A Guide to the Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence, 1869-1870 Conway, Dr. W. B. and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence Ms2014-015

A Guide to the Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence, 1869-1870

A Collection in
Special Collections
Collection Number Ms2014-015

Special Collections, Virginia Tech

Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
USA
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Email: specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/

Processed by: Betsy Reed, Graduate Assistant and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist, Special Collections

Repository

Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Collection Number

Ms2014-015

Title

Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence, 1869-1870

Quantity

0.5 cu. ft., 1 box

Creators

Conway, Julia Ellen Thomas ; Conway, William Buchanan, Dr., 1845-1919

Language

English

Abstract

The Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence contains letters exchanged between the couple from 1869 to 1870 before they were married.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence, Ms2014-015, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence was donated to Special Collections in 2014.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Dr. W. B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas Correspondence was completed in December 2014.

Biographical Note: William B. Conway

Dr. William B. Conway was born in Ellerslie, Virginia, in 1845. Conway studied at Virginia Military Institute for a year, but left school to enlist as a private in Company C, 4th Virginia Cavalry. He served through the war, and afterwards studied medicine under the tutelage of Dr. Alfred Taliaferro at Culpeper Courthouse. He then studied at Washington University in Baltimore and graduated in 1869. Upon graduation, he left Baltimore to practice medicine at Mount Vernon Iron Works in Rockingham County, Virginia.

Biographical Note: Julia Ellen Thomas Conway

Julia Ellen Thomas was born in 1848 in Blacksburg Virginia the daughter of Col. William Thomas. Julia and William were married in 1870 and settled for a time in Blacksburg where William became a surgeon for the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Virginia Tech). They had five children: Daisy, Alfred, William, Archie, and Mary, all of which, except William, reached adulthood. Julia died in 1916. William died in College Park, Georgia, in 1920.

Scope and Content

This collection contains approximately sixty letters exchanged between Dr. William B. Conway and Julia Ellen Thomas (later Conway) during their courtship in 1869-1870. The letters discuss a number of topics including the couple's relationship, their families, mutual friends, and local and national events.