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Special Collections, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College
Special Collections© 2011 By Wytheville Community College. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Cathy Carlson Reynolds
Collection is open to research.
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Mary Greiner Papers, Mss. Collection 1997.6, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA
Purchased in 1997.
Mary E. Greiner (1876-1959) was the daughter of Rev. John Bryson Greiner (1841-1917) and Mattie C. Stevens Greiner (1844-1931). A prominent Lutheran minister, Greiner and his wife had four other children including Dr. Albert Bryson Greiner, Mattie Louise Greiner (1882-1949), Etta Mae Greiner, and Margie Greiner.
Ordained in 1870, Rev. Greiner served congregations from Botetourt to Washington counties in Virginia until his death in 1917. Much of his pastorate was served at Grace and St. Paul's Lutheran churches in Rural Retreat, Wythe County. From 1888 to 1904 he preached at Grace while from May 1905 to December 1907 he ministered at St. Paul's.
The entire Greiner family also was involved in educational endeavors. Dr. Alfred Bryson Greiner probably graduated with a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia while his sisters Mary and Margie taught at Hawkins Chapel School in Rural Retreat. Their father supervised Hawkins Chapel from 1892 to 1898. Mary oversaw the preparatory department while Margie instructed youngsters in art. Previously, Rev. Greiner and his wife both taught at Marion College; he taught Latin and mathematics while she demonstrated the art of "wax works " to young ladies.
Evidently Mary either attended or taught at Elizabeth College in Charlotte while Margie continued teaching at the Hawkins Chapel School. However, by November 1899, Mary returned home to Rural Retreat. All his daughters remained with Rev. Greiner and his wife, moving to Damascus in 1914. Rev. Greiner suffered a stroke while preaching and died a week later on 7 May 1917.
The Papers consist of six letters written to Mary E. Greiner from 1892 to 1912 and one written in 1895 to her mother Mattie C. Stevens Greiner.
Re: photographs sent to Mary Greiner and Rachel [unknown]; weather in Texas; Eva McLynn.
Re: visits to Durham, North Carolina, Blue Ridge Springs and Roanoke, Virginia; the relocation of the Greiners to Rural Retreat, Virginia.
Re: illness of her baby and mother; weather in South Carolina; romantic disappointments of Mary E. Greiner; molasses pie; Hawkins Chapel School; Mary Heldreth; Mrs. Baughman; Annie Repass.
Re: Mary Greiner's 21st birthday; her siblings Alfred Greiner and Margie Greiner; John Thomas of Marion and tenant for Greiner's Marion house; Margie Greiner teaching at Hawkins Chapel School.
Re: sewing for her children; admiration of handmade suit made by Mr. Richardson of Richmond, Virginia; weather; Margie Greiner's husband Frank and new job as traveling saleman for Hardman House in Bristol, Virginia; Hattie Buck Candler and new son; Mrs. Marco Davis and new son.
Re: difficulty of nursing her sick brothers; departure of family cook; thanks for gift of books.
Re: common people at Ocean View beach in Norfolk, Virginia; boat trip from Norfolk, Virginia to New York City; weather; Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church; Mary Greiner's habit of wearing hats; his dislike of Yankee cooking; Atlantic City, New Jersey as a "wicked place. "