Pickering family correspondence and photographs

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2020-037

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Pickering family correspondence and photographs collection (1855-1944, undated; bulk 1902-1936) contains one box of mostly letters as well as photographs and ephemera belonging to members of the Pickering family. A majority of the correspondence is to Nelle Pontz Pickering from her sister Ethel Pontz McCown, and from Nelle Pickering to her husband, Maylin J. Pickering.

Topics in the Pontz sisters correspondence mostly includes discussions of daily life activities such as going shopping, doctors visits, and attending dinners; and also includes discussions about clothing, health, weather, family, and friends. Some of the correspondence is sent from Ethel Pontz while she was living in El Paso, TX. presumably while her husband, and Nelle's husband were in the military; as well as from Nelle to her husband, Maylin while he was at Camp MacArthur in Waco,TX., El Paso, and the Aviation Concentration Center in Garden City, Long Island, NY. Some of the topics in the letters from Mary [Barger] to her mother discuss interactions with soldiers and their families presumably during the Civil War. Other correspondence includes: letters to Nelle from relatives and friends; letters from Jessie [Pickering], letters to Mrs. Tomlinson who is presumably Marie L. Barger Tomlinson(Jessie Tomlinson Pickering's mother), Eliza T. Wayne, and others.

This collection also includes postcards sent from Maylin J. Pickering to J.L. Pickering, military comics postcards, photographs taken at a parade and reception for returning Spanish-American War soldiers in Philadelphia, photographs of friends and family at various gatherings, images taken of the Philadelphia National Guard at Mt. Gretna, images taken at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. and other locations; as well as ephemera such as cufflinks, a watch, bolo tie, E Pluribus Urium Army pin; WWII Major Oak Leaf insignia pins; dental association pins; and certificates that detail Maylin's military service and discharge.

Dates

1855-1944; undated
Majority of material found within 1902-1936

Creator

Pickering, Maylin Joseph, 1880-1954 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Mary Jillard Mustin Barger (1790-1886) moved to Philadelphia, PA from England with her parents, George and Mary Elizabeth Mustin. She had five siblings: John Mustin (1787-1862), Eliza “Lizzie” Mustin Pickering (1791-1866), Anthony Mustin (1793-1877), Eli Mustin (1794-1878), and Ebenezer Mustin (1797-1859). She was married to William Barger (unknown-1871) and had two children: Rebecca Louise Barger Mustin (1820-1859) and Maria Louise Barger Tomlinson (1836-1910). Maria Louise Barger Tomlinson married Jessie Tomlinson (1835-unknown) and had one child, Jessie Louise Tomlinson (1860-1934) who married Maylin Jones Pickering (1858-1918) and had one son, Maylin Joseph Pickering (1880-1954). Maylin Jones Pickering was a manager of the St. Louis Arena, V.P. and general manager of the old Coliseum in St. Louis; as well as a business manager of the National Folk Festival; and also worked at the Philadelphia Convention Hall and Municipal Stadium. Maylin Pickering was also a Major in the Aviation Section, Signal Reserve Corps (later replaced by the United States Army Air Service) from February 10, 1918 when he was accepted and reported for duty on February 23, 1918 to Camp MacArthur, a World War I military training base in Waco, TX. On February 28, 1919 he was honorably discharged at Garden City, New York. On December 12, 1924 he received an appointment for active duty to be called upon only if necessary. Maylin was married to Nelle Audrey Pontz Pickering (1880-1975) and they had three children: John M. Pickering (1917-2014), Emilie Pontz Pickering Brandhorst (1917-2014), and William Barger Pickering (1919-2014). Nelle Pickering had three sisters: Minnie Grace Pontz, Mary E. Pontz Byerly (1875-1950), and Ethel Maude Pontz McCown (1884-1947). Ethel Pontz was married to Frank Cummins McCown (1884-1961) and had three children: Ethelwyn Pontz McCown Brooks (1917-2014), Frances Eyster McCown Eckman (1922-2013) and Frank Cummins McCown (1925-1997).

Extent

1 box

.42 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains mostly correspondence sent between members of the Pickering family from the 1860s-1930s. A majority of the correspondence is sent between two sisters, Nelle Pontz Pickering and Ethel Pontz McCown during the early 20th century where they discussed their daily lives and families. This collection also includes other letters sent to Nelle from her family and friends; letters sent from Nelle to her husband, Maylin during his time as a Major in the Aviation Section, Signal Reserve Corps; and letters from other family members such as Jessie [Pickering],Mrs. Pickering, and Mrs. Tomlinson. Letters sent from Mary [Barger] detail what it was like to live in Cincinnati, OH in the 1860s including experiences presumably with Civil War soldiers. This collection also includes postcards sent from Maylin J. Pickering to J.L. Pickering, military comics postcards, photographs taken at a parade and reception for returning Spanish-American War soldiers in Philadelphia, photographs of friends and family, and images taken of the Philadelphia National Guard at Mt. Gretna; as well as ephemera such as an E Pluribus Urium Army pin, WWII Major Oak Leaf insignia pins, dental association pins, and certificates that detail Maylin's military service and discharge.