James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison Drive MSC 1704 Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807 Telephone: (540) 568-3612 library-special@jmu.edu URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Chris Bolgiano, Alicia Henneberry, Tiffany Cole
Repository
James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Identification
SC 0118
Title
Margaret B. Burruss Collection of Scott and Saufley Family Papers 1786-1912 1991
Quantity
1.10 cubic feet, 3 boxes
Creator
Scott, Reuben A., 1838-1912
Creator
Scott, Mary Catherine Saufley, 1833-1920
Creator
Scott family
Creator
Saufley family
source
Burruss, Margaret Brooks, 1923-2011
Language
English
.
Abstract
The Margaret B. Burruss Collection of Scott and Saufley Family Papers, 1786-1912, 1991, is comprised of correspondence, transcripts,
photographs, and the Hanna family Bible.
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library.
For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this
collection.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Margaret B. Burruss Collection of Scott and Saufley Family Papers, 1786-1912,
1991, SC 0118, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Acquisition Information
Donated in July 1990 by Mrs. Margaret B. Burruss, a great-granddaughter of Reuben A. Scott and Mary (Mollie) Saufley Scott.
Processing Information
At some point after acquiring this collection, Special Collections staff separated the correspondence from their corresponding
envelopes. The separated envelopes have penciled notations on them referring back to their original letter. In an effort to
not further lose original order by trying to marry each letter with an envelope, the two remain separated. In order to streamline
the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the
spring of 2017. (The collection was also minimally reprocessed during this time.) This collection was previously cataloged as SC 2097 .
The Margaret B. Burruss Collection of Scott and Saufley Family Papers, 1789-1912, consists of three boxes containing letters,
family records, photos, letter transcripts, and the Hanna family Bible. The collection relates to the Scott and Saufley families
of Rockingham County, Virginia.
Series 1: Scott-Saufley Correspondence, 1861-1865, is comprised of six folders of Civil War correspondence between Reuben
A. Scott and his wife Mary Catherine Saufley Scott (called Mollie). His letters describe camp life, preparation for battles,
and his assignment of searching out and arresting deserters. Her letters describe events and news about family members and
home. There are also several documents included that are relevant to the correspondence, such as the April 7, 1861 letter
from Mollie's father giving her permission to marry, a leave of absence for Scott in Septmeber 1861, and copies of his muster
rolls.
Mixed Materials [1000886565] box: 1 folder: 1
Reuben A. Scott/Mollie Catherine Saufley Scott correspondence
April 7, 1861-June 5, 1861
Mixed Materials [1000886565] box: 1 folder: 2
Reuben A. Scott/Mollie Catherine Saufley Scott correspondence
June 8, 1861-July 20, 1861
Mixed Materials [1000886565] box: 1 folder: 3
Reuben A. Scott/Mollie Catherine Saufley Scott correspondence
July 23, 1861-September 8, 1861
Mixed Materials [1000886565] box: 1 folder: 4
Reuben A. Scott/Mollie Catherine Saufley Scott correspondence
September 26, 1861-December 23, 1861
Mixed Materials [1000886565] box: 1 folder: 5
Reuben A. Scott/Mollie Catherine Saufley Scott correspondence
January 5, 1862-March 24, 1862
Mixed Materials [1000886565] box: 1 folder: 6
Reuben A. Scott/Mollie Catherine Saufley Scott correspondence
Series 2: Family Letters, 1786-1912, contains miscellaneous letters from members of the Whitmer, Ewing, Brown, Graham, as
well as the Scott and Saufley family. Letter from both R.A. Scott and M.C. Saufley to various relatives are filed here. Also
filed here are notes of debts and R.A. Scott's obituary and will.
Series 3: Miscellaneous, 1859-1861, contains M.C. Saufley's daybook and pamphlet, The Soldier's Mission in the Crisis of 1861
that contains a note by R. A. Scott ("found on battlefield"). This folder also holds several clippings that were photocopied
onto preservation paper for placement with the letters they accompanied. The Hanna Family Bible also forms part of this series
and includes two pages of genealogical data.
Series 4: Photographs, ca. 1860s, 1912, consists of three cases photos of R.A. Scott, one cased photo of Mollie Scott identified
and dated by the donor as 1861, and one mounted photo of R. A. Scott in his casket.
Series 5: Envelopes, 1861-1912, correspond to the letters in Series 1 and Series 2. They were separated from their letters
during an initial processing campaign. The separated envelopes have penciled notations on them referring back to their original
letter.