Alexander Haight family collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

All materials created up to 1928 are in the public domain.

The following statement applies to materials created from 1929 onward: The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Preferred citation:

Alexander Haight family collection, C0159, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Summary

Extent:
7 Linear Feet 7 boxes, 1 map case
Creator:
Haight, Alexander Levi, 1891-1981
Abstract:
The Alexander Haight family collection contains correspondence, legal and financial documents, account ledgers, photographs, and other materials created and collected by members of the Haight family of Fairfax County, Virginia, including during their time living and working on Sully Plantation, during and after the Civil War, and into the mid-20th century, including during World War I.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Alexander Haight family collection, C0159, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Background

Scope and content:

The Alexander Haight family collection contains correspondence, legal and financial documents, account ledgers, photographs, and other materials created and collected by members of the Haight family of Fairfax County, Virginia, including during their time living and working on Sully Plantation, during and after the Civil War, and into the mid-20th century, including during World War I. The collection contains 3 series.

Series 1: Correspondence (1838-1920) includes sent and received personal and professional correspondence, including letters, cards, and postcards. The bulk of the correspondence represents personal communications between members of the Haight family, both with each other and with family friends, including a number of letters sent by Helen Hill Haight during her time volunteering with the American Red Cross during World War I. Additional correspondence includes communications concerning business matters, such as correspondence to and from legal representatives, and a mix of original and reproduction copy letters sent by Union soldier John M. Young during the Civil War. This series is arranged alphabetically by non-Haight correspondent last name. In cases where a member of the Haight family sent a letter to another Haight, and both are already represented elsewhere in the series, letters are arranged alphabetically by the name of the recipient.

Series 2: Legal and financial documents (circa 1764-1948) includes personal and professional legal and financial records, most connected to members of the Haight family, including account ledgers, bank, registered letter, and tax receipts, formal and informal contracts and agreements, and other legal documents created by organizations within Fairfax County. Additional documents include Union Army passes issued to Alexander Haight during the Civil War, Alexander Levi Haight's Fairfax County draft classification card issued during World War I, a New York court summons for Stephen Sweet Haight, a California gold dig payment issued to George Sweet (brother of Phoebe Haight), currency notes, including Confederate paper money, and military orders issued during the Civil War. This series is arranged alphabetically either by last name of the subject or creator of the document or by title of the document.

Series 3: Photographs and ephemera (circa 1850s-1976) includes photographs, personal records, mementoes, and general ephemera created or collected by members of the Haight family. It is further divided into two subseries. Sub-series 1: Photographs (circa 1850s-1960s) includes original and reproduction photographic prints, including daguerreotypes and tintypes, with subjects including Sully Plantation, formal and informal portraits of members of the Haight family, Alexander Haight's prize horse, a portrait of a girl enslaved on Sully Plantation identified as Clio, and various locations and individuals in and around Fairfax County. Items are arranged chronologically by year of creation. Sub-series 2: Records and ephemera (circa 1862-1976) includes personal records and mementoes including programs, booklets, newspapers and clippings, poems, manuscripts, postcards, scrapbooks, and general ephemera items. Items are arranged chronologically by year of creation and grouped by material type or function.

Series 1: Correspondence (1838-1920) includes sent and received personal and professional correspondence, including letters, cards, and postcards. The bulk of the correspondence represents personal communications between members of the Haight family, both with each other and with family friends, including a number of letters sent by Helen Hill Haight during her time volunteering with the American Red Cross during World War I. Additional correspondence includes communications concerning business matters, including correspondence to and from legal representatives, and a mix of original and reproduction copy letters sent by Union soldier John M. Young during the Civil War. This series is arranged alphabetically by non-Haight correspondent last name. In cases where a member of the Haight family sent a letter to another Haight, and both are already represented elsewhere in the series, letters are arranged alphabetically by the name of the recipient.

All letters on YMCA or Knights of Columbus World War I stationary

Also known as Mrs. Asa Conklin

Letter addressed to Mrs. T.J. Farnham in Illinois

Letter signed "Aunt Stell"

Letter signed "Cousin Howard"

Full name possibly Charles C. Goodwin, letter on YMCA World War I stationary

Letter addressed "Dear Sir", possibly sent to George Sweet

Mixed senders and recipients, some names missing or not legible, includes postmarked envelopes possibly not connected to existing correspondence. Includes partial letters.

Letter addressed to "Brother"

Includes six postmarked envelopes not connected to correspondence in folder

Includes correspondence sent and received with mother Emma Jane Haight (formerly Young), father Henry Clement Haight, sister Elizabeth Barlow Hamill (formerly Haight), and brother Alexander Levi Haight (also known as Aleck). One letter also signed by Rafka, no other identification.

Mixed senders, some names not legible, includes empty envelope with postmark not connected to correspondence in folder.

Likely James H. Haight (1851-1929)

One letter signed "MJH"

Letter damaged, parts illegible

Includes five postmarked envelopes not connected to correspondence in folder

Son of Phebe Ferris Ham

Phebe Ferris Ham is mother of John Ham

Multiple senders, includes empty envelope dated October 20, 1893 not connected to correspondence in folder

Letter return address reads "Mrs. W.A. Hart"

Letter addressed from Harper's Ferry

Easter card, likely grandaughter of Dr. Alfred Leyburn, Sr. Item digitized due to preservation issues, available upon request.

Sender unknown

All letters on YMCA World War I stationary, includes Queensboro Bridge sourvenir postcard

Possibly Margaret Amy Haight, but unconfirmed

Letter sent in YMCA World War I stationary envelope, header on letter reads "Officeof the Depot Quartermaster"

Multiple senders and recipients, most agents of the Adams Express Company, includuing: C.R. Bitzer, E. Lucas, and John Clayton

Letter addressed "To the Sup. Of the N & W.R.R. machine shop"

Clerk, Board of Health City of White Plains, New York, includes newspaper clipping from The New York Sun dates May 11, 1919

All letters on Knights of Columbus World War I stationary, includes three World War I themed postcards

Letter addressed to P. Mason and Co.

January 1871 letter addressed to "Hon. Secretary of War" and copy sent to Col. Parker "Compliments of F.J. Porter"

Includes original letter and typed transcription

August 14th letter digitized due to preservation issues, available upon request.

Date based on content of letter, not date of transcription

Letter addressed "Dear Children"

One letter on YMCA World War I stationary, includes on empty envelope

All letters on YMCA and Knights of Columbus World War I stationary, includes empty envelope dated March 26, 1919 not connected to correspondence in folder.

Virginia District Judge John C. Underwood, folder includes both original and typed transcription.

One letter on Union Civil War stationary

Includes original letter and typed transcription

Includes cover letter to Otis Howard Gardner [F]. C. Ainsworth, The Military Secretary re: request for John M. Young's service record dated October 23, 1906 and brief family history.

Series 2: Legal and financial documents (circa 1764-1948) includes personal and professional legal and financial records, most connected to members of the Haight family, including account ledgers, bank, registered letter, and tax receipts, formal and informal contracts and agreements, and other legal documents created by organizations within Fairfax County. Additional documents include Union Army passes issued to Alexander Haight during the Civil War, Alexander Levi Haight's Fairfax County draft classification card issued during World War I, a New York court summons for Stephen Sweet Haight, a California gold dig payment issued to George Sweet, currency notes, including Confederate paper money, and military orders issued during the Civil War. This series is arranged alphabetically either by last name of the subject or creator of the document or by title of the document.

Folder includes original handwritten order, photocopy, and typed information card.

Typed signature: C.N. Booth, Clerk

Folders includes original paper currency, photocopy of 50 dollar note, and photocopy of typed information card.

Includes typed information card

Handmade booklet, with text only on interior two pages.

Includes one handwritten receipt

Includes original document and typed information card

Appointed "surveyor of the County Road from Frying Pan to Little River Turnpike road"

Includes original and annotated photocopy of receipt dated September 1862

Photograph of horse found in Series 3.1

Folder includes three original handwritten documents, photocopy reproductions, and typed information card.

Folder includes originals, some reproduction photocopys, and a typed information card.

Ledger covers November 1914 - September 1919

Includes notes with names and addresses, possibly used for payments

Receipt also includes partial letter signed "Mother" possibly from Phoebe Haight (formerly Sweet)

Some receipts addressed to and co-signed by others

Receipts for letters sent to Elizabeth and George Sweet respectively

Includes photocopy of November 1885 receipt

Receipt for 1893 letter addressed to Elizabeth Sweet

Others names listed include Samuel Dickinson and Andrew Winslow Samson

Name spelled Harrisberger in some documents

Folder includes original handwritten order and typed information card.

Receipt for letter sent to "Mrs. Alexander Haight" also known as Phoebe Haight (formerly Sweet)

Includes typed information card inserted into front cover

Folder includes two 1 dollar notes from The City Bank, Augusta, Georgia, one 50 cents note, and one 3 dollar note from Frontier Bank in Potsdam, New York

Series 3: Photographs and ephemera (circa 1850s-1976) includes photographs, personal records, mementoes, and general ephemera created or collected by members of the Haight family. It is further divided into two subseries. Sub-series 1: Photographs (circa 1850s-1960s) includes original and reproduction photographic prints, including daguerreotypes and tintypes, with subjects including Sully Plantation, formal and informal portraits of members of the Haight family, Alexander Haight's prize horse, a portrait of a girl enslaved on Sully Plantation identified as Clio, and various locations and individuals in and around Fairfax County. Items are arranged chronologically by year of creation. Sub-series 2: Records and ephemera (circa 1862-1976) includes personal records and mementoes including programs, booklets, newspapers and clippings, poems, manuscripts, postcards, scrapbooks, and general ephemera items. Items are arranged chronologically by year of creation and grouped by material type or function.

Sub-series 1: Photographs (circa 1850s-1960s) includes original and reproduction photographic prints, including daguerreotypes and tintypes, with subjects including Sully Plantation, formal and informal portraits of members of the Haight family, Alexander Haight's prize horse, a portrait of a girl enslaved on Sully Plantation identified as Clio, and various locations and individuals in and around Fairfax County. Items are arranged chronologically by year of creation.

Includes original mounted photograph and reproduction copy with typed information. Typed information identifies original photograph as tintype, possibly in error.

Folder includes original tintype, housed in envelope, reproduction copy, typed information card, and photocopy newspaper clipping. Ownership document in Series 2.

Subject is wearing a Union Army uniform in one of the portraits.

Albumen print, Brady's Album Gallery No. 427

Folder includes original tintype, housed in envelope, reproduction copy, and typed information card.

Folder includes handwritten note from previous processor that identifies the subjects as likely to be Phoebe (formerly Sweet) Haight and her siblings George Sweet and Elizabeth Sweet. Note identifies George incorrectly as Elizabeth's husband.

Inscription on back reads: "Photo in 1900 A.L. Haight"

Folders includes snapshot photograph with inscription written in pen on bottom front of image and back of print and 8x10 reproduction of photograph with front inscription included.

Folder includes one snapshopt photograph of an unidentified subject posing outside in a ruffled dress, holding a hat and one 8x10 (possibly enlargement) photograph of an unidentified subject posing in a dark dress seated at a desk.

One portrait in cardboard holder

Folder includes 8 x10 reproduction photographic prints, photocopies of reproductions, typed information card, and envelope address to H.C. Haight. Original daugerrotypes circa 1850s-1860s.

Original photograph taken in 1905

Folder includes 8x10 reproduction photographic prints, a single strip with three negatives of the same image, and typed information card. Inscription written at the bottom of the original image identifies the four seated individuals as: Fountain Beattie, Lycurgus Hutchison, John S. Mosby ("The Gray Ghost"), and George Turbeville V. Original photograph taken July 20, 1914.

Folder includes 8x10 reproduction of photograph taken circa 1861-1865 and typed information card.

Folder includes two 8x10 reproductions of photographs taken in June 1863 and typed information card.

Sub-series 2: Records and ephemera (circa 1862-1976) includes personal records and mementoes including programs, booklets, newspapers and clippings, poems, manuscripts, postcards, scrapbooks, and general ephemera items. Items are arranged chronologically by year of creation and grouped by material type or function.

Folder includes printed memorial statement and typed information card.

All images have become detached from binding, includes illustrations of events and locations that are possibly from another booklet.

Edited by their daughter Alice M. Coates

Folder includes original program and typed information card

For General Election November 7, 1939

Map mounted on heavy backing with name "Alex Haight" written along left edge. Full map title reads: "Sketch of The Country occupied by the Federal & Confederate Armies on the 18th & 21st July 1861. Taken by Capt. Saml. P. Mitchell, of 1st Virginia Regiment. Published by W. Hargrave White. Richmond Va."

Includes Volume 1, No. 3, March 1971 and Index, November 1970-November 1971

Biographical / historical:

Alexander Haight was born on February 8, 1822 in Dutchess County, New York to Quaker farmers Jacob (1782-1862) and Amy Clement Haight (1787-1863). In 1842, Jacob and Amy purchased the property known as Sully Plantation in Chantilly, Virginia, which was built by Richard Bland Lee between 1787-1794, and soon after invited Alexander to leave New York and help with the running of the property in Virginia. After moving to Sully, Alexander married Pheobe (also spelled "Phebe") Sweet (1824-1898) in 1845 and finished construction of their new home, known as "Little Sully," in 1851. The couple would go on to have four children. Eldest daughter Margaret Amy (also known as Maggie) was born in 1848 and married Thomas W. Lee in 1873, Stephen Sweet was born in 1857 and married Henrietta Lucas in 1891, Henry Clement was born in 1859, and youngest George Alexander was born in 1867.

Despite belonging to the Quaker faith (also known as The Religious Society of Friends), whose members actively fought for abolition, records indicate that the Haight family used enslaved labor during their time at Sully. Ownership of the property remained in the Haight family, although transferring formally to Alexander's sister Maria and her husband James Barlow in 1852, and remained so throughout the Civil War, during which both Union and Confederate soldiers crossed the property. In 1869, the family sold Sully to Stephen Shear, but most members of Alexander and Phoebe's branch of the Haight family remained in and around Fairfax County.

In 1886, Jacob and Amy's son Henry Clement married Emma Jane Young, daughter of Union Soldier John M. Young (1831-1865), and the couple would go on to have four children of their own: Helen Hill (1887-1977), Elizabeth Barlow [later Hamill] (1889-1974), Mary [later Millan] (1890–1964), and Alexander Levi (1891-1981).

Acquisition information:
Donated by Alexander Levi Haight in 1978.
Processing information:

Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in April 2009. Finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in April 2022.

Collection reprocessed by Meghan Glasbrenner from February-October 2025. Finding aid updated by Meghan Glasbrenner from October-November 2025.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into three series.

Series
  1. Series 1: Correspondence
  2. Series 2: Legal and financial documents
  3. Series 3: Photographs and ephemera
Physical location:
R 42, C 3, S 1-2 R 42, C 4, S 1 Map Case 27.2
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard