Clara Belle “Nancy” Hanks was the daughter of George and Ella May Hemingway Hanks. Her father was Superintendent of the Bridges & Buildings of Pere Marquette. Her mother was the first woman on the Saginaw School Board. George and Ella raised a large family on Saginaw East Side.

Nancy Hanks, graduated from Saginaw High and trained at the Saginaw Teachers Training School. She taught at several schools in Saginaw, most notably Potter School. She later moved to Texas to become a supervisor. At some point she became a Dental Porcelain Tech in Detroit, but returned to her first love, teaching during the Depression.

Ms. Hanks was a devoted spiritualist and most of her letters in this collection pertain to that subject.