Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill

Online content

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Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.

Preferred citation:

Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, MSS 1397, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.

Summary

Extent:
5.4 Cubic Feet 11 Hollinger document boxes and one oversize box
Creator:
Randolph family
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, MSS 1397, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present.

Biographical / historical:

The Randolph familiy of Virginia began with William Randolph, who emigrated from Warwickshire, England between 1669 and 1673. He was the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.

Martha Jefferson Randolph (eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson) married her third cousin, Thomas Mann Randolph in 1790. Together they had eleven children, whom Martha educated at home. Martha was known for her keen intellect and would often assist her father with his affairs. Thomas became a botanist and served as a Virginia delegate, senator, governor, and congressman.

Edgehill was Martha and Thomas' Virginia plantation, and later the chief residence of their eldest son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Martha and Thomas inherited the land from Thomas' father and built their first home there in 1799. A second, larger house was built in 1828. The family also operated a girls' school on the plantation, called "Edgehill School" from 1836 to 1896.

Source: Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. monticello.org. Accessed 13 January 2023.

Arrangement:

The materials are arranged chronologically. Oversized items are listed at the end of the inventory.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard