Maury and Perkins Family Papers

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:
Lydia Lowndes Maury Skeels
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This material, assembled by Lydia Lowndes Maury Skeelsfor her books, One American Family: Some Maury Memories, Legends, and Recordsand Some Distaff Forbears: Perkins, Henderson, Watson, Price, Norris, Opie, Kelly, consists of ca. 550 items, 1767(1883-1955)1985, and includes original letters and papers of the Mauryand Perkinsfamilies as well as Mrs. Skeels' notes and copies of material from various repositories.

The correspondence and other material of the Maury and Perkins family pertain chiefly to the family of Eliza Norris (Watson)(1844-1936) and George Perkins(1846-1918) and their children and spouses, Hay Watson (Perkins)(1873-19 ) and George Rust Bedinger Michie(1870-19 ), Anne "Nannie" Henderson (Perkins)(1874-1960) and Henry Lowndes Maury(1875-1959), and William Allan Perkins(1880-19 ) and his wife Hazlehurst Bolton(1882-19 ). There are also letters from Hortensia Hay Watson(1838-19 ), Eliza Maury's sister; letters from Nannie Jessie Maury(Mrs. Matthew Fontaine Maury) to her son, Henry Lowndes; and, a farm book of Egbert Reed Watson(1810-1887), Eliza Maury's father.

The majority of the original letters are written to Anne "Nannie" Henderson (Perkins) Mauryin Butte, Montanafrom her family in Charlottesville, Virginiaand contain much personal news about family members and friends. One letter of interest, dated May 1, 1894, written to Haidee and Nannie Perkins from Bessie P. Woods, a missionary doctor's wife, in Tsing Kiang, China, describes the customs, language, and clothing of the people, and explains the needs for foreign missions. Another interesting letter, November 18, 1898, from Ellen Maury Slayden, in San Antonio, Texas, enlightens Nannie on living out west and describes the "differences between Eastern and Western people." During 1898-1935, Eliza Norris (Watson) Perkinswrote to her daughter, Nannie, discussing news of family and friends in great detail, and mentioning events in Charlottesville. There are two letters in 1901 with news of Charlottesville: April 15, concerning the election to the Virginia Constitutional Convention; and, May 23, describing the city and surrounding area during a flood caused by heavy rainfall, mentioning such sites as the new iron bridge, Holladay House, and Woolen Mills. There are also several letters mentioning persons associated with the University of Virginia: November 28, 1932 and October 16, 1933, John Lloyd Newcomb's tea for Lord and Lady Astor and his appointment as President of the University; February 13, 1933, Frank Abbott's death and John Staige Davis' illness; and, July 16, 1934, John W. Davis' speech at the Institute of Public Affairs. A December 13, 1934 letter describes her train trip from Butte, Montanato her home in Charlottesville.

George Perkinsalso wrote to his daughter, Nannie, after her marriage to Henry Lowndes Mauryon November 22, 1898 and their subsequent departure to Butte, Montana. While he wrote personal letters to his daughter, he wrote more professional ones to his son-in-law. Many of his letters to Lowndes refer to the latter's legal business, especially his partnerships with Clayberg and Corbettand with Pemberton and Maury(August 25 and September 9, 1899), legal cases, and his being made President of the Bar Association in Butte(December 19, 1906). His letters offered support and advice concerning some of these matters. One interesting letter, December 26, 1910, gave a lengthy account of a distant relative's, Charles Alphonso Smith(1864-1924), a University of Virginiaprofessor, successful visit to Berlin, including a lunch with Kaiser Wilhelm and a visit to the palace at Potsdam.

Other letters of interest to Nannie from her family include: September 4, 1899, from her brother, William Allan Perkins, describing a fishing trip that took him across West Virginiaand Ohioto a camp near Sault Ste. Marie; May 9 and June 3, 1918, from her aunt, Hortensia Hay Watson, mentioning the University of Virginia Base Hospitaland occurrences during World War I.

In addition, there are travel journals, with transcripts, of Anne "Nannie" Henderson (Perkins) Mauryand Eliza Norris (Watson) Perkins. During July and August 1891, Nannie kept a journal on her travels from Charlottesvilleto various places in Virginiaand New York, and Washington, D.C., describing the sites vividly. In July 1910, Lizzie Perkinstravelled from Charlottesvilleto Butte, Montanato visit her daughter and her family, writing of the trip in a small notebook.

The research material includes Mrs. Skeels' correspondence and notes, biographies and genealogies, and copies of material from various repositories concerning the Maury, Perkins, Watson, Norris, and related families. There is much material pertaining to Matthew Fontaine Maury(1806-1873), the first great American oceanographer. Copies of original family letters, diaries, and papers have been placed in this series.

The material has been organized into three series: I. Maury and Perkins Family Papers; II. Research Material of Lydia Lowndes Maury Skeels; and, III. Oversize Material. Folders in the first two series are arranged alphabetically, and material within is in chronological order.

Acquisition information:
This collection was given to the Library by Lydia Lowndes Maury Skeels of Storrs, Connecticut, on July 24, 1987.
Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 550 items