The collection is open for research.
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.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Bear Family Papers, Ms1992-010, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The Bear Family Papers were purchased by Special Collections in 1992.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Bear Family Papers was completed in or prior to October 2002.
The Bear Family was a Churchville, Augusta County, Virginia family. The collection includes written material from Harvey Bear and his son, George. There are also references to Harvey Bear's neighbor, Jedediah Hotchkiss, a noted cartographer who served as Thomas J."Stonewall" Jackson's topographer.
The Bear Family Papers consist of diaries, books, and letters of various members of the Bear family. There is the 1862 diary of Harvey Bear, who although not a soldier in the American Civil War at that time, describes the war activity around him and his service as a wagon teamster for the Confederate Army. Harvey refers to his neighbor, Jedediah Hotchkiss, who served as Thomas J."Stonewall" Jackson's topographer. The papers also include two diaries written in 1878-1879 by Harvey's son George, a manuscript general order written in March 1863 for Stonewall Jackson's Second Army Corp of the Army of Northern Virginia, and a letter written in February 1849 from a member of the Virginia House of Delegates to Harvey Bear about a vote on resolutions regarding enslaved people.
The guide to the Bear Family Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).