Viva Moffet Papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: OGLMC-1549

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of fifteen pieces of correspondence from Viva to her cousin Laura F. Poole, who was living in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. Census records indicate that Laura was the daughter of Henry W. Poole. The dates of the letters range from 1897 to1899, and they detail Viva’s life as a young woman in North Dakota. The postmarks on Viva’s letters and details within indicate that she lived at two different residences, one in Gardar, North Dakota and one in Barton, North Dakota during this time. In the letters she mentions siblings Florence, James and William frequently, and she remarks a few times that she is living with her brother James. She also discusses her eighteenth birthday with her cousin as a significant event. There are also six creative works in the collection by Viva.

Dates

created: 1897-1899
Other: Date acquired: 08/00/2007

Creator

Moffet, Viva (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Biographical or Historical Information

Viva Moffet (Mabel Elvira Moffet) was probably born in the state of Michigan on February 23, 1881. Her father was Alfred J. Moffet, from Ohio, who was married first to Mary Jane Lyon, from New York, and then to Mary Jane Weber, from Ohio. In total there were 19 children. In about 1897 Viva Moffet moved to North Dakota and initially lived with her brother James. Census records show Viva had a daughter, Cleo, probably during her first marriage in 1903. She then married Phillip A.C. Williams about 1907, and had moved to Fresno County, California by 1910. She died in 1922 in California. Works Cited: A Century of Area History: Pierce County and Rugby, North Dakota 1886-1986. Rugby, ND: Prairie Publishing, Inc., 1986. Assorted Federal Census Records.

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