Conditions Governing Use

Manuscript Collections in the VMI Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Preferred Citation

Goodwyn Family papers, 1840-1908. MS 0453. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Philo Hiram Goodwyn (1805?-1860) was a merchant in New Orleans, Louisiana. He married Martha S. McGavock, daughter of Randall McGavock and Almira Haynes. Their children included McGavock R. (VMI Class of 1863), Frank W. (VMI Class of 1862), Philo H., George, David, and Grace.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the papers of the Philo H. Goodwyn family of New Orleans, Louisiana. The bulk of this collection includes letters (dated 1840-1858) written by Philo H. Goodwyn to his fiance and later wife, Martha S. McGavock. Other items of correspondence include two letters from Almira McGavock to her daughter Martha, and one letter from McGavock R. Goodwyn (VMI Class of 1863) to his father, Philo.

In addition, the papers contain legal and financial papers relating to the family, the Civil War amnesty oath (1865) signed by McGavock R. Goodwyn, and two commission documents (dated 1865 and 1866) that appoint McGavock R. Goodwyn a Brigadier General in the Louisiana militia.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Financial records
• Goodwyn Family
• Legal instruments
• Military commissions
• Virginia Military Institute—Alumni—Biography
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1863