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Rose Harwood Letters

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3405

  • Staff Only

Lieutenant George Harold Byrd and Lieutenant George S. Fox Jr. wrote the bulk of these letters to Rose Harwood in Trenton, Tennessee and later at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia during World War I. Both men intended to marry Harwood upon returning to the United States. Byrd served with the 327th Infantry, 82nd Division in France and was killed by an artillery shell in the Argonne Forest on October 11, 1918. He signed the bulk of his letters to Harwood as your little soldier boy; the last is signed your husband. Fox served in an administrative capacity and never saw battle. Other letters from Captain Scott Candler (328th infantry), Chaplain Chisley L. Bowdin (327th infantry), Lieutenant C. M. Adams, and Captain Paul Beck express the writers' condolences on the loss of Lieutenant Byrd.

Dates

  • 1918 May 11-1919 May 24

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.3 Linear Feet (4 folders)

Abstract

Lieutenant George Harold Byrd and Lieutenant George S. Fox Jr. wrote the bulk of these letters to Rose Harwood in Trenton, Tennessee and later at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia during World War I. Both men intended to marry Harwood upon returning to the United States. Byrd served with the 327th Infantry, 82nd Division in France and was killed by an artillery shell in the Argonne Forest on October 11, 1918. Fox served in an administrative capacity and never saw battle. Other letters from Captain Scott Candler (328th infantry), Chaplain Chisley L. Bowdin (327th infantry), Lieutenant C. M. Adams, and Captain Paul Beck express the writers' condolences on the loss of Lieutenant Byrd.

Biographical/Historical Note

Rose Eleanor Harwood was born to Judge Thomas Everett and Melissa Jane (Hewett) Harwood on August 27, 1897. She graduated from Agnes Scott College and went on to represent the institution on the national college board and serve as chairman when the first million-dollar endowment was raised. She married Lee Bond Taylor (1890-1965) on November 1, 1922, and the couple had one daughter, Melissa (Taylor) MacKenzie. Rose Taylor was very active in historical pursuits, compiling early genealogical records of Tennessee under the auspisces of the Tennessee Society of the DAR. She also taught Sunday School at the Brownsville Baptist Church, served on the State Board of the Tennessee Federation of Music Clubs, and acted as Democratic Committee Woman from Tennessee. Rose (Harwood) Taylor died on February 25, 1972 and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Brownsville, Tennessee.

Arrangement

This collection consists of four folders.

Acquisition Note

Special Collections purchased these materials in 2010.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480