Conditions Governing Use

The Library believes that all or nearly all material in this collection is likely to be in the public domain, free of copyright restrictions. Visit our Permissions and Publishing page for more information about use of Special Collections materials. The library can provide copyright information upon request, but users are responsible for making their own determination about lawful use of collections materials.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is minimally processed and open for research.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16888, H.C. Marchant letter to R.W. Creasy, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift from Knox Wagner Ramsey to the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on 5 October 2022.

Biographical / Historical Description

Henry Clay Marchant was born in Charlottesville, Virginia on April 1, 1838 to John Adams and Delilah Shackelford Marchant. John Adams Marchant was a merchant and began to involve himself in manufacturing later in life. John put Henry to work in his factory enterprises at a young age, instilling within Henry a deep interest in entrepreneurship. In 1861, Henry joined the Twelfth Virginia Regiment, Mahone's Brigade, Huger's Division. He was shot through the left leg on the first day of the Seven Day's Battle surrounding Richmond in 1862. He was forced to walk on crutches for a year, rendering him unable to return to battle before the end of the war. Marchant returned to Charlottesville, where he established the Woolen Mills by 1868. By the 1870s, the Woolen Mills became a thriving manufacturing firm known for quality throughout Charlottesville and beyond. Its first president was Thomas Jefferson Randolph, a son of Thomas Jefferson and a close associate of Marchant. Marchant was the president of the H.C. Marchant Manufacturing Company, one-time president of the Woolen Mills, vice president of the People's National Bank, and president of the State Sunday School Association. He was married first to Elizabeth Whitehead of Petersburg, yielding five children together. He later married Fannie Bragg of Lunenburg County. Marchant died suddenly in Cincinnati on October 11, 1910 while on delegation at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. He is interred at the Riverview Cemetery in Charlottesville.

Sources

Azizi, Joseph. 2018.  MSS 16353, Charlottesville Woolen Mills records, Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/repositories/uva-sc/resources/charlottesville_woolen_mills_records

Emory. 2009. Review of Fabric of History 171. Historic Woolen Mills. BlogSpot. April 1, 2009. http://www.historicwoolenmills.org/labels/Henry%20Clay%20Marchant.html.

"Henry Clay Marchant."Find a Grave" n.d. Ancestry Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60525/records/109101065.https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60525/records/109101065

Content Description

This collection contains one holograph letter dated August 23, 1900 from H.C. Marchant of Charlottesville to R. W. Creasy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter is written on Charlottesville Woolen Mills stationery. The letter addresses Creasy's interest in employment which Marchant seems hesitant to give. Marchant requests references that can speak to Creasy's conduct and to his to his habits since leaving Charlottesville.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Charlottesville (Va.) -- History