1906 Postcard, Ripley Public School Building, Ripley TN

This  postcard dated October 1906 has definitely seen better days!  It's hard to make out some of the writing but it's from a Kate to Brud Moran. She asks if he's forgotten who she is and that they are "still expecting you down to Ripley as you promised." What makes this card so interesting is the picture of the Ripley Public School Building in Ripley, Tennessee.

Fire, Latin, Macbeth and Thank you for the Money Feb 14 1899

Jim Moran III
St Albans School 1899

Gustave Toutant Beauregard
St Albans School 1899

As much as I enjoy Moran letters I love it when they are written on letterhead giving additional information. For instance, this letterhead tells me Jim was an associate editor with his friend Gustave Toutant Beauregard on Promus '99 which might be the yearbook for St. Albans School.

page 1

Malcolm J. Taylor, Editor-In-Chief
Ray Jones, Business Manager
PROMUS '99
Associate Editors:
Henry G. McCall
Charles S. Brent
James H. Moran
James B. Faulkner
Gustave T. Beauregard

Radford, VA    Feb 14, 1899

Dear Papa:

Your letter with the check enclosed was received a few days ago and I was very glad to hear from you.  The check could not have reached me at a better time, for it will now come in very handy.  Last night one of the main buildings caught fire from the furnace and it took us over an hour to put it out.  I never saw such a cold night in all my live, the water would freeze in ten steps of the fire.  I ruined my shoes and pants but otherwise come out alright.  The weather is moderating somewhat and I think it will be a great deal warmer tomorrow.

page 2

page 3

Tell Sister (Fannie) that the book which I wrote for was the Latin book Livy and if yo she can find it to please send it at once, she can also send me her notes on Macbeth.  I must bring this letter to a close.  Write soon, with much love to all.

Your son,

J H Moran

page 4

Baseball Team, ca. 1905. Cobb and Nichols School, Dresden TN

The American College and Private School Directory, vol. 8, 1914, listed the Cobb and Nichols School of Dresden, TN as a non-sectarian school.  Charles H. Cobb (husband of Marion Moran) and J.W. Nichols were the principals.

This photo of the baseball team dates to about 1905.  I don't know the names of any of the players, perhaps someone will recognize a relative, but the two men in suits are J.Walter Nichols (left) and Charles H. Cobb (right).

Charles H. Cobb was the son of Thomas D Cobb and Elizabeth Adeline Johnston.  He was born June 27, 1876, in Tennessee.  He lived most of his life in Union City with some time spent in Dresden. In 1900 he was teaching school and living at home with his father and a sister, Birdie.  Cobb and Nichols attended Vanderbilt University together. About 1904 they formed the Cobb and Nichols School in Dresden.

Dresden Enterprise, July 29 1904
Miss Pearl B. Matthews of Trenton has been elected to Conduct the primary dept. of Cobb and Nichols school here in Dresden.

Cobb married Marion Agnes Moran, youngest daughter of J.W. Moran and Sophia Gunn, October 3 1905 at the Methodist Church in Dresden.

Dresden Enterprise, June 1 1906
The Dresden Dramatic Company had receipts amounting to $67 at Greenfield last Friday.  The money will be applied to payment of a new piano at the Cobb and Nichols School building.  They performed at Huntingdon Monday to a full house also.

Dresden Enterprise, June 8, 1906
Miss Pearl Mathews, primary teacher at Cobb and Nichols, gave her students a picnic which was hugely enjoyed by the little fellows.

The Hickman Courier, Aug 3 1906
The Cobb and Nichols School of Dresden, Tenn.
Every citizen of Dresden is justly proud of having in this community an institution so ably managed, doing a class of work so superior, possessing an unexcelled faculty, as the Cobb and Nichols Training School, Chas. H. Cobb and J. Walter Nichols, principals.  Both these young men are graduates of Vanderbilt university, where they were specially prepared for training school work, and that is just what their school here is--a training school in the fullest and most complete sense of the term.  This has been clearly demonstrated by the work of this school during the past two years and today we are rejoiced to say to the public that the outlook for a successful opening this fall is most encouraging.
The pupils that have gone out from the Cobb and Nichols school are its best advertisement, if any it need other than its high-class, thorough work.  The boys and girls who come to Dresden to attend school are taken care of by the faculty and are admitted into the best homes of our town; they are made to feel welcome and at home, as it were, and the faculty sees to it that they do not loaf around the streets neither night nor during the day.--Dresden Enterprise.

The Hickman Courier, Aug 10 1906
The students of the Cobb & Nichols School are required to stay in their rooms at night to study, nor are they allowed to loiter on the streets during day.
The Cobb & Nichols School is a training school, pure and simple, no catchpenny methods, no (ab)normal courses.

In 1907 Charles and Marion Cobb had a child, daughter Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb born April 27 1907.

From Volume 8, Vanderbilt University Quarterly:
'04--Charles H. Cobb, B.A., who has been for three years with J.W. Nichols, of the same class, in the Cobb and Nichols School at Dresden, Tenn., has entered upon the practice of law in Union City, where he has become junior partner with Judge Swiggart in the firm of Swiggart and Cobb.

Cobb continues practicing law but by 1930 is listed as the proprietor of a rain coat factory.  His wife Marion committed suicide in 1934.   In 1936, Cobb married Ottis Leone Luton. Their son, Charles H Cobb Jr, was born in 1937.   Charles Sr died in 1951.

William Minor Lile Letter November 1911

William Minor Lile seated

University of Virginia Law Library

University of Virginia

William Minor Lile was the first Dean at the University of Virginia Law School at Charlottesville, Virginia.  He was the Dean when James H Moran III, class of 1899, attended Law School. 

Lile was born in Alabama in 1859, the son of John A Lile and Louisa C Minor.  He married Maud Carson.  He began his tenure at UVA in 1893.  In addition to being the first Dean of the Law School he is considered the Father of the Law Library.  He was the founder of the Virginia Law Register and helped initiate the Virginia Law Review. He retired in 1932.  At his death in 1935 he was interred at the University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium.

Jim Moran must have kept in touch off and on with the Dean after his graduation in 1899.  He thought enough of Lile to tell him of his upcoming marriage to Virginia Shumate in November 1911 and to send him notices regarding his participation in local plays.  

Dean Lile thought enough of Jim to reply.

University of Virginia 

Charlottesville

Department of Law

Office of the Dean

Nov. 11, 1911

My dear Mr. Moran:

I have received the official notice of those delightful plays of yours, which you were kind enough to send me, and I cannot refrain from sending you a brief of congratulation. 

I am not a little gratified that you thought of me in the midst of your happiness.  I had lost sight of you, and have been wondering what had become of you. I hope you will bring your bride Virginia word(?) and give us an opportunity of knowing her, and of renewing acquaintance with you.

Sincerely Yours,

Wm. Lile

J.H.Moran, 99'

Randolph-Macon Women's College, Unknown Woman

We don't know who she is but we know she was at Randolph-Macon Women's College because it's written on the back of the photograph.  The college opened in 1893 with a class of 36 students and 12 professors.  In 2007 they changed the name to Randolph College because they began admitting men to the college for the first time.

The photographer was Adam H. Plecker of Lynchburg Virginia.  Plecker was the leading photographer in the area and is most well known for his portraits of Confederate Army Officers.  In addition to documenting Lynchburg and Confederate Army Officers he also photographed students at nearby colleges.

















Here's an advertisement for the college that appeared in the August 1906 edition of the Confederate Veteran.

Jennings Business College Ephemera

Charles Harrell Moran attended Jennings Business College.  For more an in depth look at the College, his diploma and more be sure to look at the Jennings Business College Nashville TN post.

This is a piece of education ephemera celebrating Ratification Treaty between the Confederate States and the United States.  Side one is facsimile of a $500 CSA note.

Side two is entitled "Strong and Pointed" and has endorsements by various prominent Nashvillians.

Bishop Holland Nimmons McTyeire, while President of the Vanderbilt University, who never gave an opinion without careful study, said to a mother, whose son wanted a position: "Send him to Jennings' Business College; a certificate from R.W. Jennings to your son, recommending him for a position, will be of more benefit to him than all other influences, he could have." 

Gen. William Hicks Jackson  the distinguished proprietor of Belle Meade, says "Having known Mr. R.W. Jennings for a number of years, and being satisfied as to his business methods and efficiency as an educator of youth, to prepare them for practical business, I sent my son to his college, and it affords me pleasure to commend him to all who are contemplating the sending of their sons and daughters to such a school."

Judge Thomas H. Malone, Chancellor of this division and Dean of the law department of Vanderbilt University says: "I have known Mr. R.W. Jennings, of the Jennings Business College, for about thirty-five years.  Both as a practicing lawyer and Chancellor, I have had occasion to examine critically his statements of complicated transactions and his expositions of erroneous bookkeeping.  I always rely with great confidence upon his expert opinions, and believe that he, as an expert, has no superior among us.  I think he is eminently qualified to be at the head of a business college, and his success proves it."

Thomas D. Fite, Sr., a retired merchant of Nashville, and who was identified with the wholesale trade of the South for half a century, says:" "R.W. Jennings, the proprietor of Jenning's Business College, was my partner in the wholesale dry goods trade for six years,he having exclusive charge of the counting room, and it is needless to say his work was in the highest degree satisfactory; in fact, he has been for a long time considered one of the most scientific bookkeepers this country has ever produced.  I sent my two sons to his college for the reason that I knew the man, and knew that he had the entire confidence of the business community for thoroughness and reliability."

Mr. J.H. Fall, of the firm of J.H. Fall & Co., Nashville, one of the largest wholesale hardware houses in the South says:  "I have known Mr. R. W. Jennings, president of Jennings Business College, quite well for many years.  His long identity and close connection with the mercantile and banking world enables him to conduct a business college based upon actual experience, and this feature gives his school, in my judgment, a decided advantage.  Several of our employees were trained by Mr. Jennings, and all, without a single exception, are methodical, painstaking and reliable, I therefore, unhesitatingly endorse and commend this college to all who are seeking a business education."

For a catalogue of this noted school address Jenning's Business College, Nashville, Tenn.

School Days With Sophia Gunn, 1870

Sophia Riley Gunn

Before she became Mrs. John W. Moran at the tender age of 18, Sophia Riley Gunn was living in Nashville with her prominent father, Dr. Lyman Taft Gunn.  Dr. Gunn was reputedly one of the first if not the first dentist to open up shop in Nashville.  

Sophia's School Bell
ca. 1870

It is reputed that Sophia came to Dresden TN, probably in the late 1860's, as a teacher and that J.W. Moran fell in love her with at that time.  They were married December 27, 1871 in Weakley County, Tennessee.

Sophia rang the school bell to call the children to class each morning.  Education was of great importance to Sophia and John and this importance was passed down to their children.  Jim went on to become a lawyer and would take the position of Bank President at the death of his father in 1912.  Charles (Brud), attended business college and was the head cashier at the bank and though he didn't have the title of President, he was  responsible party of the two sons.  Their daughter Fannie followed in her mother's footsteps and upon graduating from college became a school teacher and later was heavily involved in civic activities and politics.  She was Tennessee's first Democratic National Committee woman and for a time an associate social editor on the Nashville Banner.  Ida had a love of music and her educational pursuits were along the lines of furthering her abilities as a pianist.  Marion, the youngest, was dedicated to educational pursuits and was a founding member of the Delta Beta Sigma Sorority.

Sophia's School Bell
ca. 1870

Spirit of 1929, Dresden Tennessee

This is a class picture from 1929, Dresden Tennessee.   This is probably the first grade class because Marion Louise Moran was just 6 years old when this picture was taken.  The annotation on the back does not include names of all the children but I'll post the names that we have.

Front row:  Billy Stokes, Charlie Taylor, Carrol Adkin/Akin, Billy Mangum

Second row: Louise Eaves, Mary Sue Baldridge, Mary King Webb, Modeni Puckett, Mary Evelyn Yates, Mary Nelle Garner, Annie Bell Lainey

Third row:  Virginia Brooks, Mavis Nelli Eaves, Mildred Eaton, Dan Smith, Eleanor Estes, Eugene Allen, Telma Terrell, Ida Ruth Moore and Wayne Travis

Fourth row: James Thomas, Louise Moran, James Wharton, Mary Jones

1897 Belmont College School of Physical Culture

Here's another piece of school ephemera.  This one is from Belmont College's School of Physical Culture and is dated May 20, 1897.  "Miss Moran" is one of the accompanists for the evening.  If I had to guess which Miss Moran I'd say it was Ida Moran.  She was the much more accomplished pianist of the family.

School of Physical Culture
Director:  Miss Anna Pugh Rolffs

Belmont College Chapel
Thursday Evening, May the twentieth
eighteen hundred and ninety-seven
at eight o'clock

Programme

Sextette--Amusement Tyrolienne...................................Oeslen
  Misses McDaniel, Worthen, Avery, Hume, White and Lindsay.

1.  Club Swinging--     Class
   SOLO- Walther's Prieslied........................................Wagner

2. Pantomime-- "Seven Times Three"............................Jean Ingelow
                                     Class.

3. Scarf Fantastics--
    Lolla McKean,     Gertrude Temple,      Minnie Leonard,
       Jeannette Tatum,       Margaret McEwen,
    Augusta Gillman,     Dora Atterbury,    Rebecca Tigrette
                     Margaret Heaslip
   Duet--"La Gitana"............................................................Holst
             Misses Duke and McDaniel

4.  Fancy Club Swinging---
                                   Miss Lindsay.

5.  Attitudes--
   (a) Welcome, (b) Triumph, (c) Listening, (d) Seeing, (e) Pointing, (f) Abhorrence,
  (g) Delence, (h) Horror, (i) Fear, (j) Supplication, (k) Resignation, (l) Admiration,
   (m) Joy, (n) Dancing, (o) Sorrow, (p) Anguish, (q) Prayer, (r) Rest, (s) Imitation,
   (t) Rejection, (n) Boasting, (v) Bashfulness, (w) Farewell.
                                         Class.
      SOLO --"The Swallow".......................................Northrup
                        Miss Ingate.
      SONG--"Schwabian Maiden"...............................Prich
                          Miss Hale

6.  Hoop Drill---
                                Class.
       TRIO--Polonaise.................................................Dietrich
                  Misses Atterbury, McKean and Henderson.

7.  Pantomime--"The Lotus Eaters"...............................Alfred Tennyson
Left Group:                          Center Group:                            Right Group:
Grace Potter                            Mabel Loda                              Gertrud Temple,
Tillie Winkler                            May Dewhurst                          Ellie Mai Porter
Rebecca Tigrette                      Amelia Rector                           Myrtle Rosenfield
                                                 Sue Knox
                                                Elizabeth Russell

Accompanists: Misses Napier and Moran

Vanderbilt Training School, circa 1893

It was very important to John W. Moran that his children receive the best education money could buy.  His two sons, Charles Harrell Moran and James Henderson Moran, attended Vanderbilt Training School in Elkton Kentucky prior to their entrance to Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee.  Here we have a letter from Principal R.E. Crockett to their father detailing their work for the year.  It's obvious Harrell is the diligent son while Jim prefers good times.  Hence our nickname for Jim...Good Time Jimmy!  Both young men excelled in deportment.

Elkton KY July 10th 189_

Mr. J.W. Moran,

My Dear Sir:

Touching the reports of James and Harrell enclosed with this letter, I may say that Harrell has done faithful and good work during the year and would have made a far higher average had he not still been laboring under the disadvantage of incomplete work before he came into our hands.

Still, it is my opinion that he deserves commendation for the marks he has made.

In regard to James, I wish I could say as much.  But, to be candid, James does no more work than he is compelled to do.  I have taken a personal interest in him this year and urged him to try for a medal, for which I thought he stood a good chance.  But he disregarded my interest in him and my wishes in the matter.  This happened near the end of the session and caused me to change my opinion of him.  Judging from what has developed during the past few months of the session, it is my opinion that James needs a little more force applied to him than he has yet rec'd from me.

It seems to me that we have borne as patiently with him as possible and in my opinion the time has now arrived when he should be given positive handling.  It is also my opinion that, in case the young men return, James at least should change his boarding-house.  He should get a home nearer to me.  Boys who board at a distance have the advantage when they decide to throw their time away.  I am much disappointed in the way James has worked and the marks he has made.  And if you see fit to read him this letter, you have my full permission.

In regard to both the young men, I can truly say that they have borne themselves as gentlemen should during the entire year.  There is no complaint against their deportment.

Asking you to extend to your wife and family my kindliest remembrance of my pleasant stay at your home, I am

Yours truly,

R.E. Crockett

Quarterly Report of Harrel Moran

In English Very Good

In Latin Good

In Greek -

In Mathematics Good

In German -

In History and Geography -

In Composition -

In Deportment Excellent

R.E. Crockett, Principal

Remarks: Harrell has rapidly improved this year and is much more successful.  We count him one of our best and most promising students. R.E. Crockett

Quarterly Report of James Moran

In English Moderate

In Latin Good

In Greek -

In Mathematics Good

In German - 

In History and Geography -

In Composition -

In Deportment Excellent

R.E. Crockett Principal

Remarks:  James is doing much better work this session than heretofore. R.E.C.

Dresden TN Senior Class of 1931

Stress Effort and Efficiency and Make Our way Easy

Top Row left to right:
Theresa BODEN, Snooks SMITH, Maggie Lee REAGAN, Bernard JOLLEY, Sarah FULLTON, William T. MAYO, Ruby BOWLIN, Warren HEARN, Ruby MOORE

Second row from top, left to right.
Bernice DEASON, Opal WINSTEAD, James MORAN, Carolyn HILLIARD, James ROSS, Louise JOHNSON

Third row from top, left to right.
James BALDRIDGE, Nellie HATHCOCK, Phares CHAMBLEE, J. Aubrey GALLIMORE, Mildred RAWLS, Gene SHAW

Fourth row from top, left to right.
Clyde W. STRAWBRIDGE,  Mary Tenney JETER (President),  Ruth NANNEY,  R.C. MURRAY (Principal), FLora Lee ARGO, Carolyn KILLEBREW, Jim STREWBRIDGE

Bottom row, left to right.
E.L. THURSTON (Coach), Miss Nell Moore (Language),  Miss Fay LEWIS,  Miss Ruth JETER

1901 Vanderbilt University, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity

Charles Henry Cobb was born June 27, 1876 in Union City Tennessee.  His parents were Thomas D. Cobb and Elizabeth Johnston.  Cobb attended Vanderbilt University and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, Beta Pi Chapter, 1901. He was an attorney and businessman in Union City. Cobb married Marion Agnes Moran in 1905.  He and Marion had one child, Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb.  She was born in 1907.  

Marion committed suicide in 1934 by jumping from a bridge.  She was buried in Eastview Cemetery.  Not long after Marion's death, Cobb married Ottis Leone Luton, she was 22 years his junior.  They had no children together.  Cobb died in 1951 and was buried in the Cobb Plot at Eastview Cemetery with his first wife, Marion.  Ottis passed away in 1986.  She joined Marion and Charles in the Cobb family plot.

Below is a picture of the Brothers of the Beta Pi Chapter, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity of Vanderbilt University, 1901.  We found the picture in a steamer trunk on a recent trip to the Moran family home.  I believe the F.W. Motlow pictured is Felix Motlow, one of the brothers of Lem Motlow of Jack Daniels fame.

Left to right Top row: S.A. Johnson, T.E. Kennedy, F. B. Wilson, W.D. Weatherford
Second row: W.W. Jarrell, W. E. Wellburn, C.D. Zdanowicz, F.W. Motlow, O.V. Calhoun
Third row: J.R. Dawson, B.T. Nolen, J.R. Snyder, Thos. Steele Jr., J.E. Pierson, A.W. McCord, A.B. Camper
Fourth row: R.W. Billington, J.K.McFarland, John Paschall, C.H. Cobb, D.F. Douglass

Closeup of Charles H. Cobb,

husband of Marion Moran

Whiskey, Education and The Webb School Debate of 1897

Search for the Webb School on Amazon!

Search for Jack Daniels on Amazon!

James and Charles Moran had applied to attend The Webb School in Bell Buckle Tennessee but there were so many applicants that they had to wait a semester or two before entering.  The time didn't go to waste though as they were accepted into the Vanderbilt Training School in Elkton Kentucky and attended there until space opened up for them at Bell Buckle.

Here is an invitation to a debate sponsored by the Hamilton and Platonic Societies in 1897.  The topic dealt with labor organizations.  Also, as a side note, I noticed the name Thomas G. Motlow is listed as a president on the invitation.  The Motlow family are relatives of Jack Daniels.  As a matter of fact Jack Daniels didn't marry and so he took his favorite nephew Lem Motlow and started him in the distillery business as the bookkeeper.  Upon Jack's death he left the famous Jack Daniel's Distillery to Lem Motlow.  

In addition to making some mighty fine whiskey, in 1969 the Motlow family gave 187 acres of land on which Motlow State Community College was built.  I guess you could say it's the college that whiskey built.

James Henderson Moran's invitation to the debate.

Debate Programme

The calling card which was enclosed in the invitation.

Dresden High School Class of 1936

Search for Dresden Tennessee at Amazon!

I really wish the scanner fairy would stop by our house and give me a new scanner.  I need one that can scan large pictures and even newspapers.  But since the scanner fairy hasn't shown up I'll have to make due with the old HP All in one.

Here is the Dresden High School Class of 1936 with Nathan H. Moran on the bottom row, first one on the right.  At the bottom of the picture is the motto: Effort brings success.

Top row, right to left: Maurice Brann, Miss Mary Fannie Jeter (English), Miss Fay Lewis (French and English), Mrs. James Logan (Math and History), Mrs. B.L. House (Home Ec), Don Joyner

Second row, right to left:  Margarette Wharton, Claude Hilliard, Mayella (sp?) Ferrell, C.E. Brock Superintendent, C.H. Moore Principal, Craddock Vaughan, K.G. Shankle, Hilda Peery (sp?),

Third row, right to left:  Thomas Rawls, Nellie Ruth Brann, Bill Killebrew, Herbert Westbrooks, Warner (?) Bradberry, Charles Travis

Fourth row, right to left:  Royal Pinkston, Edythe Strong, Viola Westbrooks, E.J. Winstead

Fifth row, right to left:  Arvil L. Pinkston, Ruby Steele, Rupert Pinkston, Topsy (sp?) Bowlon, John T. Jeter, Rachel Thomas

Sixth row, right to left: Minnelle (sp?) Westbrooks, Bill Brooks, Tess Buckley, Carthal Brundige, Sue Ellen Sandefer, Warren Bradberry, Josephine Clement, Harold Clement Cashon

Bottom row, right to left: Nathan H. Moran, Nedra Parker, Taylor Thomas, Marilyn Alexander Valedictorian,  Sherman Westbrooks

  

Congratulations Class of '36

Dresden, Tennessee

School Teacher poem and illustration ca. 1894

This poem was sent to Fannie Moran in February 1894, she was 22 at the time.  

There was no other note enclosed and no return address so we'll never know who sent the poem.  I do like the way they did squiggly lettering on the envelope, it shows a sense of playfulness as does the poem! 

School-Teacher

You scrawny old tyrant of small boys,

What is that prompts you to be

So savage and fierce with the urchins

That are sent to be taught at your knee.

Perhaps the motive that moves you

Is revenge on the whole of the sex--

Because none of them ever did take you

You wish you had all by the necks.

Mrs. Evans School, Class of 1887/88

Mrs. Evans School

Weakley County, Dresden, Tennessee

Class of 1887/88

I've transcribed the names that were written in pencil on the backside of the picture.  Even though the writing has faded it was possible to get a list of most of the students names.

Front Row, seated, left to right
Carl Finch, James Moran III, Eugene Boyd, Lee(?) Gardner, Percy Scott, C. Harrell Moran, Gerald Scott

Second Row, Right to left
Ben Edwards, Metta(?) M. Gardner, Bessie Ross(?), unknown Lockridge, Mary G. Little, Stella Reavis,
Mollie Lockridge, Lillian Gardner, unknown Evans/Evers, Ida Moran, Annie Crane(?)

I wasn't able to determine at this time which direction the names went for the other two rows.  Also, one corner is missing which makes those names lost to us forever.  Here are the rest of the names listed in the order they appear on the back of the picture:
Lulu Eskridge, unknown Evans/Evers, Maud Little, Mildred Larkins, Wiley Blakemore, unknown Irvine, Charlie Ewing, B. King, L. Evans, R. Harris, Lulu Jenkins

Mrs. M.E. Clark's Select School for Young Ladies, Nashville Tenn

Young ladies from well-to-do families were often sent away to boarding schools.  Miss Fannie L. Moran was no exception.  She attended Mrs. M.E. Clark's Select School for Young ladies in Nashville, TN and also Price's School in Nashville.  Today's find from the collection of Moran papers includes the front cover of Fannie's school tablet which she signed and dated Dec 17- 1888.  On the inside of the cover she listed the date as Dec 18-1888.  The inscription shows that she was attending Mrs. M.E. Clarke's School and she also listed the names of perhaps some of her classmates and where they were from as well.

Here is a letter dated Aug. 28, 1889 from Mrs. B.A. Johnson, Principal to Fannie Moran (b. Oct 23, 1872 - d. May 3, 1955) exhorting Fannie to become a "thoroughly cultured woman" and that Fannie might be "a sincere Christian, no woman's life is complete without full communion with the church, and of course I mean the Methodist Church".  Fannie was 16 when this letter was written.  

(full transcription is at the end of this post.

Here is the backside of the letter with an explanation 

as to why Mrs. Clark located her school one mile east of the Nashville city limits.  

Transcription of the letter dated Aug 28, 1889, Nashville, TN
From Miss B.A. Johnson, Principal, Select School for Young Ladies
To Miss Fannie Moran

My dear Fannie,
I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of your sweet letter, am fully repaid if my letter re-established pleasant and friendly relations between us.  I wish you abundant success in your pursuit of knowledge.  I know your mind and what you are capable of accomplishing and shall be disappointed if you do not make a thoroughly cultured woman.  Above all I trust you may be a sincere Christian, no woman's life is complete without full communion with the Church, and of course I mean the Methodist Church.  Write me some time Fannie of your efforts in this direction (corner torn off so a word or two are missing) to your mama.  I shall certainly expect to see (missing corner) when in Nashville, telephone me 993. (then on the left side written vertically she says) Ever read Emerson's Traits of Character?  Much love from your (corner missing)
Bessie Johnson

Fannie Moran went on to become the State's first Democratic national committeewoman after serving as Tennessee legislative chairman for the American Women's Suffrage Association.  She was also active in her church and various clubs.  I'm fairly certain that Fannie Moran exceeded the expectations that Bessie Johnson expressed in her letter to Fannie.