Leila Virginia Cocke Turner
Leila Virginia Cocke Turner (1844-1899) and her daughter,
Leila Mason Turner Rath (1872-1937), shared similar lives:
both spent most of their lives on campus and attended
Hollins Institute. Leila Virginia was the second child of
Hollins founder, Charles Lewis Cocke, and Susanna
Virginia Pleasants Cocke.
In 1871, she married Joseph A. Turner, Sr., Professor of
Ancient and Modern Languages at Hollins and together they had two
children: Leila Masters Turner and Joseph A. Turner, Jr.
Leila Mason Turner
While there are a number of records that document their
lives in the University Archives, the most interesting items
left behind were two scrapbooks filled with beautiful
greeting cards. Shown here are just a few of the Christmas
and New Year’s cards that they received from various
relatives and friends. Leila Virginia’s scrapbook was begun
ca.1882, while her daughter was given a scrapbook
when she was thirteen years old, in 1885.
Some of the cards depict images of holly, ivy, and snow, traditional
illustrations for modern day cards. However, many others include
nautical and floral designs that are not associated with Christmas or
New Year’s cards today.
