Eugenius Aristides Nisbet papers

Eugenius Aristides Nisbet papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Eugenius Aristides Nisbet papers
Creator: Nisbet, Eugenius Aristides, 1803-1871
Inclusive Dates: 1819-1849
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.75 Linear Feet 1 document box, 1 half box
Collection Number: ms3261
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

"Eugenius Aristides Nisbet was born in Greene County on December 7, 1803, to Penelope Cooper and James Nisbet. His father served in the General Assembly and was a framer of Georgia's Constitution of 1798. The young Nisbet received his early education at Powelton Academy in Hancock County and went on to South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina--Columbia). Prior to his junior year he transferred to the University of Georgia, from which he would graduate first in his class in 1821. He obtained his legal education in the Athens office of Judge Augustin Smith Clayton, and then studied under the celebrated Judge James Gould at the Litchfield Law School in Connecticut. He was admitted to the bar at age twenty. Nisbet began practicing law in Madison. In 1825 he wed Amanda Battle, and together they had twelve children. In 1827 he was elected to the state House of Representatives and remained there until 1830, when he was elected to the state senate. Nisbet remained in the senate for seven years... Nisbet ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1836 but was elected in two subsequent attempts. He served in Congress from 1839 to 1841, resigning on October 8, 1841, during his second term... The Supreme Court of Georgia was created in 1845 and consisted of three justices elected by the legislature. Nisbet was elected...In 1861 Nisbet served as a delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention...Nisbet died in Macon on March 18, 1871." -- "Eugenius A. Nisbet (1803-1871)" New Georgia Encyclopedia. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/ (Retrieved November 20, 2009)

Scope and Content

The collection consists of approximately 250 letters from E.A. Nisbet to Amanda Battle before and after their 1825 marriage. There are a few letters from their children and their friends. Although Nisbet's letters deal mainly with family matters, he also discusses politics and fellow politicians, especially while in Washington, D.C.

The collection also includes two framed oil portraits and a pecan desk chair. One of the paintings is of Amanda Battle, dated 1841, and with the frame is 36 1/2" x 32," the other is of E.A. Nisbet and is 20 1/4" x 17". The chair, which has a carved back with four spindles and an upholstered seat, belonged to Amanda Nisbet.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Eugenius Aristides Nisbet papers, ms3261, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Related materials are located in the following collections of this repository: Eugenius Aristides Nisbet papers, ms987.

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Chair and paintings are housed separately from the rest of the collection; for further inquiries please contact Head of Manuscripts.

Chair and paintings are housed separately from the rest of the collection; for further inquiries please contact Head of Manuscripts.

Chair and paintings are housed separately from the rest of the collection; for further inquiries please contact Head of Manuscripts.


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Correspondence, 1819-1823
 
12Correspondence, 1824
 
13Correspondence, 1825-1827
 
14Correspondence, 1828
 
15Correspondence, 1829-1830
 
16Correspondence, 1832-1835
 
17Correspondence, 1836
 
18Correspondence, 1839
 
19Correspondence, 1840 January
 
110Correspondence, 1840 February
 
111Correspondence, 1840 March
 
112Correspondence, 1840 April
 
113Correspondence, 1840 May
 
114Correspondence, 1840 June
 
115Correspondence, 1840 July
 
116Correspondence, 1840 September
 
117Correspondence, 1841 May-June
 
118Correspondence, 1841 July
 
119Correspondence, 1841 August
 
120Correspondence, 1841 November
 
boxfolder
21Correspondence, 1845
 
22Correspondence, 1846
 
23Correspondence, 1847
 
24Correspondence, 1848
 
25Correspondence, 1849
 
26Poem, fragment of document re: George III
 
Pecan chair
 
Paintings (2)

Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641