File:Lovie D. Galloway to Alice Mary Longfellow, 11 February 1901 (31101b83-a5b0-46b3-94fe-55e28ea2f497).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#090

[printed letterhead: Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute]
Hampton, Va., Feb. 11, 1901.
Miss Longfellow,
Dear Friend,
I know you are expecting a letter from me as I told you in the one I wrote some time ago that I would write and tell you all about my-self. ‘Tis true that I have never seen you but the many teachers here speak to me as so often of you that it seems as though I realy [sic] know you. I am very glad to have said that you are my scholarship-lady. I am sure that I am thankful [p. 2] to you for so kindly consenting to give me a scholarship. Please accept many thanks for the same.
My home is in the western part of North Carolina, in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County. Our home is situated on the east side of the city, on an elevation known as Columbian-Heights. The house is a two story building with seven rooms and a store house adjoining it.
My sister, brother-in-law, two little boys and I constitute my family. My brother-in-law is business manager of a large store in the city known as The Trade Union. This store is run absolutely by [p. 3] colored people. My sister of course stays home and attends house affairs, while the two little boys, who are not old enough to go to school, amuse themselves by playing around the yard and like places.
My school life before coming here was a very pleasant one. I have spent a great portion of my life in school. My teachers for the last four years have been very good ones. The ones before these were not so well prepared for the work.
While spending a great portion of my time in, I also gave a [p. 4] large amount of it to work on house keeping. I have done all of the work pertaining to house keeping. Which was to help my sister as much as possible. I also shared my time with the two little boys.
The first boarding school I re-member her hearing of was Hampton. My aunt came here to school when I was quite a child or what you might call a baby. She wrote some very interesting letter to her mother, or my grand mother concerning the school. Grand mother preserved these letters. And in after years when I had grown to some age and size I found and pondered these letters, I then thought of how [p. 5] glad I would be to get to that place. But had no idea then that I could ever come. Last year I made money enough by doing work for my self, or for other people and the money came to me, to make preparations for coming. My people being very anxious for me to come also aided me as much possible. Dr. & Mrs. Fuller who are both graduates of Hampton, after hearing of my plans, fully persuaded or advised me to come. And said this was just the place for me, or any girl who was [p. 6] not able to pay the way in school.
You have realized that this is my first term here. I am now a night school student. My work is in the sewing room. There we make many different kinds of articles. I like the work very much as I am accustomed to it. Sewing is the kind of work that I did last summer to enable myself to come to this school.
My studies here are just what I need. The mode of teaching is very practical. The studies I have are Geography, Science, Arithmetic, Reading, Spelling and Writing. I enjoy my studies very equally as well as I do my work. [p. 7] Now I have reached the school that I have so long wanted to attend. I have the promise of a generous lady’s scholarship fee, and many kind teachers. I will do the very best I can so that none of these goods [sic] things will be for nothing.
Respectfully,
Lovie D. Galloway.

• Keywords: long archives; document; alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); correspondence; education; hampton institute; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)