Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

The collection is without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

The Correspondence of Robert Thruston Hubard, Accession # 11566-a, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

Gift of William Stebbins Hubard of Roanoke, Virginia, on February 6, 2000.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of forty-six letters, 1811-1863, all but one written to Robert Thruston Hubard (1808-1871), including thirty business letters in two folders, 1848-1853, from Alfred T. Harris, of the firm Harris & Gibson, regarding the stock, bond, and tobacco markets in Virginia and Europe, miscellaneous orders for plaster, marble slabs, guano, ox chains, adzes, and other specialty items to be sent to him by boat, and the affairs of the Bank of Virginia (1853 Jan 17). One early letter from Lenaeus Bolling to his mother, Susanna (Bolling) Wilcox, (1811 July 17) pleads with her not to abandon living at "Chellowe," Buckingham County, Virginia, the home of her first husband, Robert Bolling.

The remainder of the letters are from family members and friends to Robert T. Hubard, including George Jones, Tye River Warehouse, concerning the sale of slaves belonging to Dr. Ligon (1848 Dec 20); Beverley Hargrove, with a proposal to erect a sawmill and build a small dam across the Tye River to power it, adjoining Hubard's property (1849 Mar 15); and Richard G. Morris discussing the basis of representation in Congress, writing that "...for I am satisfied if the West ever have the controlling power in laying taxes that our slaves will be heavily taxed" (1850 Jun 13).

Three letters are from Hubard's brother, Edmund Wilcox Hubard (1806-1878) while he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, discussing the illness of his daughter Polly and other family news, the debates in Washington concerning the Compromise of 1850, Henry Clay and his political aspirations, Free Soilers, the Missouri Compromise, the Fugitive Slave Law and slavery in the territories, particularly New Mexico (1850 June 19, June 25, and July 2).

Five letters are from his son, William Bolling Hubard (1836-1884) written to his father while he was attending school at "Wigwam," Virginia (185[1?] January 10, 1852 February 14, March 6, April 18, and May 1), one with news of a local murder involving a Mr. Tucker and Mr. Smith (1852 March 6). One letter is from his son, James Lenaeus Hubard (1835-1913) while he was attending the Virginia Military Institute (1852 April 2).

There is one Civil War era letter from Robert Thruston Hubard, Jr., of the [3rd?] Virginia Cavalry, discussing problems with food preparation at camp, the need for a pack horse or mule, plans on hiring the Negroes, Robert and [Thruston?], brothers of Jim Smith of "Caira" to act as hostler and cook, the three day drill and review of the troops by General Fitz Lee in preparation for their march to the headquarters of Robert E. Lee, where Stuart's entire division, except for Jones' Brigade presently n the Valley, will be reviewed by Lee (1863 Jan 9).