Use Restrictions

Permission to publish from the Mary A. Minnick Letter must be obatined from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Mary A. Minnick Letter, Ms2016-011, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Mary A. Minnick Letter was purchased by Special Collections in March 2016.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Mary A. Minnick Letter was completed in January 2017.

Biographical Information

Although the letter does not provide much detail on the identity of Mary A. Minnick, cross-referencing other names suggests she was likely an 18-year old from Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia, born about 1844 or 1845. The 1860 Federal Census shows Mary living in the same area as a John M. Whitesides, a local gunsmith. As of 1860, Mary was living with her parents and six siblings. Despite her occupation being listed as "spinster" at the time, in 1865, Mary married Samuel W. Aven (1842-1928), and they had five children. Mary and Samuel died in 1928 and are buried in Washington County, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of a single letter written by Mary A. Minnick to her unnamed cousin, dated April 12, 1862. The letter includes family news (the death of several relatives and the war activities of friends and family), as well as updates about the county, including the delay on the part of local farmers to finish planting and the delay of a local gunsmith, Mr. [John] Whitesides to complete some promised weapons for the militia.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Correspondence
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865