Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Correspondence, 1873-1903, of Dr. James Fenton Bryant. Chiefly, 1885-1888, with Margaret (Gunter) Bryant of Enfield, North Carolina who became his second wife. The letters concern their courtship and marriage. The collection also includes some letters from Margaret Gunter's sister, and her cousins at Richmond, Virginia, Lynchburg, Virginia and Tarborough, North Carolina; account books and a diary of Dr. Bryant.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Says he does not tire of being teased about her and never expects to; has "the blues" because he cannot visit her as Mrs. [Joe] Gay is very sick and begs him not to leave; has only recieved four letters from her in the three weeks she has been gone from Franklin and asks her to do better; incessant floods of the past few days have stopped all the trains and there have been "washouts" on the roads; Nell recieved her [MG's] letter and is quite proud of it; is proud to now...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Disappointed that he could not visit on Saturday and says he must come the following Saturday; the young men plan to give a "pic-nic" on Wednesday and she looks forward to it with great anticipation; expects to have her picture taken that morning and will send him one as soon as she gets them; is sorry Miss Cora Vaughn and Mrs. Joe Gay are sick; wonders how many people he has told of their engagement and reminds him that she did not give him permission to tell many people;...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Had a very gloomy day on Saturday because he could not visit his "dear sweet little girly" and her sadness added to the gloom; Mrs. [Joe] Gay is feeling much better but Miss Core [Vaughn] may have a protracted spell; is feeling jealous of all of her other visitors; mentions two charming widows have moved to town but reassures her she she is the only one he loves; wants her to write a letter to Sister Bogart soon as she complains of recieving no response to her letter;...

Scope and Contents

Thanks him for the box of beautiful flowers; went to a dance and had a spendid time; her escort was a nice young man studying pharmacy in Baltimore; wore some of the flowers to the dance; wrote to Mrs. Bogart; scolds him for telling so many people of their engagement; wonders what his children say about their engagement; wonders who Miss Lelia has been going around with so often. 5pp. ALS

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Asks what she will do about dancing when he moves to Franklin as all the people are either married or intensely religious so it is near impossible to get up a dance; may not be able to visit on Saturday as "I have my hands full of sick people...and I am nearly broken down with fatigue"; has not told many people of their engagement but everyone seems to know; Nell and Fent are devoted to her; Nell often says he "has no right to say sweet things of anyone except Miss Mag,...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received his letter and has has the "blues" all evening since reading that he may not visit on Saturday; read his words and a few tears came to her eyes; cannot excuse him if he does not come Saturday; wonders if Dick will always be stiff in her company or if he will like the home he has now better than the one he will soon have; detected a little sarcasm in his last letter when commenting on her dancing and escorts; thanks maybe she should not tell him of her escorts; if...

Scope and Contents

Very sorry to hear he was sick; disappointed he could not visit; must come as soon as he is ableand if he is sick for too long he must get Nell to write him; went to church with Dr. McGingan; asks if he recieved her picture; wonders if he has seen Mrs. Bogart; read a letter from Mrs. Bogart to her [MG's] cousin Sir Whitaker in which she [Mrs. Bogart] said she felt so decied by some people she thought were her friends; wonders who Mrs. Bogart means. 3pp. ALS

Scope and Contents

Very sorry to he is not well and hopes he is not getting typhoid fever; heard that he receieved a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Bogart; Nell wrote and said her [MG's] letter did him more good than medicine; is much obliged to Nell for writing while he has been sick; Dr. Smith visited and gave them away when he told he has seen them riding and at church quite often and thought it must mean something; begs him to get well as she wants a letter from him so much. 5pp ALS

Scope and Contents

Went to a feast organized by the young men of the baseball club and had a spendid time; will begin working on some of her clothes next week; wonders when he will be able to write; the young men are planning another dance but does not intend to go; wonders if he has thought of her since he has been sick; asks hm not to let her letters lie around.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents The attack of sickness he had was quite violent, perhaps the most severe he has had in twelve years; is now fully restored except his strength; the picture she sent was for a time misplaced but has been found and often inspected ever since; "Absence will never conquer the love which I bear for my sweet Marguerite, and if anything should prevent our marriage, I shall love you still, to the end of my days"; did not intend to sound sarcastic when he spoke of her going dancing...

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents Has been terribly disappointed at not recievng a letter from her in several days; would like to visit her in several days; would like to visit her on Saturday and call on her before and after supper; is about well and has resumed regular work, "though I have not quite regained my flesh"; was at the Bogart's on Tuesday night but neither one mentioned her. 4pp ALS

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents Wonders if his "little girley" is sick, too, as he has recieved no letter from her all week; if recoeves a letter from her that evening then will visit her the next day either on the morning train or the Raleigh Express; asks her to write right away to relieve his troubled mind. 3pp ALS

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Her letter reached him and made him very sad with the news she had been sick; her sickness presents yet another obstacle in his visiting, and he wonders how long this will continue; intends to perservere until every last obstacle is overthrown; went on a river boat excursion organized by Mr. Bogart; chatted with some of the young ladies but spent most of his time among the married couples with whom he is very popular; says that if the "miserable doctors" in Enfield don't...

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents Her health has improved though she feels "right bad from the medicine"; asks if he can visit her on Tuesday or Wednesday; is quite anxious to see himl before she got sick she was "sewing some of my wedding garments"; wants to see him as soon as his train arrives in Enfield. 2pp ALS

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents Is just about well; wants to see him "terribly bad" and asks him to visit the next evening if he camn; will not thank him for the flowers he sent but will tell him all about them when he visits; has so many things to tell him that "I am afraid I will talk you most to death." 3pp ALS

Scope and Contents

Her letter informing him of her recovery afforded him great pleasure; will visit as soon as she tells him when he should come; just recieved her letter of the 24th and will visit the 27th of June. 3 pp. ALS

Scope and Contents

Received his letter and is glad of his arrival on the following day; while she was visiting in Franklin a man opened a livery stable with lovely horses so they can go riding when he visits; is not tired of his letters and loves to read them. 3pp ALS