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.