Alexander Galt Letters, 1848/1849

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Summary

Extent:
1 Folder
Creator:
Galt, Alexander D. II, 1827-1863 and Mason, John Y. (John Young), 1799-1859
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

(2) letters by Alexander Galt (1827-1863), a sculptor from Norfolk, Virginia, and John Young Mason (1799-1859), Secretary of the Navy and Attorney General to President James K. Polk. In the 1848 copy-letter, Mason writes that Galt will sail on the Erie ship, under the command of Lieutenant William M. Blair. Mason also tells Galt to secure employment as Blair's clerk by networking with Blair's friends in Norfolk. It is addressed from Washington, on July 28, 1848. The 1849 letter is sent to the aforementioned William M. Blair, now a captain in the U.S. Navy, and discusses Galt's Italian language studies, art classes at the Florence Academy, and his loneliness in a foreign country (Galt wishes Blair was with him: "how I miss you"). Galt describes sightseeing in Florence, Italy and his interactions with fellow artists Hiram Powers and Horatio Greenough. Galt closes with a plea to hear news from Blair and for him to send along any letters for Galt from the United States. It is addressed from Florence, on February 6, 1849, care of the U.S. Consul, Genoa, Italy.

Biographical / historical:

Alexander Galt designed a statue of Thomas Jefferson for the University of Virginia. He contracted smallpox while working on a statue of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson and died in 1863.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard