine died on September 4, 1991.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148993984/katherine-morrison

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L58Q-SQQ

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of personal correspondence of Katherine Yocum from 1922-1938.  Most of the correspondence was between Yocum and Nelson Burns. The letters begin when Yocum and Burns were freshmen at Bethany College, West Virginia and follow their, often tumultuous, relationship over the next four years. Many of the letters are addressed to Yocum at her parent's house in Steubenville, Ohio and follow Burns' work and school career through Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. Throughout their correspondence, Yocum and Burns detail daily University life. Yocum discusses her experience becoming a pledge for Zeta Tau Alpha and Burns tells her about his experiences with the Sigma Nu fraternity. Yocum has a handwritten “pledges handbook” laying out the sorority’s expectations of their freshman pledges. The two discuss classes, grades and roommates, including a description of Burns’ attendance of a K.K.K. parade. As well as detailed descriptions of 1920’s daily life, the two debate social norms of drinking and smoking, dating and engagement. While the bulk of the collection is letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, it also contains some of Yocum's responses as well as letters to and from Yocum's parents and brothers, Floyd and Julian, as well as letters to Yocum from Bob Salmon. The regularity of the weekly letters over the years provides a remarkably consistent picture of life during this period, rounded out by the addition of letters of Yocum’s family and friends. 

 

 

 

 

Arrangement Statement

The collection is arranged by author then chronologically.

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • Education
    • Family Life
    • Personal correspondence
  • Location Terms
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia

Inventory List

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Box 1

  1. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, 1922
  2. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, 1923
  3. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, 1924
  4. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, 1925
  5. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, 1926

Box 2

  1. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Nelson Burns, 1928, undated
  2. Holiday cards & empty envelopes, undated
  3. Letters to Floyd Yocum, 1923-1943
  4. Letters to Julian Yocum, 1942-1943
  5. Letters to Katherine Yocum from Bob Salmon, 1929-1931
  6. Misc. letters to Katherine Yocum, 1922-1938

Artifacts

See Nabb Center Staff

Attachments

None