Hunter-Garnett Families Papers 1806-1889

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
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Hunter-Garnett Families Papers, Accession #38-45-c, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Hunter-Garnett Families Papers, Accession #38-45-c, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers of the Hunter-Garnett families consist primarily of personal, financial, and political correspondence of Muscoe Garnett. Correspondence of Garnett and related family members discusses local, state and national politics; student life and administrative concerns at the University of Virginia; Rio de Janeiro, 1856-1858; family life at "Elmwood"; travel on the continent, 1869-1873; and business affairs.

Of interest among many topics are the Compromise of 1850; states' rights politics in the 1850s, opposition to Andrew Jackson's administration; engineering work for the New York and Erie Rail Road; the cruise of the U.S.S. Cyane, 1842-1844; Indian burial grounds; 1790s [?]and 1830s slave swaps and other news of family servants including hires, illnesses and death; St. Mary's College, Baltimore, 1811; and Reconstruction.

In addition there are architectural plans, plats, and legal documents re the "Elmwood" estate; daybooks; ante-bellum political speeches and broadsides; school papers; artistic sketches; scrapbooks; debating society minutes and journals; business and legal papers; genealogical papers; papers regarding American Red Cross work in France during World War I; and a journal of travel in Portugal, 1807.

Physical description:
This collection consists of over 700 items.