Collections

This collection consists of one letter (dated August 26, 1862) from James M. Drake to his father. Drake presents his views on slavery, discusses the beauty of the Alexandria, Virginia, mentions inaccuracy of northern Civil War news, and discusses Union officers' view of Stonewall Jackson.

This collection consists of eight letters and one letter fragment from Cadet John B. Snodgrass to his sister Katherine (Kate) Snodgrass-Boyd. All letters are dated 1862 and written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. The primary topic is the Civil War and its effect on the Snodgrass family, with occasional references to VMI. Multiple letters (see April 19, May 1, May 18) mention that Corps of Cadets has been ordered to aid General Stonewall Jackson because he is "anxious to get a shot at the enemy."

The John Jay Stevens Diaries consist of two diaries written by Stevens between September 4, 1863 and October 31, 1863 while commissary officer of the 110th New York Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. Diary one entries commence as the 110th embarked on its cruise from New Orleans, La. to what would be known as the Battle of Sabine Pass, Texas at the mouth of the Sabine River. Stevens details eight days aboard the troop transport steamer 'Thomas Winthrop' in the Gulf of Mexico covering the battle of and the Federal retreat from Sabine Pass and the return trip to New Orleans. From September 12, 1863 through the end of the second diary he covers the 110th N.Y.'s overland campaign in Louisiana. Diary Two begins on September 26, 1863. The body of the entries after the cruise include troop movements, day to day camp life, and the Battle of Carrion Crow Bayou. Stevens documents experiences in and scenery of the Louisiana bayou country with vivid description. Entries are penned from New Orleans, Algiers, Brashear City, Berwick, Camp Bisland, Franklin, New Iberia, camp on the Teche, and Opelousas. He touches on foraging expeditions to abandoned plantations, the reaction of the local populace to the presence of the Federal troops, race relations and slavery, the landscape and weather, the character of the army and his commanding officers, death and disease, and his relations within the ranks. Stevens writes with a range of tones, but mantains a sense of humor throughout. This collection also includes a fascinating letter written by Stevens in 1875 while he was living in Greeley, Colorado. The letter, written to his sister Kate Forbes and her family in Oswego, New York, reports on the town and his life there. From the letter we learn that Stevens had ventured west for, among other reasons, his health. The collection also includes a letter fragment of an unknown child relative of Stevens in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

One page letter concerning the death of a servant man who died while working on the fortifications around Richmond, VA for the Confederacy.

Journal of John S. Barret, plantation owner in Alabama. Barret writes extensively about his farm, weather conditions, crop harvests and livestock. Some entries record his hunting activites. One page lists all of the children born to an enslaved woman on his plantation since 1802. Another entry records the sadness of the untimely death of his friend, William Aylett.

This collection includes correspondence, personal and managed accounts, and legal papers of John White. Ranging in date from 1757-1843, with the bulk of the papers taking place from 1810-1830. From these papers, it appears that John White was a lawyer who practiced in Northampton County, North Carolina and the surrounding area. The buying, selling, and loaning of enslaved persons is a pervasive theme in his personal papers. As a result of his work managing accounts, he has many warrants placed on him for his arrest as a result of the accounts that he managed. In addition to numerous small accounts, the largest accounts White managed were those of Thomas Deberry Hollamon and Etheldred Smith. Outside of managing the accounts of others, White was a farmer and ran, with the help of Ann Johnson, what appears to be an inn where alcohol was sold and individuals could obtain transportation. This collection primarily occurs in the area surrounding Murfeesboro, North Carolina and Northampton County, North Carolina. More specifically, the location of Bryan's Cross Roads is referenced on multiple occasions and is confirmed to be a location in Northampton County, North Carolina during this time by the North Carolina Postal History Society.

This receipt of sale for two slaves owned by Joseph McClung, one named Annie and the other named Bob, is dated November 30, 1802.

Letter from Andrew L. Hannah of Falls Craigs Creek (possibly Botetourt County, Virginia) to Miss Polly Semon, dated 1869 September 18. Hannah writes regarding a dispute over money owed for a "negro boy". Hannah alleges that Miss Semon told him not to sell the unnamed enslaved boy as long as the boy lived, which Hannah claims led to a missed sales opportunity during the war and resulted in Hannah owing Miss Semon more money than he thought fair.