WLU-Coll-0102Henry Ruffner collectionHenry Ruffner collection WLU.Coll.0102Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives

September 2024

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-05-28 07:01:11 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives Henry Ruffner collection WLU.Coll.0102 /repositories/5/resources/424 0.26 Linear Feet one document case (half-sized), one folder circa 1815-1867 English Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

 Conditions Governing Use

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.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Henry Ruffner Collection (WLU Coll. 0102), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

 Biographical Note

Henry Ruffner was president of Washington College from 1836-1848, as well as a professor, minister, and author. He was born on January 16, 1790 in Page County, Virginia and died on December 17, 1861 in Kanawha County, West Virginia.

 Scope and Contents

This collection includes three manuscript novellas written by Henry Ruffner, including a draft of his published work titled "Judith Bensaddi," six sermons written in Ruffner's hand, Washington College student James S. Richeson's handwritten transcript of one of Ruffner's lectures on "Political Economy"(1840), a typescript copy of Ruffner's 1847 pamphlet regarding slavery in Virginia, an 1867 letter relating to Ruffner's estate by his widow, Laura Ruffner, and Ruffner's bound manuscript for the "History of Washington College" (circa 1857). This volume includes notes by Ruffner's son.

 Separated Materials

January 20, 1897 letter from H. S. Day to the "President of Washington College" was separated and made its own collection (RG 2.11.1). The letter is said to have been found between pages in Ruffner's history of the college.

 Virginia -- Lexington Slavery Romance fiction Antislavery movements Legal documents Manuscripts Speeches, addresses, etc., American Ruffner, Laura Washington College (Lexington, Va.) Ruffner, Henry, 1790-1861 Letter, Laura Ruffner/repositories/5/archival_objects/234871865-0111Manuscript novellas : "The Romance of the Matz family from the German of Weistflog" and "The tale of Judith Bensaddi"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234881820-186112Manuscript novellas: "Seaborn, A semi-poetical Romance of the Sea" and "Seaborn or the Hermit of the Ocean, A semi-poetical romance" /repositories/5/archival_objects/234891820-186113Sermons by Henry Ruffner: "Sermon on Heaven" and "Sermon on Judas Iscariot"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234901820-186114Sermons by Henry Ruffner: " A tract on Episcopal confirmation," " Errors of Romanism," and an untitled fragment /repositories/5/archival_objects/234911820-186115Immediate Source of Acquisition

At least one of Henry Ruffner's sermons has period notation that it was given to the Washington and Lee University by his widow, Laura Ruffner. It is likely that the other early manuscriptswere also given by her.

Typescript copy of the "Ruffner Pamphlet"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234921940-196516Immediate Source of Acquisition

This typescript was in the office of WLU historian Ollinger Crenshaw.

Student James S. Richeson's notebook of Henry Ruffner's lecture on "Political Economy"/repositories/5/archival_objects/234931840-04-1517Clipped engraving of Henry Ruffner and a carte de visite of unknown people/repositories/5/archival_objects/234941840-187518Scope and Contents

The engraving of Henry ruffner was liekyl removed from a bokk. The carte de visite photogaph is of three unknown people likely from Europe.

"The History of Washington College" by Henry Ruffner/repositories/5/archival_objects/299921857Manuscripts Small Collections Box 51