A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 24814
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 USA Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference) Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference) Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives) URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
William Henry Ruffner was born 11 February 1824 in
Lexington, Virginia, to Henry Ruffner (1790-1861) and Sarah
Montgomery Lyle Ruffner (1787-1849). He graduated from
Washington College in Lexington in 1842 and returned to
receive his MA in 1845. Ruffner attended Union Theological
Seminary in Hampden-Sidney, Virginia from 1845 to 1846 and
attended Princeton Theological Seminary from 1846 to 1847. He
was ordained a Presbyterian minister 14 January 1852 and
became minister of Seventh Presbyterian Church in
Philadelphia, Pennsvylania. After resigning for health reasons
in 1853, Ruffner returned to Virginia and became a successful
farmer. An antislavery advocate and Unionist before the Civil
War, Ruffner adhered to the Southern cause after Abraham
Lincoln called for troops in response to the firing upon Fort
Sumter. After the Civil War, Ruffner became an advocate of
public education and was elected the first superintendent for
public instruction 2 March 1870. He served until 1882, when
turned out of office by the Readjuster party. Ruffner served
as a trustee of Washington College and Washington and Lee
University from 1865 to 1876. After leaving the superintendent
post, Ruffner served as president of the Normal School in
Farmville, Virginia, from 1884 to 1887. He then became a
surveyor and geologist for the next several years. Ruffner
wrote on education and theology. He married Harriet Ann Gray 3
September 1850 and they had four children. Ruffner died in
Asheville, North Carolina, 24 November 1908.
Papers, 1848-1907 (bulk 1866-1907), of William Henry
Ruffner (1824-1908) of Lexington, Virginia, consisting of
abstracts, articles, clippings, legislative bills,
biographies, circular letters, diaries, letters, lists,
minutes, notes, receipts, and testimonials regarding education
in Virginia. Of interest are testimonials for William Henry
Ruffner to be Virginia's first superintendent of public
instruction, correspondence concerning his plans for education
in Virginia, and exchange of ideas with other educators. Also
contains notes on the history of education in Virginia. There
is a list of teachers in antebellum Virginia. Collection also
contains information on John Chavis (ca. 1775-1838), a free
black Presbyterian minister in the early 1800s and an article
on Jack Neal, a slave. Two letters of interest are: a) 23
February 1853 from Anne S. Rice to Henry Ruffner (1790-1861)
about her slaves and the American Colonization Society; and b)
9 May 1900, from Laura A. Holland to William Henry Ruffner
about Booker T. Washington. Collection also contains a
description of a trip to the Northern Neck of Virginia, and
William Henry Ruffner's diary, 1870-1907, describing his
travels around the state of Virginia. Also of interest are
letters from Stonewall Jackson's (1824-1863) sister-in-law
Margaret Junkin Preston (1820-1897) and from Jackson's second
wife Mary Anna Morrison Jackson (1831-1915).
1: Minutes of Board of Trustees of
Washington College, Lexington, Virginia,
21 June 1848
2 p.
Folder 1
2: Letter. Henry Ruffner, Louisville,
to Mrs. George E. Dabney, Lexington, Virginia,
29 May 1849
4 p.
Folder 1
3: Letter. Anne S. Rice, [Mrs. John
Holt Rice], Rice Hill, to [Henry Ruffner?],
23 February 1853
4 p.
Folder 1
4: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Winchester,
Virginia, to Mrs. W. H. Ruffner,
7 July 1861
6 p.
Folder 1
5: Letter. James M. Brown, Ka. C. H.,
to W. H. Ruffner,
9 July 1861
4 p.
Folder 1
6: Letter. Henry Ruffner, Kanawha
Salines, to daughter Julia,
7 May 1861
2 p.
Folder 2
7: Letter. W[illiam] H. McGuffey,
University of Virginia, to Wm. Henry Ruffner,
21 May 1866
2 p.
Folder 2
8: Letter. Francis H. Smith, Virginia
Military Institute, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia,
22 January 1867
2 p.
Folder 2
9: Letter. Joseph Henry, Smithsonian
Institute, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia,
4 June 1869
3 p.
Folder 2
10: Recommendation to Virginia State
Legislature for W. H. Ruffner to be made superintendent
of Public Instruction
Printed copy of this is entitled "Testimonials
of W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia."
Folder 2
11: Testimonials of W. H. Ruffner by
S. Maupin, Judge Egbert R. Watson, Hon. John B.
Baldwin
Only the first signature on each testimony is
given.
Folder 2
12: Letter. A. Leyburn, Elmwood, to R.
E. Lee, Lexington, Virginia,
5 February 1870
1 p., printed.
Folder 2
12a: Letter. General R. E. Lee,
Lexington, Virginia, to A. Leyburn, Elmwood,
5 February 1870
1 p., printed.
This letter is the reply to Item 12
Folder 2
13: Letter. B[enjamin] M. Smith, Union
Theological Seminary, Hampden-Sydney, to Col. William
McLaughlin, House of Delegates, Richmond, Virginia,
9 February 1870
2 p.
Folder 2
14: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Richmond,
Virginia, to Mrs. W. H. Ruffner,
2 March 1870
1 p.
Folder 2
15: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
25 March 1870
8 p.
Folder 2
16: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia,
9 April 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
17: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, University
of Virginia, to Mrs. W. H. Ruffner,
24 April 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
18: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
2 May 1870
6 p.
Folder 2
19: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
3 May 1870
8 p.
Folder 2
20: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
9 May 1870
3 p.
Folder 2
21: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Richmond,
Virginia, to daughter Ann,
13 May 1870
2 p.
Folder 2
22: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
21 May 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
23: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
28 May 1870
7 p.
Folder 2
24: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
29 May 1870
2 p.
Folder 2
25: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Richmond,
Virginia, to Misses Ruffner,
29 May 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
26: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
8 July 1870
7 p.
Folder 2
27: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia,
26 August 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
28: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia,
7 September 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
29: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
15 September 1870
4 p.
Folder 2
30: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
14 October 1870
7 p.
Folder 2
31: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
19 October 1870
7 p.
Folder 2
32: Letter. B[arnas] Sears, Staunton,
to W. H. Ruffner,
16 November 1870
3 p.
Folder 2
33: Letter. B[arnas] Sears, Staunton,
to W. H. Ruffner,
17 November 1870
2 p.
Folder 3
34: Letter. Francis H. Smith, Virginia
Military Institute, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond,
Virginia,
13 January 1871
1 p.
Folder 3
35: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
18 February 1872
5 p.
Folder 3
36: Letter. W[illiam] H. McGuffey,
University of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
28 February 1872
2 p.
Folder 3
37: Letter. B[arnas] Sears, Staunton,
Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
5 August 1872
4 p.
Folder 3
38: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
8 August 1872
5 p.
Folder 3
39: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
27 December 1872
3 p.
Folder 3
40: Letter. Judge Ro[bert] W. Hughes,
Abingdon, Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
24 April 1873
10 p.
Folder 3
41: Letter. Edward S. Joynes,
Lexington, Virginia, to [W. H. Ruffner],
26 April 1873
2 p.
Folder 3
42: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
5 May 1873
2 p.
Folder 3
43: Letter. Hugh Blair Grigsby,
Charlotte Court House, Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
Richmond, Virginia,
8 May 1873
2 p.
Folder 3
44: Letter. B[arnas] Sears, Richmond,
Virginia, to General [___] Anderson,
5 December 1873
4 p.
Folder 3
45: Letter. George F. Hoar,
Washington, to W. H. Ruffner,
3 January 1874
2 p.
Folder 3
46: Letter. John Eaton, Washington, to
W. H. Ruffner,
6 January 1874
2 p.
Folder 3
47: Letter. B[arnas] Sears, Staunton,
Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
8 January 1874
2 p.
Folder 3
48: Letter. Hugh Blair Grigsby,
Charlotte Court House, Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
Richmond, Virginia,
16 February 1874
2 p.
Folder 3
49: Letter. Sarah Nicholas Randolph,
Shadwell Depot, Albemarle County, to W. H. Ruffner,
Richmond, Virginia,
28 April 1874
3 p.
Folder 3
50: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
25 May 1875
3 p.
Folder 3
51: Senate Bill No. 251
A Bill to establish and maintain a normal
school and to provide otherwise for the training of
teachers for the public schools of Virginia. No official
date on bill, but pencil note of 1872 or
1873.
Folder 4
52: Receipt,
9 March 1877
1 p.
For Bonds belonging to the Virginia
Agricultural & Mechanical College and to Hampton
Normal and Agricultural Institute.
Folder 4
53: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Richmond, Virginia,
21 November 1877
4 p.
Folder 4
54: Notes. "Trip to the Northern Neck"
by W. H. Ruffner, Hague
10 May 1878 , Farnham, Richmond
County,
11 May 1878 , Heathsville,
13 May [1878] , Lancaster Court
House,
14 May [1878] , and Richmond City,
16 May [1878] .
15 p.
Folder 4
55: Article. "Congress and the
Education of the People." Extract from
Educational Journal of
Virginia ,
March 1880
12 p.
Folder 5
56: Letter. Robert C. Winthrop,
Boston, Massachusetts, to W. H. Ruffner,
3 December 1881
3 p.
Folder 5
57: Letter. Henry Barnard, Hartford,
Connecticut, to [W. H. Ruffner],
5 December 1881
2 p.
Folder 5
58: Letter. S[amuel] C. Armstrong,
Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hampton,
Virginia, to General William Mahone, United States
Senator,
5 December 1881
3 p., copy.
Folder 5
59: Letter. George W. Dame, Danville,
Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
23 January 1882
1 p.
Folder 5
60: Letter. S[amuel] C. Armstrong,
Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hampton,
Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
16 October 1882
6 p.
Folder 5
61: Letter. John Eaton, Washington, to
W. H. Ruffner,
17 [___] 1884
3 p.
Folder 5
62: Letter. Fitzhugh Lee, Evergreen
near Alexandria, Virginia, to Grover Cleveland,
[Washington],
21 November 1885
1 p.
Folder 5
63: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, State
Normal School of Virginia, Farmville, to Grover
Cleveland, [Washington],
27 November 1885
1 p.
Folder 5
64: Letter. J. T. L. Preston,
Lexington, Virginia, to J. R. Tucker,
19 December 1885 with endorsement,
J. R. Tucker,
22 December 1885
4 p.
Folder 5
65: Letter. J. R. Tucker, Washington,
to Lucious Q. C. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior,
[Washington],
22 December 1885
1 p.
Folder 5
66: Letter. J. R. Tucker, Washington,
to the President of the United States [Grover Cleveland,
Washington],
23 December 1885
2 p.
Folder 6
67: Letter. J. R. Tucker, Washington,
to W. H. Ruffner,
6 January 1886
1 p.
Folder 6
68: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia
1 November 1890
3 p.
Folder 6
69: Letter. John B. Minor, University
of Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Virginia,
1 January 1891
2 p.
Folder 6
70: A card. "Mr. Ramsdell & Mr.
Ruffner." W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
25 October 1873
3 p.
Folder 7
71: Letter. W[illiam] T. Harris, U. S.
Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C., to W. H.
Ruffner, Buena Vista, Virginia,
31 March 1896
2 p.
Folder 7
72: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia, to John E. Massey,
29 April 1897
5 p., copy.
Folder 7
73: Letter. W. P. Huston, Lexington,
Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner,
21 Novembr 1898
2 p.
Folder 7
74: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia, to A[mory] D. Mayo,
[___] January 1900
40 p.
Notes of William Henry Ruffner concerning his
work in public education.
Folder 7
75: Letter. W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia, to Mrs. Stephen Holland, Bedford City,
Virginia,
2 May 1900
7 p., draft.
Folder 7
76: Letter. Mrs. Laura A. Holland,
Bedford City, Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia
9 May 1900
3 p.
Contains interesting facts about Booker T.
Washington, whose mother, Jane Burroughs, was owned by
Mrs. Holland's father, James Burroughs, of Halesford,
Franklin County.
Folder 8
77: Letter. [W. H. Ruffner],
Lexington, Virginia, to [John A.] McGilvray,
31 January 1902
3 p., draft.
Folder 8
78: Letter. William A. Anderson,
Richmond, Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia,
27 April 1904
5 p.
Folder 8
79: Letter. [W. H. Ruffner],
Lexington, Virginia, to William T. Harris,
18 November 1904
2 p., draft.
Folder 8
80: Letter. Bruce R. Payne,
Williamsburg, Virginia, to W. H. Ruffner, Lexington,
Virginia,
20 March 1905
1 p.
Folder 9
81: Abstract. Rockbridge County Order
Book 6, p. 10, April term 1802
Regarding John Chavis (ca.
1775-1838).
Folder 9
82: Abstract. From article on the
Lexington Newsletter of 1819-1823, by W. H. Ruffner,
published in the
Rockbridge County News ,
30 March 1895
1 p.
Folder 9
83: Abstracts. From the minutes of the
Orange Presbytery,
8 April 1809-14 April
1842
17 p.
Signed D. J. Craig, stated clerk of Orange
Presbytery, regarding John Chavis (ca.
1775-1838).
Folder 9
84: Letter. D. J. Craig, Reidsville,
North Carolina, to H. P. Huston,
[___] January 1898
3 p.
Folder 9
85: Letter. W. H. Roberts,
Philadelphia, to W. P. Huston, Lexington, Virginia
20 January 1898
3 p.
Enclosure: references to John Chavis (ca.
1775-1838) in the minutes of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. from 1801 to
1839.
Folder 9
86: Letter. William C. White, Warm
Springs, Virginia, to W. P. Huston, Lexington, Virginia,
16 February 1898
6 p.
Enclosure: references to John Chavis (ca.
1775-1838) in the minutes of Lexington Presbytery,
1799-1800.
Folder 9
87: Abstracts. Report of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction of North Carolina,
1896-1898
3 p.
Folder 9
88: Article. "An Educated Negro
Preacher of a Century Ago" by William Henry Ruffner,
n.d.
Pages 17 and 18 are wanting. There are two
pages numbered 24 and two pages numbered 25.
Folder 10
92: Sketch of Henry Ruffner and
William Henry Ruffner,
n.d. and copy of letter, B[arnas]
Sears, Richmond, to General Joseph R. Anderson,
13 December 1873
18 p.
Folder 10
93: Notes. Entitled "Private and
Corporate Schools,"
n.d.
5 p.
Folder 10
94: Unpublished anecdotes of George
Washington by Henry Ruffner,
n.d.
4 p.
Stories told to Ruffner by Edward Graham of
Washington College.
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