Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library
Mary Louisa Slacum Benham Papers (MS062)
Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884
MS062
.184 Cubic Feet
22 folders
Contents include fragile handwritten documents. Handle with care.
1802-1884
English
.
02
Content Description
Notes and reminiscences of Mrs. Benham's life from her childhood and youth in Alexandria to her adult travels along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Also covers the settlement of Oregon (through her brother William's experiences there), the careers of her siblings and her elderly musings.
Alexandria sections include materials on Mrs. Benham's family life, the Potomac River, Monsieur Generis' dancing school, the Woods and Warren Play Actors (the summer theater), Parson Muir, Bishop Meade, Christ Church, Mount Vernon, Washington Lodge, Washington City and President Monroe's daughter's wedding. Also highlighted are many prominent Virginia and Washington D.C. families such as the Washington's, Lewis', Moore's, McCormick's, Meade's and Vowell's. Local customs, social life and institutions are discussed.
Accruals
No accruals are expected.
Custodial History
Material was acquired from the Lloyd House (Alexandria, VA.), through Mrs. Betsy Stark, the descendant of Mrs. Benham.
Preferred Citation
[item identification], Mary Louisa Slacum Benham Papers, MS062, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.
Existence and Location of Originals
Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria Library
Arrangement
Biographical Information/Organizational History
Daughter of George Slacum (1756-1810), an Alexandria, Virginia, merchant and Jane Howard. Sister of George Washington Slacum, a State Department consul, and William Slacum, a purser in the Navy. Ms. Benham grew up in Alexandria. She moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1830 upon her marriage to lawyer, Joseph S. Benham. They had three daughters. In 1839, the Benham's moved to New Orleans. From c. 1870-1884, she lived in San Francisco with her daughter, where she wrote these memoirs.
Alexandria (Va.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century.
Benham family
Benham, Mary Louise Slacum, 1802-1884
Oregon -- History -- To 1859
Reminiscences
Slacum family
Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
MemoirsMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841870-1884English.Early MemoriesMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841870-1880English.0262-1Potomac RiverMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-2Dancing SchoolMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-188418820262-3Alexandria TheaterMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841882 May0262-4My Father - "Why won't he come?"Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841880 September 70262-5My ChildhoodMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841882 March0262-6Around the World [Parson Muir]Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-7Meade's Virginia Families and ChurchesMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-188418830262-8Bishop Meade/Meade FamilyMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841881-18820262-9Mount VernonMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-188418820262-10Washington Lodge Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-11Washington City Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-12Monroe WeddingMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-188418200262-13Trips to Ohio, 1830Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18840262-14Maryatt, 1838Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18840262-15Autumn, 1839. "William"Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Autumn 18390262-16[Summer], 1839Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18840262-17George D. Prentice [c. 1860-1865] Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-18OregonMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-18841882 October 140262-19"The Swallow, Homeward Fly"Mary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-20MusingsMary Louisa Slacum Benham, 1802-1884Undated0262-21