A Guide to the Clark Family Papers
A Collection in the
Special Collections Department
Accession number 10734
University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryUniversity 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/
© 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
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
- Box 1
Correspondence of Alberta Elder Asher1896-1935, n.d.
- Box 1
Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Louis C. Asher1893-1910, n.d.
- Box 1
Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Bertha Elder1896-1907
- Box 1
Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Evelyn Hill1898-1900
- Box 1
Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from [Rose] Elder1900-1910, n.d.
- Box 1
Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Mattie Womack1908-1910, n.d.
- Box 1
Correspondence--Alberta Elder Asher from Julia and Marian Asher1910-1935
- Box 1
Correspondence of Julia and Marian Asher1911-1926, 1978-1980
- Box 1
Correspondence of Louis C. Asher1878-1901, 1928-1930, n.d.
- Box 1
Correspondence of Cassie O. Clark1906, 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 Elder1890-1901, n.d.
- Box 2
Correspondence--William Andrew Elder from Dollie Henderson1897-1901, n.d.
- Box 2
Correspondence--William Andrew Elder from Hiram and Rose Elder1901
- Box 2
Correspondence--Dollie Henderson from William Andrew Elder1898-1901
- Box 2
Correspondence--William A. Lawson from Robert Lawson1826-1840
- Box 2
Correspondence of William A. Lawson1835-1853
- Box 2
Correspondence of the Lawson family1885-1901, n.d.
- Box 2
Correspondence--Miscellaneous1857-1901, n.d.
- Box 2
Business Papers--Accounts1825-1903, n.d.(3 folders)
- Box 3
Business Papers--Correspondence1829-1926, n.d.
- Box 3
Business Papers--Promissory Notes1812-1918, n.d.
- Box 3
Business Papers--Receipts1800-1879(4 folders)
- Box 4
Business Papers--Receipts1880-1933, n.d.(2 folders)
- Box 4
Business Papers--Tax Receipts1834-1913
- Box 4
Business Papers--Tobacco Receipts and Correspondence re Tobacco1854-1934
- Box 4
Legal Papers1820-1905