Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

The collection is without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of the Wohlbrück and Related Burgess Families, Accession # , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The collection was purchased from K. Dietrich, Stockbridge, Mass. in December 1998 and January 1999.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists letters, chiefly to Marie (Wohlbrück) Burgess from her siblings, Dora [Theodora], Kittie, Gertrude, and Theodore C. Wohlbrück from Charlottesville, Virginia and Bound Brook, Elizabeth, and Newark, New Jersey. The letters discuss family matters and economic hardships. There are also two photographs, 1889, of Marie (Wohlbrück) Burgess.

There are several letters from siblings in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Marie (Wohlbrück) Burgess. Letters of September and October 1890 mention Marie's upcoming marriage to Charles A. Burgess and the conflict between Marie and her mother and stepfather, Charles Mays. While living in Charlottesville, Dora, Gertrude and Theodore write about the family, trying to get work, and business being poor. On March 20, 1893, Theodore discusses the economic hardships and inquires of machine shops. On August 22, 1893, Dora writes of taking boarders this fall and Kittie keeping a confectionary store in New Jersey. In letters of January 14 and March 14, 1894, Gertrude refers to business as being dull and trying to get work in the knitting mill. On August 27, 1894, Dora writes that Gertrude is now working in the knitting mill and that Theodore is working in a butcher's shop. In a letter of May 31, 1896, Theodore mentions the poor economic conditions. An undated letter, May 13, from Bettie Adams of Charlottesville, discusses living and cultivating land in the Charlottesville area and offers assistance for Charles and Marie Burgess' move to Charlottesville.

There are two letters, October 17 and 18, 1895, from Charles A. Burgess to his wife, Marie (Wohlbrück) Burgess, from Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia, while searching for work. He discusses the possibility of a position running the pumping machinery in a blast furnace, conditions in the cities of Roanoke and Lynchburg, the difficulties in finding work, the dissolution of the General Custer Council, and the possibility of going to Richmond to look for work.

There are several letters during 1890 from Kittie [Mrs. Charles Mitchell] in Plainfield, New Jersey, discussing personal and family matters, including the conflict between Marie and her mother. There is a January 1892 letter concerning revival meetings held by an evangelist and the New Year's ball at Madison Square Garden. Letters of 1894 from Kittie in Elizabeth, New Jersey discuss Dora's need for assistance in leaving home and the feeling that their mother has little love for her children (February 24); building going on in Elizabeth, including a large four story brick factory (May 9); and, business being dull and being settled in a new place (December 30). Letters from Dora in 1894 are from Bound Brook, New Jersey, and discuss earning wages for doing washing and ironing, liking Virginia better than New Jersey (November 8); the conflict between Marie and their mother (November 28); and, plans to stay with Marie after Mrs. Smith finds a replacement for her (December 15). On January 6, 1895, friend Gertrude writes about being busy as a dressmaker and belonging to a lodge called the Daughters of Liberty. There are several letters, 1895, from Dora while in Elizabeth and Newark, discussing personal and family news. On March 2, she refers to Kittie's husband, Charlie Mitchell, as a brute; and, on May 29, she mentions problems between Kittie and Charlie concerning their daughter, Belle. On March 22, she mentions Kittie being in a new place and going to see plays, including "The Derby Winner" and "Kellar, the Great Magician." Letters of April 10 and May 12 discuss working in a store downtown in the bakery and confectionary and later at Bamberger's, a large dry goods store, seeing the play "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and having further conflicts with their mother. On August 1, 1895, Dora is still working at Bamberger's but wishes to work for a lady who has a division of girls who travel with expenses paid and receive a commission on each book sold. On December 26, 1895, Dora writes that she is one of about 160 people laid off at Bamberger's. A letter of December 26, 1895, from Theodore, berates their sister Kittie's actions concerning men and her not living with her husband. On February 19, 1896, Dora writes that she has begun work in Hahne & Company, a large store in Newark; she also mentions a fire and flood in Bound Brook. A letter of December 15, 1896 mentions the possibility of getting Charles Burgess a job in a family business.

There are also several letters from Anne Mitchell, Kittie's mother-in-law, to Marie (Wohlbrück) Burgess. On April 2, 1892, she reveals personal news about Kittie (Wohlbrück) and Charles Mitchell. In a letter of December 25, 1893, she mentions her husband being out of work, her making some money by sewing, and the family all living together. Letters of March 20 and April 23, 1897, refer to Dora's new husband and to [her son], Fred, who is working as a paper hanger and painter. There is also a letter, December 25, 1901, from Royer C. Strickland in Charlotte, North Carolina, to C[harles] A. Burgess, concerning living arrangements in Charlotte.