A Guide to the Clark Family Papers Clark Family. 10734

A Guide to the Clark Family Papers

A Collection in the
Special Collections Department
Accession number 10734


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University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
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© 1997 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department Staff

Repository
University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept. Alderman Library University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 USA
Collection Number
10734
Title
Clark Family Papers 1804-1964
Extent
ca. 1,200 items
Creator
Location
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Clark Family Papers, Accession 10734, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

Purchase 1987 November 17

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This collection, 1804-1964, ca. 1200 items, contains correspondence, personal papers, and business and legal papers of the Pleasant Clark family and William Lawson family , as well as of their descendants in the Asher family and Elder family . Living in the Virginia areas of Hat Creek and Lynchburg , and in Campbell County , Charlotte County , and Halifax County , these families apparently served as prominent plantation owners, businessmen, and local elected officials.

Business papers include tobacco receipts from 1854-1934 and tax receipts from 1834-1913 which attest to their holdings during this period. Accounts and receipts, 1804-1933, have recorded the daily plantation activities of the Pleasant Clark family , and the transactions of William Lawson 's business, each with numerous references to local residents. The hire and sale of slaves, ca. 1827-1861, has been recorded chiefly in promissory notes, and, to a lesser extent, receipts, tax receipts, and legal documents. Other legal documents establish family kinship, and include deed transfers, declarations of bankruptcy, and insurance papers.

The bulk of the correspondence is personal, with some from each family. In the Asher family , the early religious work done by Louis C. Asher is described in letters to his wife, Alberta Elder Asher . Letters from friends and family to Alberta Asher usually pertain to her health, and to that of various relatives. Cassie O. Clark received most of the Clark family 's letters. Early letters from John P. Clark to his siblings include interesting notes on his life in St. Louis, Missouri . , Alberta Asher's brother, wrote letters primarily concerned with his efforts to find employment, and his personal relationship with Dollie Henderson . William A. Lawson received several letters from his brother, Robert Lawson , who told of his business travels. Correspondence of the Lawson family , as well as business and miscellaneous letters complete the series.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Alberta Asher
  • Alberta Asher's
  • Alberta Elder Asher
  • Cassie O. Clark
  • Dollie Henderson
  • John P. Clark
  • Louis C. Asher
  • Robert Lawson
  • William A. Lawson
  • William Lawson

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Campbell County
  • Charlotte County
  • Halifax County
  • Lynchburg
  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • Virginia

Container List

Correspondence
  • Box 1
    Correspondence of Alberta Elder Asher
    1896-1935, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Louis C. Asher
    1893-1910, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Bertha Elder
    1896-1907
  • Box 1
    Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Evelyn Hill
    1898-1900
  • Box 1
    Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from [Rose] Elder
    1900-1910, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Mattie Womack
    1908-1910, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Julia and Marian Asher
    1910-1935
  • Box 1
    Correspondence of Julia and Marian Asher
    1911-1926, 1978-1980
  • Box 1
    Correspondence of Louis C. Asher
    1878-1901, 1928-1930, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence of Cassie O. Clark
    1906, 1924-1928, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence of Cassie O. Clark (Christmas Cards)
    1912, 1926-1927, n.d.
  • Box 1
    Correspondence of the Clark family
    (1849-1899)1927, n.d.
  • Box 2
    Correspondence of William Andrew Elder
    1890-1901, n.d.
  • Box 2
    Correspondence--William Andrew Elder from Dollie Henderson
    1897-1901, n.d.
  • Box 2
    Correspondence--William Andrew Elder from Hiram and Rose Elder
    1901
  • Box 2
    Correspondence--Dollie Henderson from William Andrew Elder
    1898-1901
  • Box 2
    Correspondence--William A. Lawson from Robert Lawson
    1826-1840
  • Box 2
    Correspondence of William A. Lawson
    1835-1853
  • Box 2
    Correspondence of the Lawson family
    1885-1901, n.d.
  • Box 2
    Correspondence--Miscellaneous
    1857-1901, n.d.
Business and Legal Papers
  • Box 2
    Business Papers--Accounts
    1825-1903, n.d.
    (3 folders)
  • Box 3
    Business Papers--Correspondence
    1829-1926, n.d.
  • Box 3
    Business Papers--Promissory Notes
    1812-1918, n.d.
  • Box 3
    Business Papers--Receipts
    1800-1879
    (4 folders)
  • Box 4
    Business Papers--Receipts
    1880-1933, n.d.
    (2 folders)
  • Box 4
    Business Papers--Tax Receipts
    1834-1913
  • Box 4
    Business Papers--Tobacco Receipts and Correspondence re Tobacco
    1854-1934
  • Box 4
    Legal Papers
    1820-1905
Miscellaneous
  • Box 4
    Genealogy Research
    1964, n.d.
  • Box 4
    Miscellaneous
    1861-1933, n.d.
  • Box 4
    Poetry
    n.d.