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Alfred T. Harris Letter to Robert L. Brown

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2024-012

Scope and Content

This letter is written by Alfred T. Harris in Richmond, Virginia, on July 30, 1845, to Robert L. Brown in Variety Mills, Virginia. Harris discusses that he has not yet received a crop of tobacco and continues to describe tobacco in great detail, from the treatment to the cost.

Dates

  • 1845

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

Alfred T. Harris (1799-1883) married Marcy C. Brander (1815-1893) in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on May 14, 1835, and they had four children: Powhatan, Alfred T., Jr., Ella, and Julia. He was a merchant in Richmond, running a tobacco exchange called Alfred T. Harris & Son, with his son Alfred T., Jr., according to the 1869 Richmond directory.

According to the 1840 census, there is an Alfred T. Harris, who enslaved 7 people, including men, women, and children. On the 1850 census, one Alfred T. Harris enslaved a Black man who was either 18 or 48, while another enslaved 6 men, women, and children.

External Sources:

U.S. Federal Censuses, 1830-1860, 1880.

"Alfred Turpin Harris", FindAGrave.com,https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25286808/alfred-turpin-harris, accessed Jan. 26, 2024.

"Mary Catherine Harris', FindAGrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25286854/mary-catherine-harris, accessed Jan. 26, 2024.

"Alfred T. Harris" in the Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60214/records/2906606, accessed Feb. 13, 2025.

"Alfred T Harris" in the Richmond, Virginia, City Directory, 1869, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2469/records/690102966, accessed Feb. 13, 2025.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This letter is written by Alfred T. Harris in Richmond, Virginia, on July 30, 1845, to Robert L. Brown in Variety Mills, Virginia. Harris discusses that he has not yet received a crop of tobacco and continues to describe tobacco in great detail, from the treatment to the cost. Harris (1799-1883) was a tobacco merchant in Richmond.

Source of Acquisition

The Alfred T. Harris Letter to Robert L. Brown was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in January 2017.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Alfred T. Harris Letter to Robert L. Brown 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 Alfred T. Harris Letter to Robert L. Brown was completed in January 2024.

Title
Alfred T. Harris Letter to Robert L. Brown, 1845
Status
Completed
Author
Ella Winterling, Student Assistant
Date
2024 (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