Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduSpecial Collections Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Henry C. Hoar Memorial Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Acc. No. 1977.19 and 1977.20: 2 items purchased from Joseph Rubinfine. Acc. No. 1978.4 and 1978.14: 5 items purchased from Louis Ginsburg. Acc. No. 1978.35: 1 item purchased from Cohasco, New York. Acc. No. 1986.9: 1 item purchased from James Lowe, New York. Acc. No. 1992.46: 2 items purchased from Ron Seagrave.
Biographical Information:
Henry C. Hoar (1899-1977) was a volunteer in the Manuscripts Department of Swem Library, College of William and Mary from 1966 to 1976.
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts purchased in memory of Henry C. Hoar, a volunteer in the Manuscripts Department of Swem Library, College of William and Mary from 1966 to 1976. Includes letters, 1861, written to Jane Margaret (Winfree) Brown by Catherine Virginia Winfree concerning the coming of the Civil War and by Virginia A. Brown Winfree concerning the evacuation of Hampton which bears letter of C. V. Winfree concerning the vulnerability of the Peninsula; letters, 1861-1863, from Civil War soldiers such as John Willcox Brown of the Fourth Battalion of Volunteers concerning duty near Norfolk, John Thompson Brown of Richmond Howitzers describing Battle of Big Bethel, A. B. Tuttle of 142nd New York Regiment describing military movements in James City Co., Va., John H. B. Jenkins (of 40th New York) describing Battle of Williamsburg; letter, 1886, of Harrison Holt Riddleburger concerning Northwestern Literary and Historical Society; and letter, 1887, of Charles Triplett O'Ferrall concerning a speech on education.
Acc. 1992.46 consists of two items relating to the Union occupation of Williamsburg, 1863/1864. One item relates to "destitute contraband," who were enslaved individuals who fled to Union lines, and the other is a list of servants at the Eastern Lunatic Asylum.
The collection also includes a photograph of Henry C. Hoar.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Big Bethel, Battle of, 1861
- Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Artillery. Richmond Howitzers--History
- Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Regiment, 3rd--History
- Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Regiment, 4th--History
- Correspondence
- Eastern State Hospital (Va.)
- Eastern State Hospital (Va.)--History--19th century
- Hampton (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- James City County (Va.)--History--19th century
- Norfolk (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Northwestern Literary and Historical Society
- Peninsular Campaign, 1862
- Slavery--Virginia--Williamsburg--History--19th century.
- United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 142nd (1861-1865)
- United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 40th (1861-1865)
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Williamsburg, Battle of, Williamsburg, Va., 1862
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Container List
Letter from John Willcox Brown, Marine Hospital, Norfolk, Virginia, to sister "Fanny" (sister-in-law, Frances Bland Coalter Brown). Concerns his service in 4th Battalion of Volunteers stationed near Norfolk to defend a powder magazine. Mentions John Thompson Brown. Asks her to tell Henry Peronneau Brown not to "think of joining any company."
Letter from "Jennie" (Virginia A. Brown Winfree), Lynchburg, Virginia, to "my dear aunt" (Jane Margaret Winfree Brown). Concerns evacuation of Hampton, Virginia; C.V. Winfree will go into camp next week; soldiers at Manassas Gap ready to fight; and ladies are sewing for soldiers.
Includes letter of C.V. Winfree to "Sister" Jane, i.e., Jane Margaret Winfree Brown. Thinks it doubtful troops will muster in because some leading men have "deserted" cause; and discusses exposure of the Peninsula between the James and the York rivers.
Letter from J. Thompson Brown, Yorktown, Virginia, to wife, Mary Martha (Southall) Brown. Contains a description of the Battle of Big Bethel. Brown served in the Richmond Howitzers.
J. Thompson Brown, Yorktown, Virginia, to wife (Mary Martha (Southall) Brown). He has heard that Magruder has mentioned him in his dispatches; had a report of a fight at Manassas Junction and the enemy were "whipped with heavy loss"; hopes he will be sent there; "if God continues his blessings on our cause we may soon hope for peace and then we can be together again."
Letter from "Jennie" (Catherine Virginia Winfree), Lynchburg, Virginia to "Sister Jane" (Jane Margaret (Winfree) Brown). Concerns the coming of the Civil War and economic depression saying "there are a great many Negroes out of employment and much suffering among the poor."
Letter from A.S. Heath, U.S. Steamer Daylight off Newport News, Virginia, to his wife.
Acc. No. 1989.22.
Letter from J.H.B. Jenkins, Cumberland Landing on Pamunkey River, 12 Miles from West Point, Virginia, to Mary Benjamin, Smyrna, Delaware. Jenkins provides a Union soldier's (serving in the 40th New York regiment) description of the Battle of Williamsburg including sketches of the Federal battle position near Fort Magruder; the ineffectiveness of Austrian rifles; a drawing of wagons used by the Confederate army; a description of Jamestown; the promotion of Philip Kearny; and the arrest of Thomas Washington Egan and Charles Smith Hamilton.
Letter from A.B. Tuttle, Camp of the 142nd, New York, Regiment near the [Mine?] Road between Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia, to "Dear Sister." Union soldier's account of local military movements near Richardson's Mills (James City County, Virginia); bushwhackers, foraging and prices.
Letter from H.H. Riddleberger, Washington, D.C., to Ben W. Austin. Thanks Austin for honorary membership in the Northwestern Literary and Historical Society and gives his opinion of the importance of these societies in education.
Acc. No. 1977.20 from Joseph Rubinfine.
Charles T. O'Ferrall, Washington, D.C. to A.S. Garnett, Lloyds, Essex County, Virginia. Sends copy of speech on education made by O'Ferrall in House of Representatives.
Acc. No. 1977.19 from Joseph Rubinfine.
This item was housed in "Folder 10" of a currently unidentified shared box. Acc. No. 1992.46.
This item was housed in "Folder 110" of a currently unidentified shared box. Acc. No. 1992.46. /2018.
Henry C. Hoar was a volunteer in Special Collections, Swem Library, College of William and Mary, 1966-1976. His work dealt primarily with the Library's manuscript collection of Virginiana.