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Ida Lenora Wilson Hardt Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-0054

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the correspondence between Ida Lenora Wilson Hardt and Wesley William Hardt during their romantic courtship. There is also some correspondence from family, friends, students, job supervisors, and others. Some of the significant topics represented in these correspondence are Southwestern University including the Megaphone, May Fete, Mood Hall barracks, San Jacinto Society, and the Euphrasian Society; epidemics and pandemics (specifically those of meningitis, mumps, typhoid fever, measles, and the Spanish Flu of 1918); The Holding Institute and the teaching contracts, teaching by Ida Lenora Wilson Hardt, and student life; and Chirstianity (specifically talks of missionary service, preachers, sermons, and Bible passages). The collection also documents life during World War I, particularly Wesley Hardt’s military training through the Southwestern Student Army Training Corps camp and his service and life at the Southwestern University barracks before the German surrender. Additionally, life during the early 20th century is documented, specifically talks about marriage, family life, deceased family members, illnesses, medical procedures, and travel in Texas. The dates of material are from 1909 to 1965. Materials are largely textual, comprising correspondence, exams, a diary calendar, receipts, a wedding invitation, and materials from Southwestern University. Among other formats scattered throughout the collection are postcards and photographs. After Ida and Wesley’s marriage ceremony in 1920, the amount of letters drops significantly. The letters pick back up in 1921 as Wesley is away from Ida and stop when he returns. There is a significant gap of time until 1934 when communication is sparsely again recorded by other correspondents.

Dates

  • 1909 - 1964
  • Majority of material found within 1909 - 1921

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Southwestern University Distinctive Collections and Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the collections and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from SU Distinctive Collections and Archives before any publication use. Distinctive Collections does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Biographical / Historical

Ida Lenora Wilson Hardt was born in 1893 to Sarah D’Ada Wilson and Sydeny Guessly Wilson on a farm in Moore, Texas, about forty miles southwest of San Antonio, Texas. She was the third of eight children. Ida attended Southwestern University in 1910 and did not return for her second year. She was awarded an honorary degree from Southwestern University in 1964. Ida attended the Moody Bible Institute at SMU in 1919 through a correspondence course. She began teaching under Principal James M. Skinner at the Holding Institute in Laredo, Texas for the Fall 1917 semester and taught until the Spring of 1920.

Wesley William Hardt was born in 1895. He attended Southwestern University until 1918. He joined the Student Army Training Corps at Southwestern University and became a sergeant. In November of 1918, Wesley was inducted into the army and transferred to Camp MacArther in Waco, Texas. In 1919, he graduated from Southwestern University and accepted a junior preaching position in Red River County.

Ida and Wesley were married on July 6, 1920 at the Travis Park Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. Wesley and Ida had three children before Wesley died in 1943. Ida lived until 1992.

Extent

1.04 Linear Feet (3 archival flip-top boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Ida Lenora Wilson Hardt Collection contains correspondence from the early 20th century. The inclusive dates of this collection are from 1909 to 1965; the bulk dates are from 1909 to 1921. Examples of items found in the collection include letters and their respective envelopes, postcards, photographs, an exam from a correspondence course, handwritten essays, diary, receipts, a wedding invitation, and Southwestern University materials.

Arrangement

Correspondence was arranged into folders by month and date. Non-correspondence was put into folders at the end of the collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Wesley Hardt, 2019

Title
Guide to the Ida Lenora Wilson Hardt Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Lauryn Brandon
Date
November 4, 2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for uncoded script

Repository Details

Part of the SU Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
1001 East University Avenue
Georgetown TX 78626 United States