Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

J. William Jones Papers, 1861-1892. Accession 21294. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Lent for copying by William S. Jones of Tazewell, Virginia, 1938.

Biographical Information

John William Jones was born 25 September 1836 in Louisa County, Virginia, to Francis Willian Jones and Ann Pendleton Ashby Jones. Jones attended the University of Virginia, graduating in 1859, then attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Carolina. Ordained in 1860, he returned to Louisa County to preach at Little River Baptist Church. When the Civil War began, he enlisted as a private in the 13th Virginia Regiment, then became regimental chaplain, then a missionary chaplain to the army. Jones conducted revivals in the army throughout the war. After the Civil War ended, he preached at the Baptist Church in Lexington, Virginia, and was chaplain at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University). He served churches in Ashland, Virginia, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as well as serving as chaplain at the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina. He was the secretary of the Southern Historical Society from 1875 to 1887, and he edited and wrote several works on the war and on Robert E. Lee. Jones was chaplain-general of the United Confederate Veterans from 1890 to 1909. Jones married Judith Page Helm in December 1860, and they had five children. Jones died in Columbus, Georgia, 17 March 1909.

Scope and Content

Papers, 1861-1892, of J. William Jones (1836-1909) of Richmond, Virginia consisting of correspondence to Jones in his capacity as secretary of the Southern Historical Society, and discussing aspects of the war and the business of the society. Papers contain letters, 1876-1888, from Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Beauvoir, Mississippi, discussing rhetorical attacks on the post-war South, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), his role in the unveiling of a statue of Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), and prohibition in the 1880s. Papers consist of letters, 1879-1887, from Fitzhugh Lee (1835- 1905) discussing letters, the Southern Historical Society, a dispute with the society over speaker's fees, and request for a Jefferson Davis autograph by H. Douglas Lee of New York passed on from Fitzhugh Lee to Jones. Papers also include two letters, 1867 and n.d., from John B. Gordon (1832-1904) requesting information on Civil War campaigns and agreeing to write a letter of introduction. Papers contain letter, 8 February 1875, from Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891) concerning his relationship with Robert E. Lee and correspondence, 1885, from Johnston and Robert Stiles (1836-1905) concerning the battle reports for the battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) in 1862. Papers also contain a letter, 6 August 1876, from John B. Hood (1831-1879) asking for a review to be sent to him and a letter, 30 August 1892, from Thomas Nelson Page (1853- 1922) thanking Jones for comments on his writings. Also include a letter, 30 November 1861, from John C. Breckenridge (1821-1875) of the 1st Kentucky Brigade to Colonel Charles Dimmock (1800-1863), chief of ordnance, thanking him for muskets sent for the regiment and a letter, n.d., from General Winfield Scott (1786-1866) to Major E. Johnson (1816-1873) inviting him to dinner.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.