A Guide to the Papers of Mary Eliza Eliza Warren Brown
A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession number 11392
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryUniversity of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
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Administrative Information
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Use Restrictions
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Preferred Citation
Mary Eliza Warren Brown Papers, 1849-1935, Accession #11392, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
Gift: Archer Ellis Hansen, Staunton, Va., March 17, 1998.
Biographical/Historical Information
Edward J. Warren (1827-1920) married Jeanette E. Fisher
(1831-1888), daughter of Margaret Nimmo and James Fisher, Jr.,
on November 8, 1853. Their children were:
Mary Eliza Warren Brown (1854-1936), married Judge J.
Thompson Brown in 1904; Edward Warren (1856-1873); Laura (1859-1949); James Fisher (1860-1862); Lilly Archer Warren Ellis
(1863-1928) married the Rev. Josiah Ellis in 1894; Margaret Fisher Warren Ranson (1865-1961); Marion Meade Warren (1868-1869);
Jeanette Allen Warren (1870-1904) "Nettie".
Scope and Content
This collection consists of letters, Bible records (with two probable slave births), genealogical notes, photographs, and miscellaneous documents, 1849-1935, 112 items (1 Hollinger box) pertaining chiefly to the Warren family. It includes discussion of the daily lives of several women in the Warren family, particularly Mary Eliza Warren Brown, who served as a governess to several families in Nelson County , and Petersburg, Virginia. Typed notes accompanying the letters also convey family information.
Letters mention domestic duties, church duties, illnesses, social events, and the 1886 earthquake (see 1886 Aug 25). Also of interest are letters written from Japan describing American missionaries and their work, especially an account of life in Japan at the turn of the nineteenth century, possibly by the Rev. James Chapman, and letters from Iso Sano (1898 Jan 17, Mar 28; 1904 Oct 14). Photographs include those of Mary Eliza Warren Brown, Edward Warren, Edward J. Warren, Laura Warren, Nettie Warren, Lilly Archer Warren Ellis, and Miss Mary Rhett.
Contents List
Includes letters to her uncle, the Rev. Andrew Fisher (1849 Sep 4, with a description of Capon Springs & containing notes about the Fisher and Walker families); to her brother-in-law, George William Warren (1837- ?), mentioning the losses to the family during the Civil War at "Belmont" in Richmond, Virginia, and adjustments to the loss of slaves (1865 Jul 20); from her niece M.G. Archer (1868 Dec 8); from her daughter, Mary Eliza (1871 Jul 6; 1886 Jul 5); to her daughter, Mary Eliza, concerning the death of the Rev. Charles Walker (ca. 1877); Mary's new position in Petersburg, with Mrs. D.B. Tennant (1885 Nov 5); the difficulties of doing without servants (1885 Nov 27); the visits of family members at Christmas time (1885 Dec 16); reply to Mary's unhappiness in Petersburg (1886 Jan 18); and undated correspondence to Mary, including a letter about her employment at Judge Brown's home.
Includes letters to friend Annie (1870 Oct 26); letters of condolence from cousins on the death of her brother, Edward Warren (1873 Jul 16); from her aunt, Margaret Jane Fisher Walker, at the Virginia Theological Seminary, where she lived with her husband, Cornelius, at "Maywood," discussing her children, husband Cornelius, siblings Andrew and Laura, a new boarder, Nelson, and the impending death of a former student (1875 Oct 20); and discussing Seminary matters, Episcopal High School boys, her devout Baptist cook who doesn't believe Episcopalians can be Christians (1889 Apr 19; 1890 Jan 24); Louise to Mary (1882 May 2; 1883 Aug 3); from Annie C. Warren to Mary Eliza (Warren) Brown (1881 Mar 9; Oct 31); and the Rev. William Meade Clark to Mary with local news of Amherst (1883 Nov 10).
At Blacksburg, Virginia (1878 Jul 15; Aug 30 with travel plans; an extempore wedding Nov 21; ); and a new call to Weston, West Virginia (1879 Feb 28). Mary Dame also has a letter to Margaret Warren about parish news (1885 Sep 7).
Written to her while working as a governess for Judge J. Thompson Brown, Arrington, Nelson County , Virginia, and others (1881 Feb 27, Mar 29, Jun 28, Aug 3, Aug 30, Sep 26, Oct 25, Dec 5; 1882 Mar 10, May 7, 24, 31; 1883 Apr 3; 1884 Jan 16; 1885 Aug 7, Nov 3, 9, 18, Dec 10; 1886 Jan 31; 1920 Nov 19; n.d.). Also includes references to the wedding of their cousin, Laura McKim Walker (d.1883), to the Rev. William Meade Clark (1881 May 15 & 18, ca. Jun 8), the illness and death of Mrs. Crew (1886 Jan 31 & Feb 5), and letters from Mary concerning her position at the school of Mrs. Tennant and Maggie's new teaching position (1886 Oct 2; 1887 May 4).
Includes a letter from Edward Warren (1856-1873) to his sister, Laura (1859-1949) while attending the Episcopal High School (1872 Oct 23); description of the wedding of Bessie Zogbaum to the Rev. Charles Walker by a Japanese student at the Virginia Seminary, Isaac K. Yokoyama (1875 Sep 2); Charles Walker (1848-1877) to his mother, Margaret Fisher, discussing Holy Week services, and parish life (1876 Mar 6); and Lilly Warren to Callie Mundy re the death of her cousin Laura Walker Clark (1883 Jul 31). Other miscellaneous letters to or from Mary Eliza Warren Brown include: from her father, Edward J. Warren (1827-1920) letters (1884 Jun 19; 1885 Jan 20 & 21; 1904 Dec 3; 1912 Nov 11); from Fannie H. Brown (her future stepdaughter) Mary's former pupil in Nelson County (1886 Jan 29); from the Rev. Josiah Ellis to his fianc饬 Lilly Warren (1894 Sep 7); from her cousin, Marion Nimmo Fisher (1934 Sep 17); and Mary Warren Brown to Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Ellis (1935 Dec 10).