Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Upshur Quinby Sturgis Letter, Accession 2338-f, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

This letter was a gift to the Library from Miss Mary Sturgis through George M. Apperson of Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, on March 28, 1997.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This letter, November 7, 1928, from Upshur Quinby Sturgis (1875-1940), Onancock, Virginia, to his wife, Mary Emma Justis Sturgis (1880-1960), Raleigh, North Carolina, is a political commentary on the 1928 national election, discussing its results and impact, especially in Onancock and Accomack County, Virginia . Sturgis comments that Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) won with the largest majority ever given a president during his own lifetime and that Virginia, suprisingly, was behind Hoover, thereby defeating the crooked politicians from governor to county chairman. He mentions negatives comments by Hannanson Killmon and L. R. Doughty of Onancock. Sturgis writes that he had a party the previous night with guests Alice Nottingham , the Grason Boggs , Marvin Parks , Tom Barnes , Frank Riley , George Wescott , G. L. Fosque , and Al Smith .