Annie Maud Tate was born on December 7, 1887 in Tooele, Utah to John William Tate and Elizabeth De LaMare Tate. Annie was one of fourteen siblings, who all survived to adulthood. Annie married Frank Atkin on December 7, 1908. Annie and Frank served an LDS mission to New Zealand starting in 1916. Annie and Frank had eight children, Ina, Claude, Elizabeth, Emily, Morley, Alice, Edith, and Ruth. Emily and Alice died in infancy. Annie's son Morley was born while the family was living in New Zealand. Annie died on December 31, 1971 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The collection contains three folders of photocopied handwritten letters. The first folder contains letters from Annie's mother Elizabeth and span February 1916 to November 1917. Elizabeth expresses her anxiousness to hear that Annie and Frank have arrived and settled in New Zealand. Elizabeth gives news from home and expresses her love for Annie. In April, Elizabeth writes in response to a letter from Annie, "I do feel sorry that you live in such a lonesome place." Annie's mother writes approximately monthly, and often mentions that she has received a recent letter from New Zealand. Annie's mother gives updates on the neighbor's health and any deaths in the community. She gives updates on the weather. She also encourages her daughter writing, "You will certainly have our faith and our prayers." Her mother includes occasional updates on World War I and world affairs. Annie's mother worries about Russian's great Revolution and hopes that they "will not have to send our boys to war." In May of 1917 Annie had a baby boy while in New Zealand. Annie's mother also provides updates on Annie's siblings, and frequently mentions Della, Alice, Edith, and Clara.
The second folder contains letters from Annie's siblings Leland, Edith, Charles, and Luwella. Leland writes in May 1914 from South Africa. Leland was serving in Africa as an LDS missionary. He was writing to Annie who was still living in Tooele, Utah. He reports that the mission is having a hard time getting Elders and he might have to stay longer than expected in Africa. Edith writes to New Zealand in May 1916. Edith has recently married. Charles writes from the Southern States Mission, from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The letters date October 1917 and October 1918. He addresses one letter to Beth, Annie's daughter. Luwella writes from Tooele in November 1917.
The final folder contains two letters from Annie to her mother dated October 1916 and April 1917. Annie is happy and positive about her experiences in New Zealand and reports on the birth of her son.