J. Palmer and Theo Early Hammond Papers, PC.2098

[Identification of item], PC.2098, James Palmer and Theo Early Hammond Papers, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, N.C., USA.

The papers consist in the main of letters exchanged between the Hammonds prior to their marriage in October 1923, but also additional letters, including some to Theo from friends and other family members; invitations; letters that Palmer wrote home during his military service, and over a dozen copies of newspapers of the Second Battalion, 54th Infantry, AEF, France, 1919; General Orders, No. 29 (mimeographed), 23 April 1919, from Gen. John J. Pershing to Maj. Gen. W.H. Gordon; the couple's marriage certificate; and miscellaneous material.

The letters Corporal J. Palmer Hammond wrote home, primarily to his mother and his sister, Pauline, were dated from May 1918 to June 1919, and cover his military training stateside, in South Carolina and Georgia, and in France. The letters were censored and were fairly limited in descriptions of events and his thoughts about his experiences, though certainly not devoid of anecdotes and glimpses of his personality. Hammond demonstrated dedication to being a good soldier, and generally sounded optimistic about the "Yanks" beating the Germans. He was thankful for letters from home and newspapers sent by the Masonic Lodge, even two newspapers from the village of Dunn, N.C. brought joy to him and his fellow soldiers. In a letter of August 18, 1918, he wrote of the delight of getting a small slice of pie baked by a French woman. One senses his regret writing in the same letter that "I haven't learned any French yet as I am too busy trying to learn to be a soldier [no punctuation] the people are good to American soldiers here the great trouble is we don't know how to talk to them...." In a letter of September 26 Corp. Hammond wrote that he had "just been through a delousing station, had a good bath and all my clothes renovated [?] am feeling fine now I guess you have read something about the Stations it is a very simple operation you just go in at one end of the building take your hot shower and pass on up to the other end and there is your clothes waiting for you provided everything is working good if not why you just stand around a while dressed in a heavenly smile & your dog tags...."

In a letter of November 26, 1918, Corp. Hammond wrote his mother that he had been in school here [somewhere in France, was his usual term but later he indicated it was near Lyon] since Oct. 21. I was only up at the front for a short while [no punctuation] just put in about 40 days in the trenches up in the Alsace Lorraine Sector. I came out all ok-only a few barb wire scratches.Later in the letter he writes "well I guess I won't hardly get a commission now as the soldiers will all be going home but any way I will keep right on the job for what I learn will be good for me any how." The school was named at the end of the letter as the 7th Co. Infantry Candidate School. Camp de la Valbonne, Le [sic] Valbonne, Ain, France. In a letter written on Christmas 1918, Corp. Hammond was pleased with the holiday dinner, music, and the Santa Claus packages given to all by the Y.M.C.A. Ladies and consisting of "packages of cakes, some chocolate, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, & a handkerchief." He was complimentary of the officers of the Battalion taking so much interest in us, and noted that "the boys all behaved well." Yet, "there was a few that were feeling good but they didn't interfere with the others." That same letter contained references to the "Flu", which he hoped had not reached his family, and assurances that everyone in his camp seemed very healthy, with little sickness of any kind.

The courtship letters exchanged between Palmer Hammond and Theo Early were relatively casual and friendly. Though rarely if ever intimate in tone by later 20th century and 21st century standards, these communications set the stage for what would become almost seventy years of marriage. As the couple became increasingly at ease with each other, the letters became more detailed and less reserved. At times the tone of the letters was teasing, and occasionally flirty, and never overtly romantic. They were filled with news about and references to family, mutual acquaintances, and particularly on Theo's part, details about her teaching experiences and fellow teachers and friends, and descriptions of experiences she found particularly interesting. Of additional interest are some of the letters from friends at several of colleges in the state, and one out of state that reveal some details of the college academic and social culture of the time. Although many are of a quotidian nature, they reveal, for example, various aspects of social life and customs that were meaningful for that day. Social life tended to center around church, including Sunday School, morning and evening Sunday services, B.Y.P.U (Baptist Young Peoples Union), preceding church on Sunday evenings, Wednesday Prayer Meeting, and revivals.

Additionally, there were references to other entertainments, including college stunt nights, concerts, lectures, debates, tennis matches, picnics, watermelon parties, picture shows, League Socials [Methodist Epworth League?]. Some of Theo's letters in particular held details of wider interest. For example, on 17 April 1922, Theo wrote of attending a debate on evolution at State College, with her minister father and her brother, Waldo. Theo seemed to find merit in both sides of the debate, possibly favoring, along with many students, the geology professor from State Agricultural and Mechanical College who argued for "Resolved: evolution is supported by scientific facts." Of additional interest were Theo's letters during July-August 1922 of her summer school experiences in Asheville, including her description of an integrated service at the Catholic Church, and a visit to Biltmore, that included meeting Mrs. Vanderbilt.

In addition, there are various other letters written primarily to Theo. Of particular interest is a letter written to Theo at Chowan College by her father 16 October 1918 cautioning her about health practices and describing some of the hardships of the flu epidemic in Kinston, North Carolina. There is one letter from Theo's brother, Henry G. Early, 5 November 1918, written in France, and reflecting upon his experiences, including the death of his best friend, and his outlook as a U.S. Army musician. There are two letters written by Theo's grandmother, probably Lavenia Askew Godwin (1840-1927) in 1919 and 1920.

Some of the letters are from other family members, while others were from various friends who were attending colleges including Meredith College, Wake Forest College, and State College (N.C. State University today.) Of interest is one from a 1921 graduate of Chowan College, Eva Gertrude Gary, of Murprheesboro. She wrote from Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia where she had a teaching position in voice. She wrote of studying voice at Chautauqua in New York. Spoke of starting a round robin letter, with portions authored by several correspondents and mailed to one address, then circulated among the group of correspondents, etc., a practice that seems to have been taken up by Theo and other friends from Chowan College.

The series, Miscellaneous Family Material and Later Correspondence, 1923-1984, includes a few letters from Theo's mother and aunt, written near the end of their lives. These are poignant, expressing health issues, and other concerns.

Note: The finding aid in the State Archives Search Room binder, includes partial transcriptions at the end of the document.

Arrangement is chronological. Series II, Courtship letters between Theo Early and J. Palmer Hammond, were received in packets, possibly assembled that way by Theo and tied with ribbons and strips of fabric. This order has been retained for the most part, and placed in folders, accordingly, by correspondent and by date. Extent: 5 fibredex boxes, 1 oversized box.

Chronology of Family:
1889 - Birth of James Palmer Hammond, Aiken, South Carolina

1899 - Birth of Theodolinda (Theo) Euzelia Early.

1917 5 June- Palmer Hammond enlisted in the U.S. Army. 6th Division, 54th Infantry.

1921 - Theo Early graduated from Chowan College, Murphreesboro, Hertford County

1923. Oct 16. Marriage of Theo Early and Palmer Hammond

James Palmer Hammond (1889-1993)
James Palmer Hammond, known by his middle name of Palmer, was born in Aiken, South Carolina to James Kenneth (1847-1915) and Martha Adeline Williams Hammond (1857-1928). Though born in South Carolina, his parents returned around 1905 to their native North Carolina, settling with the family in Cerro Gordo, Columbus County. Palmer's paternal and maternal lines, were natives of North Carolina for several generations, with his father a native of Bladen County and his mother a native of Columbus County. James Kenneth, a blacksmith by trade, and employed by several saw mills, also served as a jailer for a time, in Whiteville, Columbus County, and Martha Adeline cooked meals for the inmates. Palmer and his parents and siblings, including a sister Pauline, and a brother Homer, moved around 1905 to Cerro Gordo, Columbus County. There his mother, Martha Adeline, operated the local teacherage, a boarding house for teachers.

As a young adult Palmer Hammond worked in the saw mill industry. He was a store clerk when he enlisted for military service on June 5th 1917 and subsequently served in the 6th Division, 54th Infantry, U.S. Army. He was deployed for a period of time in France, where some of the letters he wrote home to his mother, and to a lesser extent, his sister, Pauline Adeline (b. ca. 1897), and brother, Homer, have been preserved in this collection. According to a newspaper article published in a Columbus County newspaper, Hammond could still wear his original issued uniform even at the age of 103.

During the 1922-1923 period Palmer wrote several letters to Theo on the letterhead of Johnson & Hammond, a general merchandise store, including produce and berries in Cerro-Gordo. A special edition of The News Reporter, Whiteville, N.C. Oct. 26, 1922, featured area businesses, including Johnson & Hammond. It was described as the "Family Store," headed by J. N. Johnson and J. Palmer Hammond. Palmer was touted as a "friend of the farmer, public spirited, progressive and broad gauged and popular all over the county. He is ever alert to aid in any effort for the upbuilding of Cerro Gordo or district and is certain of the assured future of his town industrially." A newspaper wedding announcement of the couple, October 1923, indicated that Hammond was also a town alderman.

Historical note: Palmer Hammond's World War I Service: Sixth Division, 54th Infantry.

This collection's first communication from Corporal Palmer Hammond is a postcard written 10 May 1918 when he first arrived at Camp Scriven, Georgia. The division moved during that period to Camp Wadsworth, S.C. During the summer the division's units assembled in New York and left for France in July 1918. After training near Chateauvillain, the division, less artillery, left in late August, for Gerardmer where it occupied, under French command, a sector in the Vosages until October 11, 1918. In late October the division was moved from Gerardmer by rail to the vicinity of Les Islettes and established headquarters at Beauchamp Farm. On November 2, 1918, the division began to march forward in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. On November 6th, headquarters was established at Stonne, and the division marched to a sector northeast of Verdun and entered the line on November 14th. Relieved on November 21st, and proceeded to the 14th training area. November 30th, the division headquarters was established at Aignay-le-Duc. The division's commanding generals were Brigadier General James B. Erwin, November 26, 1917 to August 31, 1918; and Major General Walter P. Gordon, August 31 to November 11, 1918.

Theodolinda (Theo) Euzelia Early Hammond (1899-1992)
Theodolinda (Theo) Euzelia was born in Wake Forest to Benjamin Gordon (1869-1961) and Cecila Octavia Magnocia Godwin Early (1871-1966). Theo's father attended Wake Forest College, 1896-1900, and was ordained and served as a Baptist minister in various parts of the state, including Wake County. Her Early siblings who grew to adulthood included brothers Henry Godwin (1895-1994); Benjamin Grady (1896-1983) and Waldo Dwight (1904-1988). The elder two brothers probably served during World War I.

Theo was a 1921 graduate of Chowan College, Murphreesboro, Hertford County, North Carolina. On a college publication, she was listed as the senior class historian. Between her college graduation and wedding Theo taught school initially at Liberty Piedmont Institute, Wallburg, North Carolina. During the period 1921-1922 she traveled by train to Cerro Gordo, Columbus County, to consider a teaching position. There she met her husband-to-be, J. Palmer Hammond. After a period of courtship, Palmer and Theo were married on Tuesday 16 October, 1923. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. John Alston Ellis (d. 1960), of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh. [Note: the Rev. Ellis served there as pastor until 1929, when he accepted a call to a church in Sherman, Texas.]

J. Palmer and Theo Early Hammond
The Hammond couple settled in Cerro Gordo, Columbus County. As was often the case in that era, Theo ceased teaching school when she married in October of 1923. According to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Palmer was a merchant in a general store and Theo was a cook in a boarding house, possibly the one operated beginning in 1905 by her mother-in-law. Palmer and Theo became parents of at least five children born in the 1920s and the early 1930s, including the donor of this collection. Unfortunately, their first child born in 1924 died as an infant. The 1940 census indicated that Theo was no longer employed outside the home. The family, however, included a lodger named Grace Croom of Kinston, who was a public school teacher.

1. Series 1: Family and Miscellaneous Correspondence and Materials, 1889-1924

2. Series 2: Courtship and Marriage Correspondence and Material : Theo Early and Palmer Hammond, 1921-1924

3. Series 3: Miscellaneous Family Material and Later Correspondence, 1923-1984

4. Contains 12 copies of newspapers of the Second Battalion, 54th Infantry, AEF, France, 1919

James Palmer Hammond

Theo Early Hammond

Chowan Female College

Meredith College (Raleigh, N.C.)

World War, 1914-1918

Courtship

Teachers

Women

Gift of Nancy Hammond Moore, Peabody, Mass., August 2014.

Processed by Fran Tracy-Walls and Caroline Brinkley, Summer Intern, 2015.