Etta McKay Gillis Papers, PC.2062
Abstract
Etta McKay Gillis (1886-1971) was born near Laurinburg, Scotland County to Parthenon Jane McCall and Artemus McKay. The papers contain some one hundred and forty-nine letters, most of which are to Etta. The time frame of the letters includes the eras of the Great Depression and World War II . The letters contain various exchanges about farm life; crops; sharecroppers; labor shortages; gas, sugar, etc. shortages; women's domestic endeavors such as gardening, canning, sewing; illnesses; community life; the United States' entry into World War II; training and lifestyles of servicemen; and college life for young women at Flora MacDonald College, etc. Etta was especially loyal to her extended family, but also to her alma mater, Flora MacDonald College, and to the Presbyterian Church. Etta is revealed as an independent woman who married around the age of fifty-two (circa 1938) to Angus James Gillis, a farmer of Raeford, Hoke County. She then found herself in financial straits when her husband died in 1941. She appears to have subsequently run the farm on her own, and managed with fewer resources than she had anticipated. As a whole, the letters reveal the values, economics, and relationships of a family that had become somewhat dispersed during the Great Depression and the World War II era. The letters indicate concerns with finances, illness, and other matters, yet show strong connections among family members within a family with long roots in rural Hoke, Scotland, and Cumberland counties.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Etta McKay Gillis Papers
- Call Number
- PC.2062
- Creator
- Etta McKay Gillis
- Date
- 1917-1948
- Extent
- 2.00 boxes
- Language
- English
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item] in PC.2062, Etta McKay Gillis Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C., USA.
Collection Overview
The collection contains some one hundred and forty-nine letters, most of which are to Etta. The time frame covered in these letters includes the eras of the Great Depression and World War II and includes various exchanges about farm life; crops; sharecroppers; labor shortages; gas, sugar, etc. shortages; women's domestic endeavors such as gardening, canning, sewing; illnesses; community life; the United States' entry into World War II; training and lifestyles of servicemen; and college life for young women at Flora MacDonald College, etc. Etta was especially loyal to her extended family, but also to her alma mater, Flora MacDonald College, and to the Presbyterian Church. Etta is revealed as an independent woman who married around the age of fifty-two (circa 1938) to Angus James Gillis, a farmer of Raeford, Hoke County. She then found herself in financial straits when her husband died around 1941. She appears to have subsequently run the farm on her own, and managed with fewer resources than she had anticipated were forthcoming. Even in turbulent economic times, her college age nieces were not reluctant to ask her for sewing assistance and contributions to their college expenses as a supplement to their part-time job earnings and to their parents' contributions (their parents were also under financial duress).
Some noteworthy letters are those from Etta's brother, Arnold Artemus McKay, class
of 1913, University of North Carolina, a former U.S. consul, Antafogasta, Chile, who
had taught English at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis Md., and who during the World
War II era was involved in teaching and training of candidates for the Naval Academy
and also military service (at then State College in Raleigh). Other noteworthy letters
were from an elderly aunt living in Winston-Salem; two nieces at Flora MacDonald College;
and a nephew, a recent graduate of State College, called into U.S. Army service. As
a whole the letters reveal the values, economics, and relationships of a family that
had become somewhat dispersed during the Great Depression and the World War II era.
The letters are often frank and indicate concerns with finances, illness, and other
matters, yet show strong connections among family members, in a family with long roots
in rural Hoke, Scotland, and Cumberland counties.
#
Etta McKay Gillis (1886-1971) was born near Laurinburg, Scotland County to Parthenon
Jane McCall and Artemus McKay. The papers contain some one hundred and forty-nine
letters, most of which are to Etta. The time frame of the letters includes the eras
of the Great Depression and World War II . The letters contain various exchanges about
farm life; crops; sharecroppers; labor shortages; gas, sugar, etc. shortages; women's
domestic endeavors such as gardening, canning, sewing; illnesses; community life;
the United States' entry into World War II; training and lifestyles of servicemen;
and college life for young women at Flora MacDonald College, etc. Etta was especially
loyal to her extended family, but also to her alma mater, Flora MacDonald College,
and to the Presbyterian Church. Etta is revealed as an independent woman who married
around the age of fifty-two (circa 1938) to Angus James Gillis, a farmer of Raeford,
Hoke County. She then found herself in financial straits when her husband died in
1941. She appears to have subsequently run the farm on her own, and managed with fewer
resources than she had anticipated. As a whole, the letters reveal the values, economics,
and relationships of a family that had become somewhat dispersed during the Great
Depression and the World War II era. The letters indicate concerns with finances,
illness, and other matters, yet show strong connections among family members within
a family with long roots in rural Hoke, Scotland, and Cumberland counties.
Some noteworthy letters are those from Etta's brother, Arnold Artemus McKay, class
of 1913, University of North Carolina, a former U.S. consul, Antafogasta, Chile, who
had taught English at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis Md., and who during the World
War II era was involved in teaching and training of candidates for the Naval Academy
and also military service (at then State College in Raleigh).
Other letters of interest are from Etta's young nieces. Even in turbulent economic
times, they (some were college-age) were not reluctant to ask her for sewing assistance
and contributions to their college expenses as a supplement to their part-time job
earnings and to their parents' contributions (their parents were also under financial
duress).
Other noteworthy letters were from an elderly aunt living in Winston-Salem; two nieces
at Flora MacDonald College; and a nephew, a recent graduate of State College, called
into U.S. Army service. As a whole the letters reveal the values, economics, and relationships
of a family that had become somewhat dispersed during the Great Depression and the
World War II era. The letters are often frank and indicate concerns with finances,
illness, and other matters, yet show strong connections among family members, in a
family with long roots in rural Hoke, Scotland, and Cumberland counties.
Two aunts with whom Etta appeared to have a close relationship include Dora, apparently
her deceased mother's sister, Dora McCall Stephenson, of Winston-Salem; and Maggie
Wright (Mrs. R. L.) of Laurinburg, N.C.
Arrangement Note
Chronological