McDuffie, William "Billy", Collection William "Billy" McDuffie Collection, 1861, n. d. Ms.2023.015

William "Billy" McDuffie Collection, 1861, n. d. Ms.2023.015


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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

Tyler Williams, Student Assistant

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.2023.015
Title
William "Billy" McDuffie Collection 1861, n. d.
Quantity
0.1 Cubic Feet, 1 folder
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
This collection contains a Carte de Visite photograph of William "Billy" McDuffie, a letter from Arthur Elmore to his sister Grace Elmore, and the envelope that it was sent in. This collection also contains a transcript of the letter.

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

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], William "Billy" McDuffie Collection, 1861, n. d., Ms2023-015, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The William "Billy" McDuffie Collection was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in February 2018.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the William "Billy" McDuffie Collection was completed in May 2023.


Biographical Note

William "Billy" Mcduffie was an enslaved person during and prior to the American Civil War. During the war, McDuffie most likely served as a cook or a body servant. Biographical materials that accompanied the collection included an excerpt from his obituary, which ran in the Athens Daily Banner on May 28, 1901, and is included below. The biographical materials also mention that William McDuffie formerly enslaved by Governor George McDuffie of South Carolina and that he "served as a valet to the family of a prominent South Carolina politician and banker, Frank H. Elmore".

"He went as a drummer to the Seminole war in 1836, to the Mexican war, and to the civil war. He volunteered to go to Cuba .. . . He was a courier on the staff of Governor Mcsweeney and an honorary sergeant in a local white military company. He brought back General Pierce Butler's body from Mexico and General Bragg's back from Fredricksburg. . . . [He] beat the muffled drum at [John C.] Calhoun's funeral. He was buried ... with military honors."

Scope and Content

This collection contains a Carte de Visite photograph, a letter from Arthur Elmore to Grace Elmore, the envelope that the letter was sent in, and a transcript of the letter. The photograph depicts William "Billy" McDuffie, an enslaved individual that was taken to war by the Elmore family. The letter was written to update Grace Elmore on Arthur, William, and "Cousin Ben's" current locations, and to update her on "Cousin Ben" and William's recovery. Arthur also mentions the snowy weather in the letter and that he had not yet received blankets that his mother had sent him. The envelope that the letter was sent in indicates that the letter was sent from the Tudor Hall post office in Manassas, Virginia, and was received on December 8, 1861. The envelope also includes a "DUE 10" stamp which indicates that the postage was to be paid by the recipient of the letter.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • African Americans -- History
  • Civil War
  • McDuffie, William, d. 1901?
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the William "Billy" McDuffie Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Container List

folder 1
William "Billy" McDuffie Photograph
n. d.
folder 1
Albert R. Elmore to Grace B. Elmore Letter, Transcript, and Envelope
1861-12-04