Scope and Contents From the Collection: The family papers of Corie Lynn Dorset Rivers include over 140 separate letters and other manuscript documents handed down to Rivers by her mother, Corie Lynn Slater Dorset. This collection includes papers written by several generation of Williamsburg, Virginia residents, including Lucy Ludwell Paradise; James and Louisa Bellett Lee and family; and Virginia Lee and Parkes Slater and family.Series One consists of the oldest item in this collection, a ledger or commonplace book...

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A letter, dated 1872, from Cordelia “Cordie” Slater to her mother, Virginia Slater. Cordelia writes to her mother with news about her cousins, who she is visiting. Cordelia asks her mother to send her some new clothes to wear on an excursion to West Point and Richmond, Virginia.

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A letter, dated December 8, 1873, from Jimmie Gray (“JHG”) at Randolph Macon College to Cordelia “Cordie” Slater in Williamsburg, Virginia. Gray expresses his love for Cordelia and his desire to marry her.

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A letter, dated December 30, 1873, from Annie M. Barlow in Portsmouth, Virginia to her cousin Jimmie Gray. Barlow thanks Jimmie for the verses he sent that helped her and others in a time of sorrow. She writes that she is sending a “little book” to him.

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A letter, dated January 8, 1874, from Cordelia Slater in Williamsburg, Virginia to Jimmie Gray. This draft of a letter to Gray is a carefully written response to his professions of love (see letter from December 8, 1873). It appears she proofread this draft and made changes in blue ink with the original draft in black ink.

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A letter, dated February 23, 1874, from Jimmie Gray at Randolph Macon College to Cordelia “Cordie” Slater.

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A letter, dated March 7, 1874, from Jimmie Gray at Randolph Macon College to Cordelia “Cordie” Slater. Gray expresses dejection and sorrow, apparently hurt over Cordelia’s response to his expression of love. He expresses his distaste for dancing.

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A letter, dated May 29, 1874, from Jimmie Gray in Petersburg, Virginia to Cordelia “Cordie” Slater. Gray criticizes the possibility of women’s suffrage, suggesting it may have been an issue they have discussed and disagreed upon before.

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A letter, dated November 18, from Jimmie Gray (“JHG”) in Farmville, Virginia to Cordelia “Cordie” Slater. The donor of this collection suggested this letter may be from the year 1873 or 1874 given other letters exchanged between Gray and Slater during this time period.

Gray thanks Cordie for her account of Jamestown and evergreen leaves she sent. He writes of his visit to the Richmond Fair and the environment of Randolph Macon College.