Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Freeman Hart collection, WLU Coll. 0129, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections' staff to verify the appropriate format.
Biographical / Historical
prof., b. Lexington, Va., Oct. 6, 1889; s. John Harvey and Susan (Gaylor) H.; A.B., Washington and Lee U., 1912, M.A., 1917; M.A., Harvard, 1922; PhD, Columbia, 1942; m. Jean Blanding Fraser, Junes 28, 1923; children- John Fraser, James Wilson, Abel McIver, David Edward, Jean Blanding. Prof. history Wash. Coll., Md., 1923-25; prof. history and economics Hampden-Sydney Coll., Va., 1915-40; prof. history extension div., U. of Va., 1928-41; prof. social sci. and humanities U. of Fla., Gainesville, since 1946, dir. Georgia Seagle Found. since 1947. Seved with A.E.F., World War I. Awarded Cross of Honor, United Daughters of Confederacy. Mem. Am. Hist. Assn., So. Hist. Soc., Fla. Hist. Soc., Va. Hist. Soc., Coll. Fraternities Secretary's Assn. (Exec. com. 1943-46), Pi Kappa Alpha (nat. historian 1930-49, nat. vice pres. 1936-38, nat. pres. 1938-40, exec. sec. 1940-46), Pi Beta Kappa, Tau Kappa Alpha, Sigma Upsilon, Kappa Phi Kappa. Independent. Presbetyrian. Club: Gainesville Rotary Author: Numerical Stength of Confederate Army (N.Y. Times Current History, Oct. 1926), History of Pi Kappa Alpha (1934, rev. 1949), The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution (U. of N.C. Press, 1943); author of articles in Dictionary of American Biography.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Preston, William
- Brown, William Moseley
- Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
- Hart, Freeman Hansford
- Jackson, Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall)
- Jefferson, Thomas
- Johnston, Zechariah
- Lewis, John
- Madison, James
- Monroe, James
- Moore, Andrew, 1752-1821
- Patton, James
- Shakespeare, William
- Walker, Thomas, Dr.
- White, Alexander
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Florida
- France
- France -- Loire Valley
- Louisiana -- New Orleans
- Southern states
- United States -- Potomac River
- United States -- Shenandoah River Valley
- Virginia
- Virginia -- Lexington -- Col Alto
Container List
- Text [0000005970] box: 1 folder: 1
ControlEnglish.
- Text [0000006041] box: 1 folder: 2
Correspondence 1910-1919English.Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence with Henry St. George Tucker regarding the maintenance of Lexington, Virginia's Col Alto estate, where Hart was residing prior to World War I. Also contains correspondane concerning WWI, including notices of military protocol. The U.S.S. Mongolia and 317th Infantry at Sea, and the medical detachment of which Hart was a part, are topics of interest.
- Text [0000005992] box: 1 folder: 3
Correspondence 1920-1929English.Scope and Contents
Correspondances related to professional positions held, the publication of Hart's work, personal matters such as the illness of Hart's father, and military affairs.
- Text [0000005991] box: 1 folder: 4
Correspondence 1930-1939English.Scope and Contents
Contains personal correspondence, military correspondence,and academic correspondence relating to Hart's published work, especially his doctoral dissertation, professional positions, and professional and speaking engagements. There is also a letter to a Dr. Fraser about presidential politics and prohibition in 1932, as well as one that seems to be about Hart's opinion about the possibility of WWII and U.S. involvement, though it is undated.
- Text [0000006043] box: 1 folder: 5
Correspondence 1940-1949English.Scope and Contents
Correspondence related primarily to the publication of Hart's doctoral dissertation, 'The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution,' his gift of the work to friends, which are often personal letters, and reviews of this book. There is also correspondence concerning his speaking engagements, his review of a book by Foner,bibliographic information provided for Who's Who in America, a teaching position, a chapter Hart wrote for a book about several Presbetyrian chuches in the Valley of Virginia, his position in the Rockbridge Historical Society, and personal letters.
- Text [0000006045] box: 1 folder: 6
Correspondence 1950-1959English.Scope and Contents
Correspondence requesting historical information of Hart, professional inquiries, personal correspondence with fellow W&L alumni, other personal letters, and correspondence regarding an article about James Patton that Hart was co-authoring.
- Text [0000006046] box: 1 folder: 7
Correspondence 1960-1965English.Scope and Contents
Correspondence that is personal, related to Hart's collection of photographs for an article about James Patton Preston for The Commonwealth magazine, about other research related to this project, including information about Col. William Preston, James's father, and other professional and research correspondence. One letter of note is addressed to the editors of the Saturday Evening Post from B.R. Colson comparing liberalism and communism.
- Text [0000006997] box: 1 folder: 8 box: data_value_missing_ac3415315ab764338af0eb1f54a599ce
Correspondence, MiscellaneousMajority of materials in English; some materials in French.Scope and Contents
Items of note include a small travel brochure about New Orléans in French which includes a map and a professional dispute with the University of Florida. Other personal and professional correspondence from various years can be found here as well.
- Text [0000005995] box: 2 folder: 9
Book ReviewsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Reviews of Hart's work and reviews written by him. Includes reviews of Hart's The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution, Joseph H. Parks's General Kirby Smith, C.S.A., Philip S. Foner's Business and Slavery: The New York Merchants and the Irrepressible Conflict,Howard M. Wilson's The Tinkling Spring: Headwater of Freedom, Herbert Clarence Bradshaw's History of Prince Edward County, Virginia, E. Merton Coulter's Wormsloe: Two Centuries of a Georgia Family, and Robert L. Kincaid's The Wilderness Road.
- Text [0000006002] box: 2 folder: 10
Essays, MiscellaneousEnglish.Scope and Contents
Essays on topics including the relationship between citizenship and national defense, a denunciation of the legality of integration, the balence between faith and reason, whether the U.S. should enter the war (probably WWII), the American flag, a metaphorical lament of the wrongs done to the South, The Virginia Frontier on the Eve of the American Revolution, and an essay by Mr. B.R. Colson comparing liberalism and communism, addressed to the letters of the Saturday Evening Post, which he sent for Hart to read as discussed in an accompanying letter.
- Text [0000006001] box: 2 folder: 11
Civil War MaterialEnglish.Scope and Contents
Material about Civil War commemorative events, a map of Stonewall Jackson's movements, a summary of the Battle of Antietam, a copy of A House Divided: The Civil War Letters of a Virginia Family, by W.G. Bean, a piece about Jefferson Davis, and an extract from 'The Congressional Globe' from January 21, 1861 about seccesion.
- Mixed Materials [0000006003] box: 2 folder: 12
Lord FairfaxEnglish.Scope and Contents
Material related to Hart's article 'Lord Fairfax and the Washingtons,' including parts of the article, drafts, and research materials.
- Graphic Materials [0000006004] box: 2 folder: 13
Frontiersman MonumentEnglish.Scope and Contents
Photographs of the Frontiersman Monument.
- Text [0000006018] box: 2 folder: 14
John LewisEnglish.Scope and Contents
Two drafts of Hart's article 'John Lewis and his Sons: Frontier Builders.'
- Text [0000006019] box: 2 folder: 15
President James MonroeEnglish.Scope and Contents
Hart's article 'James Monroe, Statesman, Extra-Ordinary' in several stages.
- Mixed Materials [0000006020] box: 2 folder: 16
Battle of OlusteeEnglish.Scope and Contents
Materials including newspaper clippings, an article by Hart about the battle and correspondence concerning the editing process, an article by Hart titled 'Florida in the War between the States,' transcriptions of the 1860 census, a map of the battle, research notes, and information about a centennial reenactment.
- Mixed Materials [0000006021] box: 3 folder: 17
Col. James PattonEnglish.Scope and Contents
Graphic and written research materials, drafts of an essay about James Patton, correspondence about the writing process, research n notes,recommendations for editing, and a list of references to Patton.
- Mixed Materials [0000006022] box: 3 folder: 18
Col. William PrestonEnglish.Scope and Contents
Graphic and written research materials, research notes, a description of inserts, and drafts of the article Colonel William Preston- Frontier Builder.
- Text [0000006023] box: 3 folder: 19
Speeches to the Daughters of the American RevolutionEnglish.Scope and Contents
Speeches to the Daughters of the American Revolution, including 'Seventy-five Years of Service for the Daughters of the American Revolution,' 'American History Month,' 'The Road to Communism,' 'One Nation under God,' and an anti-integration essay on the subject of the 'law of the land.'
- Text [0000006031] box: 3 folder: 20
Valley of Virginia- manuscriptsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Manuscripts of The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution
- Mixed Materials [0000006033] box: 3 folder: 21
Valley of Virginia- misc.English.Scope and Contents
Material related to The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution, including book reviews, a piece about Zachariah Johnston, notes, a map, and publishing materials.
- Text [0000006034] box: 3 folder: 22
Valley of Virginia- UNC PressEnglish.Scope and Contents
Material relating to the publishing of The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution.
- Mixed Materials [0000006998] box: 3 folder: 23 box: data_value_missing_1123615e31f8f38caf387e35cd66140d
Virginia State HistoryEnglish.Scope and Contents
Materials related to the history of Virginia including a booklet on the 1776 Virginia Convention, a booklet on Wichester and the Shenandoah Valley, a pamphlet for William Moseley Brown (a candidate for VA governor), a piece on 'The Madison-Jefferson Correspondence Concerning Religious Liberty, 1784-1789,' an article called 'The Potomac Route to the Western Waters,' an article called 'The Three Generals of the Valley,' a map, postcards, a 'Sketch of Virginia History for the French Veterans, Guests of the Nation,' a piece on Andrew Moore by a Miss Allen, and a thesis summary by Hart called 'Federalism in Virginia 1783-1788 with Special Reference to the Valley.'
- Mixed Materials [0000006036] box: 3 folder: 24
Dr. Thomas WalkerEnglish.Scope and Contents
Material related to Thomas Walker including a booklet called 'Dr. Thomas Walker: Father of Kentucky,' newspaper clippings, a piece c called 'Dr. Thomas Walker- Frontier Builder,' a scan of a primary source letter, and correspondence about writing the piece.
- Mixed Materials [0000006037] box: 3 folder: 25
George WashingtonEnglish.Scope and Contents
Materials regarding George Washington including a postcard of his office, drafts of an article about him, and scans of primary source material.
- Text [0000006038] box: 3 folder: 26
Alexander WhiteEnglish.Scope and Contents
Drafts of an article titled 'Alexander White- Frontier Builder.'
Eight tied groupings of Hart's research notes for his doctoral thesis, The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution.
Six tied groupings of Hart's research notes for his doctoral thesis, The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution.
Six tied groupings of research notes for Hart's doctoral thesis, The Valley of Virginia in the American Revolution.
- Text [0000007001] box: 7 folder: 27
Medical Detachment Ledger, 317th InfantryUnited States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 317thEnglish.
- Graphic Materials [0000007002] box: 7 folder: 28
MapsEnglish.
- Mixed Materials [0000007003] box: 7 folder: 29
MiscellaneousEnglish.Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous WWI material including uniform patches, a pamphlet for the Washington and Lee Victory Alumni Reunion, a small American Flag, a photograph of soldiers, a blank Liberty Loan Bond, a song sheet, inventory and personnel documents, personal items, and a graphic guide to identifying military insignia.
Also included is an enveloped color brochure, "Flags of Our Country, National, State, Historic," published in 1962.
- Mixed Materials [0000007004] box: 7 folder: 30
MiscellaneousEnglish.Scope and Contents
Roster and other beaureaucratic documents, a song lyric sheet, a description of meals for several days, and a publication titled Bulletin.
- Text [0000006056] box: 7 folder: 31
Newspaper ClippingsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings related to WWI, including local Rockbridge County citizens' experiences, full pages from The New York Herald, the Stars and Stripes, The Bayonet, The News, and The Evening World.
- Mixed Materials [0000006057] box: 7 folder: 32
NotebooksEnglish.Scope and Contents
Several of Hart's notebooks from during WWI.
- Text [0000006058] box: 7 folder: 33
PamphletsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Pamphlets from during WWI, including a book of postcards of Loire Valley castles, a booklet on how to use a device used in the military, a pamphlet advertising WWI war bonds, a service song book, a booklet of prayers issued by the YMCA, a booklet in French titled Evangeline selon S. Marc: La Moisson Près de Bethanie, an Anglo-French phrase book, an active service French book, a booklet of appreciaton for WWI soldiers, a booklet of postcards called Les Américains en France, a pamphlet of useful French, a dual language booklet in French and English about the French soldier, a 'Pocket Treasury' of religious texts, and a booklet in French on the abbey of Fontevrault with photographs.
- Mixed Materials [0000006060] box: 7 folder: 34
PostcardsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Postcards that are military issued and from different areas of France.
- Text [0000006061] box: 8 folder: 35
American Legion and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity MaterialsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Papers and newspaper clippings related to the history of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and Hart's role as American Leigion historian
- Text [0000006064] box: 8 folder: 36
Newspaper ClippingsEnglish.Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings primarily related to Hart and his work
- Mixed Materials [0000006063] box: 8 folder: 37
Biographical MaterialEnglish.Scope and Contents
Biographical information including a list of achievements from Who's Who in America, a summary from the Literary Map - Biographical Guide of Virginia authors, a W&L yearbook entry about Hart, a list of Hart's publications, and a document resembling a resume
- Mixed Materials [0000006062] box: 8 folder: 38
W&L MemorabiliaEnglish.Scope and Contents
Contains materials regarding the bicentennial celebration at W&L, a reunion book for the class of 1912, and a Ring Tum Phi article from WWI about students including Hart leaving for war
- Books [0000006065] box: 8 folder: 39
Miniature HamletEnglish.Scope and Contents
Miniature Hamlet which Hart carried with him during WWI
- Text [0000006066] box: 8 folder: 40
Current History, October, 1926English.Scope and Contents
see page 91 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006068] box: 8 folder: 41
Tyler's Quarterly Historical, January, 1927English.Scope and Contents
see page 155 for mention of Hart's Current History article
- Text [0000006069] box: 8 folder: 42
Indiana Magazine of History, March, 1955English.Scope and Contents
see page 83 for book review by Hart
- Text [0000006070] box: 8 folder: 43
The Commonwealth, July, 1957English.Scope and Contents
see page 9 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006071] box: 8 folder: 44
The Commonwealth, April, 1958English.Scope and Contents
see page 13 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006072] box: 8 folder: 45
The Commonwealth, December, 1958English.Scope and Contents
see page 50 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006073] box: 8 folder: 46
The Commonwealth, September, 1960English.Scope and Contents
see page 13 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006074] box: 8 folder: 47
The Commonwealth, October, 1960English.Scope and Contents
see page 17 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006075] box: 8 folder: 48
The Commonwealth, December, 1960English.Scope and Contents
see page 33 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006076] box: 8 folder: 49
The Commonwealth, March, 1961English.Scope and Contents
see page 11 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006077] box: 8 folder: 50
The Commonwealth, July, 1961English.Scope and Contents
see page 17 for article by Hart
- Text [0000006078] box: 8 folder: 51
The Florida Times Union Sunday Magazine, April 4, 1965English.Scope and Contents
see page 16 for article by Hart