Sangster Papers Finding Aid MS294

Sangster Papers Finding Aid MS294


[logo]

Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library

717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Business Number: 703-746-1791
lhsc@alexlibraryva.org
URL: http://alexlibraryva.org/lhsc

Repository
Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library
Identification
MS294
Title
Sangster Papers (MS294) 1853-1891
URL:
https://alexlibraryva.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/resources/119
Quantity
.21 Linear Feet, 1 box
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item identification], Sangster Papers (MS294), Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Elizabeth R. Cannon, 1994-1995

Biographical / Historical

The letters are arranged in chronological order from 1853 to 1891 with undated copies placed at the end. While most of the letters are written to, or by Virginia Sangster Bennett, there is also other correspondence between her brothers John, James and Thomas as well as Mary Edward Sangster, their sister. John and Thomas were killed during the War. The third brother, James, survived and later became a judge in the county court.

William Wallace Bennett (1821-1887) was a noted Methodist Episcopal South minister as well as president of Randolph - Macon College from 1877 until 1886. Bennett served as a chaplain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was in England purchasing Bibles for the troops at the end of the war. He and Virginia Lee Sangster were married in 1855.

Content Description

The letters in this collection center around the children and family of Edward Ford Sangster (1802-1883) an Alexandria resident, and his wife Mary Kendall Lee of the Ditchly Lees. Their children; John ( Jack ), Tom, James ( Jim ), Virginia Lee ( sister ) and Mary Edward ( "Puss" ) are all represented in the correspondence. William Wallace Bennett was the fiance, and later, husband of Virginia Lee. Many of Bennett's earlier letters deal with church matters and his impending marriage to Virginia Lee. There are a number of Civil War letters in the collection. A letter dated 1866 to Bennett and several other ministers from Varina Davis on behalf of her imprisoned husband is also included. There are several letters involving Daniel and F.E. Lee, and Sally Ford, all of whom were Sangster cousins. The University Account Book of John Sangster, dated 1856-1859 and listing expenses, weather and classes is placed in a separate series.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into five series. Series I, William Bennett and Virginia Sangster Bennett Correspondence, focuses on the correspondence between William Wallace Bennett and Virginia Lee Sangster from courtship to parenthood and documents William's time as a chaplain during the Civil War. Series II, Sangster Family Letters, holds all correspondence between the immediate Sangster family belonging to Edward and Mary Sangster. Series III, Mary Edward "Puss" Sangster Letters, are a series of letters written to Puss Sangster, as she was known by all. The majority of this series were written by cousins, though there are some correspondence with Maj. S. B. Brewer, approving Puss to be a clerk in the new Confederate Administration. Series IV, Miscellaneous Letters, holds all letters written by or to people outside the Sangster family. Series V, John Hancock Lee Sangster Notebook, holds a single folder with a single notebook belonging to Jack Sangster during his time at the University of Virginia in the late 1850s.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

Back to Top

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

Back to Top

Container List

Series I: William Bennett and Virginia Sangster Bennett Correspondence
1855-1866English.
Scope and Contents

This series consists of 2 folders of letters written between William Wallace Bennett and Virginia Lee Sangster during the courtship and married life. Folder 2 contains many letters written while William was serving as a Methodist chaplain in the Civil War.

Back to Top
Series II: Sangster Family Letters
1853-1891English.
Scope and Contents

This series holds the correspondence between the immediate family of Edward Ford Sangster and Mary Kendall Lee Sangster.

Back to Top
Series III: Mary Edward "Puss" Sangster Letters
1860-1866English.
Scope and Contents

This series consists of letters written to Mary Edward "Puss" Sangster. Included are letters written by her cousin Sallie Ford, cousin Daniel M. Lee, a Maj. S. B. Brewer, a Thomas H. Lace, among others. Any correspondence with her siblings can be found in the Sangster Family Letters series.

Back to Top
Series IV: Miscellaneous Letters
1861-1994English.
Scope and Contents

This series contains all letters that were not within the scope of Series I-III.

Back to Top
Series V: John Hancock Lee Sangster Notebook
1856-1859English.
Back to Top