Fernald, Hays Malcolm

Insurance broker.

Hays Malcolm Fernald was born around 1888. While living in Philadelphia, Pennyslvania, Fernald met Ann Harned in December of 1912. They became engaged to be married sometime in 1914, just after Hays' divorce of his first wife became final in June of 1914. Sometime in March, Hays and his mother, Mrs. Euphemia A. Fernald, came to Pensacola, Florida, possibly to settle or sell some family property, and up until the end of these papers, 1915, they are still in Pensacola.

Hays joins the firm of Drummond Exchange in the brokerage business. Ann Harned worked in the Germantown Pennsylvania Suffragist Movement, evidenced by letters written on Women Suffrage Headquarters letterhead where she is listed as "Vice-Leader". The Fernald and Harned families are upper-middle class, as they have servants and devote time to the arts and social events. Several unnamed events, possibly the panic of 1913, sent the families into financial difficulties.

By the Summer of 1915, after about eighteen months of separation from her fiancee, Harned breaks off her engagement to Fernald and returns his ring.

Fernald, Hays Malcolm

From a reading of the letters (by no means complete), it can be deduced that Hays Malcolm Fernald in 1914 is a young man of age 26. While living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he met Ann Harned in December of 1912. They became engaged to be married sometime in 1914, just after Hays= divorce of his first wife became final in June 1914.

Sometime in March, Hays and his mother (Mrs. Euphemia A. Fernald) came to Pensacola, Florida, possibly to settle or sell some family property, and up until the end of these papers, 1915, are still in Pensacola. Hays joins the firm of Drummond Exchange in the brokerage business.

Harned, Ann

From this long and remarkable series of letters, we know probably more about Ann and Philadelphia than about Hays. Writing nearly daily to her fiancee, Ann continually tells of life in Philadelphia and the care of her aging parents, Ann numbers each of her letters on the envelope to

to insure their arrival and, at least early in the correspondence, tells Hays which number of his letters had been received.

Probably the most interesting aspect of Miss Ann Harned=s life is her work in the Germantown, Pennsylvania Suffragist Movement. Her letter of May 21,1915 is on the letterhead of the Women Suffrage Headquarters, 15th Legislative District, Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia and the envelope where she is listed as AVice-Leader.@ There is also a newspaper clipping from the Philadelphia Evening Ledger of September 18, 1915 which shows Ann as on e of the banner holders.

It is clear from these letters that the Fernald and Harned families are from the upper middle class, if not lower upper class. They have servants, devote time to the arts, and frequent social events. It is also clear from the letters that a variety of events (mostly unnamed, but possible the panic of 1913) has forced both families into financial difficulties. By the summer of 1915, after nearly 300 letters, and eighteen months of separation, Ann breaks off the engagement and in one of the last letters, she reports sending his ring back to him.

There is still much to be done with this collection, such as additional research on Fernald in Pensacola; the history of suffrage in Philadelphia; some identification and perhaps later life histories of Ann Harned.