Arabella Clark Cleveland collection, 1912-1973.

ArchivalResource

Arabella Clark Cleveland collection, 1912-1973.

Arabella Clark Cleveland collection, 1912-1973.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/501813591

The collection consists of letters to Arabella Cleveland from the Dent family and a few other friends, although the majority of the letters are from Ophelia. After their father's death, Miriam and Ophelia operated a dairy on the plantation. The letters describe daily life on the plantation including weather, the Hofwyl dairy, the eating and growing of food, flowers, servants, family dogs and poignant letters about their deaths, social events, travel, antiques, sewing and clothes. The Dents were constantly visiting or entertaining friends and neighbors and Ophelia describes in detail these visits. Ophelia often visited the Belins at their home Evermay (Washington, DC) and the DuPonts at their estate Longwood (Kennett Square, PA). Closer to home, the Dents were friends with the Haynes family at Ashantilly, the Huston family at Butler Plantation and the Phillips family in Savannah. Most of the letters from Ophelia were transcribed by Arabella's daughter, and these typescripts are included. Ophelia was very concerned with the preservation of houses and buildings and often mentioned the destruction of these in nearby Savannah. Evidence of this concern is shown in Ophelia's gift of the Hofwyl Plantation to the state of Georgia when she died. As of 2009 the plantation is still maintained as a State Historic Site where visitors can tour the house and grounds. There are also some photographs, recipes and feathers from unidentied birds.

3.0 linear ft.