Berea Letters Home brings together the correspondence of two turn-of-the-century Berea College students, Harold H. Johnston (1899-1900) and Bertha Daisy Nickum (1901-1902). Both Johnston and Nickum hailed from the North, Johnston from Brooklyn, New York and Nickum from Fairfield, Ohio. 

They arrived at Berea during the tenure of President William Goodell Frost (1892-1920), who sought to bring northern students to Appalachia in order to “give a good tone to the school.” Frost, like many other northerners of his moment, believed that an influx of northern influence would “civilize” the region (qtd. in Shannon Wilson 78).

While Johnston and Nickum did not overlap while at the College, the experiences they each describe in their letters shows remarkable continuity. For instance, both Johnston and Nickum are thrilled by prospect of a pig roast in an era when they never had quite enough to eat at the dining hall. They both long for family and send pleading requests to be remembered by their “home folks.” Each student avails themselves of every opportunity to head into the mountains and meet Kentuckians off campus. 

Taken together, Johnston and Nickum show us a vibrant community of young people brought together on our little ridge with great good cheer, deeply held convictions, and tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to learn together.