Chiefly letters of Blackwood family members, related Craig family members, and other relatives and friends. Most letters detail routine family activities. Early letters largely relate to Craig family members. In the late 1890s, there are many letters from the newly married Alice Blackwood, in Chapel Hill or other locations in Orange County, to her husband, Robert, traveling as an engineer with the Southern Railway Company. In the early 1900s, there are childhood letters to Robert and Alice's daughters Mattie and Annie, at school in Chapel Hill, from relatives and friends.
Few letters mention school activities.
From 1913 to 1917, Mattie attended college, and, from 1918-1929, she taught school in Seaboard, N.C., but letters rarely mention her school or teaching activities. In 1929, Mattie returned to Chapel Hill to teach. Letters end in 1932 with a few from brother Carl, who was in the United States Army. Blackwood, Mattie E., 1889-1977. Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.