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Date Original
1878 December 29
Description
Letter from William Rector and Louis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland. The first part of the letter is written by Annie's father, William, and the second part is written by her brother, Louis.
Biographical/Historical Note
Annie M. Rector was born in July 1855, the daughter of W.A. (William) Rector of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Martha Hinston, who died in 1858. W.A. Rector was born a slave of Chester Ashley, United States Senator from Arkansas, 1844-1848. During Reconstruction, W.A. Rector was elected city collector, city marshal, and constable. He was also a member of the famed Ashley Band of Little Rock. Annie married William L. Copeland on October 22, 1874, in Pulaski County. Copeland, a lawyer, was born in 1845 in Oberlin, Ohio, and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He also served in the Arkansas Legislature from 1873-1875, representing Crittenden County. The family moved back to Little Rock at the end of his legislative career. Copeland worked for the postal service before becoming a Little Rock policeman. He died in the line of duty on December 30, 1885, from wounds received in an attempt to apprehend a convict. Annie Rector Copeland died on May 12, 1915, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She is buried with members of the Rector family in Fraternal Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Transcription
Little Rock Dec 29th 1878
Dear Daughter
I drop you these
few lines to let you know
that we are all well. Your
Mama started to Mobile on
Friday night last to see
about Georgia and Daisy.
She has been anxious to go
for several weeks so she thought
that she would take the advant-
age of this cold snap that
she would not be so apt to take
the yellow fever, what do you
think of little Louis writing[?]
I think he does first rate
for a little one arm boy, he
writes much better on the
slate than on paper[.] he [sic] says
he is the bester writer in his
class[.] Did you receive Will's
Crhistmas present[?] I am sorry
that you and Copeland could
not be with us on Christmas
I was in hope to have
the whole family together
on that day[.] Elias and
Mary were with us on (?)
day[.] we [sic] had a nice dinner and
we all enjoyed it so much
but we don't know where we will
all be on next Christmas. that [sic]
was my reason for wanting
to have you all with me
one time more in this life
I expect you (?) will be
home in 10 days. Robt Keatts
was buried today from the
B(?) St Church[.] Wm Caldwell
died last night. his [sic] funeral
will be at Bethel Church this
evening[.] your Father
Little Rock Ark Dec 29th 1878
Dear Sister
I write to let you know
that I am well[.] Mama went to
Mobile to see Georgia and daisy[.]
Sister I want you to come home
and teach me[.] it [sic] is to [sic]
cold for me to go to the schol [sic]
house[.] tell [sic] Mr Copeland
he must come to see me[.] Santa
Clause [sic] gave me a
little toy pistol and a
horn and a Christmas tree
full of good things[.] Sister you
must xcuse [sic] bad writing
as this is the first letter
I ever wrote[.] kiss Will for me
good bye from your brother
Louis G. Rector
ps Pa sends love to you
and Mr Copeland
Write soon
Physical Description
Letter, 5" x 8"
Subjects
Correspondence; Family
Contributor
William Rector and Louis Rector
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
MS.000541, Box 1, Folder 6
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Rector-Copeland family collection, MS.000541
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Letter, William and Louis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland, Rector-Copeland family collection, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
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