Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of John Armstrong Chaloner, Accession #38-394-c, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from Jerry N. Showalter on January 14, 1974.

Biographical/Historical Information

A brief biography of Chaloner and his Albemarle County estate "Merry Mill" may be found in Volume 73, January 1965, of The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, pp. 3-21. The article's chronological history of Chaloner's many lawsuits and explanation of his "X-Faculty" which enabled him to write will no doubt be of help to any researcher. Chaloner's literary writing was all done through his "X-Faculty" which took over his mind. All of his manuscripts are written in blue colored pencil and annotated in red. Chaloner eventually changed his last name to "Chanler," which accounts for both spellings appearing attached to various documents.

Scope and Content

Papers of Chaloner's efforts to reverse the lunacy verdict of the New York Courts, including; correspondence with New York lawyer Hiram Reswell Steele [1842], portions of Chaloner's testimony, his notes re the case and his "betrayal" by Stanford White, petitions for impeachment of the judge who committed him and for safe conduct to present an appeal to the U.S. President.

The collection also contains a letterbook of his secretary, Ernle G. Money, and manuscripts of his poetry and drama including Robbery Under Law, his play about his murder of John Gillard.