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James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
820 Madison DriveTiffany Cole
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
[Identification of item], [box #, folder #], Etta Evans Scrapbook, 1935-1936, SC 0070, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Leila Christenburg, of Richmond, Virginia and friend of Etta Evans, found this scrapbook while going through things from Evans' estate. Christenburg donated the scrapbook to Special Collections in May 1993.
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SU 93-0518.
Etta Frances Evans was born in 1917 in Essex County, Virginia to James W. and Hattie Evans. She matriculated into the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1934 and graduated in 1936 with a professional diploma in primary kindergarten. She was active in the Alpha Literary Society, the Hiking Club, and Y. W. C. A. and was known by her friends and classmates as "Cotton." Her younger sister Sarah also attended the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg.
The Etta Evans Scrapbook, 1935-1936, is comprised of one bound scrapbook containing memorabilia, ephemera, and correspondence from Evans's time as a student at the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg. Evans annotated the scrapbook by describing the items pasted within. The scrapbook is nearly complete with the exception of a few missing items. Adhesive remains and annotations are present for items that became separated from the scrapbook.
In addition to correspondence, the scrapbook includes programs, newspaper clippings, notes, cards, invitations, ticket stubs, matchbooks, and other ephemera. Specific items include a postcard of the Washington Monument, a postcard from South Boston, Virginia, promotional material from Friddle's Restaurant, Halloween party invitations, church programs, and Camel cigarette packaging.
Evans was careful to describe each item, usually in a quippy tone. For example, of an invitation to attend an education department tea at the Alumnae Hall reception room, Evans wrote, "Another tea! I skipped tho because it always proves boring for me." Other annotations are purely informational. Of a train ticket, Evans wrote, "Ticket from Richmond to Gordonsville. Sally took me to the terminal. Bob met me a few miles up on the Skyline Drive. Had supper in Elkton. Got on campus at 10:00."
Evans also kept materials related to dating in her scrapbook. Related materials include correspondence and calling cards from potential suitors. Evans described her relationship, or lack thereof, with Joseph Foote Kinney of Bridgewater College, whose calling card is included – "Wouldn't go downtown with him because he was too short. Ha! Don't tell him. Min is taking care of him now." Another gentleman caller who received a similar discriminating judgement was "Higgins," a potential suitor who wrote Evans several letters contained within the scrapbook. Evans described him as a runt, crazy, and spoiled.
The scrapbook remains bound and is housed in a letter folder.