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Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryP.O. Box 400110
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
URL: https://small.library.virginia.edu/
Sharon Defibaugh and Emily Shipman
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation
Sheppard family papers, 1883-1919, 1981-1999, MSS 14256, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Sheppard family papers were given to the University of Virginia Special Collections Library by W. Stevens Sheppard on May 2, 2008.
Biographical / Historical
Charles Copeland (1756-1836), the great-great grandfather of James Herbert Sheppard, married Rebecca Nicholson (1767-1800) and they had Charles Robert Copeland (1794-1828), who married Eveline Adams. Their daughter, Mary Ann Copeland (1821-1904) married Thomas Johnson Robinson (1827-1898). They had a daughter, Louise Robinson (1859-1836) who married William Collins Sheppard, (the son of Thomas Jefferson Sheppard) and they had James Herbert Sheppard.
Thomas Jefferson Sheppard (1834-1912) enlisted in the 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, having a strong conviction concerning slavery, and was captured at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. He was imprisoned at Camp Sumter Prison. While imprisoned he was referred to as "The Andersonville Chaplain." After being released he returned to his duties as a Baptist Minister.
James Herbert Sheppard was a First Lieutenant in the American Expeditionary Forces, Office of Chief Ordnance Officer, Engineering Division. While in service in France, he was recommended for promotion. His wife's name was Emily.
Scope and Contents
The papers consist chiefly of personal letters and correspondence of James H. Sheppard during his service in France in World War I. There is some information about his role in the development of the 155 mm Filloux gun. There is also material relating to Thomas Jefferson Sheppard, including a reminiscence of his life that mentions his Civil War service and detention in Andersonville prison; a piece of a stockade log from Andersonville; a manuscript of a speech given by Sheppard at the Franklin Literary Society of Denison University, ca. 1883; and a photograph of Sheppard.
The collection also contains a typed extract from the diary of Charles Copland describing the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- United States. Army--Artillery
- Andersonville Prison, Ga. Military Prison
- Metz (France)--History
- Sheppard, James Herbert (1891-1981)
- Sheppard, Thomas Jefferson (1834-1912)
- Soldiers -- United States -- Correspondence
- World War, 1914-1918
- World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France
- World War, 1914-1918--Equipment and Supplies