Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Laura Katz Smith
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Harris, James W.M. Papers, Ms2000-085, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Biographical Note
Born in Natchez, Mississippi in 1828, James W.M. Harris studied at Amherst College and returned to his native state to read law under General Sparrow. In 1852 Harris married Mary C. Lum (1831-1871), and the couple took up residence near Vicksburg at Avenel Plantation. The young couple soon had a growing family, with the birth of daughters Annie Laura (Lola) in 1853, Caroline (Carrie) in 1855, and Natalie in 1859. Harris continued to practice law in Vicksburg, but the family cotton plantation, Avenel, also provided income. The couple's lives would change, however, with the coming of the Civil War.
Like many southerners, the couple's lives changed dramatically with the advent of war. Harris and his two brothers, Nathaniel and William, served the Confederate States of American in various capacities. Both Nathaniel and William joined the army, with the former eventually rising to the rank of General, and the latter serving as quartermaster. Meanwhile, James undertook a position as Third Auditor of the Post Office Department in Richmond, a position that took him away from Avenel and his family for the duration of the war. Because of the Union occupation of Vicksburg, Mary and the three children spent much of the war in Eufaula, Alabama. At the end of the War in 1865, the family was reunited and returned to Warren County to once again make Avenel home. Harris resumed his law practice, but the family moved to New York where Mary died in childbirth in 1871. Harris moved to the Washington Territory shortly before his death in 1885, where he attempted to become territorial governor. Upon his death, Harris's body was returned to New York, where he was interred next to his wife Mary.
Scope and Contents
The James W.M. Harris Papers consist of over 200 letters written either from or to Harris or immediate members of his family between 1857 and 1909. The majority of the letters are from James to his wife Mary, written almost entirely during the Civil War. These letters contain descriptions of the siege of Vicksburg, life in Richmond, and first hand descriptions of African-Americans during the war. Harris also frequently recounts current events during the war, as well as encounters with Belle Boyd and Jefferson Davis. Other letters are from Mary to her husband relating day to day happenings, from various family members to other family, several letters from Harris to his daughters, a lengthy letter from Harris's mother describing conditions in Mississippi during the war, and finally condolence letters to James on the death of his wife.
Also contained in this collection are two ledgers of Mary Harris and Ann Lum listing household goods, details of plantation life including the shoe sizes of slaves, and remedies of illness. There are two photographs of Judge Harris and General Nathaniel Harris, and several more personal effects of the two gentlemen including a speech the judge gave to the Natchez Library Association and the documents of his bid for territorial Governor of Washington, and a casualty list for the Battle of the Wilderness for the general.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged according to subject matter and date.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Civil War
- Harris, James W. M., 1828-1885
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Harris, James W.M. Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Harris, James W. M., 1828-1885
- Harris, Mary C. Lum, 1831-1871
Container List
- James W.M. Harris1863-1885, n.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 1
PhotographNovember 29, 1873
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
Harris Genealogyn.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 3
Burton Harrison letter to O. R. Singleton confirming Harris as third auditorDecember 17, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 4
Travel PassSeptember 5, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 5
Civil War PardonDecember 12, 1865
- box-folder 1 folder: 6
Certification as Attorney and Counselor of Court of ClaimsFebruary 3, 1879
- box-folder 1 folder: 7
Documents to certify as practicing Attorney in Supreme Court of MississippiJune 28, 1884
- box-folder 1 folder: 8
Certification as practicing Attorney in Supreme Court of MississippiJuly 4, 1884
- box-folder 1 folder: 9
Speech to Natchez Library Association - "The Lesson which Natchez Teaches her Sons"May 21, 1884
- box-folder 1 folder: 10
Application for Governor of Washington TerritoryApril 4, 1885
- box-folder 1 folder: 11
Letters and documents addresses to President Grover Cleveland and L.Q.C. Lamar in support of James Harris for territorial Governor of WashingtonApril-July, 1885
- box-folder 1 folder: 12
Newspaper clippings regarding Harris' death1885
- box-folder 1 folder: 13
Miscellaneous storyn.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 1
- Mary Catherine Lum Harris1857, 1860
- box-folder 1 folder: 14
Household Ledger and Diary1857, 1860
- box-folder 1 folder: 14
- Ann Lum1860-68
- box-folder 1 folder: 15
Journal with other entries written by unknown persons1860-68
- box-folder 1 folder: 15
- Nathaniel Harrison HarrisMay 12, 1864, n.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 16
Photographn.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 17
Casualty List: Warren Rifles in the Battle of the WildernessMay 12, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 18
Battle Maps - Cold Harbor, Fraziers Farm, Ellysons (?) Millsn.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 19
Newspaper clippingsn.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 16
- James W. M. Harris with Mary Lum Harris (wife)1863-65, n.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 20
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 8, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 21
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 6, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 22
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 13, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 23
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 14, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 24
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 19, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 25
Mary Lum Harris to James W.M. HarrisNovember 24, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 26
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 1, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 27
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 12, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 28
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 15, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 29
Mary Lum Harris to James W.M. HarrisDecember 25, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 30
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 29, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 31
Mary Lum Harris to James W.M. HarrisDecember 30, 1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 32
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum Harris1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 33
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum Harris1863
- box-folder 1 folder: 34
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 1, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 35
Mary Lum Harris to James W.M. HarrisJanuary 3, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 36
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 5, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 37
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 11, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 38
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 13, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 39
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 14, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 40
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 15, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 41
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 16, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 42
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 17, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 43
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 18, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 44
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 21, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 45
Mary Lum Harris to James W.M. HarrisJanuary 21, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 46
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 23, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 47
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 2, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 48
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 3, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 49
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 4, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 50
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 4, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 51
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 11, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 52
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 11, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 53
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 12, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 54
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 13, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 55
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 14, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 56
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 14, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 57
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 15, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 58
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 16, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 59
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 18, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 60
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 21, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 61
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 23, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 62
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 23, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 63
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 23, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 64
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 27, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 65
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 27, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 66
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 29, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 67
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 30, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 68
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisApril 30, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 69
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 2, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 70
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 3, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 71
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 3, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 72
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 3, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 73
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 3, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 74
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 4, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 75
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 4, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 76
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 4, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 77
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 6, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 78
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 6, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 79
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 10, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 80
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 12, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 81
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 16, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 82
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 18, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 83
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 19, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 84
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 19, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 85
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 20, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 86
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 23, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 87
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 23, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 88
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 25, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 89
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 25, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 90
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 27, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 91
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 27, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 92
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 28, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 93
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 30, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 94
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisMay 31, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 95
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 1, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 96
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 2, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 97
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 4, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 98
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 5, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 99
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 7, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 100
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 8, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 101
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 9, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 102
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 10, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 103
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 11, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 104
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 13, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 105
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 14, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 106
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 15, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 107
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 17, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 108
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 18, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 109
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 22, 1864
- box-folder 1 folder: 110
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 29, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 1
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJune 30, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 2
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 3, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 3
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 4, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 4
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 4, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 5
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 7, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 6
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 9, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 7
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 12, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 8
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 15, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 9
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 20, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 10
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 25, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 11
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 25, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 12
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJuly 27, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 13
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisAugust 4, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 14
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisAugust 6, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 15
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisAugust 11, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 16
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisAugust 13, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 17
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisAugust 16, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 18
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisAugust 17, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 19
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisNovember 19, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 20
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisNovember 30, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 21
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 5, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 22
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 12, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 23
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 16, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 24
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisDecember 20, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 25
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 5, 1865
- box-folder 2 folder: 26
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 23, 1865
- box-folder 2 folder: 27
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 27, 1865
- box-folder 2 folder: 28
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisJanuary 30, 1865
- box-folder 2 folder: 29
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisSeptember 20, 1865
- box-folder 2 folder: 30
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum HarrisOctober 9, 1865
- box-folder 2 folder: 31
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum Harrisn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 32
James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum Harris, fragmentn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 33
Poetry from James W. M. Harris to Mary Lum Harrisn.d.
- box-folder 1 folder: 20
- James W.M. Harris with children and mother1863-87, n.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 34
James W. M. Harris to Carrie L. Harris (daughter)November 21, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 35
James W. M. Harris to Natalie Harris (daughter)November 28, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 36
James W. M. Harris to Annie Laura (Lola) Harris (daughter) a.k.a. Lola BroderickDecember 4, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 37
James W. M. Harris to Lola BroderickApril 13, 1887
- box-folder 2 folder: 38
James W. M. Harris to Lola Broderick and Natalie HarrisSeptember 29, 1884
- box-folder 2 folder: 39
Lola Broderick to James W.M. Harrisn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 40
Lola Broderick to James W.M. Harrisn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 41
James W. M. Harris to Master Harris Broderick (grandson)n.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 42
Grandma Harris Truman (mother) to James W.M. HarrisMay 31, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 34
- James W.M. Harris with brother Nathaniel Harrison Harris1862-63
- box-folder 2 folder: 43
Nathaniel Harrison Harris to James W.M. HarrisJune 11, 1862
- box-folder 2 folder: 44
James W.M. Harris to General Nathaniel Harrison HarrisJune 8, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 43
- James W.M. Harris with various others1859-85, n.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 45
James W.M. Harris to "cousin Jim"September 21, 1859
- box-folder 2 folder: 46
George Washington Custis Lee to James W.M. HarrisJanuary 10, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 47
Wade H. Griffin to James W.M. HarrisJuly 1, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 48
James W.M. Harris to unknown DoctorOctober 12, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 49
Meyer sisters to James W.M. HarrisNovember 5, 1866
- box-folder 2 folder: 50
Mrs. Gibson to James W.M. HarrisJune 10, 1885
- box-folder 2 folder: 51
A. E. Johnson to James W.M. Harrisn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 45
- Letters of condolence to James W.M. Harris1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 52
From C. PopeAugust 6, 1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 53
From Jim HarrisAugust 7, 1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 54
Collie (sister)September 12, 1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 52
- Mary Catherine Lum Harris with various family and friends1863-64, n.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 55
Mary Lum Harris to motherOctober 24, 1863
- box-folder 2 folder: 56
Mary Lum Harris to LizzieMarch 23, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 57
Mary Lum Harris to LizzieMay 11, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 58
From Lizzie, Mother, Julia Payne, C. Rhodes Cashier and unknown refugee to Mary Lum Harris1863-64
- box-folder 2 folder: 59
From W.W. Lord and W.L. Lord to Mary Lum Harrisn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 55
- Nathaniel Harrison Harris with various persons1871-99
- box-folder 2 folder: 60
Upton Young to Nathaniel Harrison HarrisJuly 26, 1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 61
Garnett Andrews to Nathaniel Harrison HarrisAugust 1, 1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 62
R.L. Gibson to Nathaniel Harrison HarrisAugust 20, 1885
- box-folder 2 folder: 63
Henrietta (sister) to Nathaniel Harrison HarrisSeptember 13, 1885
- box-folder 2 folder: 64
A. Coles to Nathaniel Harrison HarrisSeptember 15, 1885
- box-folder 2 folder: 65
S.A. Jones to Nathaniel Harrison HarrisSeptember 17, 1885
- box-folder 2 folder: 66
Nathaniel Harrison Harris to niece Lola BroderickNovember 21, 1885
- box-folder 2 folder: 67
Nathaniel Harrison Harris to unknown doctorSeptember 8, 1890
- box-folder 2 folder: 68
Nathaniel Harrison Harris to unknown doctorNovember 15, 1890
- box-folder 2 folder: 69
Nathaniel Harrison Harris to Charles LewisMarch 22, 1899
- box-folder 2 folder: 60
- box-folder 2 folder: 70
Various family members correspondence1864-71, n.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 71
"Babe" to Ann LumAugust 17, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 72
Norman Bolton to Ann LumFebruary 5, 1868
- box-folder 2 folder: 73
Mandy to Rose (Harris's sister)August 28, 1871
- box-folder 2 folder: 74
Carrie L. Harris (daughter) to Mollie Broaddickn.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 75
"H" to Callien.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 71
- Miscellaneous Correspondence1862-64, n.d.
- box-folder 2 folder: 76
I.A. Campell, CSA Secretary of War to Lt. General Pemberton releasing A.M. Heath and W.W. Wiles from military serviceDecember 5, 1862
- box-folder 2 folder: 77
Dr. Archer to unknown, Partial letterJuly 8, 1864
- box-folder 2 folder: 78
Partial Lettern.d.
- box-folder 3 folder: 1-5
Oversized materials removed from regular inventory. Access is through folders
- box-folder 2 folder: 76