PUBLIC "-//University of Virginia::Library::Special Collections Dept.//TEXT (US::ViU::viu03240::Additional Papers of Thomas Lafayette Rosser)//EN" "viu03240.xml" A Guide to the Additional Papers of Thomas Lafayette RosserRosser, Thomas L., Additional Papers of 1171-d, -e, -f Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library © 2002 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

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 Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word 2000, created by Katherine Schumann, 09/25/2002 Description is in English Feb 20, 2004 PUBLIC "-//University of Virginia::Library::Special Collections Dept.//TEXT (US::ViU::viu03240::Additional Papers of Thomas Lafayette Rosser)//EN" "viu03240.xml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Feb 27, 2004 converted to conform to eadVIVA.dtd by vivastrict.xsl A Guide to the Additional Papers of Thomas Lafayette Rosser A Collection in The Special Collections Department 1171-d, -e, -f

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library 2002 Special Collections Department Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Virginia Library Descriptive Summary Special Collections, University of Virginia Library Additional Papers of Thomas Lafayette Rosser 1171-d, -e, -f This collection consists of ca. 138 items. English Administrative Information Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

 Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

 Preferred Citation

Additional Papers of Thomas Lafayette Rosser, Accession #1171-d, -e, -f, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

 Acquisition Information

These additions to the Rosser papers were a gift to the Library from Miss Barbara Rosser of Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 25 and October 9, 1980, and on January 26, 1981.

 Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of ca. 138 items (2 Hollinger boxes) of correspondence, photographs, stereoscopic views, bound volumes, and printed materials relating to Thomas L. Rosser (1836-1910), the assistant chief of construction for the Northern Pacific Railroad and a former Confederate general. Most of the correspondence is comprised of letters from Rosser to his sons, Thomas, Jr., and William, while both were attending school in Virginia. Also included is a letter from General Joseph E. Johnston to Robert E. Lee, 1862, concerning the evacuation of Norfolk, Virginia.

Of great interest are two of Rosser's diaries for the years 1872 and 1873 in which he recorded his activities in the Dakota Territory and on business trips to Chicago, New York, and Washington. Several entries concern his invention of a combination canal-railroad canal lock. In the diary for 1873, General Philip Sheridan is briefly mentioned as is George Armstrong Custer, who had the assignment of protecting expeditions venturing into Indian territories. In this same diary Rosser recounts his difficulties resulting from the Panic of 1873, which was caused by unrestrainted speculation in railroad construction and wil investment schemes, and was touched off by the failure of Jay Cooke and Company, financier of the Northern Pacific. Rosser had to sell the company's equipment at auction and find other work during this period while taking care of his family. He eventually found employment as chief engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, a post he held until his retirement in 1885.

Rosser's letterbook, 1871-1872, complements the diaries and contains receipts, business correspondence, a payroll, salary vouchers, memoranda on unfinished work in each section, and notes on his survey of the Dakota Territory. Ira Spaulding, Samuel B. Holabird, and Winfield S. Hitchcock are correspondents.

Fifty-two stereoscopic views and seven photographs show scenes of Minnesota and Ontario at the time Rosser lived and traveled there while employed by the Northern Pacific and, subsequently, the Canadian Pacific railroads. Some views of other places around the world are included. Other photographs in this collection chiefly pertain to the Rosser and related families.

 Contents List Correspondence of the Rosser Family 1858, 1864, 1869-1889, 1899, 1909, n.d. 1 38 items General Joseph E. Johnston to General Robert E. Lee 1862 May 11 1 1 item Photographs 1883 & 1890, n.d. 1 24 items Stereoscopic slides of the Holy Land, the Columbian Exposition, Minnesota, London, a Civil War scene, and other views 1891-1897, n.d. 1 42 items Photographs of scenes of Port Arthur, Canada n.d. 1 7 items Printed material and school reports of Gordon family members 1883-1884, 1889, ante 1910, n.d. 1 10 items Diary of Thomas L. Rosser chiefly re his work for the Northern Pacific Railway 1872 2 1 item Diary of Thomas L. Rosser chiefly re his work for the Northern Pacific Railway 1873 2 1 item Commonplace Book of Thomas L. Rosser (also contains accounts and inventories) 1868 2 1 item Souvenir Booklet: Reunion and Dinner of the Northern Pioneers of 1873 and Earlier1906 Jan 10 1 1 item Items pulled from volumes 1 and 5 1906, 1918, n.d. 2 10 items Photograph of a group of men at the Chi Phi House, Charlottesville, Virginia n.d. Oversize Photograph of Rugby Hall, home of the Rosser family n.d. Oversize