VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Students
Series 19: STUDENTS
Virgil Smith, Student, 1924-1927
Virgil Smith Correspondence, 1924-1960

Laurel House I., 1914-1940. [mccullough_II_35d.jpg]

TAGS: Virgil Smith Correspondence, student records, Berea (Kentucky) College, high school accreditation, Laurel House bell, Senior Class loans, scarlet fever

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1924-1960

The Virgil Smith Correspondence is derived from the student record of Smith when he was a student at Pine Mountain Settlement School from August 1924 until May 1927. He left the School in 1927 when he was accepted at Berea (Kentucky) College but his correspondence with the School continued until 1960 and is a chronicle of his career journey.

Virgil Smith’s correspondence comprises one of the many inspiring stories of students who attended Pine Mountain. He was a student who won the extraordinary support of the staff at the School and the hearts of those students who knew him and knew of him. Virgil’s story is one of the remarkable accounts of those journeys to an education, found among the Pine Mountain Settlement School student records, and is a testimony to tenacity.

[Note: Virgil Smith always signed his correspondence “Virgil.” However, his correspondents, particularly Katherine Pettit and Ethel de Long Zande, generally addressed him as the classical Latin “Vergil” as in Publius Vergilius Maro, the Roman poet. Apparently, Smith’s given name was “Virgil” which is the English spelling of the name.]

TRANSCRIPTION: VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1924-1926

[smith_v_002.jpg] Typewritten copy of a narrative from the November 1924 issue of Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School, describing a physically disabled boy who had just arrived at the School.

[smith_v_003.jpg] A statement from PMSS with typewritten entries.

PINE MOUNTAIN, KY., Dec. 1, 1924
Mr. Mart Smith
Daisy, Perry Co., Ky.
IN ACCOUNT WITH
PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
INCORPORATED
PINE MOUNTAIN, HARLAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY

Balance Due for Virgil on glasses $.07
Entrance Fee
Monthly Fee for November for Virgil 2.95
For December for Virgil 2.95
$5.57

Any children who owe debts are expected to stay through vacation and work them off, if they are not paid by the parents.
…

[smith_v_004.jpg] Handwritten letter, page 1 of 2.

Mambar, W. Va.
July 13, 1925

Miss Katherine Pettit

Dear Miss Pettit,
I just received your letter the 10th.

As I am so far away from Lexington I thought it might be well for me to come by Lexington and have that work done when I start back up to P,M. so if you thought it best you could get me a pass from Lexington to Putney and I…

[smith_v_005.jpg] Handwritten letter, page 2 of 2.

…would pay my way to Lexington. You can write and tell me when School starts and when to come to Lexington.

I am reading one of H.G. Wells’ book on History and like it fine.

Well I am interested to know who is to take Mr. Dechamps [Leon Deschamps] place.

How is Mr. Browning getting along in law?
Yours,
V. Smith

[smith_v_006.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

May 2, 1925

Dear Mr. Smith:
We are going to have a doctor at the school when school closes next week, to look after some of the children who need their tonsils taken out. It is quite possible that Virgil may need to have his out, and I am sending you a consent blank to sign and return at once if you would like us to take care of him, and if the doctor thinks when he comes that Virgil needs his tonsils out. The charge for the work will be about three dollars.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Petitt]

Mr. Mart Smith
David, Ky.
KP:W

[smith_v_007.jpg] Handwritten letter.

Crockett, Ky.
May 18, 1925

Miss Katherine Pettit
Dear Miss Pettit,
I am at my Grandfathers. Will stay here and help him some on the farm. You can tell Miss [Evelyn] Wells to send my glasses to me at Crockett.
Yours truly,
V. Smith

[Shorthand notations at bottom of page, plus the following: “Crockett, sent May 26, postage .03”]

[smith_v_008.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

June 11, 1925

My dear Vergil (sic):
Don’t you think, while you are so near Lexington, you ought to get down there and have your tonsils out? I will get a railroad pass for you and get Dr. Stucky, one of the best men in Kentucky, to take care of you, also a free place in the hospital, so it won’t cost anything.

Please let me know by return mail. I will have the pass sent to you, and then tell you just what to do. The doctor will write you when to come, and you must go as soon as you hear from him.

What kind of work are you doing, and what are you reading these days?
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Vergil Smith
Crockett, Morgan Co.
Kentucky
KP:W

[smith_v_009.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

July 30, 1925

My dear Vergil (sic):
Your railroad pass came, from Lexington to Laden, and I sent it right on to Dr. Stucky in Lexington, who perhaps has it by this time. So just as soon as you hear from him to go to Lexington you may go because you know it is there ready to come back on.

Please stay long enough to get everything taken care of. Ask him to give you a thorough examination from head to foot.
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Vergil Smith
Mambar
West Virginia
KP:D

[smith_v_0010.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

July 15, 1926

Dear Vergil (sic):
I wonder how you are and what you are doing. I don’t know whether you are planning for Pine Mountain this year, but if you want to come back won’t you fill out this card and send it to me right away?

How do you like the new booklet? You see there are changes in the pictures as well as in the reading matter.

We will have all last year’s teachers, with the possible exception of Miss [Anne P.] Halliday. I hope we will have a splendid year with such a good start.

When you send me the application card, do write and tell me what you have been doing beside reading law.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned; from Ethel de Long Zande]

Mr. Vergil Smith
Daisy, Perry County
Kentucky
EZ:H

[smith_v_0011.jpg] Handwritten letter, page 1 of 2.

Logan W. Va.
Aug 11, 1926

Dear Miss Pettette (sic)
I will take the pleasure of writing at last. I have just received a letter from Mr. Browning. I hope you enjoyed your trip very much.

Well Miss Pettette I guess Mr. Browning has mentioned to you about me coming back. Miss Pettit I have not got to work much this summer and would like to pay my fees during Christmas vacation if it is all right with you.

[smith_v_0012.jpg] Handwritten letter, page 2 of 2.

I was at P.M. till May 24. I came home by Berea at that time. I expected to go to Berea and finish [Berea Foundation High School] but I could not get a job till in July.

I hope to hear from you before I start [P.M.] if possible.
Your student,
Virgil

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1927-1928

[smith_v_0013.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

January 10, 1927

Dear Mr. Taylor:
Thank you so much for your letter in regard to the looms. We think now we may be able to get them made in our shop here. The girls here are in such a hurry for them.

Now may I tell you about a boy of ours here at Pine Mountain that I am so anxious to have him go to Berea? Vergil (sic) Smith has been with us for three years and is to graduate from our high school this May. After he finishes working out his debt here, which will probably be about the middle of June. I wish he could go right to Berea and find work there and stay there until school begins. He has absolutely no money and has had to work extra tIme and in the summer to earn his way here. Now I am wondering if you could help get a scholarship for him and arrange for him to work there next summer? Some of our teachers have been greatly interested in him and say he has been a real student. Ray Holcomb has offered to do what he could to help our boys and girls, and I have asked him if he will help Virgil too. Virgil is very anxious to get his plans settled for next year, naturally. He is somewhat handicapped as a result of having infantile paralysis years ago, but since he has had glasses he says a new world has been opened up to him. All his work here has been outdoors on our farm, but he would like to get some kind of clerical work or store work in Berea if possible. He says he is going to study law and has been reading along that line ever since he came to us. I shall be so interested to hear from you about this.

With warm greetings to you.
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]
KP:H

[smith_v_0014.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

June 20, 1927

Dear Vergil (sic):
The boys were all eager for your letter, even if you didn’t tell us very much. Every day they have wondered what Vergil was doing now, and perhaps when you get through the farming, you may be able to get something else to do. Dodson and Astor have come to take your and Curtis’ places, so we still have six boys, and they still ask every night when they can have a party; but I don’t think we will have many more after this.
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Vergil Smith
Berea College
Berea, KY.
KP:W

[smith_v_0015.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

August 8, 1927

Dear Vergil (sic):
As the matter of your entrance into college is an academic one, Mrs. [Ethel de Long] Zande is taking care of it, and I enclose a copy of the letter she is writing to Dean Hendricks.
They are tightening up on their requirements all along the line at Berea, you know, and as Pine Mountain is not yet on the accredited list of High Schools, owing to the fact that we do not have six hours of school a day but only five and a half, you would have to take an examination to be admitted to college.

We had a box supper Saturday night on the playground, for the benefit of the Fair, and as it was Election Day, there were several neighbors there and we sold more boxes. Then the lanterns were lighted and the children ran sets.
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Vergil Smith
Box 712
Berea College
Berea, KY.
KP:W

[smith_v_0016.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

September 28, 1927

Dear Vergil (sic):
I hear you have been having troubles. Did you finally get any statement of your credits from Wallins? That is the trouble we have all the time, when we try to get a record of what students have done before they come to us. It shows how much room there is for improvement in the Kentucky schools. However if vital statistics were only required after 1910, perhaps it is too soon to expect more of the schools.

I wonder what you are reading these days, and what subjects you are taking. I hope you will find it a [?] year, and that you will enjoy the competition of larger classes. Write me some time.

Has anybody told you about [Bill] Browning’s 9000 cabbages and 7000 heads of celery and the 700-pIus half-gallon jars of beans Miss [Ruth] Gaines has canned from his garden? in spite of its being a bad season I think the garden has done remarkably well, don’t you? Now we are wanting rain badly. Only sponge baths are allowed and we have had to let the swimming pool empty.

I hope for a chance to get in to visit you all sometime during the year. The best of success to you.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned; from Ethel de Long Zande]

Mr. Vergil Smith
Berea College
Berea, KY.
EZ:W

[smith_v_0017.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

December 28, 1927

Dear Virgil:
You may be sure I was pleased when Dillard gave me the money that had been collected for Pine Mountain by you boys and girls, for nothing speaks better for the school than the appreciation of the students who have been here.

We are going to try to get a bell for the dining room [Laurel House], for announcements, with the money. We shall get something as good-looking as possible, and have a wall attachment, so it won’t get lost, and if the money holds out, we shall have some sort of inscription on it, so everyone will know that you boys and girls are responsible for it.

I hope you are having a good vacation. I wish you could come and see us, as several of the other boys and girls have done.
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Vergil (sic) Smith
Berea College
Berea, KY.
KP:W

[smith_v_0018.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten note of certification.

April 24, 1928

This is to certify that Vergil Smith is entitled to one credit in French, for work done at Pine Mountain.

[unsigned]
Acting Principal

[smith_v_0019.jpg] Handwritten letter, page 1 of 2.

Berea College
Berea Ky.
May 22, 1928

Dear Miss Pettit,
We are considering the question of organizing an alumni association of Pine Mountain students. Since we realize how important it might be to the School in the future, I would like to have the Executive Committee give me its official answer to the following:
First, Is the organization desirable at present?
Second. Where should its center be located?
Third. Who is eligible for membership?

Please feel free to express your opinion not only on these questions, but also give any suggestions you may have to offer on any other phase of the matter.

Your reply I shall [?}…

[smith_v_0020.jpg] Handwritten letter, page 2 of 2.

…before our next meeting as a guide in our action.
Yours respectively,
Virgil Smith

[smith_v_0021.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

September 26, 1928.

My dear Virgil:
So glad to have your good letter. Although you said you had so many things to tell me, you did not tell me so very much after all. However, I was much interested in all your studies and in the organ recital you heard and all the fine things that you do have at Berea. Dr. Stucky stayed a week with me and we had many fine talks from him. School is going along well and we like all our new workers so much. I am sure you would like Mrs. Kessel who is the housemother at Boys’ House. She never had a job like this one before as she has always been the principal of a high school. Dodson spent the night with us on his way to L.M.U. He seemed so interested in his chance there. Brit is doing well in school and so are Frank and Boden. We have had more applicants this year than ever before and we have five boys sleeping on cots as we haven’t enough beds for them.

On Saturday we celebrated Uncle William’s and Aunt Sal’s day by having all the Creech family as our guests to dinner. There were speeches by different members of the family and then a working was held to rebuild the chimney on Uncle William’s house which now stands on the school grounds as a memorial to both Uncle William [Creech] and Aunt Sal [Creech]. Yesterday the Kiwanis Club from Harlan came over for the day and we all had an interesting time. I wish you could have been here. On Saturday we are having our fair and we are all very busy getting ready for it.
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Virgil Smith
Box 212, Berea College
Berea, KY.
KP:C

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1929-1930

[smith_v_0022.jpg] Typewritten letter. [Slightly edited.]

Berea College,
Box 711
Berea, Ky.
April 12, 1929

Dear Miss Pettit,
I should have written sooner, but I have just been so busy that I have not had time. Yesterday was Founders’ Day so we had a holiday in Berea which is a rare thing here. We had a very fine speech in chapel by a Mr. Hall, who is the grandson of Berea’s first president, Mr. Fairchild. Mr. Hall gave a very vivid picture of life in the early days of Berea. He also gave some interesting personal history of its Founders. After chapel the different classes planted trees on the campus.

We were all expecting you to stop in Berea as you went back but you did not. We were very anxious to see you. I am sure it is very beautiful at Pine Mountain now that the trees are getting green. How is Miss [Ruth B.] Gaines’ flower garden? I guess it is fine.

How is Mr. Browning getting along with his farming? I suppose he has much of his planting done. I never did find out how many potatoes he had last year.

You might be interested to know that I won an inter-society debate about two weeks ago. The subject was: Resolve that the bicameral system of legislation should be abolished. I had the affirmative side of the question.

I have not heard from Boone Callahan since he left Berea. I guess he is like myself, that is, he don’t (sic) have time to write.
Yours respectfully,
[signed] Virgil Smith

[smith_v_0023.jpg] Typewritten letter, page 1 of 2. [Slightly edited.]

Berea College,
Box 712,
Berea, Kentucky,
May 7, 1929.

Dear Miss Pettit:
I was very glad to receive your nice letter. I was sorry to learn that there had been so much rain in the mountains. the daily papers have been saying a great deal about the floods over the Country.

I must tell you about our speaker in chapel yesterday. He was Dr. Miller of Germany who is an exchange professor at the Northwestern University. Dr. Miller was a general in the World War. He served under Von Hendenburg. Dr. Miller lectured on “Von Hendenburg and the German Republic.” He told the story of the German President as it was related to the war and the new republic in Germany. He called attention to the fact that a few months ago when he was addressing the American Legion, he talked to men with whom he had fought. After Dr. Miller’s address a number of students had a conference with him. Dr. Hutchins was very glad of having Dr. Miller in Berea to speak to the students.

Of course you have heard by now of the appointment of Robert M. Hutchins to the presidency of the University of Chicago. Berea is very proud of the success of Dean Hutchins.

As for my summer’s work, I am planning to sell McCall’s Magazine. I talked with Dean [Albert G.] Weidler before I accepted the job and he said that it was alright. My territory takes in Corbin, Pineville and Harlan. I will probably go to Hazard also.

[smith_v_0024.jpg] Typewritten letter, page 2 of 2. [Slightly edited.]

As far as I have been able to learn only one of the Pine Mountain students have had the Scarlet fever. This was Joana Huff. The Scarlet fever is just about over.

Well I am debating again next Saturday night. The question is: Resolved, that the United States should grant independence to the Philippine Islands. I am taking the affirmative side of the question. if I win this debate, it will be my third debate to win in college, that is, intersociety debates.

By the way, I would like to know where Mrs. Hottenstein is (I am not certain that I have spelled the name correctly).
Yours truly,
[signed] Virgil Smith

[smith_v_0026.jpg] Handwritten letter, slightly edited, page 1 of 2.

Berea College,
Berea Ky.
Dec. 9, 1929

Dear Miss Pettit:
At last I start to write to you. I left here in June and started out to sell magazines, but I did not do so well. I only stayed with the job a few days.

After this I went home, in Ohio, and stayed a few days. Next I went to Columbus, Toledo[?}, and Detroit. I seen (sic) a great deal of country while I was up North. The reason I went to Detroit was because my dad was working up there. I went out to Dearborn and visiting other places while I was in Detroit.

Finally I came back home and worked for dad on the farm. After I finished the crop, I spent the remainder of the summer reading law at Ironton. This was the thing which I enjoyed most. I had a nice library, about 2000 volumes.

[smith_v_0027.jpg] Handwritten letter, slightly edited, page 2 of 2.

Since I have been back to Berea I have been very busy. I am carrying[?] a very heavy work[?}. I have also made the debating team. We are debating the University of Kentucky. Our subject is: “Resolved, that war cannot be eliminated by international agreement.” We have debated at Stanford and Richmond. I sure do like debating.

I am looking forward to coming back to Pine Mountain for a visit, but I don’t know when I can come. I am always glad to hear from Pine Mountain.

I am planning to stay here through vacation and read.

Just the other day I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Tyler give a concert on the organ. He sure is good.
Yours truly,
Virgil Smith

[smith_v_0025.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

January 3, 1930

My dear Virgil:
Have your ears been burning this vacation? Everybody who has been here from Berea has said such nice things about you, and I am glad you are on the winning debating team. You remember, I always said you could. When I am away on my vacation in January and February (Lexington, Kentucky, will reach me) let me know when you are going to speak and I may get down to hear you. I had wondered about you when you didn’t appear here last summer selling books.

We have had a lovely Christmas — you know the kind — but we have never had anything better than “Where God is, love is also” when you were the shoemaker.

Better come to see us next summer!
Faithfully yours,
[unsigned; from Katherine Pettit]

Mr. Virgil Smith
Berea College
Berea, Kentucky
KP:RC

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1931-1932

[smith_v_0028.jpg] Typewritten letter.

[letterhead] BEREA COLLEGE AND ALLIED SCHOOLS
William J. Hutchins, President
BEREA, KENTUCKY
OFFICE OF REGISTRAR

December 10, 1931

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain
Kentucky

Dear Sir:
There is a question arising with reference to the high school credit for Mr. Virgil Smith which we will need to clear up before his graduation is assured. I shall, therefore, appreciate it very much if you will fill in the enclosed blank showing the credit earned by Mr. Smith in French. He states that he had a year’s work in this subject, and we should like to have a statement of the grade and the credit recorded. [handwritten notation: “also number of weeks pursued.”]
Sincerely yours,
[signed] A. Gundlach
Adelaide Gundlach
Registrar
AG/w
Enc.

[smith_v_0029.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

January 9, 1932

Miss Harriette Wood
Grace American Building
Richmond, Virginia

Dear Miss Wood:
We have a request from Berea College for the credit in FRENCH earned by Mr. Virgil Smith. His record sheet does not show any credit for this subject, but there is a copy [of] a certification dated April 24, 1928, by the “Acting Principal” that he is entitled to one credit in French, for work done at Pine Mountain.

Miss [Margaret] Motter believes that you were the “Acting Principal” in 1928, and doubtless will be able to identify the copy of certification enclosed. If so, we shall appreciate your signing same, and we will forward it to Berea.

Thanking you, I am
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned; from Glyn Morris]
DIRECTOR
GM/IA
Enclosures

[smith_v_0030.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

March 22, 1932

Miss Adelaide Gundlach, Registrar
Berea College
Berea, Kentucky

Dear Miss Gundlach:
Hope you will pardon the delay in replying to your letter requesting the credit earned by Mr. Virgil Smith in FRENCH. I am very sorry that we are unable to give you the number of weeks pursued. Enclosed you will find a statement to the effect that he is entitled to one credit, signed by the Acting Principal — Miss Harriette Wood.
Very sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Secretary
IA
Enclosure

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1934

[smith_v_0032.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

September 18, 1934

Mr. Virgil Smith,
R.F.D. 2,
Gallia, Ohio.

Dear Mr. Smith,
Your letter to Miss Pettit, inquiring about a position at Pine Mountain, has come to me. May I say that our staff is complete at the present time, but that I should be glad for you to fill out the enclosed application blank, in case we have anything to offer you in the near future.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Glyn Morris
DIRECTOR

[smith_v_0031.jpg] Application for employment form with handwritten entries; partial transcription.

[letterhead] PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL, INC.
PINE MOUNTAIN, HARLAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
President of the Board of Trustees
DARWIN D. MARTIN
… BUFFALO, N.Y.

Treasurer
C.N. MANNING
LEXINGTON, KY

Director
GLYN A. MORRIS

Name Virgil Smith
Date September 23, 1934
Address R.F.D.2, Gallia, Ohio
…
1. Age 28
2. Health Excellent
3. Education Complete courses High School, College, One year at graduate work.
4. What line of work at Pine Mountain interests you? teaching of social sciences or library work.
5. What has been your training and experience for this work? Three years of experience in library work.
6. What are your other interests? Forensic work.
7. Do you apply for a volunteer or a salaried position? Salaried
If salaried, what is the smallest sum you could accept? board, room, and $15.00 (fifteen dollars) per month.
8. ….
9. ….
10. ….
11. …..
12. How did you become interested in work at Pine Mountain? I was a student there for three years, 1924-1927.
13. Give names and addresses of three people other than your pastor who can tell us of your work and character.
a. Dr. C.W. Ramsdell, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
b. Dr. John Barrow, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky
c. Dr. A.G. Weidler, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky
….

[smith_v_0033.jpg] Hand-printed letter.

R.F.D. 2
Gallia Ohio
Sept. 23, 1934.

Mr. Glyn Morris
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky.

Dear Mr. Morris:
I thank you for your letter of September 18. I have filled out the application blank and am enclosing it in this letter.

You will note that I have indicated board, room and $15.00 per month as being the smallest sum I could accept for my service. This offer is in line with the suggestion I made in the letter to Miss Pettit that I would be willing to accept a position at which I could earn living cost; that is, allowing $15.00 per month for clothing and other expense.
Sincerely yours,
Virgil Smith

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1935

[smith_v_0034.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

February 5, 1935
Mr. Virgil Smith,
Gallia, Ohio.

Dear Mr. Smith:
The senior class of Pine Mountain Settlement School, which is the guardian of a small trust fund, given the students of Pine Mountain by Mr. J.S. Crutchfield, of Pittsburgh, decided, in a meeting held last Friday night, to loan you its total balance of $60.00, without interest. I am therefore enclosing a check for that amount with a Note which the class would like to have you sign of its records.

I hope that you will be able to secure the balance necessary for your trip to Washington, and that there you will meeting with success in securing a position. Mr. A[rthur] W. Dodd, Jr., speaks very highly of you, and wishes to be remembered by you.
Sincerely yours
[unsigned]
[truncated]

[smith_v_0035.jpg] Hand-printed letter, page 1 of 3.

R.F.D. 2
Gallia, Ohio
February 19, 1935.

Mr. Glyn Morris
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky.

Dear Mr. Morris:
I received your very nice letter and the check yesterday.

First, may I explain the delay. When the letter arrived here, I was in Columbus. It lay here a few days and was then forwarded to me. But in the meantime I left Columbus before it arrived there. So when I returned home it was necessary for further delay before it reached me.

I am sincerely thankful to you and to the members of the Senior Class for the loan. I trust that I will be able to use the money to the very best advantage in securing employment and that I will be able to pay it in the very near future. I have signed the note and am enclosing it.

[smith_v_0036.jpg] Hand-printed letter, page 2 of 3.

And now a word as to the use to which the money is to be put. As Miss Pettit explained to you, it was my plan to go to Washington in quest of employment. At present, I am not sure whether or not I will be able to raise the additional amount necessary for the trip. Meanwhile, I have placed a number of applications for positions, many of which are good prospects. In Columbus, for example, I have four prospective positions in view. These are with the Ohio State University Library, the Ohio State Library, and with the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. The fourth is with the Legislative Research Bureau, an agency which gathers material for the State Legislature. I have also a possibility with the University of Texas Library. Meanwhile, I am fortunate in having some people in Washington who are aiding me toward getting work there.

So, for the present, it seems best that I not make any moves, with the hope that I can be able to use the loan in going direct to a position.

I shall keep you informed of what I am…

[smith_v_0037.jpg] Hand-printed letter, page 3 of 3.

…doing.

Please give my best regards to Mr. Dodd, Jr.
Sincerely yours,
Virgil J. Smith

[smith_v_0038.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

December 16, 1935
Mr. Virgil Smith,
Gallia,
Ohio.

Dear Mr. Smith:
I should like, within a few days, to make a report to the present senior class, which now has custody over the loan which was made to you last February, regarding the possibility of this loan’s being used for another purpose this year.

As you perhaps know, this money is handed down from class to class, to be used by them for any purpose which they see fit, and while I do not wish to inconvenience you in any way, I would like to have a word from you, and if possible the assurance that the senior class may be able to use this money for another project this year.

I hope that all is going well, and that you have had some degree of success in securing employment.

With every good wish, I remain
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Glyn Morris
DIRECTOR

[smith_v_0039.jpg] Hand-printed letter.

R.F.D. 2
Gallia, Ohio
Feb. 19, 1935.

Senior Class
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky.

Dear Class:
I am sincerely thankful to you for the loan which you made me. I trust that I may be able to use it to the utmost advantage in procuring a position, and that i shall be able to pay it in the very near future.

May I explain the delay in writing to you. When the letter from Mr. Morris arrived here I was in Columbus. It lay here a few days and was then forwarded to me. But in the meantime I left Columbus before it arrived there. So when I returned home, it was necessary for further delay before it reached me.

I have signed the note and am sending it to Mr. Morris.
Sincerely yours,
Virgil Smith

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1936

[smith_v_0040.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

1864 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
January 9, 1936

Mr. Glyn Morris
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky

Dear Mr. Morris:
I am pleased to inform you that the loan will be paid promptly on or before February 15 of this year. You can make your report accordingly.
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Virgil Smith
Virgil J. Smith

[smith_v_0041.jpg] Hand-printed letter.

1864 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
Feb. 22, 1936.

Mr. Glyn Morris
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky

Dear Mr. Morris:
At last I am sending you the money which I owe the Senior Class. Were I to send you the real value of the loan to me, I would at best double it. This I would do if I were able to do so. As it is I am sending only the amount charged to me.

Although I have been working for W.P.A. here for some time, I have found living costs so high that I have been able to save little more than enough to pay the Class.

Again I wish to thank you, and through you, the Senior Class for the loan.
Sincerely yours,
Virgil Smith.

[smith_v_0040.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

Feb. 25[?], 1936

Mr. Virgil Smith
1864 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio

Dear Mr. Smith:
In Mr. Morris’ absence, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your money order amounting to $60.00. Enclosed you will find a receipt, and your original note.

May I say that we are very glad this money has been helpful to you, and send you every good wish for future success.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Barbara Faulkner

VIRGIL SMITH Correspondence 1960

[smith_v_0043.jpg] Typewritten letter.

[letterhead] DREXEL ACCOUNTING SERVICE
VIRGIL SMITH
109 North Patton Avenue…Dayton 27, Ohio

Aug. 15, 1960
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Ky.

Dear Friends of Pine Mountain:
For the purpose of registering with the Ohio Board of Accountancy, I need a birth certificate from Kentucky. It occurs to me that your records may provide a document essential to my obtaining a birth certificate. I was a student at Pine Mountain from August, 1924 to May, 1927. My class, consisting of 4 members, was [the] first class to be graduated from high school there. I arrived at Pine Mountain August 23, 1924. On August 24th up at the infirmary a record of vital statistics pertaining to myself was made. I am curious to know of that record is still there and if it indicates the date of my birth — Feb. 16, 1906, and place of birth — and if so, could you send me a certification of date of and place of birth as reflected in your records. Also the certification should indicate the date the original record was made — that would be August 24, 1924, as I recall.

Your cooperation in this matter will be much appreciated by me. I send to all of you my best wishes and kind regards.
Very truly yours,
Virgil Smith

[smith_v_0044.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

August 29, 1960

Mr. Virgil Smith
109 North Patton Avenue
Dayton 27, Ohio

Dear Mr. Smith:
I am very sorry that there has been delay in replying to your letter of August 15.

I have found your school records, which show that you entered Pine Mountain Settlement School August 24, 1924. Your birth date is listed as February 16, 1906, but place of birth is not given.

I hope that this statement I have prepared will be adequate for your purposes. Mr. Burton Rogers, who is now Director of Pine Mountain Settlement School, is away on vacation at the present time, and I want to get this statement off to you without further delay.

I hope that you will be successful in registering with the Ohio Board of Accountancy. We are always pleased to hear from former students, and would be glad to have you visit, if it is ever possible.
Sincerely,
[unsigned]
Mildred Mahoney
Secretary

[smith_v_0045.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten statement.

August 29, 1960

To Whom it May Concern:
This will certify that the records of Pine Mountain Settlement School show that Virgil Smith entered school here August 25, 1924. His birth date is recorded as February 16, 1906. His address at the time he entered school here was Daisy, Perry County, Kentucky.
Respectfully,
[unsigned]
Mildred Mahoney
Secretary

Notarized by me this 30th day of August 1960 in Harlan County Kentucky.

[unsigned]____________________
Ruby Lanier, Notary Public
My commission expires 7/8/61

[smith_v_0046.jpg] Record Sheet with handwritten and typewritten entries; partial transcription.

PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
Pine Mountain, Harlan Co., Ky.

RECORD SHEET No. 11
Name Smith, Virgil
Parents Mart and Nola Smith

Date of birth Feb. 16, 1906
Date of Entering
Aug. 24, 1924
Aug. 27, 1925

Date of Leaving
May 10, 1925
May 15, 1927

Entered at request of Miss Pettit

SCHOOL RECORD
[Grades were entered for 1st and 2nd terms for the following courses and characteristics: English, History, Physics, Work (Diligence), Work (Ability), Home Study, Physical Development, Geometry]

HEALTH RECORD
[Information were entered for the following: Height, Weight, Intestinal Parasites, General Nutrition.]

[smith_v_001.jpg] Record Sheet with handwritten and typewritten entries; partial transcription.

PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL

RECORD SHEET

Name Smith, Virgil
Parents Mart and Nola Smith

Post Office Daisy, Perry Co.

Bills sent to Mr. Smith
Entered at request of Miss Pettit
….

Date of birth Feb. 16, 1906
Date of Entrance
Aug. 25, 1924
Aug. 27, 1925

Date of Leaving
May 10, 1925

SCHOOL RECORD
[Grades were entered for 1924-25 and 1924-26 for the following characteristics and courses: English, Reading/Psychology[?], Mathematics, Effort and Interest, Geography, Neatness, Algebra, Conduct, Diligence, Ability, Biology, Science, Posture, Home Study, Ability.]

HEALTH RECORD
[Information was entered for the following: Teeth, Eyes, Tonsils, Height, Weight, Heart, Lungs, Intestinal Parasites, General Nutrition.] ….