Series 1: Correspondence, 1910/1946

Scope and content:

This series consists largely of personal letters written by Asa Daniel Reed to Clarence Elizabeth Mangus (later Clarence Elizabeth Reed) during Reed's service in the U.S. Army. From 1913 through 1920, Reed wrote to Mangus on a consistent basis from Army posts in Alabama, Georgia, the Philippines, Texas, Wyoming, Germany, France and Arkansas. During this time period Mangus resided in Floyd County, Virgina with her parents. Reed describes his military service in these letters, but focuses more so on his desire to return to civilian life and marry Mangus. Reed frequently refers to himself as "John" and to Mangus as "Irene." After their marriage in 1920, Asa and Clarence Reed moved to Warren, Ohio. Later items in this series include letters to Clarence Reed from her mother, Kitty A. Mangus, in Floyd County, Virgina. Clarence Reed also received frequent letters from a relative named Lila. During World War II, Asa and Clarence Reed received postcards and letters from their son, Eugene Mangus Reed, who also served in the U.S. Army. Other items in the collection include telegrams informing Asa Reed of family deaths, postcards from the World I and World War II era, and invitations to family weddings and school graduations.

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Parent restrictions:
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.
Parent terms of access:
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.

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