Item Information
Title
Letter from Ellen Brown to Margaret Blue
Description
Despite being referred to as the "1918 influenza pandemic," four pandemic waves occurred between 1918 and 1920. Flora Blue, age 35, died in February 1920 during the fourth wave. Flora Blue and her sister, Jane Blue, were both sick with influenza, but Jane survived. The sisters, originally from Efland, North Carolina, were living in Raleigh at this time. In her letter of 18 February 1920, Ellen Brown sends condolences to Flora's mother, Margaret Blue. Brown, a nurse, mentions that she herself is recovering from influenza, and therefore must stop writing and go back to bed. Brown also mentions the hard work being done by other nurses, and that there are not enough nurses to care for all of the sick people.
Source
Blue Family Papers #4955, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Date
18 February 1920