Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of James McDowell, Accession #1707,#1755, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Scope and Content Information

This collection of ca. 600 items consists largely of the papers of Colonel James McDowell of Rockbridge County, Virginia, for the years 1752 (1800-1878). McDowell was the father of James McDowell (1795-1851) governor of Virginia from 1843-1846, and Mrs. Thomas Hart Benton and was a man of some political and financial importance as well as a colonel in the militia.

The coming of the War of 1812 and Rockbridge County's attitude toward the war are among other subjects mentioned. Land speculation in Kentucky and North Carolina, in which McDowell seems to have been deeply interested, is the subject of many letters. McDowell gave his son, James, 3,000 acres of Kentucky land at his marriage. The Federalists in this area and their political possibilities are mentioned.

The question of the location of the University of Virginia is mentioned in a letter of 1818, with geographical statistics to prove that Lexington was really the center of the state and that the University should be located there. There are also several letters discussing the finances of Washington College (Lexington, Virginia; now Washington and Lee University).

There are a number of letters to Colonel McDowell from such men as: Sam Houston, Richard Bland Lee, James Barbour, John Floyd, Thomas Ritchie, Francis Smith, and other Virginia politicians. There is an interesting letter from C.M. Conrad, Secretary of War to Congressman John Letcher dated in 1852. There are also several good political letters mentioning John Calhoun, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and local Virginia politicians.

Arrangement

This collection has been placed in chronogical order, although separate folders for the two accessions have been retained.