Content Description From the Collection:

The Gamaliel Lyman Dwight and Sarah Helen Whitman Papers contain three letters written by Gamaliel Lyman Dwight to Sarah Helen Whitman during the Civil War (1861-1865). In his first letter to Whitman, Dwight mentions a man who knew Edgar Allen Poe, a former romantic interest of Whitman. The remainder of the correspondence includes Dwight's impressions of Camp Winfield Scott, a tent encampment near Yorktown that served as the headquarters of Union General George B. McClellan.

Scope and Contents Two letters from Richard Parker of Harper's Ferry to John W. Luke of Snickersville, Virginia. In the first letter, dated April 17, 1845, Richard Parker writes that he was sorry that Betsy, the woman he enslaved, was a trouble to Luke. Parker wrote that he did not have a place to board Betsy during her confinement. In the second letter, written December 29, 1846, Parker wrote to Luke requesting that he hire out a number of enslaved persons he owned including a man named Webb & his wife,...

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Undated postcard which features the campus of William and Mary. The wren building is in the center along with partial views of the President's house and the Brafferton. The statue of Lord Botetourt is also visible. Behind the campus buildings are three buildings of unknown origin. It is possible they were drawn in to the picture for aesthetic purposes.

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A letter, written by Gideon Koiner , that details the author's opinons on the Democratic candidates leading up to the election of 1860. Koiner's letter to his brother speaks of his support of the southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge against the northern Democrat Stephen A. Douglas and the political climate of the country. Koiner also mentions his fears over the dissolution of the Union.

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The note, written in 1843 by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney and signed by President John Tyler, records the president's involvement in the discharge of Joseph Taney from Old Capitol Prison during the Civil War. The note was likely forwarded to War Secretary James Madison Porter. Includes a single sheet of paper measuring to 3" x 5" and ink prose.

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A letter from 1796 composed by Cuthbert Bullitt, a lawyer and plantation owner in Prince William County, Virginia. The letter describes Cuthbert Bullitt's interaction with enslaved workers on the plantation and his analysis of the character and value of each person. The letter amounts to a single sheet folded to 6" x 7 3/4" with ink prose.

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A letter from Hatty, a minister's wife and resident of West Newton, MA, to her mother during the mid-nineteenth century. The letter includes details about the health of Hatty and her husband and their trip to Washington to meet President John Tyler. The letter includes four standard pages of neat prose.

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A photograph of George O. Ennis, a photographer and Civil War (1861-1865) soldier in Virginia's 19th Infantry. The photograph is a carte de visite (cdV) which is a type of small photograph patented in Paris, France by photographer André Adolphe Eugène Disdéri in 1854, although first used by Louis Dodero. In the photograph, Ennis is wearing a suit with a striped bow-tie The photograph was produced in 1872 by the C.R. Rees & Co. studio in Richmond, Virginia.

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A letter written immediately after the Civil War (1861-1865) on November 9, 1865, the letter describes the life and community of its author, Louise. The letter outlines the birth of Louise's child, local events in a town identified as Riverside, an incident involving stolen cattle and the shooting of a young man. Written by "Louise" in 1865, the letter describes the life and events of "Riverside" in late 1865.

Scope and Contents A letter written by an unknown Union Army Civil War (1861-1865) solider in Newport News, Virginia dated Jan 9, circa 1863. The solider wrote to his sister about the conditions of the soldier's camp. In his description of the camp, he describes the amount of soldiers camped and the size of the camp. He writes that twenty soldiers were sick "with a bad cold." He also wrote the soliders were protecting five union families from the rebel forces. When he went scouting, he did not see much,...

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28 illustrated songsheets that use verse to satirize news stories from Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th century. The sheets credit Antonio Vanegas Arroyo as publisher, while the accompanying illustrations are attributed to José Guadalupe Posada.

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A one page draft of a command by George Earl of Albermarle, Governor of Cuba, to allow the safe passage of Don Christoval de los Rios, Don Diego Orison, and Don Antonio Fernandez, along with goods to Cadiz, Spain.

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This series contains a 10 page estate account inventory record by Daniel Payne, the executor of Lawrence Washington's estate, Wakefield Plantation in Westmoreland Co., VA. The inventory names 18 enslaved people. 3 unnamed enslaved children are also listed. Also included is a postcard with an image of Wakefield.

Content Description From the Collection:

The collection contains one letter from Caspar M. McElfresh's located in Williamsburg, Virginia at William & Mary, to his sister, Ariana McElfresh in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter contains McElfresh’s opinions and experiences during his first year at William & Mary. He likes his fellow students, his professors and how they teach their classes. He also discusses his hopes to have his two rifles at a later date.

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The Amherst County Glade Road petition contains information in regards to rerouting a road from wet to dry land. On one side of the petition, petitioners address the county court of Amherst while the other side includes an address from Wm Kent, Chas M. Wates, and B. P. Moniss, individuals who were appointed to review and report the proposed change.

Content Description From the Collection:

A single letter from James Fenimore Cooper of New York, New York, to Dr. Weiner c/o T. Hawkins of William & Mary. The letter expresses Cooper's reasoning for the writing of "The Deerslayer."

Content Description From the Collection:

The Henry D. Page correspondence consists of a single, four page letter from army clerk, Henry D. Page to friend B.B. Clark of Franklin, New Hampshire. The letter provides an account of an American soldier's capture, near execution and escape during the Mexican war. The letter is dated 25 October 1847.

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A single 3 page letter with envelope from "Hettie" to Mary Lybrook dated 1866 July 19. The letter details daily activitives and family medical issues.

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Two notebooks of Clarence W. Clapp's manuscripts poetry books. The first notebook's contains 20 poems discussing nature, local people, and religion. The second notebook's poems discuss men and women, the homeless population, and politicians.

Content Description From the Collection:

Two notebooks of Clarence W. Clapp's manuscripts poetry books. The first notebook's contains 20 poems discussing nature, local people, and religion. The second notebook's poems discuss men and women, the homeless population, and politicians.

Content Description From the Collection:

Two letters from Harry F. Byrd, Sr. to A.A. Watters, Jr. in regards to proposed tax reforms. The first letter is dated March 5, 1963 and details Byrd's desires to implement tax laws. The second letters is dated April 29, 1963 and expresses Byrd's thanks to Watters, Jr.

Content Description From the Collection:

Two letters from Harry F. Byrd, Sr. to A.A. Watters, Jr. in regards to proposed tax reforms. The first letter is dated March 5, 1963 and details Byrd's desires to implement tax laws. The second letters is dated April 29, 1963 and expresses Byrd's thanks to Watters, Jr.

Content Description From the Collection:

Two letters from Harry F. Byrd, Sr. to A.A. Watters, Jr. in regards to proposed tax reforms. The first letter is dated March 5, 1963 and details Byrd's desires to implement tax laws. The second letters is dated April 29, 1963 and expresses Byrd's thanks to Watters, Jr.

Content Description From the Collection:

A 24 page letter written by Malcom W. Bingay to Mr. Gipp, managing editor of the Detroit News. The letter is expressing appreciation to Mr. Gipp.

Content Description From the Collection:

A series of two letters and two pamphlets regarding the policies and curriculum of the Union Co-Operative School in Bedford city, Virginia. Correspondence is addressed to Mr. R.A. Bradley of Hammett, Virginia from the Union Co-Operative School and includes information on tuition and boarding costs as well as the structure of the curriculum. The two pamphlets outline the school's policies and initiatives as well as the courses offered within the program for prospective students.