| Scope and content |
The majority of the correspondence falls into two categories. The first group consists of letters to V. N. Darden from women who were teaching school in Lucama and Belcross, N.C., and Colorado. These letters deal primarily with the school-related and social activities of the correspondents. The second group is comprised of letters from Darden to his family, written while he served in the army. Topics include Darden's personal safety and questions about family and business activities in Hertford. Army life and Darden's assignments receive only cursory attention. Business letters from Darden's brother Douglass and from Simon Rutenberg pertain to bank loans and store activities. Postcards in the collection depict buildings and sights in Greensboro, Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Durham, and Panacea Springs, N.C.; Harper's Ferry, W. Va.; Petersburg and Fort Monroe, Va.; and Braddock Heights, Md. Miscellaneous materials consist of the estate papers of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Morgan of Perquimans County, N.C.; Darden's military papers; photographs of Darden's store; and newspaper clippings. |
| Access restriction | No access restrictions. |
| Cite as |
Vivian N. Darden Papers (#439), Special Collections Department, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. |
| Terms of use | Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law. |
| Acquisitions source |
Joyner- Gift of Mrs. Florence Darden Christensen. |
| Biographical note | Vivian Darden moved to Hertford, N.C., in 1910 to work in the mercantile business with Simon Rutenberg and J. R. Stokes. Vivian and his brother Douglass formed Darden Bros. and later, Darden's Department Store. Vivian Darden served as mayor of Hertford for more than 21 years and held the positions of city manager and fire chief. Darden served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He achieved the rank of Supply Sergeant for Battery F, 316th Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Force, serving at Camp Jackson in Columbia, S.C., and in France. |
