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This collection came from the estate of Ellinor Gadsden in 1985. Highlights of the collection include the letters of Alexander Swift(Sandie) Pendleton, a Washington College graduate who was a top aide to Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson during the American Civil War. These approximately 70 letters were a major source for the book. Sandie was the uncle of the Gadsden sisters. Included in the collection are also a few items of Gen. William Nelson Pendleton who was Robert E. Lee's friend and colleague. There are two ALS of Mildred Lee to Lella Pendleton and two copies of a poem written by and in the hand of Margaret Junkin Preston. There is also an ALS (25 Jan. 1873) from Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to W.N. Pendleton. Other major parts of the collection are photographs (ca. 60), the Misses Gadsden's account books and their memorabilia from their travels.

This collection includes letters to and from Owen in connection with his efforts to compile a Robert E. Lee bibliography, several Lee family letters, pictorial representations of the Lees, speeches, and clippings.

This is a collection of correspondence between William B. Pettit and his wife Arabella ('Bell') with scattered letters from other friends and relatives. The letters that date from 1850 to March 1862 include correspondence between husband and wife while Pettit was away on business. The war letters begin in March 1862 and end with Pettit's last war letter to his wife on March 3, 1864. After that date there are letters from Pembroke, the Pettit's son, while he attended school at Ashland, Va. The turn of the century correspondence concerns Confederate Veterans' activities and post-war business correspondence. Also included are newspaper clippings, one photograph, and the obituary of William B. Pettit (1905). The collection also includes Pettit's Civil War manuscript diary, 1862-1864, and account book. These two books are bound together.