[Autograph Letter, Signed, by D.J. Johnson, from Rust University, Regarding His Experiences at the School]

Holly Springs, MS: February 4, 1889. [2]pp. Original mailing folds, minor toning. In original transmittal envelope, with pre-stamped return label from Rust University. Very good. A rare correspondence from D.J. Johnson, a young African-American student in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1889, written to "Dear Sister," E.F. Stewart. Johnson reports that he is "now in school" with "two hundred and fifty one students and some are coming in daily." He states that he has "only three studies as the term is nearly close[d]" and he "thought that would be plenty." Johnson complains that he has already had to move three times and that he is now "stoping [i.e., staying] at Mrs. Sanders" who has only three other boarders, including someone named Joseph. He also mentions that "the State Normal [school] is crowded;" the Mississippi State Normal School for Colored Youth was also located in Holly Springs, Mississippi from 1870 until it was closed in 1904 (where one of its first students was none other than Ida B. Wells).

Johnson also mentions that since it had been cold recently in Holly Springs, he considered "coming home and croping as it was such a hard matter to find a stoping place." He further inquires about his correspondent's school as well as a mutual friend's educational activities, remarking that "I guess your school is progressing rapidly and do tell me how Sister Isabella is getting along and whether her school is increasing." Johnson does not specifically say that he is attending Rust rather than State Normal but use of the Rust envelope suggests he was most likely there. It is possible he was attending the State Normal School, though, as that is the only school he mentions by name here. The pre-stamped return address on the envelope also lists Rev. J.F. Loyd as the Acting President and the envelope is stamped with an 1889 postmark from Holly Springs.

Rust University was established by Northern Methodists in 1866 and chartered as Shaw University in 1868. The name for this Historically Black College was changed to Rust University in 1892 and then to Rust College in 1915. The present letter is a rare correspondence from a young African-American student in 19th-century Mississippi, with good content on the population of students, the particular challenge of boarding in Holly Springs during his stay there, and the educational pursuits of his correspondent and another "sister.