Correspondence and Ephemera of Martha Curtis and her fiancé and later her husband, oil producer Warren E. Burns, of Marietta, Ohio, 1903-1966
No Binding
by Curtis, Martha
No Binding. Very Good. Collection of 261 letters, 1951 pages, (with 243 retained mailing envelopes), dated 1903-1966, the bulk date from the years 1900-1920, and almost all are hand written. There are also over 360 pieces of ephemera as follows: 94 calling cards, greeting cards, and invitations, for Burns/Curtis family and friends; 59 black and white photographs, various sizes, includes snapshots and cabinet cards; 34 photographic negatives; 54 printed items concerning church, school, social activities, including brochures, circulars, pamphlets, programs, ad books, commencement exercises, etc; 44 pieces of either typed, or manuscript material, some multi-pages, includes notes, prose, prose, list of books, etc.; 41 newspaper clippings, some informative of the Burns/Curtis family; 17 printed and manuscript receipts; 13 used envelopes, some could be matched to letters in collection; 3 used postcards; and 3 telegrams, all dated c1890-1960 Martha Curtis (1890-1979) and Warren E. Burns (1885-1968) Martha Curtis was born September 1890 in Missouri, the daughter of Jessie Reynolds (1858-1892) and Alphonso D. Curtis (1855-1925). Martha's mother died in 1892 when Martha was only two years old and she went to live with her grandfather at Delaware, Ohio, where she is found in the 1900 Census listed as a ten year old student. Her grandfather, Richard W. Reynolds, was 80 years old and listed as a retired merchant. He had been in the clothing business. He had been established at Delaware, Ohio, since at least the 1840s, having emigrated from Wales. Martha's father is not listed in her grandfather's household in 1900, thus he must have moved away to start another family perhaps. Martha next shows up in the paper records as the wife of Warren Edward Burns. Somewhere along the way she picked up three years of college, possibly at Wesleyan University, where her future husband was also a student. Martha married Warren Edward Burns 15 November 1911. The couple made their home in Marietta, Ohio, where they raised their three daughters: Mary Jane, Joan E., and Patricia L. Their oldest daughter Mary Jane was born in Ohio about 1916. Their second daughter Joan E. was born in Michigan in 1922 and their third daughter Patricia L. was born in Ohio about 1925, thus the family appears to have briefly moved to Michigan in the early 1920s, before returning to Ohio. In the 1920 Census, Flora Burns, Warren's mother, was living with Warren and his family. The three daughters were living with their parents as per the 1930 Census, but when the 1940 Census was taken, only Patricia, age 15, was still living at home. Warren Edward Burns was born 18 September 1885 at Petrolia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Henry H. Burns (1849-1909) and his wife, Flora Jane Smith (1856-1941). Warren appears to have been an only child, a sister died in infancy. He received his primary and high school education in the schools of Mannington, West Virginia and Marietta, Ohio. His father was listed in 1900 as an ""oil producer"" at Mannington Town, West Virginia. Henry H. Burns was born at Toronto, Ohio. He had lost his father at the age of 16. He followed this loss by going to Pennsylvania to work in the oil fields. He prospered enough to go into the oil business for himself, being associated with Burns Oil Co., H.H. Burns & Co., and the J.M. Emory Co. He was also later one of the directors of the German National Bank at Marietta. Henry married his wife about the year 1884. Warren's father Henry died in 1909. There are condolence letters in this collection written to his wife from family and friends. Warren graduated Wesleyan University A.B. in 1909. He was active when in college, being a member of the Jester Club, President of the Senior Class, President of the Officers Club, Manager of the Track Team, and a member of a fraternity and other clubs. Burns made his home in Marietta, Ohio at 519 Fourth Street, a large Victorian home with a wrap-around porch which is still standing. Warren, his (Inventory #: 030110)