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Contents: |
The collection consists of correspondence and diaries of the Akehurst and Lines families from 1850-1914. The bulk of the
correspondence contains letters between Jennie Akehurst, a teacher at Covington, Georgia and Sylvanus Lines of Fayetteville
Georgia during their courtship (1857-1860) and married life (1861-1874). Topics discussed include family matters, life in
Georgia, and news of relatives. Another portion of the correspondence consists of letters to and from Daisy Lines while teaching
in Irvington, Georgia (1882-1898). Includes drafts of letters to and letters from Jerome Reneau, writing from Greene County,
Alabama and Texas; correspondence to Jennie Lines; and correspondence from Daisy's aunt Anna Marie Akehurst Barham. Topics
discussed include Reneau and Daisy's friendship, Reneau's farming in Alabama, social events, Daisy's teaching, and family
news.
The diaries were written by Jennie Akehurst Lines (1859-1861 and 1861-1871) and Anna Maria Akehurst Barham (1861-1871). Jennie's
diary entries prior to 1861 mainly concern financial hardships and personal matters. Beginning in 1860, entries discuss the
political climate, the 1860 election, abolitionists, and slavery. For 1861-1866, the diary contains information on Georgia's
succession from the union, social life and living conditions during the Civil War, problems with slaves, and freedmen. Entries
for 1866-1871 again mainly focus on personal matters. The Barham diary contains entries pertaining to the Female Orphans'
Asylum (Macon, Ga.), where she was matron, the South's reaction to the Battle of Bull Run, economic and living conditions
in Georgia during the Civil War, problems with Confederate currency, cotton planting both during and after the war, and problems
hiring and supervising freedmen.
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