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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterFinding Aid Authors: Kim Sims.
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Henry A. Washington Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift
Henry Augustine Washington was born at Haywood, Virginia on 24 August 1820, the son of Lawrence Washington and Sarah Tayloe Washington. He attended Georgetown College and the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Studied law under John Tayloe Lomax. He moved to Richmond to practice law in 1842, but in 1847 returned to the Northern Neck of Virginia.
He was appointed professor of history and political economy at the College of William and Mary. He married Cynthia Beverley Tucker, daughter of Williamsburg mayor and judge, Nathaniel Beverley Tucker. Washington edited the Writings of Thomas Jefferson (Washington, 1853-54) and completed Thomas R. Dew's A Digest of the Laws, Customs, Manners and Institutions of the Ancient and Modern Nations (1853). He suffered ill-health for years and died 28 February 1858.
This collection consists of the papers of Henry A. Washington, professor of history and political economy at the College of William and Mary. Dates include 1835-1859. The collection Includes correspondence, poetical compositions, diaries kept while practicing law in Richmond, Va., writings and addresses, legal and financial papers, and the manuscript of his edition of the Writings of Thomas Jefferson as well as supporting documentation for that project. Prominent correspondents include John Moncure Daniel, William and Mary faculty/staff (Benjamin S. Ewell, Tazewell Taylor, Morgan J. Smead, Silas Totten), John Johns, and family members.
Diaries printed in Carol H. Sturzenberger, "The Diaries of Henry A. Washington" (M. A. Thesis, College of William and Mary, 1979). See also Tucker-Coleman Papers (Mss. 40 T79), Cynthia BeverleyTucker Washington Coleman Papers (MS 00007), and Washington Family Papers (Acc. 2014.244), Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Arranged alphabetically by writer/sender.
Christian was a member of the College of William and Mary's Board of Visitors. One letter notifies Washington of his election as Professor of History and Political Economy at William and Mary. Another letter refers to William and Mary business, including Board of Visitors meetings, the resignation of the Bursar in 1850, and textbooks used by Thomas Dew in his classes.
A letter from 1849 mentions a rumor about there being only 12 students at William and Mary; an undated letter provides a detailed description of a duel fought by Daniel and [?] Johnston, including his traveling to Georgetown under an assumed name.
Letters refer to William and Mary student, Arthur Ashton, a relation of Lewis.
William and Mary business.
Letters center on Washington's servant [slave] Bella, including her running away, her health (specifically mentioning "diseased womb") and cost of hire.
William and Mary business.
William and Mary business, including acknowledgement of Taylor's election as Bursar.
William and Mary business.
Lawrence Washington (father) added to Lloyd's letter.
Organized by surname; a letter from Joshua Alvis (1849) refers to a legal case involving the purchase of an enslaved boy.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname; a letter from Mrs. [?] Lomax (1854) refers to her son's suspension from the College of William and Mary.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Organized by surname.
Of note include an 1849 letter to the President and Faculty of the College of William and Mary by Professor John Millington, and an 1852 letter to Professor Dennis H. Mahone of West Point by Benjamin Ewell, introducing H.A.W.
Henry Washington covers many topics. Societal issues include the dangers of alcohol abuse, religious awakening, novels (Zanoni), self-knowledge of women, thoughts on whether women have culturally inferior minds, virtues of men and women, role of education, notes on Catherine the Great of Russia and murdering her husband, cattle show, elections, manners involving invitations to social engagements, philosophical notes on luck and special providence, role of God in the world, usefulness of prayer, beauty, money, and much more. Politics or law topics include tariffs and debt, martial law, Whig party, gaming law, legal and political question on single magistrate for all cases of petty larceny involving slaves, giving direction to juries, court case of Dabney for bank embezzlement, court cases involving just white or white and black participants, legislative power, the power of the states, and much more. He also writes about friends (Morson) and personal feelings such as being bored. Mentions President John Tyler's visit to Richmond and a discussion of his character, the dignity of the Virginia legislature, the corruptness of politics, and country life in Virginia.
Discuss the Virginia Agricultural Society, free and slave labor, the admission of Texas, obligatory free education for Virginia, and the debates of the Patrick Henry Society. Includes notes on diverse subjects such as "Notes on difference in the meaning of love between a 20 year old man and a 30 year old man" and "Notes on should foreign immigration be checked?"
"Lord Byron," "The Decline of Superstition," "Misanthrophy," "Time," "Views on the Texas Question," "Christianity"
"Is an Aristocratic Government Better Adapted by the Promotion of Literature than a Democratic Government?," "Do Physical or Moral Causes have the Greater Influence in the Formation of National Character?" (incomplete), "Should Banks be Connected with Government?," "Party Spirit in the U. S."
"On Disadvantages of a Traitor to a Country," "On the Laws of Lycurgus," "On the Obstacles to Learning," "Respect Due to Merit," "The Return of Cicero from Banishment," "A Translation," "Equanimity," "Whether Lyander was Justifyable [sic] in Destroying Athens," "The Hill of Science," "On History," " The Glory of Thebes under Epaminondas," "On Lafayette," "Translation of Cicero," " The Valley of Pleasure," "Emulation"
Also includes notes on the estate and heirs of John St. George Randolph (written by Cynthia Beverley Tucker Washington Coleman). Includes a list of books left at "Albion," both law and miscellaneous titles, 1849 September 22.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1780-1788.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1789-1801.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1802-1815.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Writings covering 1816-1824.
Unidentified Letters.
Opinions and Reports.
Opinions and Reports.
Inaugural Addresses for 1801, 1805.
Biographical Sketches.
Minutes of Cabinet Meetings.
Miscellaneous Papers.
Indexes and Table of Contents.
Indexes and Table of Contents.
Indexes and Table of Contents.
Appendix A.
Unidentified Pages.
Unidentified Pages.
Indenture between Stephen B. Mothershead and Henry A. Washington, 1846 October 9; Document regarding the sale of land, 1848 July 16; Document about land, 1849 October 1; Deed between Lawrence and Sarah Washington and Henry A. Washington, 1850 December 28; Deed between John M. Daniel/Peter Daniel, Jr. and Henry A. Washington, 1851 December 1; Agreement between D. Appleton and Co. and Henry A. Washington, 1852 September 6 September.
Extremely fragile and heavily damaged.
Includes bank book from Norfolk Savings.
There is a list of students and their college fees at William and Mary for 1853-1854.
Awarded to Henry Washington for good conduct and scholarship while a student at Georgetown College.
National Law Class, History Class, Political Economy Class, Unidentified.
Notes re: papers also includes notes on courses/subject matter taught by Washington.
Broadsides: A. Bodeker's of Richmond, Va. (undated), "Appeal," by Bruton Parish Church (post-1865), A. Morris, Publisher and Bookseller (undated), Gray and Ballantyne Religious Book Depository (undated), "To the Citizens of Williamsburg and Its Vicinity," regarding the Virginia Gazette by W. Y. Peyton and A. A. O'Neil, eds. (includes note from Peyton to Washington, 15 October 1854, "A History of Greece," Jenks, Hickling, and Swan (1 May 1854, 21 August 1854), Chambers Journal, May 1854.
Includes: "Analysis of Marl for R. Washington," Alexandria Boarding School, 1848; Procedure for Analyzing Marl, circa 1848; Lists of Books, undated; Word portraits principally taken from Shakespeare and of several members of the law class of Judge Tayloe Lomax of Fredricksburg, undated.
One lock is wrapped within a folded note that reads, "This was cut from Ned's head on the 29th of June 1846." It's signed "C. B. Tucker" (Cynthia Beverley Tucker) and also has her name on the front fold as well as the word "private." The second lock of hair is contained within an envelope addressed to Henry Washington. Do not open without staff supervision. Photographs are available.