Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Letter to Levi Harris must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Letter to Levi Harris, Ms2018-004, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Letter to Levi Harris was purchased by Special Collections in October 2013.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Letter to Levi Harris was completed in September 2018.

Biographical Note

The last name of the Amanda is not known from the letter, but census records suggest her brother was Levi Harris who was living in Charlotte, Virginia, with his wife Susan, in 1860. Levi and Amanda's father was likely William Harris, who also lived in the same area.

Scope and Contents

The collection includes a single letter written to Levi Harris from his sister Amanda in Giles County, Virginia. Dated March 14th, 1863, she writes of the price of crops, about the availability of land in the area, why her brother might want to relocate to the area, and news about mutual friends and family. At one point, while encouraging him to relcoate, she says "you had better come out hear and buy land close by us he wants you do learn some of his boys the black smiths trade for we have so many boys..."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Giles County (Va.)
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Homefront