Preston Family papers.

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Preston Family papers.

1799-1916

http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/1278

The Prestons were an upper-middle-class family in nineteenth-century Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland. William P. Preston, a lawyer who dabbled in state and local politics, his wife Margaret "Madge" Smith Preston, and their daughter May Preston McNeal recorded, through their correspondence, diaries, and other documents. The family lived on Pleasant Plains farm in Baltimore, and records show that they enslaved people on both the farm and the family residence. The papers include observations on entertainment, domestic life, the Catholic Church, local politics, theater and the arts, court cases, business, travel, fashions, weather and natural disasters, food, the family’s history as enslavers, William Preston’s domestic abuse of Madge Preston, the family’s strong Confederate sentiments and support for the Confederacy, health, boarding school, and life in Maryland during the Civil War. The Preston Family papers cover the period from 1799-1916 with most of the material dated between 1828 and 1894. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, writings, legal documents, case files related to William Preston's law practice, photographs, and memorabilia. Records also describe the Preston family’s history as enslavers, William Preston’s domestic abuse of Madge Preston, and the family’s strong Confederate sentiments and support.

4.75 linear feet

eng, Latn

University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6956987

University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries

Related Entities

There are 8 Entities related to this resource.

McNeal, May Preston, 1849-1913

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6747hww (person)

May Preston McNeal (1849-1913, daughter of William and Marguerite Smith Preston) married Joshua Vansant McNeal (1846-1917, son of James and Sarah Golibart McNeal)in 1873. They had six children, four of whom survived into adulthood: Mark, Stella, Preston, and Marie....

McNeal, Joshua Vansant, 1846-1917

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6392101 (person)

Joshua Vansant McNeal (1846-1917, son of James and Sarah Golibart McNeal) married May Preston McNeal (1849-1913, daughter of William and Marguerite Smith Preston) in 1873. They had six children, four of whom survived into adulthood: Mark, Stella, Preston, and Marie. Joshua McNeal worked in the insurance business before entering the service of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in 1871. He was auditor of the Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield Railway Company from 1880 to 1893, and then...

St. Joseph's Academy (Emmitsburg, Md.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ns5mx3 (corporateBody)

Preston Family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63d0xc0 (family)

The Preston Family Papers document three generations of a family who lived in Baltimore and Baltimore County from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. The Preston and McNeal families enjoyed the privileges of the upper middle class: education at private schools, travel to Europe, and the social connections of prominent citizens of the city. For both families, the Catholic faith was an important part of their daily lives. William P. Preston (1811-1880) w...

Preston, Madge, 1815-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n30jf6 (person)

Biographical Note: Madge Preston was born Margaret Smith in 1815 in Frederick County, Maryland. In 1846, she married William P. Preston, a well-known Baltimore attorney. They were the parents of a daughter, May, born in 1849. Mrs. Preston was known to have enjoyed writing. She wrote long social letters to her friends and family and kept descriptive diaries during her lifetime. In 1868, Madge and May left Baltimore for an extended trip to Europe, visiting both Germany and Italy. Madge Preston die...

Preston family (Bal)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6163dsm (family)

Prominent nineteenth-century Catholic family from Baltimore, Maryland. From the description of Papers of the Preston family, 1799-1916. (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 19119297 ...

Preston, William P.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sn0wwx (person)

McNeal, Van.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69894vn (person)