A Guide to the Papers of John T. Blake, 1842 (1842-1889) 1932 Blake, John T., Papers of 8975

A Guide to the Papers of John T. Blake, 1842 (1842-1889) 1932

A Collection in
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 8975

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

8975

Title

Papers of John T. Blake, 1842 (1842-1889) 1932

Physical Characteristics

This collection consists of 166 items.

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of John T. Blake, Accession #8975, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Blake Papers were purchased from Mr. James Presgraves of Wytheville, Virginia, on August 28, 1968.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of 166 items, 1842-1932, chiefly correspondence and business papers of the itinerant dentist Dr. John T. Blake (1823- ?) of Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

The business and legal papers of the Blake family contain accounts and tax receipts of Dr. Blake, his mother Rhoda Blake, and his sister, Mary E. (Blake) Lemmons. Some of this material pertains to Blake's practice of dentistry, particularly his fees, and his purchase of supplies.

The correspondence of Dr. Blake is predominantly with his immediate family and his in-laws, the Dotsons of Fayette County, Virginia, later West Virginia. Blake married Nancy B. Dotson in 1854 and much of this correspondence concerns their puzzling and short-lived marriage (July 23, September 1, 1854; January 16, 17, & 28; and March 7, 1855).

Other correspondence discusses surgery that Blake performed (May 29, 1854); his practice as a dentist (January 15, 1853); and reactions to John Brown's Raid (November 14, 1859).

The school essays of Mary Blake, a memorandum book of Esther Blake, and and unidentified photograph are found in the miscellaneous folder.