Bradley T. Johnson Papers 1676-1937

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:
Mrs. Bradley T. Johnson
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Bradley T. Johnsonconsist of ca. 4000 items covering the years 1676 to 1937, and are primarily the personal correspondence of the members of three families: Johnson, Rutherfoordand Saunders. By far the greatest number of letters and documents concern the affairs of the Johnson familyand Bradley T. Johnsonduring the period 1840-1880. The collection includes a great number of letters to Bradley T. Johnsonfrom his mother, Eleanor Murdock (Tyler) Johnson, and his wife, Jane Claudia (Saunders) Johnson. Items of particular interest include: copies of letters from George Washingtonto Thomas Johnsonrelative to Thomas Johnson's appointment to the United States Supreme Courtand letters to General Bradley T. Johnsonfrom Jubal A. Early, Joseph E. Johnston, Thomas J. Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Wade Hampton, J. S. Mosby, W. H. Fitzhugh Lee, Henry Adamsand Theodore Roosevelt.

In addition to correspondence, the collection contains unsigned speeches and essays dealing with contemporary (antebellum) political issues and elections as well as newspaper clippings, deeds, documents and memorabila. In particular, there is a substantial number of items pertaining to Bradley T. Johnson's formation of the First Maryland Regiment, C. S. A., " The Maryland Line, " and its affairs during the Civil War and afterwards as a veterans' organization. There are a number of letters written by John C. Rutherfoordand Bradley T. Johnson's son, B. Saunders Johnson, to their respective families while the two were students at the University of Virginia, the former before and the latter after the Civil War.

Biographical / historical:

Bradley T. Johnson(1829-1903) was born in Frederick, Maryland, son of Charles Worthington Johnsonand Eleanor Murdock (Tyler) Johnson, grandson of Colonel Baker Tyler Johnsonof the Continental Army. He took a B.A. at Princeton(1849), studied law and was admitted to the bar in Frederickin 1851. On June 25, 1851 he married Jane Claudia Saundersof North Carolina. Johnson served as Maryland State's Attorney, Chairman of the Maryland State Democratic Committee, and delegate to both National Conventions of 1860. He was instrumental in the formation of " The Maryland Line, " a regiment of Marylanders who chose to fight for the South, and was elected their Colonel in 1862. On June 28, 1864, he was commissioned brigadier general, partly on the strength of a long standing recommendation from General T. J. Jackson. In the last days of the war he commanded cavalry under Wade Hamptonand Jubal Early. After the war, Johnson practiced law in Richmondand served in the Virginia Senate (1875-1879). From 1879 to 1890 he practiced in Baltimore. He died in Amelia, Virginia, in 1903. Among his published works are a life of Washington (1894) and A Memoir of the Life and Public Service of Joseph E. Johnston.

Acquisition information:
The collection is on loan from Mrs. Bradley T. Johnson, 510 17th Street, Charlottesville, Virginia. It was placed in the Library on 21 May 1957.
Arrangement:

Boxes 1 through 4 contain correspondence filed chronologically. The next three boxes contain speeches, essays, financial and Civil War papers. The last box contains empty envelopes.

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 4000 items