Guide to the Obelia "Bee" Graves Papers , 01/Mss. Acc. 2008.123

Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl 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.

Container List

id44200

Series 1: Letters from Family

1937-1939

Scope and Contents

Mixed Materials Box: 1
Box 1
English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id44224
  Letters from Vester Graves (Father)
  1937-1938
  Scope and Contents
  3 letters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id44225
  Letters from Sallie Graves (Mother)
  1937-1939
  Scope and Contents
  4 letters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id44226
  Letters from Cleonis Graves (Sister)
  1937
  Scope and Contents
  2 letters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id44227
  Letters from Melba Graves (Sister)
  1937-1938
  Scope 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 Madie
  1937
- Mixed Materials Folder: 8 id44746
  Letters from Uncle Henry
  1937, 1939

id44201

Series 2: Letters from Friends

1936-1939

Mixed Materials Box: 1
Box 1
English
- Mixed Materials Folder: 9 id44747
  Postcards from Friends
  1936-1939
- Mixed Materials Folder: 10 id44748
  Letters from Female Friends
  1936
- Mixed Materials Folder: 11 id44749
  Letters from Elbert Swann
  1936-1938
  Scope 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 Swann
  undated
  Scope 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 Moore
  1937
- 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 Friends
  1939
  Scope and Contents
  These are friends from New York City.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 17 id44755
  Letters from J.B. Saunders
  1936, 1938

id44202

Series 3: Miscellaneous

1936-1945

Scope and Contents

Includes letters to Bee Graves's sister, Cleonis Graves, college documents, and photographs.

Mixed Materials Box: 1
Box 1
English
- Mixed Materials Folder: 20 id44758
  Miscellaneous Items
  
  Scope and Contents
  This folder contains portrait photographs of unidentified people and letters.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 21 id44759
  College Documents
  1936-1940
  Scope 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 Documents
  1936-1940
  Scope 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)
  1945
  Scope and Contents
  This folder contains letters from two soldiers to Bee Graves' sister, Cleonis. The soldiers served during World War II in the Philippines.