Correspondence, 1926-1944

This series consists of letters written primarily by J. Franklin Witter to his girlfriend, Frances LaRue King. There are also letters to Gertrude King, Frances sister, from boyfriends, girlfriends, and family. The correspondence covers the time when Franklin Witter was a student at the University of Maryland and Frances King was in high school in Frederick, Maryland (1926- 1928); when Frances King was a student at the University of Maryland and Franklin Witter was a high school teacher and later a Michigan State College veterinary student (1928-1931); and when Gertrude King was a student at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland (1932-1934, 1944).

The letters J. Franklin Witter wrote as a college student discuss his relationship with Frances King, campus life, his jobs, his roommates and fraternity brothers, the Student Grange, the Y.M.C.A., the Debate Team, and the Livestock Club. Also included are school news, such as Franklin asking permission from the university president to invite a speaker to campus to discuss the reasons not to have compulsory military training on college campuses; social news, movies Witter saw and trips he made; and family news, such as a tornado destroying his uncle's house and barn. Of special interest is the letter of December 5, 1928 when Franklin describes to Frances how difficult it was to tell his father, Harry Baker Witter, that Franklin, his only son, did not plan to work the family farm upon graduation. The overall tone of these early letters is optimistic as he made plans for the future with Frances as his inspiration.

The tone of the letters changed during the years Frances was a college student and Franklin was teaching high school at West Friendship High School in Lisbon, Maryland. Eventually the Witter-King relationship ended. However, when Franklin was at Michigan State College, he attempted to rekindle his relationship with Frances. After the relationship finally ended, the letters from Witter ceased.

The last of the letters are primarily written to Gertrude King, Frances youngest sister, from G.D. (Jim) Garber, a student at the University of Maryland. Other letters to Gertrude are from boyfriends, girlfriends, and family. The topics covered are basically social news such as dances, dates, parties, and trips.

The collection also includes several letters to Mr. and Mrs. King from their daughters, Frances, Peggy, and Gertrude, as well as two name indexes to the letters; the compiler of these indexes is not identified.

Arrangement is chronological.