Letter sent by A.A. Wright to Mary L. Bedortha, May 5, 1871

The collection consists of five pieces of Wright’s correspondence (dated 1870-1871) to Mary Lyon Bedortha, whom he would marry in 1874. The poetic letters in the collection were sent from Berea, Kentucky to Saratoga Springs, New York.  During the time the letters were written, Wright was serving as chair of Natural History at Berea College.  The letters describe life and work in Berea including the infancy of the College, the location and appearance of campus buildings including the President’s House (where he resided), Howard Hall, and Ladies Hall (Fairchild Hall), travels through the local area and region, the College’s education of African American students, attendance at a Pilot Knob Sabbath-school, interaction with other faculty, and living conditions of women attending the school. The letters also contain comparisons of city to Berea life and makes connections between Berea and Oberlin colleges.