While archivists mostly concern themselves with content, we do also care about the containers. We value the information in a letter but also respect the value of the paper and handwriting. Or with a college publication, the words are central but the whole package tells its own story.
And sometimes, we just enjoy the added bits. Letterheads are a particular favorite of mine. They often don’t add much to the college’s historical context but can make for fun moments while researching. Below are examples of stationary in our collections.
Letterhead from an 1877 letter to William J. Martin, Sr. from D. H. Hill.
What is fun about this letterhead besides the architectural details is that it lists the members of the Committee on Rules and By-Laws. While at Davidson, Hill had a strong interest in rules and discipline.
Decorated envelope from William J. Martin Collection.
William J. Martin, Sr. was a chemistry professor at Davidson (and father of another chemistry professor). His correspondence with chemical companies gives some insights into how he taught his courses and this envelope gives a look at apparatus from the 1860s.
Letterhead from the correspondence of President Henry Louis Smith
This one is fun because Davidson College is not inclined to decorative banisters thus inviting some wondering where they might go. In fact, the college was not looking for railings but a tablet for the new Carnegie Library.
State of North Carolina letterhead in 1911
President Henry Louis Smith wrote to the Secretary of State regarding a change in the college’s charter to allow the college to hold more real property and personal property. In the response, the letterhead took up almost as much space as the text.
Letterhead from President H. L. Smith papers
What caught my eye here is the small detail of the dragon boat. Someday I’ll donate the medals from some of the college’s winning Dragon Boat teams to the archives.
Letterhead from a church in Toccoa, Georgia, 1911
The Rev. DuBose is a Davidson alumni from the class of 1897. He’s writing to recommend a student and his letterhead tells us he’s writing in his study.
Hotel letterhead from 1912
The parent of a Davidson student took some time while traveling in New York to write the college president about his son. Ironically, the theme of the letter is to discourage the son from any further travels during the semester.
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