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Oscar Newton Maxwell and Annie Sarah Coombs letters

Oscar Newton Maxwell and Annie Sarah Coombs letters

Descriptive Summary

Title: Oscar Newton Maxwell and Annie Sarah Coombs letters
Creator: Maxwell, Oscar Newton, 1878-1933
Creator: Coombs, Annie Sarah, 1881-1918
Inclusive Dates: 1895-2001
Bulk Dates: 1896-1918
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet 1 box
Collection Number: ms3716
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Oscar Newton Maxwell (1878-1933), son of Isaac Newton Maxwell (1847-1914) and Mary Jane Kitchens Maxwell (1844-1913), lived in Danville, Georgia. Annie Sarah Coombs (1881-1918), daughter of Ashley Boothe Coombs and Charlotte Elizabeth Plane Coombs, was born in Twiggs County, Georgia. Oscar Maxwell was warden of the women's department of the State Prison Farm in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of correspondence and receipts. The correspondence begins in 1895 when Annie Coombs is fourteen years old and writing to her friend Oscar Maxwell. She goes away to school at Georgia Normal and Industrial College in Milledgeville and writes him about her studies, activities and friends. Apparently they used the nicknames Sun Flower (Oscar) and Hyacinth (Annie) in their early letters to conceal the identity of the writers, since their parents did not approve of the letter writing. They planned to marry in December 1897, even though her parents objected. But Oscar's December 17 letter states that Annie has backed out. By 1900 Oscar and Annie are married with a son Newton. Letters in 1918 tell of the sickness and death of Newton, probably of influenza. There are a few letters from other family members. Transcripts of the letters are included.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Oscar Newton Maxwell and Annie Sarah Coombs letters, ms3716, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2013.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Correspondence.
Georgia Normal and Industrial College
State Prison Farm -- Goergia -- Milledgeville.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11-6Correspondence, 1895-1897
 
17Correspondence, 1900-1913
 
18Correspondence, 1918-2001
 
19Correspondence to Annie "Hyacinth" from Oscar "Sun Flower"
 
110Correspondence to Oscar "Sun Flower" from Annie "Hyacinth"
 
111-12Correspondence to Oscar from Annie
 
113Empty envelopes
 
114Financial papers, 1907