Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
204 W. Washington St.Lexington, VA 24450
specialcollections@wlu.edu
URL: https://library.wlu.edu/special-collections-archives.html
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Henry Ruffner Papers, WLU Coll. 0102, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections' staff to verify the appropriate format.
Biographical / Historical
Henry Ruffner was president of Washington College, 1836-1848 as well as a professor, minister, and author.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes three manuscript novellas written by Henry Ruffner including a draft of his published work titled "Judith Bensaddi"; six sermons in Henry Ruffner's hand, Washington College student James S. Richeson's handwritten transcript of one of Ruffner's lectures on "Political Economy"(1840); a 20th cenury typescript copy of Ruffner's 1847 pamphlet regarding slavery in Virginia; an 1867 letter relating to property of Ruffner's estate by his widow, Laura Ruffner; Henry Ruffner's bound manuscript for the Early History of Washington College (c.1857) - this volume includes notes of Henry Ruffner's son, William Henry Ruffner; and a letter dated January 20, 1897 written from a Union army veteran to the Washington College library concerning a book he removed from the school's library during General David Hunter's 1864 occupation of Lexington, Virginia.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Antislavery movements
- Correspondence
- Legal documents
- Manuscripts
- Romance fiction
- Ruffner, Henry, 1790-1861
- Ruffner, Laura
- Slavery
- Speeches, addresses, etc., American
- Virginia -- Lexington
- Washington College (Lexington, Va.)
Container List
At least one of Henry Ruffner's sermons has period notation that it was given to the Washington and Lee University by his widow, Laura Ruffner. It is likely that the other early manuscriptswere also given by her.
This typescript was in the office of WLU historian Ollinger Crenshaw.
The engraving of Henry ruffner was liekyl removed from a bokk. The carte de visite photogaph is of three unknown people likely from Europe.
A bound manuscript titled "The History of Washington College, in two parts," written by Henry Ruffner in 1857 on the early history of the college. This manuscript was later published by the trustees of Washington and Lee University as "Washington and Lee University Historical Papers, Number One - 1890." The manuscript is written in pencil and includes annotations made later by Ruffner's son, William H. Ruffner.
This volume was from the office of WLU historian Ollinger Crenshaw.