PUBLIC "-//Library of Virginia//TEXT (US::Vi::vi06566::A Guide to the Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) cornerstone collection, 1887-1889)//EN" "vi06566.xml" A Guide to the Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) cornerstone collection, 1887-1889 Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) cornerstone collection, 1887-1889 54796 Trenton Hizer Library of Virginia © 2026 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MARC record by Trenton Hizer, 28 April 2026 Description is in English A Guide to the Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) cornerstone collection, 1887-1889 A Collection in the Library of Virginia 54796

Library of Virginia 2026 Trenton Hizer Library of Virginia Descriptive Summary The Library of Virginia Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) cornerstone collection, 1887-1889 54796 6.8 cubic feet (15 boxes and 15 folders) English Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) Administrative Information Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Lee Monument Association (Richmond, Va.) cornerstone collection, 1887-1889. Accession 54796. Organization records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred

Historical Information

Established in 1870, the Lee Monument Association raised funds for a statue of Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) to be erected in Richmond, Virginia. The association commissioned a sculpture of Lee from French sculptor Antonin Mercie. The construction of the monument itself began in 1887, and the cornerstone was laid 27 October 1887. Individuals donated items to be placed in the cornerstone of the plinth. This time capsule was discovered 28 December 2021 during the dismantling of the plinth. A second box, made of lead, was placed in the tower of the plinth in 1889. It was discovered 17 December 2021.

Scope and Content

Collection, 1887, of items placed in a copper box in the cornerstone of the Robert E. Lee monument located at the circle of Monument Avenue and Allen Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. A second box made of lead was placed in a building block in 1889. Items include calling cards, Confederate currency, genealogical charts, letters, maps, muster rolls, newspapers, notes, pictures, programs, and other items.

Some items retained by the Department of Historic Resources.

Some items unavailable due to conservation needs.

Contents List Series I: Copper container, 1887. 1-15 1-3 Extent: 15 boxes and 3 folders.

Copper container includes items placed in a copper box then placed in the cornerstone of the plinth of the Lee Monument on 27 October 1887. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources numbered these artifacts beginning with the letters CC.

Lee family genealogical tree by Mrs. H. A. Marshall, 1886 (DHR artifact no. CC018) 01 Grand Lodge Chapter of Virginia document (blank)(DHR artifact no. CC003) 2 1 Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia document (blank)(DHR artifact no. CC004) 2 2 Norfolk Opera House advertisements and program, 19 January and 22 June 1876 (DHR artifact no. CC020.1-3) 2 3 Circular letter from the Pegram Battalion Association, 24 April 1884 (DHR artifact no. CC073.02) 1 4 Blair Meanley calling card, note, and program for the ACCA Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, 22 and 27 October 1887 (DHR artifact no. CC015.1-3) 2 3 W. H. Sand note and program for the ACCA Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, 24 and 27 October 1887 (DHR artifact no. 021.1-2--artifact no. CC021.3 is also artifact no. CC085 and is filed separately) 2 4 P. J. White calling card, envelope, and program of banquet R. E. Lee Camp no. 1(DHR artifact no. CC011.2-4) 1 1 J. H. Capers calling card and roll of officers of Richmond Commandery no. 2, Knights Templar (DHR artifact no. 016.1-2) 1 2 Calling card with W. B. Isaacs on obverse and H. L. Turner Past Master Atlantic Lodge no. 2, Norfolk on reverse (DHR artifact no. CC085--had been filed with artifact no. CC021.1-2 as CC021.3) 1 3 Advertisement for Mess. A. Saks and Co., with envelope (DHR artifact no. CC065.01-02) 1 3 Photograph on card of memorial window for Pegram's Battalion at Soldiers' Home (DHR artifact no. CC002) 5 Muster roll for the 12th Virginia Infantry (DHR artifact no. CC019.1-3) 02 Muster roll for the Richmond Sharpshooters, 23rd Virginia Infantry (DHR artifact no. CC007) 3 2 Richmond Daily Dispatch, 2 December 1868 (DHR artifact no. CC014.05) 4 1 Richmond Daily Dispatch, 2 January 1883 (DHR artifact no. CC014.04) 4 2 Richmond State, 2 April 1887 (DHR artifact no. CC014.06) 4 3 Richmond Weekly Dispatch, 21 October 1887 (DHR artifact no. CC025) 03 Richmond Daily Times, 23 October 1887 (DHR artifact no. CC014.07) 4 4 Lincoln in his coffin in Harpers Weekly, 29 April 1865 (DHR artifact no. CC005.01-02) 4 5 Wrapping, twine, and rubberband for newspapers (DHR artifact no. CC014.01-03) 6 Wrapping and twine (DHR artifact no. CC023.02-03) for History of the Monumental Church (DHR artifact no. CC023.01--not available) 7 Wrapping and twine (CC024.02-03) for Grand Constitution of Grand Encampment United States Knights Templar and Proceeding (DHR artifact no. CC024.01--not available) 8 Wrapping and twine (CC083.02-03) for Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Virginia 1886 (DHR artifact no. CC083.01--not available) 9 Map of Virginia and West Virginia, (DHR artifact no. CC062.02) (found in front of Richmond, Virginia: A Guide to and Description of Its Principal Places and Objects of Interest by Daniel Murphy--DHR artifact no. CC062.01--not available) 3 3 Map of Richmond, (DHR artifact no. CC062.03) (found in back of Richmond, Virginia: A Guide to and Description of Its Principal Places and Objects of Interest by Daniel Murphy--DHR artifact no. CC062.01--not available) 3 3 Map of the country occupied by the Federal and Confederate Armies on the 18th and 21st July 1861, (DHR artifact no. CC063.02) (found in Battle of Young's Branch or Manassas Plains, Fought July 21 1861 by T. B. Warder and James M. Catlett--DHR artifact no. CC063.01--not available) 2 5 Map of the battlefield of Young's Branch (battle of Bull Run), (DHR artifact no. CC063.03) (found in Battle of Young's Branch or Manassas Plains, Fought July 21 1861 by T. B. Warder and James M. Catlett--DHR artifact no. CC063.01--not available) 4 6 Confederate bond, envelope, photograph of a Confederate cent, and copy of the seal of the adjutant-general of the Confederate states (DHR artifact no. CC013.1-4) 10 Confederate paper money--$100 (Richmond), $50 (Richmond), $20 (Richmond), $10 (Richmond), $5 (Richmond), $2 (Richmond), $2 (Charlottesville-Monticello Bank), $1 (Richmond), $1 (Richmond-Bank of the Commonwealth), $1 (Charlottesville-Monticello Bank), $ (Alabama-The Real Estate Banking), 50 cents; and envelope (DHR artifact CC006.1-13) 1 6 Confederate money--$10 note (Richmond) and letter from George A. Nolting, 25 October 1887 (DHR artifact no. CC022) 1 7 Ribbon from the Cornerstone ceremony (DHR artifact no. CC009 or CC082) (found on page 157 in Detailed Minutiae of a Soldier's Lifeby Carlton McCarthy--DHR artifact no. CC082--unavailable) 1 8 Letter and envelope from Carlton McCarthy, badge of the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia (DHR artifact no. CC008.1-3) 11 Gray and Blue badge, California Regiment (DHR artifact no. CC010) 12 Envelope for flag and symbol noting wood from tree over the grave of Stonewall Jackson; wooden square and compass; wooden battle flag (DHR artifact no. CC017.01-03) 13 Wood with bullet from the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania Court House (DHR artifact no. CC026) (inventory says from Fredericksburg, but label with wood and bullet says Spotsylvania Court House) 14 Rock (DHR artifact no. CC027); Piece from wall at Fredericksburg (DHR artifact no. CC059); mortar possibly from wall at Fredericksburg (DHR artifact no. CC060); bark or wood from tree at Fredericksburg? (DHR artifact no. CC061) 15 Series II: Lead container, 1889. 1, 3 4-5 Extent: 2 boxes and 2 folders.

Lead container includes items placed a lead box, then placed in a building block of the plinth's tower in 1889. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources numbered these artifacts beginning with the letters LC.

Photograph of James Netherwood, the master and stonemason (DHR artifact LC02) 1 9 Calling card of Jno. P. Bargamin (LC03.2) (found in the Huguenot Lovers: a Tale of the Old Dominion by Collinson Pierrepont Edwards--LC03.1--unavailable) 1 10 Report of Colonel C. P. E. Burgwyn, Civil Engineer, on the Natural Advantages and Water-Power Facilities of the City of Manchester and the County of Chesterfield, 1888 (LC07) 1 11 Letter, C. P. E. Burgwyn, 1 March 1889 (LC08.3) 1 12 Envelope and fragment of paper with C. P. E. Burgwyn letter, 1 March 188 (LC08.1-2) 1 13 Port of Manchester facility plan (LC06) 04 Map of the James River (LC10) 05 Survey of the James River channel (LC09) 3 5