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Contents: |
The collection consists of correspondence, notes, writings, genealogical information, printed material, newspaper and magazine
clippings, accounts, receipts, cancelled checks, and a wide range of miscellanea and family memorabilia relating to the Miller
and Morris families. Of the 19,994 items in the collection, 9,500 are cancelled checks.
The collection is in three parts, the first and largest being the Sylvanus Morris division. A great deal of incidental information
about old Athens can be gleaned from his papers. The correspondence in this section is principally between Dr. Morris and
his wife, Annie Lewis Minor Morris. There are also a few Civil War letters, including a photostat of one written by Robert
E. Lee a few months after the war that includes General Lee's views about the question of leaving the country, as many prominent
Southerner's did at that time. Several boxes of legal papers and notes relate to Dr. Morris' law practice. The second section
of the collection contains genealogical information, primarily pertaining to the Morris, Minor, and Lewis families. Of particular
note is the plantation book of Reverend William Douglas of Virginia compiled during the 1780's which gives household and plantation
accounts, and lists of slaves. Recipes, remedies, marriages, births, deaths, and illnesses are also recorded in detail. Many
of Dr. Morris' lecture notes have survived, along with numerous historical and religious manuscripts, a great many of them
in outline form. The third section contains material relating to Dr. Morris' granddaughter, Anne Miller. A point of interest
in this division is the large collection of postcards, both American (mostly Virginia and Georgia) and European. Her notes
and a copy of her thesis are also among her writings. Most of the correspondence is between Miss Miller and her mother Mary
Douglas Morris Miller, and dates from 1947-1961. The remainder of the collection is comprised of Miss Miller's artwork, primarily
paintings and sketches. Three of her large paintings are stored separately in the Special Collections Division of the Hargrett
Library. One large box of family objects (baby shoes, old battle paraphernalia, fans, cases, etc.) is also available.
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