Papers of Thomas Perkins Abernethy 1585 (1947-1965) 1969

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
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Thomas Perkins Abernethy Collection consists of approximately four linear feet (ca. 2,000 items) spanning the years 1585 (1947-1965) 1969. Included in the collection of the historian are drafts of many of the articles and book reviews he has written, as well as of his book The South In the New Nation: 1789-1819. The original collection, #6464, consists of a carbon copy of the publisher's draft of The South In the New Nation. Correspondence with fellow historians and students, speeches, and miscellaneous papers including some dealing with the Corcoran Department of History of the University of Virginia comprise the rest of the collection. There are transcripts and Photostats of letters and documents for the dates 1585, 1621, 1722, 1797, and 1804- 1806, and there are a few letters and some printed material for the 1920's through the early 1940's, but the bulk of the collection falls between the years 1947 and 1965.

Thomas Perkins Abernethy [1890- ] was born in Lowndes County, Alabama. He received an A. B. degree from the College of Charleston in 1912, and his M. A. (1915) and Ph.D. (1922) degrees from Harvard University, where he studied under Frederick Jackson Turner. He taught at Vanderbilt University, the University of Chattanooga, and the University of Alabama before coming to the University of Virginia in 1930. During his long tenure at Virginia, he served as chairman of the History Department from 1946-1955, advised a large number of graduate students, and wrote numerous books and articles before retiring in July of 1961.

The material in this collection chiefly reflects Abernethy's career as professor and scholar at the University of Virginia. Personal and family correspondence is almost entirely lacking. There are research notes for his book The Burr Conspiracyand several drafts of The South In the New Nation: 1789-1819, but the manuscripts of his other books are missing. There is little material from Abernethy's early years as a professor.

Acquisition information:
The collection was presented to the library on July 29, 1974 by Thomas P. Abernethy, 39 University Circle, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Arrangement:

When the collection came to the library, much of the original filing order had been lost. As a result, the correspondence has been filed by academic year, (September of one year through August of the next) and alphabetized by correspondent within each year. The correspondence is followed by Albernethy's writings, including articles, book reviews, and drafts of his book The South In the New Nation: 1789-1819. These are followed by the rest of Abernethy's papers, including research notes, student papers, and miscellaneous printed material. Six file boxes contain bibliographies and indexes for his books on 3 x 5" note cards.

Physical description:
This collection consists of ca. 2,000 items.