Custodial History

Material was acquired from the Lloyd House (Alexandria, VA.), through Mrs. Betsy Stark, the descendant of Mrs. Benham.

Preferred Citation

[item identification], Mary Louisa Slacum Benham Papers, MS062, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.

Accruals

No accruals are expected.

Content Description

Notes and reminiscences of Mrs. Benham's life from her childhood and youth in Alexandria to her adult travels along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Also covers the settlement of Oregon (through her brother William's experiences there), the careers of her siblings and her elderly musings. Alexandria sections include materials on Mrs. Benham's family life, the Potomac River, Monsieur Generis' dancing school, the Woods and Warren Play Actors (the summer theater), Parson Muir, Bishop Meade, Christ Church, Mount Vernon, Washington Lodge, Washington City and President Monroe's daughter's wedding. Also highlighted are many prominent Virginia and Washington D.C. families such as the Washington's, Lewis', Moore's, McCormick's, Meade's and Vowell's. Local customs, social life and institutions are discussed.

Arrangement

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Alexandria (Va.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century.
• Benham family
• Benham, Mary Louise Slacum, 1802-1884
• Oregon -- History -- To 1859
• Reminiscences
• Slacum family
• Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century