Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Robert Selph Henry Papers
Henry, Robert Selph, 1889-1970
Ms.1989.020
4.3 Cubic Feet
4 boxes
1861-1971
Spanning 1861 to 1971, the Robert Selph Henry Papers consist of correspondence, subject files, photographs, and clippings concerning Henry's research on the American Civil War, focusing on the Confederacy and Nathan Bedford Forrest, and also railroad history. This collection also contains Henry's Southern Historical Association (SHA) and Association of American Railroads papers.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Robert Selph Henry Papers, 1861-1971, Ms1989-020, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The collection was acquired by Virginia Tech Special Collections in 1989.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Robert Selph Henry Papers was completed in July 2013.
Biographical Note
Robert Selph Henry (1889-1970) was born in Clifton, Tennessee, on October 20, 1889. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with an L.L.B. in 1910 and a BA in 1911. He served as a Captain of Field Artillery in World War I, and remained in the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of colonel, until his retirement in 1952. He worked for the newspaper in Nashville (1907-1913), served as secretary to the Governor of Tennessee (1913-1915), practiced as a lawyer in Nashville (1915-1921), and worked for the railroads, first as Director of Public Relations for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway (1921-1928), then as Assistant to the Vice President of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railrway (1928-1934), and lastly as as the Vice President of the Association of American Railroads (1934-1958).
Henry was also a historian of the American Civil War and the railroads. He published several books including
The Story of the Confederacy (1931), The Story of Reconstruction (1938), First with the Most Forrest (1944), and This Fascinating Railroad Business (1942). Henry also served as President of the Southern Historical Association (SHA; 1957).
Scope and Content
The Robert Selph Henry Papers consist of correspondence, subject files, photographs, and clippings concerning Henry's research on the American Civil War, focusing on the Confederacy and Nathan Bedford Forrest, and also railroad history. Most subject files involve research notes and photocopies or transcriptions of primary sources such as diaries, letters, and reminiscences. This collection also contains Henry's Southern Historical Association (SHA) and Association of American Railroads papers.
The collection dates from 1861 to 1971; however, most of the Civil War letters and diaries contained in this collection appear to be either later reprints, transcriptions, or copies of the original. The dates given in this finding aid correspond to the year for the original document. Many of the photographs are reproductions as well.
Arrangement
This collection is organized thematically in alphabetical order by folder title.
Separated Materials
The following book has been removed from the collection and has been catalogued for the rare book collection:
Diary of Capt. Heber S. Thompson, Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, May to December, 1864 (Call number: E527.6 7th T46 1864 SCUA Civil War).
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Robert Selph Henry Papers, Ms1989-020 by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Civil War
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Railroad
Advertisements - Forrest Quote1945-194811Assn. of American Railroads1934-195312Bell, Brig. Gen. Tyree H. Belln.d.13Biography - R. S. Henryn.d.14Mary Forest Bradley (Correspondence)194315Burlington Zephyrsn.d.16Chapin, Edward Young1944-195417Chattanooga, TN - 1869 (Recollections of Mr. Caldwell)n.d.18"Chattanooga and the War" 195919Civil War Articles - Various Authors1932-1957110Civil War Articles - No Author1931, n.d.111Civil War Letters1862, ca. 1864, 1888Civil War Letter, Camp Near Richmond1862112Civil War Letters - Merrick1862113Civil War Letter - Gen. Rugglesca. 1864114Civil War Letter - Post1888115Cockrell, Monroe1947-1958116Confederate Research Club1955-1958117Confederate Songs1950118"Diary of Capt. Herber S. Thompson" 7th PA Volunteer Cavalry1864119"Diary of J. Pugh Cannon," Transcript1863-1864120Diary - Chaplain Charles Todd Quintard, Transcript1864121Ewell (Lt. Gen. R.S.) Letter to R. E. Lee - Transcribed1865122Forrest, Nathan Bedford1935-1955123Forrest, N. B. - "Bankruptcy on Debtor's Petition," Copy of 1869 Document1944124Forrest, N. B. - Notes (6 folders)n.d.125-30Freight Tariff for 18701870-1937131Grady, Henry Woodfin, "The New South"1886132Hood's Campaign, Middle Tenn., Transcript of Conversation1868133Hughes, Robert Morton1933-1936134Illustrations - Civil War, Copiesn.d.135Inka, Miss. (Battle of) (Notes)n.d.136Jackson, "Stonewall" - Hall of Fame Bust1957137Ku Klux Klan1930-1944138Kuhler, Otto1935-1952139Letters1930-1971, n.d.Lettersn.d.140Letters1930141Letters1931142Letters1932143Letters1933144Letters1934145Letters1935146Letters1936147Letters1937148Letters1938149Letters1939150Letters1940151Letters1941152Letters1942153Letters1943154Letters1944155Letters1945156Letters194621Letters194722Letters194823Letters194924Letters195025Letters195126Letters195227Letters195328Letters195429Letters1955210Letters1956211Letters1957212Letters1958213Letters1959214Letters1960215Letters1961216Letters1962217Letters1964218Letters1968219Letters1969220Letters1970-1971221Lincoln, Pres. A. 1954222Mrs. Joseph Luxton (Mother of N. B. Forrest)1925-1943223Mexican War1950-1959, n.d.224Newspaper Articles - Civil War1925-1956225Newspaper Articles on Forrest1942-1956226Pemberton, John C.1931-1938227Photographs - Civil War1920, 1951, n.d.228Photographs - Railroad1863-1938229"Portraits of the Iron Horse"1936-1945230Postcards1945-1956231Printed Material (4 folders)1903-1961232-35BibliographyDeaderick, J. D. "The Truth about Shiloh." Memphis, Tennessee: S. C. Toof & Company, 1942. Dinkins, James, and Stephen D. Lee. "The Balaclava of America: Reminiscences of The Battle of Franklin, November 30th, 1864." Reprinted from the New Orleans Picayune, 1903. Govan, Gilbert E., and James W. Livingood. "Chattanooga under Military Occupation, 1863-1865." Reprinted from The Journal of Southern History, Vol. XVII, No. 1 (February 1951). Folmsbee, Stanley J., and Lucile Deaderick. "The Founding of Knoxville." Reprint from East Tennessee Historical Society's Publications, No. 13 (1941). Beard, William E. "The Fort Fisher 'Volcano'." Reprinted from the United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 58, No. 8, Whole No. 354.Kincaid, Robert L. "Kentucky in the Civil War." Reprinted from LINCOLN HERALD, (June 1947). Church, Samuel Harden. "America's First Railroad." Reprinted from THE NEW YORK TIMES, February 22, 1925. Confederate Veteran. Vol. 40, No. 7 (July 1932). Confederate Veteran. Vol. 40, No. 8 (August 1932). Goodpasture, Ridley. "Excerpts from the SPOKEN DIARY of an Ex-Slave." Pullmans1940, n.d.236Railroad Notes and Papersca. 1920s-1940s, n.d.Railroad Notes and Papers 1n.d.237Railroad Notes and Papers 2ca. 1920s - 1940s238Railroad Notes and Papers 31939-1948239Railroad Notes and Papers 41938-1941240Reviews - R. S. Henry Books1931-196031Sansom, Emma195432Shelton, R. - 14th TN (typed) Letters1862-186433Slave Insurance Policy from 1855193134Southern Historical Assn.1881, 1951-195835"The Story of the Confederacy"1930, n.d.36The Story of Reconstruction1865-1877, ca. 1930s, n.d."The Story of Reconstruction" (2 folders)ca. 1930s37-8Story of Reconstruction Notes - 1865n.d.39Story of Reconstruction Notes - 1866n.d.310Story of Reconstruction Notes - 1867-1868n.d.311Story of Reconstruction Notes - 1869-1870n.d.312Story of Reconstruction Notes - 1871-1873n.d.313Story of Reconstruction Notes - 1874-1877n.d.314Streight-Forrest Route1948315Sturgis's Route From Ripley to Brice Cross Roadsn.d.316Swift, Eben - Letters1888317Telegrams1934-1950318"The Fascinating Railroad Business"1940-1950s"This Fascinating Railroad Business" 1940319"This Fascinating Railroad Business" 1941320"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1942321"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1943322"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1944323"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1945324"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1946325"The Fascinating Railroad Business"1947326"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1948-1949327"This Fascinating Railroad Business"1950s328Tom Thumbn.d.329"Trains" - 1930s1933-1938330"Trains" - 1940s1943-1949331"Trains" - 1950s1950-1957332Ware, Dr. John N. - Correspondence1943-1956333Wiley, Bell I. - Letters1942-1957334Wyeth, Dr. John A. to General E. W. Rucker1896335Yancey, William L.1861336Civil War Copies of Images and Letters for Publicationsn.d.4