Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

The collection is without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Massie Family Papers, 1850-1862, Accession #11485, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the University of Virginia Library from Jerry Showalter, Ivy, Virginia, on March 21, 1999.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of twenty-five letters primarily correspondence of the Massie family during 1850-1862. Six letters, ca. 1858-1859, are from E. B. Massie to his mother, Mrs. E. F. Massie of Waynesboro. They concern his schoolboy experiences at the Brookland School, Greenwood Depot, Albemarle County, Virginia, where W.M. Dinwiddie, M.A., was Principal. Most of these deal with the son's examinations and requests for shoes; one undated letter concerns the acceptance of Christianity by him and other boys in the school and the impact it has had on their lives and on the institution. He also describes his election as President of the Piedmont at the school, where he expects soon to be selected as "Worthy Patron of the Division." He also mentions in the same letter a visit to the school by Mr. Launcelot Blackford and Mr. [ ] Strother, adding that Mr. Blackford led a very good prayer meeting while there.

Two letters are to Mrs. E. F. Massie of Waynesboro from another son, J. L. Massie, written from the University of Virginia, where he was a student. On January 27, 1859, he writes about upcoming exams and the approaching marriage of Mr. [John Barbee] Minor. On March 7, 1859, he mentions the death from typhoid fever of a fellow student, C. C. Lewis of Clarke County.

A communication on June 30, 1859, from S[ocrates] Maupin, Chairman of the Faculty at the University of Virginia, is to Nathaniel Massie, Waynesboro, giving grade reports on his son, J. L. Massie.

On February 17, 1859, Charles M. Massie writes from New Orleans to Bob [ ] telling of his attempts to set up business in that city. He describes having met many Virginians and depicts New Orleans as being extremely busy "with all sorts of dissipation being suspended," including that of Rodes, who has "turned over a new leaf."

On September 9, 1862, N. H. Massie writes from Charlottesville to his sister expressing his sadness at the death of her husband William on the battlefield at Manassas. He also describes an epidemic of scarlet fever at his home where three of his own children and three children of the servants have been affected.