Blackley Family papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Collection is open for research with the exception of one file contained within the correspondence series that is restricted until January 1, 2035 at the request of the donor.

Access to original media, photographic negatives, and slides contained within this collection is restricted; reformatted access copies of these materials may exist, or researchers may request digital access copies be made.

Please contact the Special Collections Reference Desk before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection (library-special@jmu.edu).

File is restricted from research use until January 1, 2035 at the request of the donor.

Access to original photographic negatives contained within this collection is restricted; reformatted access copies of these materials may exist, or researchers may contact library-special@jmu.edu to request reformatted access copies.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Blackley Family Papers, 1830-2020, SC 0232, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
14.37 cubic feet 30 boxes, 2 flat folders
Creator:
Blackley family, Blackley, Chuck, and Blackley, Charles Phillips, Sr., 1909-1999
Abstract:
The Blackley Family Papers, 1830-2020, consists of hundreds of letters that span from 1830 to 2011; diaries; official United States, Confederate, and Texas documents; literary works; newspaper clippings; postcards; ephemera; and photographs. These papers document the related Scott, Bassett, Blackley, Hoge, Matthews, and Nix families of Texas and Staunton, Virginia.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Blackley Family Papers, 1830-2020, SC 0232, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Blackley Family Papers, 1830-2020, consists of hundreds of letters that span from 1830 to 2011; diaries; official United States, Confederate, and Texas documents; literary works; newspaper clippings; postcards; ephemera; and photographs. These papers document the related Scott, Bassett, Blackley, Hoge, Matthews, and Nix families of Texas and Staunton, Virginia.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1830-2011, is comprised of more than 300 individual letters. The majority of the earlier ones involve Sarah "Sallie" Scott Bassett and/or her husband R.H. Bassett. Together their combined correspondence comprises eight folders and spans the years 1850-1913.

These letters cover the years of the American Civil War and shed light on how the conflict affected their lives. In addition to letters from Captain R.H. Bassett, there are dozens of notes written home to Sallie from her brother Garrett Scott, brother-in-law Noah Bassett, and her cousin John Nix. All of these men spent time serving in the 4th Texas Regiment of the famed Texas Brigade. While their letters contain minimal military focused discussions, they do highlight camp life, personal struggles of being separated from each other, personal and public incidents, and family news. The military discussion is really limited to mention of the dead and wounded from battles and engagements. However, R.H. does write a letter to Sallie as he arrives on the battlefield at Gettysburg. He expresses excitement to build off the Confederates successes that afternoon. Battles and engagements discussed include Antietam (September 17, 1862), Chancellorsville (April 30 to May 6, 1863), Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863), and Chickamauga (September 18–20, 1863).

Lizzie Scott Neblett was the older sister of Sallie Bassett and many letters between the sisters not previously examined, both before and after the American Civil War, can be found within this collection. Their letters shed light on relationship struggles, farm life, local news, and family connections.

While few in number, the surviving letters of Lizzie and Sallie's father, James Scott, provide significant insight into Texas prior to its in 1846. In the first, James writes his wife, Sarah, from the convention in Austin, Texas, where the debates about joining the United States were taking place. He offers few specifics as "Nothing in which you would take any interest has occurred here and therefore I will not say anything about the proceedings…" In second of these letters, James is writing to a Colonel B. Rush Wallace and gets far more political in discussion and tone. He talks at length about concern over the merits of becoming Whig or Democrat once they are thrust into the existing political climate of their new nation.

Of particular interest is an 1888 letter written by Ida Carter, presumably William M. and Belle Bassett Blackley's "Black Mamy," is addressed to a Col. Bassett Blackley, in care of W. M. Blackley. Carter begins the letter "Dear Little Bassett." This letter seems to suggest that the Blackleys did in fact have another child, Bassett Blackley, prior to Belle. If that is the case, Bassett Blackley may have died in childhood.

Of the twentieth-century correspondence, most of it was sent or received by Chas Blackley. While his letters span most of the century, the bulk are centered between the years 1930-1944. The letters that Chas Blackley wrote while visiting Europe in 1934 are of particular interest due to the changing political climate with the rise of the Nazis in Germany. Through his correspondence, diaries, and photographs there is an opportunity to see an American view of this transformative time. In one letter to his sister, Mary, dated August 21, Chas Blackley writes of the hanging of Nazis in Vienna, Austria for a failed coup that took place mere weeks before his arrival and that it "has retarded history making considerably." He also spoke of the Heimwehr, the home guard, patrolling the streets with their rifles and "keeping a sharp to windward."

Series 2: Personal Papers, 1857-2015, is comprised of personal papers, diaries, and other documents that highlight the careers and interests of the family members. R.H. Bassett's papers include Confederate government and military documents pertaining to promotions, recruitment, and resignation.

Another unique piece of this collection from the early period is the Belle Bassett Diary, 1873-1879, which offers a glimpse of the post-war years for a child growing up in the South.

Chas Blackley, in addition to his letters from the trip to Europe, also kept a diary of his experiences. This diary covers the personal and public incidents of his travels.

More information about individual members of family is available here in the form of detailed histories of specific family lines (Blackley, Bassett, Hoge, etc.), through family trees, and biographical information.

Other items of note from Chas Blackley are the many manuscripts of novels and plays that he wrote in the early-to-mid 1930s.

Series 3: Ephemera, 1856-2004, houses many unique items such as hundreds of stamps (U.S., Confederate, and international), brochures, certificates, awards, diplomas, and pamphlets from events such as the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, and dance cards. The aforementioned diplomas and certificates document the Blackley family's achievements and graduations from various schools and universities, including the University of Virginia, the State Teacher's College at Harrisonburg, and Virginia Tech. Many of the manuals and booklets used in Chas' various military training can be found in this series.

There are also newspaper clippings that share stories directly related to family members or address significant events of the time. These include awards won by the family, news about new jobs or graduations, historic events like D-Day, and John F. Kennedy's assassination.

One of the more locally relevant pieces is a pamphlet entitled "Dedication of the Shenandoah National Park" (1936). It lists the planned dedication speech from President Franklin D. Roosevelt given at Big Meadows as the key event.

This series also includes one oversize box of 3D ephemeral objects. Objects of interest include a Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie camera (1917-1926) owned by Chas Blackley and inscribed with the names of Blackley and the SS Gertrude Kellogg, Dr. Charles Coatesworth Phillips' small leather medicine case with glass bottles that he took on house calls, several pairs of glasses, a glass plate photograph of Susie E. Phillips, and assorted World's Fair ephemera.

Stored separately are multiple flags that are likely from Chas' 1930 voyage in the Pacific. There is a large and small Japanese flag, a small Chinese [pre-communist revolution] flag, and a small Philippine national flag. An additional flag dates to WWI and features the United States flag surrounded by smaller flags of all our allies from that conflict.

Series 4, Photographs, circa 1861-1989, includes photographic prints, negatives, and slides that document the Scott, Bassett, Blackley, Hoge, Matthews, and Nix families of Texas and Staunton, Virginia. Files are arranged chronologically and undated groupings of images are listed alphabetically at the end of the series. Files are labeled to reflect the subject of the photos; original arrangement and description of people and places as received from the donor was maintained whenever possible. Some photographs contain identifying text written on the back of the image, though many photos are unidentified.

Photographs within this series document Chas Blackley's trips to Asia and the Pacific in 1930 as well as his journey through Europe in 1934. Other photographs document the Civilian Military Training Camp (CMTC) experience at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, from 1928.

Photographs created by or picturing Catherine Matthews Blackley contain images of campus and student life at the State Teacher's College at Harrisonburg (now JMU) dating from the early 1930s.

Series 5: Scrapbooks, 1862-1931, is comprised of one scrapbook created by R.H. Bassett, and three scrapbooks created by Chas Blackley. The scrapbook created by R.H. Bassett dates from 1862-1869 and contains mostly newspaper clippings related to Bassett's work in local and state politics in Grimes County, Texas, after a wound at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1864 ended his role in the American Civil War. The three remaining scrapbooks were created by Chas Blackley, and document aspects of his life in the years between 1928-1931. The CTMC and VMI scrapbook documents Chas Blackley's military training at the Citizen's Military Training Camp (CTMC) from 1927-1929 as well as his time enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Two scrapbooks document Chas Blackley's 1930 travels with childhood friend George Earman throughout the Pacific and multiple Asian nations aboard the steamer SS Gertrude Kellogg.

The series largely documents Chas Blackley's involvement with radio stations WSVA and WTON and comprises photographs, correspondence, and printed ephemera. A file concerning Susan Blackley, Chas Blackley's daughter, is included and relate to her work as the horticulturalist for the city of Staunton. Photographs document Susan's time as a bartender at H.A. Winston's in Wilmington, Delaware.

Includes newspaper clippings covering Susan's work as a horticulturist for Staunton as well as photographs of Susan as a bartender at H.A. Winston's in Wilmington, Delaware.

Includes negatives.

Includes negatives.

Comprises papers and photographs related to the immediate and extended Blackley family. Materials also concern the Fry and Matthews families.

Materials related to Eugene Fry, father of Patricia Fry Blackley.

Biographical / historical:

The Blackley Family Papers document the related Scott, Bassett, Blackley, Hoge, and Nix families of mostly Texas and Staunton, Virginia between 1830 and 2016. James Scott (1799-1856) was a Tennessee native and former Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice who married Sarah Lane (1803-1880) and settled in Anderson, Texas. James was a prominent Texas judge who was friends with Davie Crockett. While in Mississippi and Texas, James and Sarah had six children. The eldest, Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1833-1917), was born in Mississippi in 1833, Sarah "Sallie" (1843-1914), born April 9, 1843 in Texas, and one of their brothers, Garrett (1838-1862), born in 1838, contribute the most to this collection of letters.

Lizzie married William H. Neblett (1826-1871), a farmer and attorney, in 1852. He eventually left her to go fight for the Confederacy. Her domestic struggle on the home front during the Civil War is the subject of Erika L. Murr's book, A Rebel Wife in Texas: The Diary and Letters of Elizabeth Scott Neblett, 1852-1864 (2001).

In 1862, Sallie married Robert Houston "R.H." Bassett (1836-1870). R.H. went on to enlist and serve in the famed Hood's Texas Brigade from 1861 to his wounding in 1864. He worked briefly as the adjutant general to Major General John Bell. While leading the regiment, he was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga by an artillery shell fragment that lodged in his shoulder. This would effectively end his role in the war. Following the conclusion of the conflict and his recovery from the wound, R.H. tried his hand at politics in a bid to represent Grimes County, Texas in Congress. Their first child, Robert, died tragically in 1864 at only eight months old. R.H. died in 1870 because of health complications that appear related to edema.

R.H.'s brother, Noah (1839-1886), also served in the Texas Brigade. The correspondence between R.H., Sallie, and Noah provides a lucid account of the Army of Northern Virginia's major campaigns and operations, including developments related to the Battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga.

Garrett Scott, Sallie Scott's brother, died in action at the Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 while serving in the Texas Brigade. His letters from the early years of the war offer yet another perspective of campaign and camp life.

R.H. and Sallie's daughter, Barbara "Belle" Bassett (1865-1958), married William Mason Blackley (1863-1898) in 1884 and lived in Staunton, Virginia before moving to Washington, D.C. Research suggests they only had one child, Belle Blackley (1890-1967), whom never married and lived out her life in Washington, D.C. However, an 1888 letter contained in this collection written by Ida Carter, the Blackley's "Black Mamy," is addressed to a Col. Bassett Blackley, in care of W. M. Blackley. Carter begins the letter "Dear Little Bassett." This letter seems to suggest that the Blackleys did in fact have another child, Bassett Blackley, prior to Belle. If that is the case, Bassett Blackley may have died in childhood.

The bulk of the twentieth-century material was created by or concerns William Mason Blackley's nephew, Charles "Chas" Phillips Blackley Sr. (1909-1999), his wife Catherine Matthews Blackley (1914-2010), and their son and daughter-in-law Charles "Chuck" Phillips Blackley (b. 1951) and Patricia Fry Blackley (b. 1952).

Charles "Chas" Phillips Blackley Sr. was born in Staunton, Virginia in 1909. His parents died from the Spanish Flu when he was 10. Their deaths required Chas and his sister Mary Gilkeson Blackley to move in with their aunt, Fannie Blackley Cushing in Staunton. These materials cover his travels throughout the Pacific and Asia aboard a "tramp steamer" with boyhood friend, George Earman in 1930, his 1927-1929 military training in the little discussed Citizens Military Training Camps (CMTC), time at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), his 1934 travels in Europe, World War II military service, and ownership and operation of WSVA, the first radio station in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Chas sold his share in WSVA and moved to Staunton, Virginia where he started the WTON radio station. Beyond his official jobs, Chas spent much of the early 1930s as an amateur playwright and author. Chas and Catherine Matthews were married in 1938.

While traveling Europe via train in 1934, Chas met David Kahn, a young Presbyterian judge of Indian descent. They would become lifelong friends. Mr. Kahn went on to become a governor of an Indian province under British rule and later head the Department of Sanitation for Calcutta. He and his wife visited their children, who had moved to the United States, and Mr. and Mrs. Blackley often until his health would not allow it. Evidence of their lifelong friendship can be found most clearly in this collection's correspondence and photographs.

Chas' WWII experience saw him drafted at age 35 and shipped to Camp Crowder, Missouri for training. He would eventually be transferred to Washington, D.C. where he worked as a private in the basement of the Pentagon. According this son, his superiors frequently called him upstairs to request autographed photos of American Broadcasting Company (ABC) celebrities. He was able to oblige them because of WSVA's status as an ABC affiliate.

Catherine Matthews Blackley was originally from Cambridge, Maryland and came to the Shenandoah Valley to attend the State Teacher's College at Harrisonburg (now James Madison University). She graduated in 1935 with a degree in home economics. For a short time she taught in Norfolk, Virginia before marrying Chas Blackley in 1938 and buying a home on Port Republic Road in Harrisonburg. After Chas was drafted and shipped to Camp Crowder, Mrs. Blackley traveled to Neosho, Missouri to be with her husband. While in Missouri, she volunteered with the Red Cross to help care for wounded soldiers. She continued this service after Mr. Blackley was transferred to Washington, D.C. After the war, they returned to the Valley and Catherine became a member of the Staunton School Board and was very active in volunteer work.

Charles "Chuck" Phillips Blackley Jr. was a professional engineer and graduate of Virginia Tech. He provided services in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Chuck married Patricia Fry in 1971. At the time he sold his office it was the largest engineering company in the region outside of Richmond, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia.

Patricia Fry Blackley graduated from James Madison University in 1987 and became a licensed real estate appraiser. After Chuck stepped away from his engineering office he teamed up with his wife and the couple became full-time photographers and writers. Their work can be found in hundreds of magazines, books, and calendars.

Acquisition information:
Charles P. Blackley Jr. of Staunton, Virginia donated this material in various accretions between 2015-2020.
Appraisal information:

Duplicates and out of scope materials were returned to the donor.

Duplicates and out of scope materials were returned to the donor.

Processing information:

The collection as a whole required only limited preservation treatment. Some of the correspondence and papers did require Mylar sleeves. The 3D objects are housed together in one box with special housings created to protect them long-term. Most of the nineteenth-century letters required flattening to make them more accessible and to allow for proper digitization as per the donor agreement. Also, many of the diplomas and older photographs were removed from their frames for proper storage. Original order of materials was maintained wherever possible, taking into account provenance, storage needs, and accessibility for researchers.

Photographs and cabinet cards were removed from a leather photo album with "Fannie S. Blackley Session 1881-'82" embossed on the front cover. Some of the cabinet cards were identified with a Post-It note. Those identifications were written in pencil on the back of the cabinet cards. The photo album was not retained due to significant condition issues.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in seven series:

  1. Correspondence, 1830-2011
  2. Personal Papers, 1857-2016
  3. Ephemera, 1856-2004
  4. Photographs, circa 1861-1989
  5. Scrapbooks, 1862-1931
  6. 2020-0121 Accession, 1930s-2019
  7. 2020-0702 Accession, 1882-2020
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard