Mary Peblow letters to Lillian Aubery, 1978-1994

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Summary

Creator:
Peblow, Mary Gertrude, 1916-1999
Abstract:
Mary Peblow was a white woman who lived in Brooklyn, New York, during the late twentieth century and appears to have spent the majority of her later years in temporary public housing or welfare assistance hotels. This collection consists of Peblow's early 1990s correspondence to her cousin, Lillian Aubery, who also resided in Brooklyn. Peblow's letters document some characteristics of an ongoing mental illness; her distrust and dislike of healthcare systems and nursing homes, different charity organizations, and New York's government assistance programs; and her beliefs that she and her family were victims of Democratic or global conspiracies. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture and the History of Medicine Collection.
Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.11903

Background

Scope and content:

This majority of this collection consists of Peblow's early 1990s correspondence to her cousin, Lillian Aubery, who resided in Brooklyn. Peblow's letters are written in black marker, on manila folders or postcards, and usually have no envelopes - the postage was applied directly on the item being mailed. Mary occasionally included her current address; she was moving around Brooklyn during the period of this correspondence.

The letters are all addressed to her cousin (at times 'babysitter') Lily or Lillian, and tend to revolve around repetitive themes: Mary's mother's care in different nursing homes and her death and burial; Mary's uncle Ralph Aubery's death and her theories about what happened to him; Lillian's return (or lack of return) correspondence, and Mary's occasional attempts to visit (unsuccessfully, according to these letters); Mary's distrust of Louise Aubery, described as Lillian's friend; Mary's dislike of Democrats and liberal policies, including "welfare hotels" like those she lived in. In some letters she relays some of her struggles of living unhoused in New York - for example: "I awoke at 6am to find my shopping cart with its four precious bags had vanished! And of course the Gold St. Police ignored me" (1991 May 1). She occasionally mentions current events, like the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and some New York politicians or mayors. When reading the letters in the collection, it can be challenging to discern whether Mary was writing about current or past events.

Mary described herself as a "W.A.S.P. minority" and considered herself to be oppressed and persecuted by Democratic Party policies. For example, one letter (undated, but from the 1990s): "Miss Mary, this political victim, has been kept in these metro "hotels" since Feb 1972 - Jamaica "welfare" sent me to Brooklyn (punishment) ((for complaining)) - the harassment focused Springfield "welfare" with its prevaricating lackeys; the ecumenical churches up there; scared me back down here to Empire State - too bad - nobody's going to rent to me in Brooklyn Heights, that's for sure...".

A standalone letter that accompanied this collection dates from 1978 and is directed to Lillian Aubery from Louise and Ralph Aubery. Louise writes: "Have not heard from Mary, I suppose she thinks it is not worth thanking for the money Ralph sent her. Those cardboard letters she sends are all the same messages about people long since gone, however she mentions, a surprise check from the south(?) arrives once in a while. Albert Doody the cops daughter from Mrs. Brett. Have not heard a word from Gertie suppose she can't write as her eyesight is very bad." By the 1990s, Gertrude Peblow, Ralph Aubery, and Louise Aubery were all deceased, but Mary mentioned them frequently in her letters to Lillian. This letter from 1978 suggests that Mary had been writing in this style for many years.

Biographical / historical:

Mary Gertrude Peblow was born in July 1916 and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. The 1930 census indicates that as a child, she lived with her mother, Gertrude Peblow, who was recorded as the head of household. The family was identified as white in the U.S. census. Gertrude Peblow married Andrew Mayer in 1932.

A 1978 letter in the collection from Louise and Ralph Aubery to Lillian Aubery suggests that Mary was unhoused and dependent on public assistance, and implies that they thought she was mentally ill. By the time she wrote the letters in this collection, Mary was living in various public housing or welfare hotels throughout New York City and Brooklyn; she at times includes her current address in the correspondence. In her letters, she also reported living for some time in Massachusetts.

Her cousin, Lillian Aubery (who Mary often refers to as Lily) was born in 1909. It could be that Lillian was Ralph's daughter; Mary often referred to Ralph as her uncle in the letters.

Lillian Aubery died in 1993 and Mary Peblow died in 1999; both were buried in Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Acquisition information:
The Mary Peblow letters to Lillian Aubery were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase from Tavistock Books in 2020.
Processing information:

Processed by Meghan Lyon, May 2021

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2020-0031

Arrangement:

The collection is foldered but not arranged beyond 'letters' and 'postcards.' Dates are sporadic and there is not an obvious order to the letters Lillian received.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access is restricted and permission is required. Collection contains potentially sensitive information, so the Rubenstein Library has applied an access restriction for 50 years following the death of the creator (expires February 2049). The RL Sensitive Materials Request form is available here: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8fblaT2NbgbQujj.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mary Peblow letters to Lillian Aubery, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m12722