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 Arrived home safely and upon his arrival found many anxious people sick at home so he was kept busy until ten that evening; his visit to Enfield was one of the happiest memories of his life, and his thoughts often linger there; "the dignified, pleasant and agreeable manner of your mother- and the innocent lively, girlish and captivating spirit of your 'big-little' sister, added largely to the pleasure of my visit, and I really felt while with them that I was in the house...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Recieved his letter and hopes he does not break himself down again tending to all the sick people; everyone that met him liked him so much; Walter and Caddie thought him splendid and Walter said "while I am not at all anxious to get rid of you, it would give me pleasure to give you away to him"; went to visit Cousi Sir Whitaker who tried to tease her about him; Cousins Minnie and Joe Whitaker visited the other evening and Minne played the piano which made her [MG] wish he...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received her letter and was delighted to hear from his "little girley"; there is no use in giving him permission to break their engagement as he loves her too well; as she is so much the younger of the two it is she who might grow tired of the arrangement; "it is my desire and my prayer, with my whole heart, that you may never regret your promise to marry me, and if you are sure that you love me, well enough to make me your life long companion, then you need fear nothing...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received his letter and his "quarrel" but is afraid she cannot write a long letter this time either; Dr. McGingan took her to church Sunday evening; asked Dr. McGingan how hw liked him [JFB} and the response was positive; Mr. Pittman meant, when he said that he [JFB] would be "devoured" on his next visit to Enfield, that because he was so well liked in town on his next visit he would be taken away from her; another "pic-nic" at Bellamy's Mill; heard that Nell and Mrs....

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Wonders if she is angry with him and hesitates to call her "my own little girley" since she only addressed him as "my dear friend" and closed with "your true friend" in the last letter; wonders why she is so formal unless she doubts his sincerity; is pleased with the compliments her friends have paid him; Dr. Smith wonders when he [JFB] will visit Enfield again; had little time to entertain Mr. Smith as he was too busy; thought many times how i needed you to preform this...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Has not lost confidence him; was not was not worried at all about the "quarreling"; asks if he mean what he said about her ability to entertain, and he did then she takes it as quite a compliment; is much oliged to Miss Flora for the invitation to hurry and move to Franklin; wonders if she [Miss Flora] will visit often and explain how he likes things prepared; knows little about housekeeping but will do the best she can; would like him to visit anytime he likes to come;...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Mentions that November provides him with as much leisure as any other month, and he does not need to postpone their marriage until the spring unless the postponement is more in accordance with her wishes; is still very busy with the sick; Dr. Smith brought him a nice frame for her photograph; feels she could  "entertain handsomely in any society... you must not let your natural modesty prevent you from showing your real worth"; is not trying to make her jealous, but he...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Thought that if they waited until the spring to be married this would give him time to find out if he really loves her as much as he says he does; she has always said she would rather be married in the fall than any other time of the year; cannot guess you the "pretty young ladie" he took riding was; is not jealous that he goes with the pretty young ladies as he goes with as she goes out with the young men and her being jealous would not be fair; has been out in the...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Cannot get time to go to Norfolk as he is still overwroked; he has three or four cases of typhoid fever on hand; she has given him all the opprotunites to "break off" their engagement if he so desires- asks her she doubts that he really loves her; wonders if she wants him to break off their engagement or she would like to; "I did not make the proposal to you because I speciffically desired to get married, but solely for the reason that I loved you so intesely that I could...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received his letter and drank in every word; knows from the tone of his letter that she had wounded his feelings and she feels very sorry for it; begs his pardon "a thousand thousand time" for giving him extra worries; has never met anyone she liked half as much as her "dear doctor"; promises to marry him in the first part of November; fears he will get sick from being so busy; since she moves to Franklin she will try to make the best of it when he is busy and "always be...