This collection contains correspondence (1928-2013) between Hattie Lou Cannon Schneider in Tampa, Florida, and her mother and sister and other family members in Pitt County, N.C. The earliest letters were written by Hattie Lou as a child living in Pitt County and a few letters were written to her before and right after her marriage to Charles Leland Schneider, Sr., in 1945 when she was stationed as a WAVE at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. Also included are photocopies of two photographs, family history charts, and an autograph book which belonged to Hattie Lou Cannon when she was a member of the 1935 Senior Class at Winterville High School in Pitt County, N.C.
Hattie Louise (called Hattie Lou) Cannon was born June 1, 1918, in Heathville, Halifax County, North Carolina, to Thomas Eugene Cannon and Carrie Ella Smith Cannon. She was raised in Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina, graduated from East Carolina Teachers College, and joined the U.S. Navy during WWII as a WAVE. She had her name changed from Hattie Louise to Harriet Louise in 1942. While stationed at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., she met Charles Leland Schneider, Sr., (born August 5, 1918) who was in training with the U.S. Navy as a deep sea diver. They married on January 15, 1945, in Rockville, Maryland, and she was discharged from the Navy due to the birth of their first child. They had two children: Charles Leland Schneider, Jr., and Pamela Louise Schneider. After the war, Charles was discharged from the Navy while he was stationed with the Deep Sea Diving unit in Key West, Florida. He got employment with the Florida Power Corporation and they lived in Yankeetown, Florida, for a while until he was transferred to Tampa, Florida, where they lived until 2007 when they moved to Brooksville, Florida. He died on July 20, 2008, at the age of 89 and she died on September 22, 2008; both are buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
Sources:
Charles Leland Schneider Obituary
http://grave-records.mooseroots.com/l/1415156/Harriet-Cannon-Schneider-FL
This collection contains correspondence (1928-2013) between Hattie Lou Cannon Schneider in Tampa, Florida, and her mother and sister and other family members in Pitt County, N.C. The earliest letters were written by Hattie Lou as a child living in Pitt County and a few letters were written to her before and right after her marriage to Charles Leland Schneider, Sr., in 1945 when she was stationed as a WAVE at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
Hattie Lou Cannon Schneider was addressed by various nicknames in the correspondence. When she was young, she was called "Hatsy" mainly by her mother, Aunt Blair, and sister Helen. In later letters, her mother "Nan" (Carrie Ellis Smith Cannon), called her "Lucy," and her father "Pa" (Thomas Eugene Cannon) called her "Lou." In 1942 Hattie had her name legally changed from Hattie to Harriet.
Topics discussed in the correspondence are predominantly related to family matters such as birthday greetings, poor health (flu, stroke, and cancer), deaths, impending visits and celebrations, and Hattie's niece Lina's attendance at East Carolina College in Greenville, North Carolina, with reference to ECC obtaining university status to become East Carolina University in 1967.
Also included are photocopies of an autograph book which belonged to Hattie Lou Cannon when she was a member of the 1935 Senior Class at Winterville High School in Pitt County, N.C., and photocopies of two photographs, family history charts for the Cannon, Christopher, and Smith families of Pitt County, N.C., and the Schneider family of Florida, and family obituaries.
Gift of Charles and Linda Schneider
Processed by Kate Clothier on November 12, 2015.
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.