Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction .

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives ( specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Varina Anne Davis Letter, Ms2021-005, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Varina Anne Davis letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 2019.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Varina Anne Davis letter commenced and completed in July 2021.

Biographical Note

Varina Anne "Winnie" Davis was the youngest child of Jefferson and Varina Howell Davis, born in Richmond, Virignia, on June 27, 1864. Her father was the president of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War and at the time of her birth. Following the death of her father in 1889, she moved to New York where she worked as a novelist under the name Varina Anne Jefferson-Davis. She died of an illness on September 18, 1898.

External Source:

Ferrell, Chiles Clifton (1899). "The Daughter of the Confederacy – Her Life, Character, and Writings." Mississippi Historical Society. https://archive.org/details/thedaughterofcon00ferr/page/n1/mode/2up?view=theater

Scope and Content

The Varina Anne Davis Letter is from Davis to Mrs M.A. Williams at an unkown date in or after 1891. In the letter Davis informs Williams that she believes it will be impossible for her to tell her story in New York. Davis states that unlike in the South the subject of the American Civil War has less importance in New York where people do not have constant reminders of the war.

Related Material

Virginia Tech Special Collections and Univeristy Archives has several books by Varina Anne Davis.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Varina Anne Davis Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).