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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Finding Aid Authors: Jeffreen M. Hayes.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Obelia "Bee" Graves Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase.
Biographical Information:
Obelia "Bee" Graves attended Winston-Salem Teachers College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the first historically black college to grant bachelor degrees in elementary school education. Her family lived in Blance, North Carolina.
Her parents were Vester and Sallie Graves. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
Scope and Contents
This collection contains letters to Obelia "Bee" Graves, from her family and friends, while she attended Winston-Salem Teachers College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The institution is presently known as Winston-Salem State University. Winston-Salem Teachers College was the first historically black college to grant bachelors degrees in elementary school education. The collection also includes college documents from her time at college such as report cards and her admission acceptance. The collection also contains letters from two soldiers to Bee Graves' sister, Cleonis. The soldiers served during World War II in the Philippines.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- African American women--Education
- African Americans
- Correspondence
- Education--North Carolina
- Photographs
- Report cards
- Winston-Salem State University
- Winston-Salem Teachers College
- Women college students
- World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Education--North Carolina
- Graves, Obelia "Bee"
Container List
This collection contains letters to Obelia "Bee" Graves, from her family and friends, while she attended Winston-Salem Teachers College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The institution is presently known as Winston-Salem State University. Winston-Salem Teachers College was the first historically black college to grant bachelors degrees in elementary school education. The collection also includes college documents from her time at college such as report cards and her admission acceptance. The collection also contains letters from two soldiers to Bee Graves' sister, Cleonis. The soldiers served during World War II in the Philippines.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1
Box 1English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id44224
Letters from Vester Graves (Father)1937-1938Scope and Contents
3 letters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id44225
Letters from Sallie Graves (Mother)1937-1939Scope and Contents
4 letters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id44226
Letters from Cleonis Graves (Sister)1937Scope and Contents
2 letters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id44227
Letters from Melba Graves (Sister)1937-1938Scope and Contents
4 letters.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 5 id44743
Letter from Ella Graves (Sister)1938
- Mixed Materials Folder: 6 id44744
Letter from Lois Long (Cousin)1937
- Mixed Materials Folder: 7 id44745
Letters from Auntie Madie1937
- Mixed Materials Folder: 8 id44746
Letters from Uncle Henry1937, 1939
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id44224
- Mixed Materials Box: 1
Box 1English
- Mixed Materials Folder: 9 id44747
Postcards from Friends1936-1939
- Mixed Materials Folder: 10 id44748
Letters from Female Friends1936
- Mixed Materials Folder: 11 id44749
Letters from Elbert Swann1936-1938Scope and Contents
1 of 2 folders; Elbert Swann appeared to have a crush on Bee Graves. He wrote ten letters to her, the most from one person in the collection.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 12 id44750
Letters from Elbert SwannundatedScope and Contents
2 of 2 folders; Elbert Swann appeared to have a crush on Bee Graves. He wrote ten letters to her, the most from one person in the collection.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 13 id44751
Letters from Louise Moore1937
- Mixed Materials Folder: 14 id44752
Letters from Helen B.1939
- Mixed Materials Folder: 15 id44753
Letter from Walter (Boyfriend)1938
- Mixed Materials Folder: 16 id44754
Letters from C.L.B., Jr.1936
- Mixed Materials Folder: 18 id44756
Letters from Male Friends1939Scope and Contents
These are friends from New York City.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 17 id44755
Letters from J.B. Saunders1936, 1938
- Mixed Materials Folder: 9 id44747
Includes letters to Bee Graves's sister, Cleonis Graves, college documents, and photographs.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1
Box 1English
- Mixed Materials Folder: 20 id44758
Miscellaneous ItemsScope and Contents
This folder contains portrait photographs of unidentified people and letters.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 21 id44759
College Documents1936-1940Scope and Contents
This folder contains documents relating to Bee Graves' tenure at Teachers College: room and board receipts, a report card, and insurance receipts. This is 1 of 2 folders.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 22 id44761
College Documents1936-1940Scope and Contents
This folder contains an acceptance letter, a letter to Bee Graves' parents about Bee's progress and report cards. This is 2 of 2 folders.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 19 id44757
Letters from soldiers to Cleonis Graves (Sister)1945Scope and Contents
This folder contains letters from two soldiers to Bee Graves' sister, Cleonis. The soldiers served during World War II in the Philippines.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 20 id44758