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Letterhead: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH
SEWANEE, TENNESSEE 37375

Jessie Ball DuPont Library

February 8, 1985

Mr. Edmund Berkeley
42 Canterbury Road, Bellair
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901

Dear Mr. Berkeley:

Mr. Kearley, our Librarian, gladly grants you permission to quote those most interesting items from the letters mentioned in your letter of January 29.

Please forgive the delay in replying. Your letter must have arrived along with the second ice-storm we've had the misfortune to freeze through in Sewanee. Most of Sewanee fared some-what better than those of us behind Dr. Petry's house, on Running Knob Hollow Lake, which was just a hollow when you lived nearby.

It looks like a war-zone, as far as the trees are concerned. The power was off from five in the morning of the first until yesterday noon. Most of the time we had no telephone and couldn't get out of our hilly drive-way; and no water a couple of days. Have a wonderful blower on our fireplace - when there's electricity. It was so depressing I just stayed home to help Arnie pile on icy logs; so didn't get to the library, and your letter, until today.

I'm delighted your letter arrived before July 1, 1985, when I do plan to retire, so that I've had the pleasure of hearing directly of the plans for publication and the credit you so kindly gave me.

I'm sorry we didn't get a copy of Mr. Peterson's publication.

There have been so many fascinating contacts with researchers interested in people with Sewanee connections. It's such a small world. I'll miss that part; hope to be able to spend time on my own on things I don't have time now to research. I call on Louise every now and then. She's such a gracious "volunteer."

The biggest loss of the storm was Sara Ham's home, by fire, on Curlicue Rd., with so many of the Fairbanks' personal items which meant a great deal to her and her sons.

We appreciate having your son on the Board of the Friends of the Library. It's good to have friends like the Owens and Yeatmans to keep you in touch. Phoebe Bates and Ellen Webb kept the Sewanee Siren going for 18 years. Its successor is past due; will be a hard one to follow.

It's fortunate I started off with the requested information. I'm beginning to get rambly and sentimental about the old Sewanee, when I get an opportunity such as this.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs. Arnold Mignery
University Archives