Pickering family correspondence and photographs

box 1, folder 1

Eliza T. Wayne correspondence and notes 1864, 1865, 1866, [18]68, 1892

Scope and Contents

This file contains two notes from Dillwyn Parrish to Eliza T. Wayne regarding a Bond to be signed upon her next visit to the city, 1886; and a note informing Wayne that the deed to property sold in Cincinnati is ready to be signed, 1865. Also included is a note regarding debts "contracted on her account during her absence" for tea and flour, 1864; a receipt for stove coal, [18}68; and correspondence.

box 1, folder 2

Jessie [Pickering] Correspondence 1855; 1870; 1907; 1910

Physical Description: 4 letters.

Scope and Contents

In the letter dated July 1, 1855 Jess writes to Louise Barger telling her that she misses her, and that she was unable to write to her sooner.

In the letter dated 1870 to "Grand Par Mar" from Jessie, she discusses arriving to Richmond by boat and the weather there, and inquires about Sue and Lizzie.

In the letter dated November 28th, 1907 presumably to Jessie from her mother, she talks about Jessie's grandmother's love for her. Also included in this letter are a few small clippings.

This folder also includes a partial letter dated June 12, 1910.

box 1, folder 3

Letters from Mary [Barger] and Lizzie to their mother [18]62, [18]65, undated

Physical Description: 6 letters.

Scope and Contents

In these letters sent from Cincinnati, OH. from Mary [Barger] to her mother, she discusses her husband William; weather; experiences traveling by train; inquires about her family; discusses seeing soldiers on their way to Tennessee; talks about assisting soldiers' families by distributing clothing and provisions; and recalls an incident with a jewelry thief. In the letter from Lizzie to her mother sent from Cincinnati, OH, Lizzie discusses the weather and someone named Henry's bout with dysentery.

box 1, folder 4

Maylin J. Pickering correspondence and documents 1890; 1916-1919; 1924; 1927

Scope and Contents

This folder contains two letters written from Maylin to his mother. In the first letter, dated September 9, 1916 sent from El Paso, TX. Maylin discusses his son, John; how he will try and purchase some Navajo rugs to bring to her; and discusses moving to a new camp soon. In the letter dated September 28, 1918 sent from England Maylin discusses his experiences riding in a car in England; dinners with civilians; and plans for a trip to the sea with other officers. This folder also includes: An invitation for a meeting at the Mustin Genealogical Association, October 31, 1890; Special Order No. 33, from War Department providing the appointment of Maylin Joseph Pickering as Major in the Aviation Section, Signal Reserve Corps. February 8, 1918;"London Opinion", Vol. LIX, No. 759, October 5th, 1918; United States Army certificate, Major Air Service, Aeronautics. Honorably discharged at Garden City, New York February 28, 1919; Certificate appointment for Maylin Pickering, Major Air Service from December 12, 1924 for active duty to be called upon if necessary; and Memorandum from F.E. Hamilton, Comptroller, The Official Source Records Fund to M.J. Pickering October 7, 1927 regarding being a sponsor of "The Source Records of the Great War" set of books.

box 1, folder 5

Letters to Mrs. Pickering from Mariam Granville 1893, 1894, 1897, undated

Physical Description: 3 letters.

Scope and Contents

This folder contains letters addressed to Mrs. Pickering from Mariam Granville. In these letters Granville talks about her children; sends her regrets for being unable to visit Pickering in America; and inquires about her visit to London.

box 1, folder 6

Letters addressed to Mrs. Tomlinson [January] 18, 1902; December 3, 1907; undated

Physical Description: 3 letters.

Scope and Contents

This folder contains three letters addressed to Mrs. Tomlinson, who is presumably Marie L. Barger Tomlinson, Jessie Tomlinson Pickering's mother. One letter dated [Jan] 18, 1902 is from J. Mench Chambers, where he learns of Tomlinson's improving condition and wishes her well; another letter is from Mabel who also wishes Tomlinson well on her recovery after an operation; and the final letters is from Pastor [Ed Gates] Hill of the First Presbyterian Church inviting her and her son, Paul to service. Also included with the Chambers letter is a New Years card from Chambers.

box 1, folder 7

Letters to Nelle Pickering from Ethel [Pontz] 1907-1916

Physical Description: 7 letters.

Scope and Contents

In these letters from Ethel [Pontz] to her sister, Nelle Ethel discusses traveling with their sister Mary; playing cards; dinners; attending gym classes; inquires about various friends and family including their aunt; doctors visits; and talks about her upcoming wedding to Frank [McCown] and her wedding dress. She also discusses her experiences living in El Paso, TX. including her first impressions, the weather, attending a generals' dinner, attending a Hawaiian concert, the climate, her living arrangements, and discusses her social life including going to dinners and people's homes

These letters were sent from Lancaster, PA. and El Paso, TX to Nelle when she lived in Lancaster, Germantown, Philadelphia, and Reading, PA.

box 1, folder 8

Letters to Nelle Pickering from Ethel [Pontz] 1917-1934

Physical Description: 8 letters.

Scope and Contents

In these letters from Ethel [Pontz] to Nelle Pickering she discusses doctor's visits; her health; thanks Nelle for various gifts; talks about the passing of their aunt Maggie; discusses getting a new maid; talks about her children including when they got sick with German measles and bronchitis; inquires about Nelle's children; and talks about how an aunt who was staying with her had a stroke. In the letter dated August 9, 1934 Ethel provides condolences for Mrs. P's passing and discusses her experiences attending the funeral; discusses her children's school; and talks about George's fractured ribs and collarbone which landed him in the hospital.

These letters were sent from Lancaster, PA. to Nelle when she lived in Germantown, PA, and St. Louis, MO.

box 1, folder 9

Letters to Nelle Pickering from Ethel [Pontz] circa 1915-1930

Physical Description: 4 letters.

Scope and Contents

In these letters, Ethel discusses how she enjoyed seeing Nelle; dinner; preparations for Christmas; Christmas gifts that were received; thanks Nelle for the Christmas gifts; talks about preparing to visit Nelle and waiting for Frank to telegraph money; discusses the arrival of her wedding gown; talks about their father's illness; and other experiences.

All of these letters were sent to Nelle when she was living in Germantown, PA.

box 1, folder 10

Letter from Nelle Pickering to her mother April 3, 1915

Scope and Contents

In this letter from Nelle Pickering to her mother, she writes to inform and invite her to her wedding.

box 1, folder 11

Letters to Nelle Pickering from a cousin, aunt, and others July 28, 1916; March 7, 1926; August 17, 1930; March 8, 1936; undated

Physical Description: 5 letters.

Scope and Contents

This folder contains five letters. In the first letter from Nelle's aunt, she writes to Nelle inquiring about her health and inviting Nelle to stay with her if she wishes. In the second letter, an unnamed individual writes to Nelle to discuss playing bridge, the travels of friends or family, inquiring about Nelle's son, Billy's baptism, discusses genelogy in the family, and talks about the possible formation of a [chapter] of the Daughters of the Revolution because Nelle's great great grandfather was in the war. In the third letter, from [Dane] they discuss some of their recently "miseries" which includes Ray being stricken with apoplexy, and a robbery at their home. In the fourth letters from Mrs. Basil West, she discusses health and how she misses Basil. In the last letter from Helen she discusses visiting Nelle in the future, inquires about friends and family, and talks about a trip to the beauty parlor.

These letters were sent to Nelle when she was living in Germantown, PA; Webster Groves, MO; and St. Louis, MO.

box 1, folder 12

Letters to Nelle Pickering from Lillian and Anna Idella Leiter 1916-1919

Physical Description: 4 letters.

Scope and Contents

This folder contains two letters from Lilian; one letter from "L" (presumably Lillian); and one letter from Anna Leiter.

In the letter from "Dell" Anna Idella Leiter discusses the birth of her son, Roy Allen Leiter Jr. June 7, 1916

In the letter from Lilian, dated July 1916, she discusses an eye exam, dress tailoring, and going shopping. Also included in the letter postmarked July 1916 is a letter from Ethel in which she discusses getting telegrams from Frank, receiving wedding gifts, and future travel plans to El Paso, TX.

In the letter from "L" to Nelle dated April 28, 1918, she discusses the wedding of friends; and death of a friend. Included in this letter are some clippings "L" thinks Nelle will find of interest.

In the letter from Lilian to Nelle, dated December 1919, she wishes her congratulations on her new son; and inquires about her trip to Texas.

Letters were sent to Nelle when she was living in Germantown, PA, and Waco, TX.

box 1, folder 13

Letters from Nelle Pickering to Maylin J. Pickering February 26, 1916-August 1918

Physical Description: 6 letters.

Scope and Contents

In the letter dated February 26, 1916, Nelle discusses waiting for Maylin's letters to arrive; talks about receiving a copy of the "Penna Gazette" with his picture in it; discusses the weather, the children, and paying bills. In this letter there is also a memorandum from a credit manager to M.J. Pickering regarding an overdue account, and a clipping entitled "Penn Adopts New Scholastic Rules, Students are Ineligible for Teams if Conditions Exceed 1 1/2 Units".

In the rest of the letters, Nelle discusses having to pay bills; the children; the sicknesses of a few friends; preparing to visit Maylin; going to the jeweler for Maylin's insignia; the weather; talks about awaiting his letters and how much she misses him; discusses a trip to the dentist; talks about receiving a package from Maylin; discusses her worries about the "paralysis epidemic"; and discusses the reorganization of the 2nd Infantry.

These letters were sent from Nelle in Philadelphia, PA to Maylin when he was at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Tx.; the Aviation Concentration Center in Garden City, Long Island, NY.; and El Paso, TX.

box 1, folder 14

Postcards mostly sent from Maylin Pickering to J.L. Pickering 1903-1916; 1943-1944; undated

Scope and Contents

This folder contains postcards. A majority of the postcards are from Maylin to J.L. Pickering sent from locations such as New Jersey, Coney Island, Collegeville, PA., New Haven, CT., Paris, Atlantic City, Lexington, VA., and Berlin from 1903-1907; as well as postcards from 1913 sent from Camp Mt. Gretna, PA., and Delaware that feature images of majors, colonels, and officers. Also in this folder are two postcards from July-August 1916 featuring an image of the first brigade, 2nd Pennsylvania Milita hiking near El Paso, Tx., and Camp Stewart (El Paso, Tx.) officers row. Lastly, this folder contains a number of mostly blank and undated military comics postcards, as well as one sent from Wallace Adams at Camp Butner, NC. to Norma Oltman, 1943; and another sent from Bill Moser at Camp Wolters, TX., to Betty Ann Moser, 1943.

box 1, folder 15

loose photographs 1889; July 1915; 1928; undated

Scope and Contents

A majority of these photographs were taken at a parade and reception for returning Spanish-American War soldiers, 1889. Philadelphia. Other images in this folder include: an image of the Old Guard State Fencibles circa 1889; images of Pennsylvania National Guard at Mt. Gretna, PA., July 1915 and undated; a portrait of M.J. Pickering taken in 1928; and an image of M.J. Pickering and presumably his wife and children playing cards, undated.

box 1, folder 16

Photograph from an album 1904-1908, 1929; undated

Scope and Contents

This folder includes: images taken in Lexington, VA. of V.M.I Cadets, Washington and Lee University, enroute to "University of Virginia Institution of ∅z of AXP"; images taken in front of a home in Stratford Conn, July 1907; images taken in Perkasie, PA of Lt. Blackford, Lt. Lister, officers in the 3rd Infantry of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Lt. C. Riffin, Maj. Williams, and others; as well as George Roth, "Mother", Edith Potts, Alice Thomas, and others, July 12, 1907; a portrait of an officer taken in Pine Plains, NY. July 1908; images from the Tull-Robinson bridal party June 1, 1907 Fanwood NJ.; images of Edith Potts, Alice Thomas, Charley Potts, Howard Okie, Billy Morris and others taken in front of a cabin and in canoes; and images taken in Byram, PA. on the Delaware of Henry Coates, Sherman Coates, Beulah Coates, Elizabeth Wallace, and others August 1906. Also included are images of Lt. Norris, Col. Sweeney, Col. Potter, Capt. George Huggins, and others taken in Gettysburg PA July 1906 ; images taken at a picnic at Stratford, CT., July 1906 with Edith Williamson, Sylvia Coats, Ethel Beach, Dorothy Wheeler, and others; images taken on sailboats in Betterton, MD. and Beach Haven; and images of a Girl Scouts troop and other children, 1929, undated. Pages have been removed from the photograph album for preservation purposes. Some photographs are missing.

box 1, folder 17

Empty envelopes mostly addressed to Mrs. M.J. Pickering. 1902; 1920-1930; undated

Scope and Contents

One envelope is addressed to Mrs. Jesse Tomlinson (1902); another is addressed to Master Billy Pickering (1927); and the rest are addressed to Mrs. M.J. Pickering.

box 1, folder 18

notes mostly on churches and genealogy; a poem; and blank letterhead from the Law Offices of Dunne, Morris, Heckscher & Roberts, Philadelphia [18]90; undated

box 1, folder 19

pins, cufflinks, bolo tie, and other ephemera undated

Scope and Contents

Includes: Boy Scouts of America God and Country and Junior LSS pins; American Dental Political Action pins; UFCW United Food and Commerical Workers International Union retiree pin; World Dental Federation pin; American Association of Orthodontists Foundation (AAOF) pin; 1 15 AM American Machinists pin; E Pluribus Urium Army pin; WWII Major Oak Leaf insignia pins; baseball player bolo tie; watch; cufflinks; and other ephemera.