Scope and Contents From the Series:

Series 1 of this collection primarily covers the period from 1763 through Samuel McDowell Reid's death in 1869. There are also a few later items dealing chiefly with his estate.

The bulk of the papers deals with business matters. Documents concern such matters as the James River and Kanawha Company, the North River Navigation Company, Washington College's relationship with the Society of the Cincinnati, slavery, and the financial dealings of John Robinson and the Hare family.

Scope and Contents The collection consists of a single document, dated January 24, 1842. The document certifies the free status of the former black slave, Jerry Scott. The certification was created by the court of Nelson County, Virginia and provides a detailed description of Scott's appearance and identifying features. The document is signed and notarized with the seal of Nelson County Court. Also included in the colletion is a facsimile of the orginal document, as well as processing material from the...

Scope and Contents

A timeline is being developed on the university website by a special working group established in August 2013 by Washington and Lee President Kenneth P. Ruscio to explore the role of African Americans in the history of the University. The University Library is capturing this timeline using Archive-It.

Scope and Contents This collection consists of seven one year contracts between Abraham Lovell, curator of William Ackerly's (deceased) estate, and individuals for hire of enslaved persons, Rachel, Fanny, Nancy, James Alexander, Elisha, and Caroline with her three children. Each contract includes the name of the enslaved person, dates for her/his hire, the cost, and the name of the leasee. Further, each document states that the individuals were to be treated "with humanity" or "humanely" and returned with 'the...

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of receipts pertaining to the purchase of slaves. $87.50 paid for a slave named Charity (June 18, 1847); $600.00 paid for 16-yr. old Agnes (March 1, 1850); $500.00 paid for 13-yr. old Alfred (June 8, 1850); $700.00 paid for 17-yr. old Billy (April 29, 1852); and $890.00 paid for 19-yr. old Caroline (August 7, 1852).

Scope and Contents

Journal ledger containing accounts of slaves, receipts, and expenditures.

Scope and Contents This collection consists of papers from the state of Georgia. it includes 84 miscellaneous items, such as legal documents concerning sales of slaves (1806-1855); Georgia naturalization paper (1809); law brief of a suit against the Habersham Iron Works and Manufacturing Co. (1843); requisitions and receipts for Civil War provisions (1864-1865); oath of allegiance (Sept. 1, 1865); broadside (July 31, 1863) There are four items from French settlers in Augusta, Savannah, and St. Mary's,...

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 in Henry Ruffner's hand, Washington College student James S. Richeson's handwritten transcript of one of Ruffner's lectures on "Political Economy"(1840); a 20th cenury typescript copy of Ruffner's 1847 pamphlet regarding slavery in Virginia; an 1867 letter relating to property of Ruffner's estate by his widow, Laura...

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This collection consists of three documents: a land survey, Oct. 27, 1795, of 624 acres on the Big Calf Pasture River in Rockbridge County, Virginia; deed of trust between William Moore and Andrew Reid, Jr. in favor of McDowell, Oct. 8, 1804; deed of 29 1/2 acres on South River from David, an emancipated slave, and McDowell, Dec. 23, 1816. Included in the Control folder is a Thesis by Mary Boyce Hicks, "James McDowell and the Virginia Slavery Debate of 1831-32," Athens, Georgia, 2010.

Content Description 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...

Scope and Contents

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

Scope and Contents From the Series:

Series 1 of this collection primarily covers the period from 1763 through Samuel McDowell Reid's death in 1869. There are also a few later items dealing chiefly with his estate.

The bulk of the papers deals with business matters. Documents concern such matters as the James River and Kanawha Company, the North River Navigation Company, Washington College's relationship with the Society of the Cincinnati, slavery, and the financial dealings of John Robinson and the Hare family.

Scope and Contents

This folder contains a paper written for a fine arts class entitled, “The McChesney House.” The paper discusses John McChesney, his family and slaves, more specifically a slave named Maria, and her experiences and connection to strange occurrences in the area. It also discusses the Civil War and its effects on the McChesney family as well as structural information about and photographs of the house.

Scope and Contents From the Collection: The Hugh Adams Papers archive is comprised of approximately 75 documents concerning the emancipation of nineteen slaves of the Adams estate and their estate imposed emigration to Careysburg, Liberia. Adams was actively involved for many years with the American Colonization Society ( A.C.S.) which promoted and engaged in the emigration process of free or freed African-Americans to Liberia on the west African coast. Included in the archive is an original handwritten copy of the will of Hugh...

Scope and Contents This account book documents agricultural operations for a southern Rockbridge County farmer between April 1863 and June 1867. The compiler is possibly Johnathan Poague, whose son, John William Poague, signed the book on the inside front cover. John William Poague attended Washington College in 1868 for one year. Contents include expenditures and receipts for day to day farm operations, crop production numbers, and diary - like entries. Contents of specific note include a registry of names of...

Scope and Contents

A receipt for the purchase of an enslaved African American girl named Charlotte who was sold by Samuel Mosby to David Anderson Jr. for $258 on June 16, 1828 in Hanover, Virginia. Joseph Mosby also signed the document as a witness.

Abstract

Robert E. Lee thanks the Colonel for patience and permission to extend his leave of absence. He is occupied handling the will of Mr. Custis.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of Rockbridge County records, including tax lists, ordinary licenses, muster rolls, lists of enslaved people, court cases, and election polls.

Scope and Contents This collection includes individual or small collections of letters to the Custis, Lee, Davidson, McDowell, Reid, and Hale families. Subjects include the Custis family involvement in the American Colonization Society, John Brown's Raid as recounted by V.M.I. cadet Charles A. Davidson of Lexington, Va., Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee's life, Lee family genealogy, Anne Lee Marshall's death, the Markoe family of Baltimore, Md.,Edgar Allan Poe, and Washington College (Va.) history including a...

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Copy of Washington Post article, "The Captive Nations of Slaves," covering an exhibit at the Museum of the Confederacy named "Before Freedom Came," 1991. Receipt for purchase of slave, John. January 26, 1850.

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This collection consists of papers from South Carolina, including: two letters, January 11 and January 14, 1865, from Major General Joseph Wheeler to General Braxton Bragg; printed 1833 broadside of a restrictive bill concerning slavery in South Carolina; other Civil War documents.

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To the Honorable the County Courts of the several Counties named in the annexed Schedule: Announcing 'An Act to provide further for the Public Defense;' requisitioning slaves from various counties for labor for fortifications and other various works to provide for the public defense. John Letcher, Executive Department, Richmond, November 27, 1862.

Scope and Contents This collection contains papers created by or related to William and Anne Fleming and several family members on Anne's side, including her parents, Israel and Elizabeth, and her brother, William.The subjects include Flemings accounts of his trips to Kentucky, his journal of the first Kentucky convention of which he served as chair, letters about business, Kentucky land claims, and family affairs. There are commissions, wills and estate inventories, land surveys and indentures, a...