Grattan and Related Family Papers 1841-1901

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Grattan and Related Family Papers, Accession 11019, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Grattan and Related Family Papers, Accession 11019, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the papers of the Grattan, Heneberger, Roller, and Shacklettfamilies of the Rockingham County, Virginiaarea, 1841-1901, ca. 90 items. The papers include letters, photographs, genealogical information, and miscellaneous items, chiefly the correspondence of Lucien Guy Heneberger(1851-), his sister, Ella Heneberger Grattan, and Maggie Shacklett Roller.

One letter is from former Governor Thomas W. Gilmer, August 11, 1841, to Robert Grattan, mentioning a letter he received from John Thompsonof Amherst, Virginia, who was in charge of the management of their bank concerns, which asked Gilmer to advertise an estate for sale for fifteen dollars an acre. Gilmer begs Grattan to buy it and assures him the lowest possible price, says that the Bank Bill will be vetoed, and that the political parties will undergo the reorganization so long predicted and necessary. He also mentions that his friends have told him that the Whigs and Democrats are all against him at home.

Miscellaneous letters to Ella and George Grattan, 1878-1894, discuss news of family and friends, and includes the following correspondents: Kate Herring; [Jeannie ?] Grattan; Cousin Elizabeth Grattan; sister Mabel H [?] re a trip to New York(1881 Oct 20); Emily Gray; Peachy R. Grattan; G.W. [Harris?]; Belle R. Harrison; G.G. Grattan, Sr.; and Mattie P. Myers.

Letters from Lucien Guy Heneberger(1851-?), a University of Virginiaalumnus who attended from 1869-1871, to Ella Grattan, his sister, 1878-1883, were mostly written while a United States Naval Surgeon aboard the USS Trenton, the flagship of the European fleet, stationed off the coast of Franceand Italy. His first letter, December 27, 1878, was written while Heneberger was still at the Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C.and mentions his application for sea duty aboard the USS Trenton. In his next letter, January 5, 1879, he describes the presentation of all Naval officers to President Rutherford B. Hayesat the White House, a social in the Blue Room with music by the full marine band, and his other New Year Day's activities. Later correspondence refers to the possiblitity of proceeding to the scene of excitement in Turkish waters (1880 Oct 3); the presidential election of 1880, in which Lucien favors Winfield S. Hancockover James A. Garfield(1880 Nov 3); the sight of Mount Vesuviusbelching forth fire and lava and trying to select bronzes and paintings in Italyfor his brother-in-law's parlor (1880 Nov 15); and meeting the daughter of William Cullen Bryantat a party (1881 Jan 1).

Charles Colcock Jones, Jr.has written three letters to George Grattan, two about information given to Jones by Grattan about the Civil War battle of Ocean Pond( Olustee) used in his book Historical Sketch of the Chatham Artillery(1868 Jan 27 & Feb 3). The third letter is also about his Civil War research in which he asks Grattan to help him illustrate his roster of a company with autographs of all general officers (1872 Jul 12).

General Samuel H. Lewis, Lewiston, writes a letter of sympathy upon the death of Robert Grattanto Grattan's wife, August 27, 1855, and shares a resolution passed by the County Court of Rockingham(of which Grattan was formerly a member).

There is one letter from Matthew Fontaine Maury, March 18, 1869, to George G. Grattan, discussing mining in Augusta County, his fees, and his offer of help in getting one of the Virginia Military Instituteprofessors to analyze the ores.

Franklin Minor, the head of Ridgeway Schoolin Albemarle County, writes to Robert Grattan, September 17, 1854, discussing the school and a visit by Matthew Fontaine Maury, who is described as being "a perfect jewel of original thought and learning." Minor also mentions the completion of Maury's book The Physical Geography of the Sea.

The correspondence in accession 11019-a is chiefly that of Maggie Shacklett Roller, wife of General John E. Roller(married ca. 1878). In a letter to Mrs. Carrie Roller, August 21, 1878, Maggie Rollerdescribes a trip (possibly her honeymoon) to Europewith General John E. Roller, naming Irelandas her favorite place. A letter from Emily H. F [?], March 27, [1896], discusses her difficulties in securing a position with a family and supporting herself and her mother and shows strongly the plight of an unmarried woman trying to support herself in the nineteenth century. Louisa A. Kemperwrites, October 13, [n.y.], to General Roller concerning the health of her husband from the National Military Homein Montgomery County, Ohio.

Other correspondence includes brief letters from William Shands; Winfield Liggett; Alexander Wendell(a letter of sympathy, April 3, 1871); Betty Brockman(school news, August 16, 1872); John Hart, headmaster of Maggie's school, to Henry Shacklettre Maggie's school work (June 14, 1873); and Thomas L. Brounto Judge Grattan enclosing a photograph of General Lee and Grattan (not present, December 28, 1901).

Photographs in both accessions include: Lucien Guy Heneberger, while a student at the University of Virginia, 1871; Sallie Watson Magruder, a school mate at " Piedmont, " Keswick, Albemarle County, 1866; and Dr. Clayton Williams, Winchester, Virginia, [187?]; and school friends of Maggie Shacklett Roller, Lilly C. Beale, Bessie Gunter, and Catharine Gunter, early 1870's.

Other papers include genealogical material concerning the Effinger, Shacklett, and Rectorfamilies, menus, things-to-do list, list of preserves to make, and a calling card.

Acquisition information:
These papers were purchased by the Library on October 7 and December 9, 1991.
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 90 items