This collection is made up of the personal and family papers of the Wharton and Radford families of Southwestern Virginia. While the bulk of the collection relates to Confederate General Gabriel C. Wharton and Nannie Radford Wharton, it contains personal materials such as correspondence, financial documents, and family papers from other family members as well. This collection also contains materials related to Wharton’s military service.

Series I. Correspondence, 1797-1905. This series consists of correspondence to, from, and between members of the Radford and Wharton families, including letters, telegrams, and calling cards. Content Warning: This series does contain references to enslavement, which may be upsetting. Subseries A: Gabriel C. and Nannie (Radford) Wharton, 1863-1865. This subseries includes correspondence between Gabriel C. and Anne (Nannie) Radford Wharton, both during their engagement and after their marriage. The bulk of their correspondence takes place during the American Civil War while Gabriel C. Wharton (GCW) served in the Confederate Army. Their letters include discussions on the war and troop movements, news of home and family, references to enslaved and formerly enslaved people, and expressions of love. Subseries B: Gabriel C. Wharton Incoming Correspondence, 1842-1905, contains correspondence addressed to GCW. Topics include the railroad, the war, news of family and friends, the Reconstruction era, politics and pardons, provisions, grievances, enslaved and formerly enslaved people, and invitations. Subseries C: Gabriel C. Wharton Outgoing Correspondence, 1842-1874, is made up of correspondence authored by GCW. Conversation topics include the war, news of friends and family, provisions, a request for a leave of absence, and a letter of reference. This subseries also includes unsent drafts. Subseries D: Nannie Radford Wharton Incoming Correspondence, 1861-1865, includes correspondence addressed to Nannie Radford Wharton, discussing news of the war, the death of Col. John Taylor Radford, news of friends and family, enslaved and formerly enslaved people, and provisions. Subseries E: Nannie Radford Wharton Outgoing Correspondence, 1861-1863. This subseries consists of letters authored by Nannie Radford Wharton, including an unfinished draft of an obituary. Conversation topics include politics and education. Subseries F: Radford Family, 1826-1900. This subseries includes correspondence both written by and written to members of the Radford family (with the exception of Nannie Radford Wharton). Topics discussed include politics and the war, provisions, news of family and friends, medicine, enslaved and formerly enslaved people, and expressions of sympathy. Subseries G: Wharton Family, 1846-1864, contains correspondence written by and to members of the Wharton family (with the exception of Gabriel C. Wharton). Topics include politics, enslaved and formerly enslaved people, provisions, sickness, and news of family and friends. Subseries H: External Correspondence, 1797-1887. This subseries contains correspondence between individuals not closely related to either the Radford or Wharton families. It may include correspondence from cousins or more distant relations. This subseries contains references to enslaved people.

Series II. Financial and Legal Materials, 1783-1865. This series is made up of financial and legal documents, including tax documents, receipts, promissory notes, land grants, an arrest warrant, communication with the Treasury Department of the Confederate States, and a pardon request. Content Warning: This series contains materials related to the sale of enslaved persons, which may be upsetting. Subseries A: Receipts, Invoices, and Promissory Notes, 1813-1865, consists of transaction records for goods and services such as lodging, school supplies, seed, cloth, and food, as well as tax records. Subseries B: Land Grants and Deeds, 1783-1859. This subseries contains records of land transfers, including deeds, indentures, articles of agreements, and land grants. Subseries C: Enslaved Persons Documents, 1855-1857. This subseries contains records relating to the sale of enslaved persons. Subseries D: Legal Documents, 1845-1865, includes various documents such as an arrest warrant, record of a suit, and Dr. John Blair Radford’s request for a special pardon from President Johnson. Series III. Military Documents, 1861-1902. This series includes materials related to the military aspects of the American Civil War. These materials largely relate to the service of Gabriel C. Wharton during his time in the Confederate Army. In addition to orders, roll calls, enlistment records, and passes, this series contains hand-drawn maps of relevant areas and post-war oaths of allegiance to the United States of America. Subseries A: Orders, 1861-1864, consists of orders and special orders, many addressed to GCW, from higher-ranking officers. These include requests for reports, rules and regulations for soldiers, instructions for troop movements, appointments, and authorizations for recruitment. Subseries B: Roll Calls and Reports, 1861-1864, 1902, contains roll calls, lists of wounded or killed, documents confirming the reporting of soldiers to their commands, and reports. Subseries C: Commission, Enlistment, and Transfer Requests, 1848-1864, includes documents such as lists of enlisted or reenlisted soldiers, commission certificates and appointments, and transfer requests. Subseries D: Passes, 1863-1865, contains documents used to allow passage through certain areas during the war. Series IV: Family Papers, 1822-1906. Due to the blended nature of the materials and their origins, this series is not restricted to one family, rather, it contains material from all families represented in the collection. Documents not contained in a subseries include a hand-drawn map of the geology of the Ramapo mountain region in New York and New Jersey as well as GCW’s pocket diary from February to August of 1863. Subseries A: Education, 1822-1862, includes materials such as report cards and a letter of acceptance to the Virginia Military Institute. Subseries B: Newspaper Clippings, 1842, 1904, 1906. This subseries consists of newspaper articles collected by the family that relate to family members or personal events, such as GCW’s obituary. Subseries C: Ephemera, 1851-1902. This subseries contains Confederate States of America currency, stamps, a brochure, a railroad time table, and ephemera such as Confederate Reunion ribbons.