Cora Mast was born on August 1, 1866, to father Milton Mast and mother, Nancy Ann Mast in Nacogdoches, Texas. She married Christopher Buford ‘Kit’ Patton on January 9, 1887 at 21 years old. Cora and Kit had three sons, Douglas, Milton, and Webb Patton, and four daughters, Audie, Christie Belle, and Maurine Patton and Nanie S. Mast. Cora Mast had nine siblings, two of which her letters in the Cora Mast Research Collection are addressed. She passed away on July 6, 1916 at the age of 49 and was buried in Melrose, Texas at Mast Cemetery #1.

Cora Mast’s brother Oscar F. Mast to whom she wrote on October 17, 1894, was born on June 8, 1874. He lived in Melrose and died at 21 on April 18, 1896. He was buried in Nacogdoches, Texas. He did not marry or have any children.

Cora Mast’s letter written on September 9, 1903 is addressed to her youngest sister Leona Mast (1883-1923). Leona Mast was born in January of 1883 and married Harvey Lafayette Thomason on December 1, 1913. They had no children together, and Leona passed away January 20, 1923 at the age of 40. She was buried in Melrose, Texas.