Poxson, Elijah – 33

Subjects:
Family life in first half of 20th century; writing for pleasure and emotional connection; establishing auto dealerships on five continents; pride in three children (father often absent); live-in grandmother; two world wars; Michigan history

Writing Description:
In letters sustaining 48 years of marriage, we first meet Elijah in 1909 as he writes courtship letters to Nell from the Midwest as a traveling salesman, employed at the Lansing Journal. Subjects covered in the letters include two World Wars, Elijah’s recovery from the 1918 influenza while away from his family, the birth of 3 children, summer house on Burt Lake in Michigan, bankruptcy, their son’s involvement in WWII, Elijah’s travels on 5 continents for Reo Motors and General Motors culminating in 5-1/2 years residency in Sao Paolo as head of GM Brazil and on 5th Ave, NYC. [Also see Nell Poxson’s listing, Id #32.]

Manuscript of letters titled “You Are Where I Live—Letters Between Nell and Elijah Poxson.”

Writing Type:
Letters

Gender:
Male

Birth Year:
1887

Death Year:
1964

Occupation and Interests:
Traveling salesman, head of Dort Motor Company’s export sales dept., domestic and foreign sales manager for Reo Motors, head of General Motors Brazil.

Age(s):
22-63

Author Location(s):
Lansing, Flint, Burt Lake, MI; Paris, New York City, England, Cuba, Brazil, and many other countries, including Africa, Germany, Australia, Mexico, etc.

Writing Location(s):

Dates:
1909-1956

Handwritten:
Yes

Typed:
Yes

Digital:
Yes

Self-published:
Yes

Number of Pages, etc.:
Approx. 290 pages of typed, bound letters edited from handwritten letters, divided into chapters with explanations/interpretations and table of contents. Introduction and Epilogue written by granddaughter. Includes photographs.

Contact Person:
Judith Poxson Fawkes

Contact Person/Author Relationship:
Granddaughter

Address:
3137 NW Thurman St.
Portland, OR 97210

Phone:
503-243-2397

Email:
jpfawkes[at]earthlink.net

Date Entered:
07/2005

Date Revised/Confirmed:
02/2007

Entry Filed under: Letters,Male,p