20th Century

Billingsley, Alabama Aug. 27, 1923 Dearest Jess, You don’t know how glad I was to get your letter last Sat. It had followed me to Montgomery, Selma, Plantersville, out on the route and I didn’t get it until I came back here. I have always had such a hard time getting a letter from you that I prize them highly when they do come. And you have moved to Fort Smith? I don’t know whether I am glad or “sorry.” I’m sure it must have been a big job. Now of course you will “high tone” all of your Hartford friends? That is so much like you, isn’t it? But that will be all right with me because I will not be in Hartford for a while anyway. I have accepted the place at Haleyville. The nearer the time comes for Mother to go home, the worse I want to go. And when I think of having to give up my sweet kids at home it nearly breaks my heart. [Page 2] School starts at Haleyville next Monday but I have to be there Sat. A.M. for a faculty meeting — so you see I will have to leave here in a few days. I am ready to go back to work, however, as I am tired of running around. When I was visiting Lula I met a girl who has a friend who is going to teach at Haleyville. Yesterday I had a letter from this girl (Miss Williams from Wetumpka, Ala.) and she wants us to make the trip together and be roommates after we get there. It was nice of her to write and I do hope I like her. Mother says she is not going home until I have been at Haleyville a week. She thinks I won’t get any pupils and will be ready to go home with her. Isn’t she encouraging??? She is going back by Conway but I don’t know whether she will go thru Fort Smith or not. [Page 3] As yet, I have given no demonstrations of my Ford knowledge. The roads I’ve been over lately are entirely too rough for me to attempt driving — and it seems hard to drive thru the sand. The roads in Montgomery County (where Lula lives) are wonderful. We almost lived in cars the whole time. Saturday I enjoyed a ten mile drive in a wagon. As a result of which I have a blistered neck and two blistered arms. But it all goes thru life anyway and I’m not missing anything. I broke my pearls while I was in Selma last week. Now don’t get suspicious!! I was walking down Broad St. one afternoon with a cousin when the “accident” happened. I’m going to have them re-strung when I go thru Birmingham next Friday. I’d much rather wait and give you the job if you will come here to do it. Why not? Listen, you have been talking about taking a vacation— [Page 4] Why not come to Haleyville to see me instead of going to New Mexico (or wherever it was)? Of course you might do both in a month’s time. I think that would be just so lovely, don’t you? However I do want to see you an awful lot and I’ll have to wait until Christmas if you don’t do that. We are going to Clanton tomorrow to spend the day with Mother’s only living Aunt and Uncle. Then I am going to Lula’s again and from there to — “work.” I’ll write soon as I get to Haleyville, only you don’t need to wait for my address before you answer. Always, “Dooley”

1. Profession: Teacher Accepts position at Haleyville, Alabama References: Faculty meeting Pupils Boarding with another teacher ➡️ Confirms: educated, independent working woman 2. Mobility & Modernity Travels across: Montgomery Selma Plantersville Wetumpka Clanton References: Cars (Ford driving) Wagon travel Road conditions ➡️ Snapshot of transitional transportation era 3. Courtship Dynamics Warm but controlled: “Dearest Jess” invites him to visit expresses longing BUT: teases him maintains independence does not appear dependent ➡️ This is a modern 1920s woman voice 4. Personality Traits Witty: “Now don’t get suspicious!!” Playful: “high tone your Hartford friends” Self-aware: “I’m not missing anything” Emotionally expressive but balanced

Historical Note

Haleyville, Alabama Early 20th-century growing town—important in education expansion Women Teachers (1920s) Often unmarried Frequently relocated Lived in shared boarding situations Pearl Necklaces Symbol of: femininity middle-class status courtship gifting culture