A Guide to the Elizabeth Venable Gaines Letters, 1776-1848 #20189

A Guide to the Elizabeth Venable Gaines Letters, 1776-1848

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 20189

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Repository

Library of Virginia

Accession number

20189

Title

Elizabeth Venable Gaines Letters, 1776-1848

Physical Characteristics

11 leaves

Collector

Elizabeth Venable Gaines

Physical Location

Personal Papers Collection, Acc. 20189

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Elizabeth Venable Gaines. Letters, 1776-1849. Accession 20189. Personal papers collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Lent for copying by Elizabeth Venable Gaines of Charlotte County, Virginia, 6 June 1930.

Elizabeth Venable Gaines was born 25 April 1860 at "Do Well" in Charlotte County, Virginia, to Richard Venable Gaines and Jane Virginia Watkins Gaines. Gaines was educated by private tutors, then attended the Richmond Female Seminary for a time. At 22, she became governess for an uncle's family in Frankfort, Kentucky, then briefly ran girls' school. Gaines then attended Vassar College. She taught for three years at the State Normal School in Farmville, Virginia, before entering the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1892. Upon finishing at MIT, Gaines began teaching at Adelphi College in Brooklyn, New York. She headed the Biology department there for twenty-two years, meanwhile continuing her own education in sciences, philosophy, and the arts at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Cornell University. In 1916, she returned to "Do Well" in Charlotte County. Gaines became a leader in historic preservation in the county and a local historian, writing two books. Gaines died 16 April 1942 in Farmville.

Scope and Content Information

Letters, 1776-1848, lent for copying by Elizabeth Venable Gaines (1860-1942) of Charlotte County, Virginia, consisting of three letters, 1776-1777, from Charles Moile Talbott (1757-1797) serving in the Continental Army during the American Revolution to his father, Charles Talbott (1723-1779) of Bedford County, Virginia, describing his life as a soldier, commenting on the military, and detailing the battles of Germantown and Brandywine; a letter, 17 May 1820, from Crawford Hughes of Charlotte County, Virginia, to John Randolph (1773-1833) concerning certain books Randolph has requested to be sent to him; a letter, 17 August 1840, from Moses D. Hoge (1818-1899) at the Union Theological Seminary at Hampden-Sydney College, Prince Edward County, Virginia, to Reverend William C. Scott (1817-1854) of Charlotte County sending poetry and comments on religion; an obituary, [1848] of Henry A. Watkins (ca. 1770-1848) of Charlotte County; and a letter, n.d., from J. Elfreth, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to his wife Mary M. Elfreth of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, describing Cincinnati and his travels in Ohio, as well as personal news about his journey.

Arrangement

Chronological

Letter, 5 July 1776, from Charles Moile Talbott, Williamsburg, Virginia, to Captain Charles Talbott, Bedford County, Virginia, discussing life in his regiment, including news of his regiment's assignment.

2 leaves, negative photostat.

Letter, 21 August 1777, from Charles Moile Talbott, at "Cross Roades Headquarters, 25 miles from Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], to Charles Talbott, Bedford County, commenting on camp life and the latest military news.

2 leaves, negative photostat.

Letter, 10 October 1777, from Charles Moile Talbott, "Headquarters, 25 miles north of Philadelphia," to Charles Talbott, Bedford County, recounting the battles of Germantown and Brandywine.

2 leaves, negative photostat.

Letter, 17 May 1820, from Crawford Hughes, of Charlotte County, Virginia, to John Randolph of Roanoke regarding Randolph's request that certain books be sent to him.

1 leaf, negative photostat.

Letter, 17 August 1840, from Moses D. Hoge, at the seminary at Hampden-Syndey College, to Reverend William C. Scott of Charlotte County sending poetry and comments on religion.

2 leaves, negative photostat.

Obituary, [1848], of Captain Henry A. Watkins of Charlotte County.

1 leaf, negative photostat.

Letter, n.d., from J. Elfreth, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to his wife Mary M. Elfreth, of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, commenting on his trip to Cincinnati and describing the countryside he has traveled through.

1 leaf, negative photostat.