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Bear Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1992-010

Scope and Content

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.

Dates

  • 1823 - 1879

Creator

Language of Materials

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.

Family Historical Note

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.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This collection consists of diaries, books, and letters of various members of the Bear family of Churchville, Augusta County, Virginia. It includes a diary written in 1862 by Harvey Bear describing the war activity around him and his service as a wagon teamster for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Also includes two diaries written in 1878-1879 by Harvey's son George, an 1863 general order for Stonewall Jackson's Second Army Corp of the Army of Northern Virginia, and an 1849 letter from a member of the Virginia House of Delegates to Harvey Bear about a vote on resolutions regarding enslaved people.

Source of Acquisition

The Bear Family Papers were purchased by Special Collections in 1992.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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/).

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Bear Family Papers was completed in or prior to October 2002.

Title
Bear Family Papers, 1823-1879
Status
Completed
Author
Laura Katz Smith, Manuscript Curator
Date
2001 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308