Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
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Benjamin Stoddert Ewell Papers, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift: 1,128 items,
12/31/1935.
Gift: 100 items,
03/30/1936.
Gift: 25 items,
05/1/1957.
Gift: 1 item,
04/1973.
Gift: 1 item,
03/1973.
Acc. No. 2001,14A; Gift: 1 item,
04/14/2001.
Benjamin Stoddert Ewell was born in Georgetown, D. C., 10 June 1810, the son of Thomas Ewell and Elizabeth Stoddert. He graduated from United States Military Academy and taught there. He taught at Hampden- Sydney College and at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University). In 1848, he was elected professor of mathematics and acting president of College of William and Mary and in 1854, became president. He was colonel of 32nd Virginia Infantry Regiment and later assistant adjutant-general to Joseph E. Johnston. He was president of William and Mary 1854-1888 and died 1894. He was the brother of Richard Stoddert Ewell, had another brother, William Stoddert, a sister Elizabeth S. Ewell and a daughter Elizabeth S. Ewell Scott.
This collection contains materials dated 1784-1934. It includes correspondence, legal papers, and accounts, chiefly 1830-1892, of Benjamin S. Ewell, professor at the U.S. Military Academy, Hampden-Sydney College, Washington and Lee College, and the College of William and Mary (which he served as acting president, 1848-1849, and president, 1854-1888). Also, letters from Ewell during the Civil War when he was assistant adjutant-general to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Among the correspondents are members of the Tyler, Ewell, Campbell, and Brown families of Virginia and Tennessee. Includes memorandum book on Ewell family by Elizabeth S. Ewell.
This collection has been organized into 3 Series. Series 1 includes letters arranged alpabetically by writer; Series 2 includes papers; and Series 3 includes an addition to the collection.
ArrangementThis collection of papers is arranged alphabetically. A uniform entry has been adopted for each name, and persons of the same name have been identified and distinguished from each other by indicating their relationship to Benjamin S. Ewell or other persons. For example, the entry Brown (Harriot S.) is used for letters signed H. S. Brown and Hattie, and the entry Ewell (Elizabeth), daughter of Benjamin S. Ewell, is used for letters signed Lizzy Ewell or simply Lizzy.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Note: This letter includes a recommendation for Benjamin S. Ewell as a professor, signed by five professors at the United States Military Academy.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship. (See William and Mary Papers.)
An invitation to the marriage reception of their daughter.
Enclosures: Two cards, Emmy A. Crump and William B. Lightfoot.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship. (See William and Mary Papers.)
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
This letter acknowledges receipt of the resolutions passed by the citizens of Williamsburg and James City County on the death of Jefferson Davis. (See Jefferson Davis Papers.)
A certificate of dismission of Benjamin S. Ewell from Hampden Sidney Church and of recommendation to the church at Lexington, Virginia.
This letter contains an extract from the Register of the Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, 1850.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Answer by S. Bassett French, aide de camp, dated 26 February 1862, on back of sheet.
Note: Map of Richmond and vicinity on back of letter.
Enclosures: Letter from Beverly S. Scott, Jr., at Prince Edward Court House, to Col. Benjamin S. Ewell. 5 September 1867. Letter from Benjamin S. Ewell, at Williamsburg, Virginia, to Beverly S. Scott. 9 September 1867.
Enclosing letter from Charles McCulloch to Benjamin S. Ewell. 3 October 1870.
"The South and Grant ", from the Daily Morning Chronicle , Washington, 20 May 1872.
Enclosures: Two designs for a cemetery monument.
Enclosure: A letter from J. H. Richards, at Georgetown College, West Washington, D.C., to Elizabeth S. Ewell, at Georgetown, D.C. 29 April 1892.
Rebecca Ewell to her brother, Benjamin S. Ewell. (On same sheet.) Elizabeth S. Ewell to her brother, Benjamin S. Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Postscript signed: R. L. E.
The letter includes a check drawn by Elizabeth Ewell payable to Benjamin S. Ewell. 18 September 1838.
Postscript by A. Gantt.
Postscript by R. L. Ewell.
Ewell (Elizabeth) to her daughter, Elizabeth Ewell. (On same sheet.)
An unsigned, undated letter appears on the same sheet.
An unsigned, undated letter appears on the same sheet.
Elizabeth S. Ewell, to her father, Benjamin S. Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Hattie Turner to her cousin, William Stoddert. (On same sheet.)
A. L. Prout to Rebecca Ewell. (On same sheet.)
(See William and Mary Papers, Folder 17, Item 3.)
Postscript by R. Stoddert.
Rebecca Ewell to Benjamin Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Elizabeth S. Ewell to her sister, Rebecca L. Ewell. (On same sheet.)
An unsigned letter to Nancy [ ? ]. (On same sheet.)
The musical score of a cotillion and a postscript by her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell, appear on the same sheet.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell to Nancy [ ? ]. (On same sheet.)
Postscript by Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell.
Ewell (Elizabeth S.) to Rebecca L. Ewell, at Bladensburgh, Prince George's County, Maryland. Postmarked Buckland. 21 May 1838. (On same sheet.)
The letter is directed to Mrs. Ann Gantt, at Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe County, Virginia.
This letter is readdressed to Professor Ewell, Prince Edward County, Virginia, with a postscript by Elizabeth Ewell.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell to Benjamin S. Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell to her son, Benjamin S. Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell to Rebecca Ewell. (On same sheet.)
An invitation to the marriage ceremony of their daughter.
Enclosure: Post card from Susan Hutchison, at Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia, to Jesse Ewell, at Ruckersville, Virginia, 8 January 1913. Postmarked 1914.
Postscript by Elizabeth Ewell.
Postscript by Elizabeth S. Ewell.
Postscript by A. Gantt.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ewell to her son, Benjamin S. Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Enclosure: Copy of an account of T. Ewell with his father.
Harriot Campbell, at Nashville, Tennessee, to Betsy Ewell. 1 July 1838. (On same sheet.)
Lizinka Campbell to Rebecca Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Harriot Campbell to her sister, Elizabeth Ewell. (On same sheet.)
Thomas Ewell to Harriet Stoddert. (On same sheet.)
Invitation to a tea.
Letter from F. N. Watkins, secretary, with resolutions of the board thanking Benjamin S. Ewell for his services as an instructor and officer of the college.
Letter from F. N. Watkins, secretary, to Benjamin S. Ewell, notifying him of his election to the chair of mathematics.
An invitation to the International Exhibition at Philadelphia, 1877.
Invitation to a soiree dansante to be given in honor of General Joseph E. Johnston.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Printed circular letter requesting aid for the family of John Hampden Pleasants who was killed in a duel.
Letter giving his opinion of Benjamin S. Ewell as an instructor.
Recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship. Statement concerning Benjamin Ewell by Thomas H. Williamson on same sheet.
Invitation to become a member of the society.
Copy of the order appointing Benjamin S. Ewell to the board of directors of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Certificate of election to membership in the Society.
Letter recommending Benjamin S. Ewell for a professorship.
Enclosure: Three sheets of data on farming.
An incomplete letter concerning a professorship at Transylvania University.
Enclosure: A pencil drawing entitled "Mary's new walking dress."
First draft of the article on the first battle of Winchester.
Correspondence between Generals R. S. Ewell and G. T. Beauregard, to which are added extracts from a letter of Gen. Fitz Lee. Nashville, Tennessee, Wheeler, Osburn, and Duckworth.
Rough draft of an address made before the city council of Williamsburg, Virginia.
The letter acknowledges his promotion to the rank of colonel in the Virginia Volunteers and gives a copy of an order to muster six companies of volunteers from James City and the adjoining counties and a list of companies mustered.
The deed covers a tract of land called Stony Lonesome and woodland on the Rock Smith Farm in Prince William County, Virginia. The deed is not signed by Elizabeth S. Ewell.
Power of attorney given by Charlotte Ewell to her brother, William Ewell, authorizing him to manage his property held by her as trustee.
Deed given by Elizabeth Ewell, widow of Thomas Ewell, et al., of Prince William County, to Alexander Spotswood Grigsby, covering two lots in Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia.
Draft of deed granting to Benjamin S. Ewell and William Stoddert her interest in a tract of land in Prince William County, Virginia.
The article concerns Richard S. Ewell's part in the second capture of Winchester, with a note by H. S. Turner.
Includes a note by Campbell Brown dated 6 November 1873.
A poem written by Dr. H. M. Clarkson for the Ewell centennial celebration held at Manassas, Virginia, by the Ewell Camp of Confederate Veterans.
Copy of a notice in the National Intelligencer announcing the death of Benjamin Stoddert Ewell.
Accounts.
Account of Richard P. Jackson, executor of Francis Lowndes.
Extract from a letter written by President James Madison to Mr. Edward Coles.
Printed circular letter advertising as a summer resort, Belle-Air in Prince William County, Virginia, the old home of the Ewell family.
An essay on Williamsburg by Elizabeth L. Scott.
Papers in English, Spanish, and Japanese, including a Japanese pencil sketch.
Requesting the governor to procure exemption from military duty for employees of Eubanks & Co., cotton and wool carders.
containing data on the Ewell family, including several extracts of letters dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Includes Ewell genealogical information.