Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Students
Series 19: STUDENTS
Anna Belle Cox, Student (six days in 1942)
Correspondence, 1940-1942

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TAGS: Anna Belle Cox correspondence, student files, student application blanks, autobiography forms, home and parents record forms, Malcolm M. Arny, physical examination forms and charts, SAT test results

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ANNA BELLE COX Correspondence, 1940-1942

Anna Belle Cox correspondence from June 1940 to June 1942 not only tells of Anna Belle’s steps in applying and gaining admittance to Pine Mountain Settlement School but also relates details of her life and family. The letters and the completed application forms indicate her mother’s endeavors to assure that her 12-year-old daughter receives a good education and Anna Belle’s hopes for her own future.

Anna Belle was the third child of Luke and Delora to attend Pine Mountain Settlement School. Eula Gray Cox and her younger brother, Billy Cox, were admitted in 1925.

However, Anna Belle’s stay at Pine Mountain was for only six days, September 6-12, 1942. The reason she left the School was not specified in her records.

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GALLERY

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TRANSCRIPTIONS: ANNA BELLE COX Correspondence

[NOTE: Some documents are slightly edited; some are only partially transcribed. Transcriptions are in chronological order and may not correspond to the order of the images.]

[cox_a_001.jpg] STUDENT APPLICATION BLANK with handwritten entries, dated May 12, 1942.

[Handwitten notations at top of page: “form sent 6/18/42. Seen. Invite.”]

Name Anna Belle Cox
Where were you born? Pine Mtn, Harlan [County], Ky.
Date of birth December 25, 1927.
At what Post Office do you get your mail? Kenvir, Ky.
Give directions for getting to your home from Pine Mt. To Laden, by bus to Harlan by bus to Kenvir, Kentucky.
….
Where did you go to school last? Black Mountain, Harlan [County]
When did you go there? 1939-1942
….
Father’s name: Luke Cox. Mother’s name: Delora Cox
What does your father…do? Miner
What does your mother do? Housework

Give the names of three people, not in your family, who can tell us something about you:
Rev. Roscoe Douglas, Kenvir, Ky.
Luther [?] Jones, Dianey[?], Ky.
Lester W. McNabb, Kenvir, Ky.

Why do you want to come to Pine Mountain? Because of the advantages it offers. Because I’m acquainted with it.
Date this application was filled out May 12, 1942

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[cox_a_002.jpg] MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY form with handwritten entries, page 1 of 5.

I. Facts about Myself
….
Besides my birthplace, I have lived in these places: Putney, Ky, Terre Haute, Ind., Kenvir, Ky. Lived mostly at Pine Mtn., Ky.
….
II. My family:
My father’s name is Luke. He is 47 years old.
He was born in Pine Knot, Ky....He completed 8 grades in the elementary school…. His present occupation is miner. He has also been a farmer. He attends the Baptist Church….

My mother’s name before she married was Hensley. She is 42 years old….She was born in Ayes, Ky, and she has also lived in or near Harlan before I was born. She completed 8 grades in the elementary school….

[cox_a_003.jpg] MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY form with handwritten entries, page 2 of 5.

– 2 –
...She attends the Baptist Church…I have one sister.
I am giving these facts about those [family members] who have left school:
Name Eula G. Cox – Age 24 – Grade Reached Freshman – Occupation Store Clerk [Black Mtn. Store] …Not married.
Others living in our home are: Eula Gray Cox

III. Our Home
…I live a distance of 1 mile from school and reach it by walking. Our home is…painted frame…heated by grate and lighted by electricity. We have running water…from reservoir.
We have 4 rooms…[including] living room; no bathroom…

[cox_a_004.jpg] MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY form with handwritten entries, page 3 of 5.

– 3 –
…and 2 bedrooms. I sleep with my sister….We have about fifty books in our home. We take these magazines and papers: World Digest, Western Recorder, Southern Agriculture, Knoxville News Sentinel
We have these musical instruments: Radio
…My regular duties…at home are: Housework. My occasional duties are: helping iron & wash.

IV. My Education Thus Far and Plans for More:

…I began in the primary grade and I have repeated the 7 grades and skipped the fifth grade. I have attended the following schools: Putney, Little Laurel, Deming[?], Black Mtn….I should like to stay in school through the Senior grade, and then take 3 years in nursing….

[cox_a_005.jpg] MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY form with handwritten entries, page 4 of 5.

– 4 –
….
V. What I like: My Interests: Swimming, Bicycling, Skating Sewing, and Reading.

I like best these kinds of reading; Grace Livingston, Hill[?] Banks, also Carolyn Keens Banks. Last several months of school I read forty-two books from library.
….

[cox_a_006.jpg] MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY form with handwritten entries, page 5 of 5.

– 5 –
VII. Group Contacts:
I have belonged or do belong to the following clubs, teams, or societies:
Folk[?] Club, Glee Club, HH Club, Girl Scouts.
….
I should like to live in a city because: Better opportunity for a job.
….

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[cox_a_007.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 1 of 7.

[cox_a_008.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 2 of 7.

[cox_a_009.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 3 of 7.

Present members of the household: 5 in family, one grandson. Billy Joe Moore, age 7.
….

[cox_a_010.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 4 of 7.

[cox_a_011.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 5 of 7.

[cox_a_012.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 6 of 7.

[cox_a_013.jpg] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD form with handwritten entries, page 7 of 7.

[footer] Prepared by the Alliance for the Guidance of Rural Youth, formerly Southern Women’s Educational Alliance, 401-2 Graco-American Building, Richmond, Virginia

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[cox_a_014.jpg] Handwritten note, n.d., possibly May 1942.

Kenvir, Ky.
Pine Mtn. Settlement School.
Find enclosed money order for my entrance fee. Please send me a receipt. Entrance free for Anna Bell (sic) Cox.
Mrs. Luke Cox.

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Anna Belle Cox Correspondence – 1940

[cox_a_016.jpg] Handwritten letter.

[Notation in red at top of page: “Rejected – too young”]

Kenvir, Ky.
June 24, 1940

Mr. Glynn Morris
Dear sir,
I would like to get Anna Bell (sic) in school at Pine Mtn. for next term of school if you are taking any children this year in the grades. She is 12 years old in the seventh grade. They have a very good school here but they have so many & don’t believe the children get enough attention in the grades and the environment there is much better for a child than here. If you could place her please let me know right away. Have you a music teacher over there? I would like for her to take music. Both vocal and instrumental.
Mrs. Luke Cox
Kenvir, Ky.

[cox_a_015.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

August 27, 1940

Mrs. Luke Cox
Kenvir
Harlan County
Kentucky

My dear Mrs. Cox:
Your letter of June 24th to Mr. Morris was referred to me. Recently we had a reorganization of our staff and consequently we have had some confusion in regards to our correspondence…..

For the past few years we have not had any of the grades here at Pine Mountain school. Because we do not have the facilities for teaching any child in the grades, we shall be unable to accept your daughter Anna Bell. We appreciate your interest in wishing to send your daughter here to school.

We do hope that you will pardon any inconvenience we may have caused you if we have not already replied to your letter.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Malcolm M. Arny

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Anna Belle Cox Correspondence – 1942

[cox_a_018.jpg] Handwritten letter.

Kenvir, Kentucky.
April, 29, 1942.

Mr. Glynn Morris
Pine Mtn., Ky.

Dear Mr. Morris,
Please send me information about the tuition fee this year at Pine Mt Settlement School. Anna Belle will be ready for high school this year and I have been thinking of getting her a place there. If there is any vacant ones, I want to know the entrance fee, monthly fee, and what they teach. I mean, do they teach typing, home economics? Please let me know right away.
Mrs. Luke Cox.
Kenvir, Ky.

[cox_a_017.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

May 13, 1942

Mrs. Luke Cox
Kenvir
Harlan County
Kentucky

My dear Mrs. Cox:
Mr. Morris referred your letter of April 29th to me. We were very glad to learn that you wish to enter your daughter Anna Belle next year.

Under separate cover we are forwarding to you an application blank and a school catalogue. The catalogue should answer most of your questions about the school. We do not give any courses in typing or short hand. Pine Mountain does give a very excellent course in home economics. If Anna Belle wishes to enter Pine Mountain next year, would you please have her fill out the application by herself and return it to us. Please feel free to write us if you have any other questions about school.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Malcolm M. Arny
Student Counselor

[cox_a_019.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.

May 25, 1942

Miss Anna Cox
Kenvir
Harlan County
Kentucky

My dear Anna:
We were glad to know that you would like to come here to school this next year. Your application has been placed on file and your name will be given every consideration in regards to entrance for next September.

Sometime either in the late spring or early summer you will hear further from the school about entrance. At this time we shall notify you about further steps towards entrance. If you have any other questions about school, we shall be glad to answer them.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
Malcolm M. Arny
Student Counselor

[cox_a_020.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten letter.
[Handwritten notation at top of page: “Everything sent 6/16/42”]

Kenvir, Ky
June 15, 1942
Pine Mtn Settlement School
Pine Mtn, Ky.

My daughter sent her application for entrance to Pine Mtn. Settlement School. She addressed it to the Student Counselor and we aren’t sure that was right. It has been quite a while since then and we haven’t heard.

We are anxious to know if she is accepted so she can make arrangements.

Please let us know at once and if she is accepted when to come.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Luke Cox
Kenvir, Ky.

[cox_a_021.jpg] Carbon copy of typewritten memo.

[header] MEMORANDUM

Anna Belle Cox
entered Freshman year
Sept. 6, 1942
left Sept. 12, 1942

[footer] From the Counselor

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[cox_a_022.jpg] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION form with typewritten entries showing date of birth, temperature, height and weight as of September 1942.

[cox_a_023.jpg] PHYSICAL EXAMINATION form, dated July 15, 1942. Typewritten entries show date of birth, and data concerning height, weight, skin, ears, vision, mouth and tooth, nose, throat and tonsils (Entry,”chronic tonsillitis,” with handwritten notation, “I’ve had my tonsils removed”), etc. Doctor: Roy A. Hulse, M.D.

[cox_a_024.jpg] GRAPHIC CHART for “Cox, Anna Belle.” Temperature is charted for September 7-8, ending with the word “Discharged.”

[cox_a_025.jpg] STANFORD ACHIEVEMENT TEST
…ADVANCED BATTERY — COMPLETE FORM D, for Anna Belle Cox, age 14, 1st year high school, Pine Mt., Ky., Sept. 7, 1942. Listing of scores for Reading, Arithmetic, Social Studies, Science, Spelling and total score (average).
[footer] Published by World Book Company, New York and Chicago.

[cox_a_026.jpg] PROFILE CHART: STANFORD ACHIEVEMENT TEST, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED BATTERIES. Test scores are charted for each academic area of study.
[footer] This Profile Chart is a table of norms for the Intermediate and Advanced Examinations.

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See Also:

ANNA BELLE COX Biography

EULA GRAY COX & BILLY COX Biography – PRIVATE
EULA GRAY COX & BILLY COX Correspondence

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