Bondurant-Morrison Family Papers 1787-1936

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

Summary

Creator:
William Harrison
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consist of ca. 16,000 items, 1787-1936, and contains the papers of the Bondurant familyof Buckingham County, Virginia, and the Morrison familyof Rockbridge County, Virginiawho were related through the marriage of Alexander Joseph Bondurantand Emily MacFarland Morrisonin 1859. Alexander J. Bondurantand Emily (Morrison) Bondurantwere the chief correspondents in this collection. Alexander J. Bondurant(1836-1910) was a Confederatesoldier, farmer, politician, superintendent of Buckingham County, Va.schools, professor of agriculture at Auburn University, and tobacco consultant to the government of Australia. His father, Thomas Moseley Bondurant(1797-1862), was a landowner, member of the board of trustees of Hampden-Sydney College, a soldier in the War of 1812, a member of the Virginia Senate, and one of the founders of the Richmond Whig. His oldest son, Alexander Lee Bondurant(1865-1937) was professor of Latin and head of the graduate school of the University of Mississippi.

Emily MacFarland Morrison(b. 1837) was the daughter of Rev. James Morrisonand Frances (Brown) Morrisonof Rockbridge County, Va.A copy of her reminiscences can be found in the Rare Books collection (F 231 .B65 1944 1962ed). The Morrison familymaterial consists chiefly of the papers of Rev. James Morrison(1797-1870), including correspondence concerning his family, his congregation, and the Presbyterian Church; also included are his seminary and sermon notes from 1815-1874, and diaries and account books for his home, Bellevue.

Subjects included in this collection are farms in Buckingham Co., Va., family affairs, the Civil War, school administration in Buckingham Co., Auburn University, the University of Virginia, mining and mineral rights in Virginia, immigrant land schemes in Virginia, including the James River Valley Immigrant Societyand the Virginia Land and Immigrant Company, Virginiaand national politics, tobacco culture in Australiaand the southern United States, Rev. James Morrison's education at the University of North Carolina, his pastorates in North Carolinaand Virginia, the Presbyterian Churchin the South, and the Bellevue Schoolin Rockbridge County, Virginia.

Most of the personal correspondence in the collection is concerned with family matters. A great deal of the letters discussed agriculture with regard to the family farms, especially Variety Shade, and Alexander J. Bondurant's various agricultural positions and interests. AJB's letters from Australiato various family members spanned the period from 1896 to 1901. These contain some information on agriculture and the culture of Australia. Some of the letters from Charles W. Dabneyto A.J. Bondurant(1881-1898) discuss iron ore and mineral rights in Virginiaas well as agriculture.

The Civil War and its affects is another subject to be found in the correspondence. Letters from Emily (Morrison) Bondurantto Alexander J. Bondurantmention her brothers' war activities and posts (29 Jul, 8 Aug, and 11 Aug 1862; 6 [Apr] and 22 Apr 1863; 1 Mar, 28 Mar, 5 Apr 1865). A 13 May 1863 letter from Thomas Lee Bondurantto A.J.Bondurantmentions the reaction to the death of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Letters to E.M. Bondurantfrom A.J. Bondurantmention the war and his desire to support the army (12 Apr, 27 Apr, 26 May 1863). Rev. James Morrisonalso wrote to his daughter E.M. Bondurantabout the war and her brother, Samuel Morrison's appointment as a surgeon in the army (5 Nov 1861, 23 May 1865). Letters to Rev. James Morrisonmention the early rumblings of the Civil War and rumors of secession (25 Jul, 20 Oct, 9 Nov, 4 Dec 1860), as well as letters from his sons telling of their posts (20 Feb, 4 Dec 1863; 14 Jan, 21 May 1863).

Politics is also a prominent subject in some of the correspondence. The Bondurantswere active in the publishing of the Richmond Whig(est. 1824) and it is mentioned in a few letters. E.M. Bondurantto A.J. Bondurantmentions that George [P. Bondurant](1838-1886) wanted to leave the management of the paper to A.J. Bondurant. Thomas M. Bondurantmentions the paper in a letter (19 Nov 1857) to his son A.J. Bondurant. A letter from George P. Bondurantto his father A.J. Bondurantmentions the Whigagain and the Bondurantinterests in the paper (22 Mar 1896). Local and national politics is found in several letters from E.M. Bondurantto A.J. Bondurant(26 Jul, 27 Sep, 8, 11, 31 Oct 1896). Letters from Alexander Lee Bondurantto his father A.J. Bondurantmention local politics and the race for the legislature (25 Oct 1887, 7 May 1889). Thomas M. Bondurantwas also concerned with local politics; a letter from J.T. Bocockmentions Sen. Floodand local tax collecting practices and the justice system and how they could be changed (8 Jan 1834).

Religion and the Presbyterian Churchis also a prominent subject in the correspondence of Rev. James Morrison, pastor of New Providence Presbyterian Church, Rockbridge County, Virginia. The letters from Rev. Elam J. Morrisonfrom Rev. James Morrison(1820-1826) are concerned with family matters, friends in the ministry, questions and and advice about the ministry, the Presbytery and synods. Letters to Rev. James Morrison(1813-1863, n.d.) contain many similar topics and include family letters and letters from friends and relatives in the ministry.

Acquisition information:
This collection was deposited to the Library by William G. Harrison , of the University of Virginia , on May 14, 1952.
Physical location:
Physical description:
16,000 items