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The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source.
The items contained within this collection were in the office of Washington and Lee University President Robert E. Lee's office located within the Chapel at the time of his death in 1870. The decision was made by administration to leave his office as it was. Manuscript materials, photographs, and books were removed from the office over the period of several years and placed into Special Collections and Archives for their preservation and accessibility to patrons.
The books from Lee's office have been cataloged. There were two photographs that were removed from the office in 2025 that will remain part of the Lee Chapel record group (RG 34) as they were given to the university years after the death of Lee and were not in his office at the time of his death. They include an image of Lee with an inscription from Edward Valentine (dated 1929) and a print of a photograph of G. W. C. Lee and Robert E. Lee on the porch of their Richmond home inscribed and given by Mary Custis Lee (daughter) in 1907.
[Identification of item], Office of President Robert E. Lee Collection (RG 34.1), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.
This collection consists of items that were in the office of Washington and Lee University President Robert E. Lee at the time of his death in October 1870. Included are letters, drafts, empty envelopes, visual material, catalogs, newspapers, and newspaper clippings.
Item 1: Letter dated Feb. 13, 1863 written by India Tobas to Lee that includes a poem she wrote him.
Item 2: Letter dated March 25, 1867 addressed to Lee written by J. A. Walker of Macon, Ga. sending Lee a "curiosity" of two bullets fused together when they connected.
Item 3: Letter dated August 19, 1868 written by William H. Holcombe. Holcombe was a student at Washington College in 1844 who wrote a book
Item 4: Letter dated November 23, 1869 to Lee as President of Washington College from A. L. Nelson recommending three students.
Item 5: Letter to Lee from A. Baron Holmes (a book dealer, includes business card) of Charleston, SC and dated April 29, 1870. Holmes writes to Lee to offer his collection of material on the Civil War for Lee's use in his writing. In addition to his business card is included the inventory of Holmes' "library of War books."
Item 6: Letter addressed to Lee dated May 20, 1870 from R. W. Graham of London regarding a visit to London. Graham offers his company's offices as headquarters to Lee.
Item 1: Draft possibly in Lee's handwriting. Dated July 18, 1868. Date and address on the back are marked out. Thank you note to donor of books to the colleage library mentioning the "packing as it was" and the timely aid of such a gift.
Item 2: Draft for a letter of introduction dated July 1, 1869. Letter for Mr. MacCulloch, Professor of Mechanics and Physics as an introduction to develop relationships with other areas of higher education in Europe.
Item 3: Draft of a letter with no saluation other than "Sir," asking for positions in Civil Engineering for the graduating class so they might stay in Virginia and if successful hopefully becoming a yearly event. Dated January 15, 1869.
Item 4: Extract of a letter from L. McCormick to G. H. Cullin [?] dated Sept. 9, 1870. Some is in shorthand and difficult to dicipher. Some insect damage. It is signed C.G.H. to Col. Allan regarding the observatory, fundraising efforts and suitability of location.
Item 5: Scratch paper note possibly in Lee's handwriting of questions he wants addressed regarding Mr. McCormick's purpose to locate an observatory at "this place" in connection with Washington College.
Item 6: Note "Tobacco bag for Gen. Lee from Mr. Wm. Bullock of Fort Laramie."
Item 7: Note from W. G. Bullock dated Feb. 22, 1869 sending to Lee with Bullock's compliments a beaver robe.
Item 8: Note - names of students who are to report Friday the 6th between the hours of 8 and 11. Five names are visible. Two are marked out and two have an "x" beside their names.
Item 9: Directions to build a fireproof smokehouse for 50 hams (1869)
Item 10: handwritten notes written by Professor William Allan that was found in between the pages of the book
Item 11: Undated, students admitted as honorary scholarships, prize scholarships, [?] scholarships, candidates for the ministry, and phse students who are on "Lon Credit."
Items 12-13: two miscellaneous items
Items 14-15: Poems
Item 16: Handwritten song that begins "Fear not, O little flock" (in Lee's hand)
Item 17: Partial map of unknown building with index of some items visible in the surviving piece
Item 18: List of "indulged students"
Kept under the direction of Professor Campbell
Items 1-2: Two copies, broadside from Rev. Dr. Pendleton, Rector of Episcopal Church offering room, board, and guardianship to students attending Washington College.
Item 3: Calling card for "Le General Jobson.
Item 4: Advertisment for I. B. Seeley's Specialties
Item 5: Advertisement for Robertson & Herndon Attorneys at Law.
Item 6: Advertisement for
Item 7: "On the Likeness of Mrs. Cottle" religious pamphlet
Item 8: Tract "What brings Peace?"
Items 9-13: Advertisements/ink blotting paper for North British & Mercantile Ins. Co.
Item 14: Program for the Washington Literary Society's 55th Anniversary Celebration, Feb. 22, 1867.
Item 15: Program for the Washington College "Students' 'Hop'" for Feb. 7, 1870.
One photograph of an unidentified man seated and surrounded by four standing boys. One print of a painting of George Washington.
Largely related to Civil War, one broadside is about Edward M. Stanton outlying his crimes during and post-Civil War.
Steiger's Literarischer Monatshericht in German, literary periodical published in the United States
Two copies, one pink cover and one orange cover of "The Discoveries and Unparalleled Experience of Prof. R. Leonidas Hamilton, M. D. with regard to the nature and treatment of Disease of the Liver, Lungs, Blood and Other Chronic Diseases"
Roanoke College, Davidson College, Hollins Institute
University of Georgia (1868-1869), Bethany College (June 17, 1869), Cumberland University (June 1869), Kings College (1869), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1870)
Louisiana State Seminary (1868-1869), Hampden Sidney College (June 10, 1869), Richmond College (1868-1869), Patapsco Female Institute (1869-1870)
Georgetown College (1868-1869), Washington University (1869-1870, 1870-1871), Medical College of Virginia (1868-1869)
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry vs. Morris re: dispute regarding possession of a document signed by George Washington dismissing the troop from active service for the time being (in 1777). No decision made regarding ownership.
Pastoral Letter of The Most Rev. Archbishop (Baltimore), Description of Elizabeth Furnace Iron Property (Augusta Co., Va.), Emigration to the U. S. (Virginia), College Education by Georoge H. Calvert
Address to University of Virginia alumni, Reports of General Agent of Peabody Education Fund, "Our Southern Colleges," State Argricultural Society of Virginia, Address to alumni of East Tennessee State University
Oration of General W. B. Bate, "Saint Louis the Future Great City of the World"