Kent, Virginia Williams (1918-1987) to Dearest Mom
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09587.398 Author/Creator: Kent, Virginia Williams (1918-1987) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 January 1951 Pagination: 4 p. ; 17.3 x 14.1 cm. Order a Copy
Letter from Gin, most likely Virginia, to "dearest Mom," most likely Cordelia Williams saying that she received her letter yesterday at school and that she should not worry about her turning back. She went to see her lawyer today. He "drew up the papers asking for custody of the children" along with papers for care of the children and for the settlement of property. It also says that the reason for divorce is "assult and cruelty and abuse." The case will not be seen until next week because the court is closed on Saturday. Her lawyer said that after the case is filed it could take up to three months before being seen. However, as soon as Booker receievs the papers he will have to move out. She writes "I think Booker wants his freedom" but has not made any more apologies. He visited her at school offering to contact a lawyer in Arlington, Virginia who could have gotten them a divorce in six months. Virginia told him that she already decided on her lawyer. Booker has not asked Virginia to reconsider the divorce and she thinks he wants to be a bachelor again. Virginia writes that the lawyer did not "put crude details in the scripts because that is what goes into the newspapers." She writes that the reporters go to court to go through the files to chose their news. She is asking for $150 a month for the children. She writes that she knows she will not get that much but thinks it is best to bargain starting high so that the final settlements will not be low. She writes that she hopes Cordelia understands what she has tried to explain. On the bottom right corner of the last page she writes she had to pay $36 to file the petition and was told to go home which is where she is now.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.