Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
b
MS Am 2322
Carter family.
Carter family papers,
1858-1924.
2 boxes (.75 linear ft.)
Collection materials are in
English.
Correspondence and family papers concerning the Carter family, an
African-American family who were slaves on the Warner plantation in Virginia,
survived the Civil War, and went on to live in the Richmond, Virginia area after the
war.
Processed by: Bonnie B. Salt
*98M-25.
Purchased through
Glenn Horowitz Bookseller,
Inc.,
19 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021, with funds from the
Harmand Teplow Fund and from the W.E.B. DuBois Institute; received:
1998
Dec. 18.
There are no restrictions on physical access to this material.
Preferred Citation for Publication:
Carter Family Papers (MS Am 2322). Houghton Library, Harvard University.
The
Carter family
was an African-American slave family from
Virginia
that survived the Civil War and went on to build a
life in and around
Richmond.
Polly Carter
(d.1872) originally lived on "Master
Warner
's" plantation in
Gloucester County,
Virginia,
with her husband and two children,
Albert
and
Alexander
. Another son,
Hamilton Carter
, resided in nearby Richmond and was either
a bondsman or a free man. During the Civil War, Hamilton was employed as dining room
servant to
Henry C. Beuce
, the proprietor of
Irving
Mills
. In October of 1866, Hamilton was hired by
Dr. George
Ross,
a prominent Richmond physician.
In 1871 Hamilton married an African-American woman,
Martha
Glenn
, who was originally also from Richmond. They had 6 children:
Cassie
,
Alize
,
Pierce
,
Hamilton, Jr.
,
Mattie
, and one child who died in 1881. The family lived
for many years in a home they owned on the corner of 9th and Abigail Streets in the
Madison Ward section of Richmond.
See internal file for additional information regarding the family.
Organized into the following series:
- I. Correspondence
-
II. Other family papers
- A. Memorabilia
- B. Financial records
Includes autograph correspondence (and typescript transcripts) of the Carter family,
but the majority of letters are to Hamilton Carter. Letters mostly concern news of
family and friends and events of the day. Also includes: Hamilton Carter's household
bills and receipts and tax receipts, as well as invitations, a tintype portrait,
notes on funeral plans, menu, and other miscellany.
I. Correspondence
Most of this correspondence involves Hamilton Carter.
Many letters include typescript or typescript (carbon) transcripts of text
and some also have envelopes.
(1)
Anderson, Amy.
Invitation to
Hamilton
Carter,
1868.
1 folder.
(2)
Banks, Mr. and Mrs. William.
Invitation to
Hamilton Carter
"and lady,"
1882.
1 folder.
Invitation to wedding of
Hattie A. Cooke
and
William S. Christian.
(3)
Booth, H.M.
Letters to
Hamilton Carter,
1871-1872.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
(4)
Carter, Albert.
Letters to
Hamilton
Carter,
1871-1882.
1 folder.
Albert Carter was Hamilton Carter's brother.
(5)
Carter, Hamilton, recipient.
Envelopes, various
dates.
1 folder.
12 empty envelopes sent to Carter that formerly contained letters.
(6)
Carter, Martha Glenn.
Correspondence with
Hamilton Carter,
1869-1886.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcripts.
Martha Glenn (later Carter) married Hamilton Carter in 1871.
(7)
Carter, Polly, d.1872.
Correspondence with
Hamilton Carter,
1861-1871
and undated.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcripts.
Polly Carter was Hamilton Carter's mother.
(8)
Cooke, Jonathan Samuel.
Letters to
Hamilton Carter,
1885.
1 folder.
(9)
Edward, Bella?
Letter to
Mrs. Mayor
Watson?
,
1871.
1 folder.
Written to "sister."
(10)
Friends Asylum for Colored Orphans (Richmond, Va.).
Letter to
Cassie Carter,
1924.
1 folder.
Thanks for donation for deceased brother.
(11)
Glenn, Frances.
Letter to
Martha Glenn
Carter,
1870.
1 folder.
Martha was Frances Glenn's sister.
(12)
Helmed, Maria.
Letter to
Hamilton Carter,
1884.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
Maria Helmed was Hamilton Carter's cousin.
(13)
Johnson, Miss E.
Letter to
Hamilton
Carter,
1868.
1 folder.
Invitation to attend a party with her.
(14)
Johnson, Louisa.
Letter to
Martha Glenn
Carter,
1884.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
(15)
Jones, Catherine,
recipient. Letter from
Hamilton Carter,
1858.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
Letter expressing his sincere love for her. Questions whether she will
marry him or not.
(16)
Jones, Susan?
Letter to
Hamilton Carter,
1868.
1 folder.
Invitation to a "watermelon feast."
(17)
Lee, Catherine.
Letter to
Martha Glenn
Carter,
1878.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
(18)
Leigh, Emmet J.
Letter to
Martha Glenn
Carter,
1884.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
(19)
Louis, Lilla.
Letter to mother,
1872.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
(20)
Millicent.
Letter to
Hamilton Carter,
1886.
1 folder.
Includes typescript transcript.
(21)
Moody, Mr. and Mrs. P.
Invitation to Mr. and Mrs.
Hamilton Carter,
1881.
1 folder.
Invitation to the wedding of
Lizzie King
and
Armstead Taylor.
(22)
Smith, Elizabeth.
Letter to
Martha Glenn
Carter,
1875.
1 folder.
(23)
Walker, Mary.
Letter to
Catharine Carter,
1865.
1 folder.
II. Other family papers
A. Memorabilia
(24)
Carter, Cassie.
Notes concerning a funeral :
AMs,
1923
Jan. 2.
1 folder.
Name of deceased not specified. Two notes, both labeled: My Requests.
One note mentions wanting a "very plain case (casket)" from
undertaker
W.A. (Catty) Price
and the other
note lists the names of pallbearers.
(25)
Carter, Hamilton
and
Martha Glenn
[Carter]
. Wedding invitation for Hamilton Carter and
Martha Glenn,
1871
Jan. 26.
1 folder.
(26)
First Baptist Church (Richmond, Va.).
Invitation : print,
1869
June 3.
1 folder.
Includes time: "2 o'clock" and names:
T. H. Dangerfield
and
Mary A. Patterson.
(27)
Portrait of an unidentified African-American gentleman :
tintype
, undated.
1 folder.
Possibly a Carter family member?
Half-torso portrait of a distinguished-looking elder African-American
man dressed in a dark three-piece suit.
(28)
Recommendations for
Hamilton Carter
:
AMssS,
1866-1869.
1 folder.
Includes the following recommendations:
-
Henry C. Beuce,
Irving Mills
, 1866.
-
George Ross, M.D.,
Richmond
, 1867. Mentions Carter has
been living with him for the past twelve months. Recommends
him as a house and dining room servant.
-
George Ross, M.D.,
Richmond,
1869. Mentions Carter has
been his dining room servant for the past two and a half
years.
(29)
Richmond Public Schools (Va.).
Certificate of merit awarded to Mattie
Carter a pupil in the Navy Hill School, No. 22, for correct
deportment and diligent attention to studies for four successive
weeks -- Session 1882-1883
: DS (by
B.
McDaniel,
teacher),
1882
Nov. 24.
1 folder.
Mattie Carter
was one of Hamilton Carter's
daughters.
(30)
Secret Sons of Love (Richmond, Va.).
Financial
account card (dues) for
Hamilton Carter
: DS
(by Hamilton Carter),
1877-1878.
1 folder.
(31)
Warm Springs Resort (Bath County, Va.).
Dinner
menu : print with Ms annotations,
1871.
1 folder.
Proprietor:
Jon L. Eubanks.
B. Financial records
(32)
Benjamin Cottrell.
Receipt to
Hamilton Carter
for coal : D with Ms
annotations,
1879
Sept. 11.
1 folder.
(33)
Dandridge, Wilson.
Receipt to
Charles
F. Pemberton
for blacksmith work : AMsS,
1872
Jan. 1.
1 folder.
(34)
Henry Cooke (Richmond, Va.).
Receipt to
Hamilton Carter
: DS with Ms annotations,
1881
Aug. 29.
1 folder.
Receipt for coffin, case, two hacks, and grave for the burial of his
child.
(35)
Pemberton, Charles F.
Receipt to
Isa
W. Alley
: AMsS,
1872
Jan.
1 folder.
"For value received."
(36)
Priddy & Taylor (Richmond, Va.).
Receipt
for grocieries for Mr.
Hamilton Carter
: D with
MS annotations,
1884
Dec.
13.
1 folder.
(37)
Richmond (Va.).
Receipt to
Hamilton
Carter
: AMsS,
1876
Jan. 18.
1 folder.
Fee for examining title? to lot on Abigail Street.
(38)
Richmond (Va.). Chancery Court.
Receipt to
Hamilton Carter
: DS (by Benjamin H.
Berry),
1877
Feb. 19.
1 folder.
Fee for recording deed from
F. Tupper
to H.
Carter.
(39)
Richmond (Va.). Office of the Assessor of Real Estate.
Receipts to
Hamilton Carter
and
Martha Glenn Carter
for personal property
and real estate taxes : DsS with Ms annotations,
1888-1898.
1 folder.
5 tax receipts.
(40)
Ross, George, Dr.
Statements of account to
Hamilton Carter
: Ds with Ms annotations,
1877-1878.
1 folder.
2 bills for doctor services.
(41)
Shields & Cary?
Receipt to
C.H.
Pendleton
: AMs,
1872
Nov.
1 folder.
For a plow?
(42)
St. Luke Herald.
Receipt to
Cassie
Carter
for obituary : DS with Ms annotations,
1923
Feb. 1.
1 folder.
(43)
Virginia.
Receipt for state taxes in the City
of Richmond to
Hamilton Carter
: Ds with Ms
annotations,
1878
and
1888.
1 folder.
(44)
Virginia Home Insurance Company.
Notices
concerning expiration of
Hamilton Carter's
home
insurance policies : Ds with MS annotations,
1878-1881.
1 folder.
Includes 2 notices, 1878 and 1881 both for the dwelling on the corner
of 9th and Abigail Streets,
Richmond, Va.
(45)
William Daffron, Furniture Dealer (Richmond, Va.).
Receipt to
Martha Carter
for
furniture : DS with Ms annotations,
1886
Sept. 11.
1 folder.
(46)
Winfree & Brothers (Richmond, Va.).
Receipt
to
Hamilton Carter
: AMsS,
1872
Feb. 1.
1 folder.
Receipt for coffin and arrangements for the burial of his mother.