Rose-Tunstall A Guide to the Rose-Tunstall Family Papers MG 23

A Guide to the Rose-Tunstall Family Papers MG 23


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Susan E. Yates

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 23
Title
Rose-Tunstall Family Papers circa 1809-1947, undated Date acquired: 11/18/1977
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/5/resources/104
Quantity
0.40 Linear Feet
Quantity
1 Hollinger document case boxes
Creator
Rose, Robert M.
Language
English .
Abstract
Business records and personal correspondence of four Norfolk families. Focal point is the papers of Commander Robert M. Rose.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Rose-Tunstall Family Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Mrs. Caroline Heath Tunstall

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A77-86


Biographical or Historical Information

Born in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, Robert M. Rose was the son of a Norfolk, Virginia family. Apparently there was something of the sea tradition in the Rose family. There was an uncle, Alexander F. Rose who captained his own ship and under whom, Robert's brother Alexander began his career in 1830. Much earlier than this, Robert Rose enlisted in the U.S. Navy as midshipman on board the USS Independence in 1809. While serving on the Independence, Rose attained the rank of lieutenant and continued in this capacity in subsequent assignments on the USS Columbus and the USS Terrier. By 1815 Rose had married his wife Mary, a woman also from the Norfolk area. As a naval officer, Rose of course was away from his family for many months out of the year. Indeed his son Robert W. Rose was born in the summer of 1823 while he was stationed in Key West with the Terrier. The anxiety caused by these extended periods of separation runs throughout Mary's letters. Aside from maintaining several rental properties belonging to the family, Mary attended to the duties of her own household. Periodic outbreaks in the community of diseases such as yellow fever were always a source of concern for a mother with a young child. There is also some evidence that Robert financially supported his brother Alexander while he was in school. This went contrary to Mary's way of thinking. She felt that Alexander was given too much to study and too little honest work. Sometime in 1830, Mary and their son Robert began living in Portsmouth near Fort Nelson with the family of Lieutenant Joseph Smoot. In April of that same year, Rose had been promoted to Commander. References in Mary's letters dated immediately after this time indicate that Rose had visited with his family prior to taking command of the USS Erie. Within three months of his new command, Rose contracted yellow fever and died at a West India Station on August 27, 1830. The last letter in the collection from Mary was written the day before her husband's death and is especially poignant as it contains the welcome news of their son's recovery from the same malady.

Note written by Susan E. Yates

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of family papers, including the business records and personal correspondence of four Norfolk families in the Rose-Tunstall lineage. The bulk of the collection includes material related to Commander Robert M. Rose. While most of the papers consists of original documents, copies of documents are found throughout the collection.

Arrangement Note

The collection is arranged into four series: Series I: Commander Robert M. Rose; Series II: Dr. Robert W. Rose; Series III: Dr. Robert B. Tunstall; and Series IV: Charles and Jane B.P. Tunstall.

Related Material

Other papers related to Robert M. Rose were given to the U.S. Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland in 1950.

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series I
Series I: Commander Robert M. Rose
circa 1811-1830, undated
Scope and Contents

Although Series I does not contain correspondence written by Robert Rose, there are multiple letters from his wife, Mary, and from several naval and business acquaintances. Those letters authored by Mary provide an insight into the Rose family, containing personal reminiscences as well as daily accounts of household and local affairs. There are, in addition, frequent references to the families and ship assignments of other naval officers.

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Series II
Series II: Dr. Robert W. Rose
1818-1869, undated
Scope and Contents

Series II contains the correspondence and business papers of Commander Rose's son, Dr. Robert W. Rose. Although there are letters from family members and friends, here as in the first series, there is no correspondence written by Dr. Rose. What could be considered as an exception to this is a copy of a legal document written on behalf of Dr. Rose and addressed to the 1893 Provisional Congress of the Confederate States (Folder 32). The document concerns the loss of six runaway slaves for whom Dr. Rose seeks financial redress from the Provisional Congress. From the remaining correspondence and papers. numerous genealogical references to the Rose family can be found.

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Series III
Series III: Dr. Robert B. Tunstall
circa 1857-1886, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes receipts, account books, and other business papers of Dr. Robert B. Tunstall.

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Series IV
Series IV: Charles and Jane B.P. Tunstall
1944-1947, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains a World War I ration book and war bond, as well as callling cards and a copy of The Citizen, a World War II era publication.

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