Letters from William Key Howard to sister Frances Robb.  Mentions helping clean up debris left by the fire at Gay Mont, alludes to the Pattons' intention to restore the house.  Mentions his daughters, Ellen and Cary, attending Mary Washington College, Ellen also spent some time at William and Mary.  Mentions having portraits restored one of Ellen and one of Alice.  Comments on the inauguration of John F. Kennedy which he viewed on television.  References situation in Berlin and advises sister to buy extra food each week to build a supply.  William has been copying Uncle William's Civil War diary which mentions the battles of Seven Pines, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg which he was able to avoid. Includes a copy of an article "The Valleys of Virginia- The Rappahannock" published in 1859- mentions Port Royal, Gay Mont, and slave working conditions in the region. Folder also includes a captioned photograph from a newsletter (?) commemorating William K. Howard's thirty years of services as a firefighter.