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Herbert Moxley Pease correspondence
The Herbert M. Pease correspondence primarily concerns the development of the relationship between Pease and Nell Elizabeth Peckens, who eventually became his wife. While the letters document their relationship, they also provide glimpses into various aspects of small town life in Sayre, Bradford Co...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Collection: | Herbert Moxley Pease Correspondence |
| Collection Number: | 3654 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
| Physical Description: |
0.4 Linear feet ; 1 box |
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| Access: |
This collection is open for research. |
| Summary: |
The Herbert M. Pease correspondence primarily concerns the development of the relationship between Pease and Nell Elizabeth Peckens, who eventually became his wife. While the letters document their relationship, they also provide glimpses into various aspects of small town life in Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where Pease served as pastor of the First Baptist Church. Nell trained as a nurse and moved from New York City to Madison, New York after their marriage. This collection primarily consists of correspondence between Herbert Moxley Pease and his wife Nell Elizabeth Pease. The letters document the quotidian aspects of a couple living apart from one another and trying to establish and maintain a love affair. Generally, the letters concern religion and religious events, the effect of distance on their emotional lives, the hardships of their occupations, and family-related issues. Most evident though is Herbert’s desperate insistence and, perhaps, demand that Nell become his wife. That insistence led Nell to some confusion about how and what she felt for Herbert, for he had to explain to her what he thought a marriage should be composed of at an emotional level. In a letter sent to Nell, dated November 16, 1915, Herbert pleads, “No, as much as I long for you, I would not dare have you become my wife unless you love me. While you might be faithful to the tasks, I know there would be only because of love. Marriage for money, or convenience, or to satisfy passion, to my mind is not much different from prostitution.” Or it could be his lack of self-confidence in his appearance: “And now, how I wish I were handsome, and talented, and fascinating, etc, instead of a plain old preacher!” Yet there are moments of sincerity where he displays a kind of sensual luring which doesn’t appear to be overly imposing. For instance, in the letter dated November 28, 1915 he wrote: “And yet, would it not be beautiful to have our first kiss, the seal of our souls union, the pledge of pure, mutual love?” Other letters in the collection are written from relatives to either Herbert or Nell. Herbert’s mother and friend Betty wrote about the status of the children while on a visit to New York. Nell’s brothers, Will and Nelse, wrote about their troubles with health, money, and experience living in Chicago. Overall, the letters provide a good sense of their emotional character and the kind of lives they lived together and apart. |