WLU-Coll-0102Henry Ruffner papersGuide to the Henry Ruffner papers WLU.Coll.0102Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives

September 2024

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-30 07:03:21 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives Henry Ruffner papers WLU.Coll.0102 /repositories/5/resources/424 0.26 Linear Feet one document case (half-sized), one folder circa 1815-1867 English Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

 Conditions Governing Use

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Henry Ruffner Papers (WLU Coll. 0102), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

 Biographical Note

Henry Ruffner was president of Washington College from 1836-1848, as well as a professor, minister, and author. He was born on January 16, 1790 in Page County, Virginia and died on December 17, 1861 in Kanawha County, West Virginia.

 Scope and Contents

This collection includes three manuscript novellas written by Henry Ruffner, including a draft of his published work titled "Judith Bensaddi," six sermons written in Ruffner's hand, Washington College student James S. Richeson's handwritten transcript of one of Ruffner's lectures on "Political Economy"(1840), a typescript copy of Ruffner's 1847 pamphlet regarding slavery in Virginia, an 1867 letter relating to Ruffner's estate by his widow, Laura Ruffner, and Ruffner's bound manuscript for the "Early History of Washington College" (circa 1857). This volume includes notes by Ruffner's son, William Henry Ruffner and a letter dated January 20, 1897 written by a Union army veteran to the Washington College library concerning a book he removed from the school's library during General David Hunter's 1864 occupation of Lexington, Virginia.

 Virginia -- Lexington Slavery Romance fiction Antislavery movements Legal documents Manuscripts Speeches, addresses, etc., American Ruffner, Laura Washington College (Lexington, Va.) Ruffner, Henry, 1790-1861 Letter, Laura Ruffner/repositories/5/archival_objects/234871865-0111Manuscript novellas : "The Romance of the Matz family from the German of Weistflog" and "The tale of Judith Bensaddi"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234881820-186112Manuscript novellas: "Seaborn, A semi-poetical Romance of the Sea" and "Seaborn or the Hermit of the Ocean, A semi-poetical romance" /repositories/5/archival_objects/234891820-186113Sermons by Henry Ruffner: "Sermon on Heaven" and "Sermon on Judas Iscariot"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234901820-186114Sermons by Henry Ruffner: " A tract on Episcopal confirmation," " Errors of Romanism," and an untitled fragment /repositories/5/archival_objects/234911820-186115Immediate Source of Acquisition

At least one of Henry Ruffner's sermons has period notation that it was given to the Washington and Lee University by his widow, Laura Ruffner. It is likely that the other early manuscriptswere also given by her.

Typescript copy of the "Ruffner Pamphlet"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234921940-196516Immediate Source of Acquisition

This typescript was in the office of WLU historian Ollinger Crenshaw.

Student James S. Richeson's notebook of Henry Ruffner's lecture on "Political Economy"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234931840-04-1517Clipped engraving of Henry Ruffner and a carte de visite of unknown people/repositories/5/archival_objects/234941840-187518Scope and Contents

The engraving of Henry ruffner was liekyl removed from a bokk. The carte de visite photogaph is of three unknown people likely from Europe.

Bound manuscript: "The History of Washington College" by Henry Ruffner /repositories/5/archival_objects/234951857Shared Box 1Scope and Contents

A bound manuscript titled "The History of Washington College, in two parts," written by Henry Ruffner in 1857 on the early history of the college. This manuscript was later published by the trustees of Washington and Lee University as "Washington and Lee University Historical Papers, Number One - 1890." The manuscript is written in pencil and includes annotations made later by Ruffner's son, William H. Ruffner.

Biographical / Historical

This volume was from the office of WLU historian Ollinger Crenshaw.

Letter to Ruffner from H. S. Day/repositories/5/archival_objects/299921897 January 20Shared Box 1