A letter, dated July 1, 1861, from Cordelia Lee to her “Dearest Cousin,” perhaps Virginia Lee Slater. Cordelia Lee begins with condolences for the death of her cousin’s child and a reminder that she has many children “left to you yet.” Lee also writes with general family news. Names mentioned include James, Cally, “Mr. Slater,” and “Uncle Washington.”

A letter, dated January 19, 1869, from Georgie G. Hansbrough to “Cordia.” The donor of this collection suspects Georgie is an adolescent boy. According to this letter, he now lives in a place where there is no organized school so he and his peers study with a woman who teaches them some subjects, including French. Georgie includes a list of what he received for Christmas.

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.

A letter, dated August 6, 1882, from Philippa Barziza in Houston, Texas to her cousin Cordelia Slater in Williamsburg, Virginia. Barziza writes of relations, local produce, and the cool weather. The tone of her letter is despondent: “You cannot imagine how changed I feel. I take no pleasure in anything, not even in reading, to which I was once devoted.”

This letter is written on the stationery of D.U. Barziza, Attorney at Law, Houston, Texas.

Fragment of a love letter from Jimmie Gray to Cordelia Slater. Undated.