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Jefferson and Varina Anne Davis Letter

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2022-028

Content Description

This collection contains a July 25, 1886 letter penned by Varina Anne Davis for her father, Jefferson Davis, to James H. Lane, a former Confederate general and former VAMC Commandant of Cadets. The letter is in response to a previous letter from Lane asking Jefferson Davis for a recommendation. This letter informs Lane that Davis' recommendation won't carry the same weight as it might have once had. The collection also includes two typed copies of the letter.

Dates

  • 1886

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in this 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.

Biographical Note - Varina Anne Davis

Varina Anne Davis was the youngest daughter of Jefferson Davis. She was born in Richmond on June 27, 1864, and lived until September 18, 1898. Following the death of her father she moved to New York where she worked as a novelist under the name Varina Anne Jefferson-Davis.

Source: Ferrell, Chiles Clifton (1899). "The Daughter of the Confederacy – Her Life, Character, and Writings." Mississippi Historical Society. https://archive.org/details/thedaughterofcon00ferr/page/n1/mode/2up?view=theater.

Biographical Note - Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Finis Davis was born June 3, 1808 and lived until December 6, 1889. Davis was the first and only President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Prior to the war, Davis was elected to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. During the Mexican-American War, Davis was offered a promotion to Brigadier General but he turned it down. Also prior to the Confederacy, Davis was the United States Secretary of War.

Source: American Battlefield Trust. "Jefferson Davis Biography." https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/jefferson-davis. Accessed August 2, 2022.

Biographical Note - James H. Lane

Born on July 28, 1833 in Mathews Courthouse, Virginia, James H. Lane was educated at the Virginia Military Institute and later became a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. After the war, Lane served at the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (later Virginia Tech) as a professor of Natural Philosophy, General Chemistry, Military Tactics, as well as VAMC's first Commandant of Cadets. Lane went on to teach at the Missouri School of Mines and Auburn University. He passed away in 1907.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This collection contains a July 25, 1886 letter penned by Varina Anne Davis on behalf of her father, Jefferson Davis, to James H. Lane, former confederate general and former VAMC Commandant of Cadets. The letter is in response to a previous letter from Lane asking Jefferson Davis for a recommendation. This letter informs Lane that Davis' recommendation won't carry the same weight as it might have once had.

Source of Acquisition

The Jefferson and Varina Anne Davis Letter was acquired by Special Collections and University Archives prior to 2012.

Related Archival Materials

See the Varina Anne Davis Letter, also held at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Jefferson and Varina Anne Davis Letter 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 Jefferson and Varina Anne Davis Letter was completed in August 2022.

Title
Jefferson and Varina Anne Davis Letter, 1886
Status
Completed
Author
Tyler Williams, Student Worker
Date
2022 (CC0 1.0)
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