Administrative Information

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Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Letters to Thomas Hughes, 1871-1875, Accession #10949 , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These letters were purchased by the Library from Timothy H. Bakken of Halvor Americana in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, on June 12, 1990.

Scope and Content Information

There are nineteen letters, 1871-1875, written to Thomas Hughes (1850- ) by his father, Alfred Hughes, and various legal associates. Thomas attended the University of Virginia from 1871-1872 and graduated with his Bachelor of Law; he returned to Baltimore to practice law. During August and September 1871, Alfred Hughes writes to his son in Wheeling, [West] Virginia, on the occasion of his twenty-first birthday (August 24); mentioning widespread damage caused by hard rains (August 31); requesting his return home to help while he is in ill health (September 6); and, making alternate travel arrangements for him as the rivers near Wheeling are too low for the boats to run (September 13). In the latter letter, he also refers to attending to some business in order to get him off to college. On February 18, 1872, there is a letter to Thomas at the University of Virginia informing him of the death of his Grandmother Hughes and relaying his parents' plans. On June 21, 1872, Alfred Hughes writes to his son at the University, expressing pride in his accomplishments and giving advice and encouragement. He writes that there are three principles of life and happiness--"a pure heart , a clean conscience , & good health ." There are three letters from H. G[raham] Gordon (1850- ) of Fredericksburg, Virginia. His letter of November 26, 1872 pertains to his plans to settle in Baltimore and open a law firm with Thomas, and refers to his brother-in-law, Charles Herndon, a Virginia politician. On March 19, 1873, Gordon writes from Fredericksburg, sending a list of certain lawyers of the lower counties and making arrangements for the firm for his departure. There is also a letter dated July 11, 1873. There are letters concerning various legal suits from Henry M[oore] Russell (1851- 1915) of Wheeling, West Virginia (April 9, 1873; October 7, 1874; November 30, 1874); F. Ravenscroft (December 20, 1873); and, James A. C. Bond of Baltimore, Maryland (June 17, 1874; July 2, 1874). The latter two letters from Russell pertain to the estate of Thomas Hughes, Alfred Hughes' father.