Richardson, J. S. (John Smythe), 1828-1894. John Smythe Richardson papers 1767-ca. 1900.
Title:
John Smythe Richardson papers 1767-ca. 1900.
Legal papers, personal and family correspondence and other writings of Richardson, his wife, Agnes McDowell Richardson and others, including his father-in-law, Davison McDowell (1784-1842), dating to Colonial, antebellum, Civil War, Reconstruction and later eras. Early items consist of business papers and correspondence, 1767-1838, of Davison McDowell (1784-1842), father-in-law of J.S. Richardson; topics discussed in McDowell papers relate to family in Ireland, McDowell's 1810 visit to Ireland to settle the estate of a relative; plans to buy a piano; crop prospects; comments on the War of 1812; two letters to McDowell, 29 May 1816 and 30 Sep. 1835, from Charles Lewis of Kilkeel, Ireland, commenting on "the unhappy differences between our Governments," and an Irishman's opinion of President Andrew Jackson and the military might of the U.S., admonishing McDowell not to compare "your Farmer Jackson to our Irish Military Hero, nor your fresh Water sailors to the Conquerors of the Seas." School papers, ca. late 1840s, from Richardson's days as a student at S.C. College, and extensive volume of correspondence of Agnes McDowell Richardson with members of her family and with various publishers, chiefly of Presbyterian magazines; scrapbook, 1854-1885, of clippings from The Sumter Banner newspaper, including an account of proceedings in Congress for Richardson's contested seat and reports and speeches covering his career in Congress; diary, 1859, kept by Agnes Richardson with an account of a trip to the springs resorts in the mountains of western Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C., New York City and Niagara Falls. Seven bound volumes, 1809-1885, consisting of legal notes by Richardson; poems; information on historical events written in narrative form; Civil War items include four letters from men requesting to join Richard's company and resolutions to the ladies in the churches for aid rendered his company; Unbound pages from a scrapbook containing views of Charleston, S.C., (40 items, 1861-1865), with clippings of poems, and article on the Sumter Volunteers service in the Civil War. Fifteen legal documents, 1830-1890, relating to Sumter District, S.C.; including land papers; letter, 5 Oct. 1866, signed by Governor James L. Orr, commissioning Richardson to act as agent for South Carolina and apply for the land paper to "provide Colleges for the benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts"; certificate of Richardson's election to congress, 23 Nov. 1878; certificate of Richard's appointment as Master for Sumter County, 13 May 1880; printed "Roll of Company 'D'," 9 July 1884, Second South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. Letter, 30 April 1874, from Richard Lathers (Charleston, S.C.), re Reconstruction politics and success of our "distinguished delegation to Washington... in enlisting the sympathy... of our country to the evils ... we suffer," and ways that President Ulysses Grant's reception had benefited the South; the "unwillingness of influential congressmen to... [change] their policy... [which] would be an acknowledgment of... the Evils, if not the illegality of their reconstruction policy," advocates a citizens' organization for reforms "to have a fair election... that white and black men shall be defended at the poles"; comments "The Ku Klux Klan was... regarded by the North as a war on the federal government and the black man and hence their sympathy"; and explains his excuse for this letter is "my desire to save our people from the pests which afflict them." Letter, 23 Aug. 1876, from John Lawrence Manning suggesting full attendance at meetings "both of Speakers and audience - the negroes like the music of fresh tongues... [they] are so shy here in attending our call-meetings, that it is wise to catch them at their own"; correspondence from John Hamilton Evins, Joshua Hilary Hudson and George D. Tillman discuss the contested Congressional elections of 1876 and 1878, expressing support for Richardson in his campaigns, Hudson comments, "If it be undignified and unbecoming in a judge to make political speeches, I have certainly sinned"; and letter from a sister in England to Mary Hort, a teacher, and British immigrant. Four volumes, 1837-1861, "Extracts from Miss Mary Hort's Journal," copied by Mrs. Richardson, re schools and religious activities in Sumter County; comments on local families. [Mary Hort was a local teacher in Sumter County, S.C.]
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