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The Civil War documents and ephemera collection consists of Civil War-related documents, largely items with autograph rather than content significance. The collection includes a shares document, autograph card, correspondence, an enrollement document, and a bond certificate.

This collection includes four telegrams and one letter, 1862-1865, from Davis to C.S.A. Generals Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Johnston, and Robert E. Lee and Col. William Preston Johnston concerning conduct of the war; nine letters, 1867-1882, from Davis to General William Nelson Pendleton, the majority discussing the preparation of Davis' book, The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; one letter dated Feb. 4, 1887 from Davis to Mrs. Mary Meredith refusing assistance from Texas friends; one letter dated Sept. 3, 1862 (photocopy) to the Govenor of South Carolina concerning the execution of the conscription law passed by the Confederate States of America; one printed broadside dated January 5, 1863, issued by Davis in answer to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. There is also a clipped signature written in two hands, which has been mounted: 'Very Respectfully and truthfully yours, Jefferson Davis' and an unused envelope with two first national confederate flags printed in red, black, and blue. The text says 'Hon. Jefferson Davis, the Champion of the South.'

Papers include correspondence, 1884-1885, of Jefferson Davis and correspondence, 1890-1904, of Varina Howell Davis with Flora Adams Darling; and a ledger, 1858, believed to be the mailing list for Davis while United States Senator from Mississippi; and correspondence, 1904, of Jefferson Davis Monument Association of Richmond, Va. Includes letter, 25 January 1890, of Varina Davis to Benjamin Stoddert Ewell. Also includes broadside, 1862, of Davis' Inaugural Address; and program, 1893, of exercises at the re-interment of Davis' remains and engravings and prints of Davis.

Papers, 1831-1863, of John B. Floyd, governor of Virginia, United States Secretary of War and Confederate general. The papers, chiefly 1850-1862, concern the three positions he held. Correspondents include James Buchanan, Jefferson Davis, Samuel Houston, Benjamin Huger, Alexander von Humboldt, R. M. T. Hunter, Charles James Faulkner, Jenny Lind, James Murray Mason, William Ballard Preston, Winfield Scott, John Tyler, Daniel Webster and the Duke of Wellington.

Chiefly letters, 1861-1865, from Thomas L. Alfriend (1843-1901) Sergeant, of Company B, 15th Virginia Infantry and Parken's Battery, Alexander's Battalion, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, from camps in Virginia and Tennessee to family members in Richmond, Virginia. Includes letter dated May 26, 1861 from Alfriend while stationed in Williamsburg, Virginia.