Alexander H. Stephens family papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Alexander H. Stephens family papers
Creator: Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883
Inclusive Dates: 1818-1944
Bulk Dates: 1854-1883
Language(s): English
Extent: 23 Linear Feet 20 boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 5 oversize folders, 1 artifact
Collection Number: ms3823
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Alexander Hamilton Stephens (1812-1883) was born near Crawfordville (Ga.) to Margaret Grier and Andrew Baskins Stephens. Liberty Hall in Crawfordville was his home. He was Vice President of the Confederacy during the Civil War, a United States Congressman, and died in office as Georgia Governor in 1883. John Alexander Stephens (1838-1887), nephew of Alexander H. Stephens, was a lawyer in Atlanta and son of John Lindsay Stephens. John Alexander Stephens was married to Mary Emma Simpson (1841?-1900), daughter of William Wingfield Simpson (1814-1887), owner of a plantation in Hancock County (Ga.). Linton Stephens was the half-brother of Alexander H. Stephens.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of correspondence, writings, printed material, photographs, financial papers, and scrapbooks. The correspondence is divided into family and business with family letters mainly among Alexander H. Stephens, John A. Stephens and Linton Stephens. They discuss family matters, politics and legal cases. Included is a letter from Alexander H. Stephens describing his trip to Athens to take his entrance examination, in which he describes the university and town as well as the countryside between Athens and Washington, Georgia. Business correspondence includes letters from Herschel Johnson, Howell Cobb, Joseph E. Brown, and Joseph H. Lumpkin. There are also items relating to John Stephens' imprisonment at Johnson Island (OH) during the Civil War. Letters during wartime included lists the members of the Stephens Rifles, flag design proposals, petitions for military positions, and discussions on the release of a Union officer from Andersonville. There is a folder of 1851 correspondence concerning a possible duel between Thomas W. Thomas and James M. Smythe, and materials regarding the surveying of Michigan and Texas Territories. Printed material includes several speeches of Alexander H. Stephens. The scrapbooks contain newspapers clippings about Alexander H. Stephens. Included is a plantation account book of the Simpson plantation, in which are lists of enslaved people, a journal of daily farm work, printed rules for managing farms and slaves, and signed contracts with freedmen.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Alexander H. Stephens family papers, ms3823, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Correspondence
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1	1	Family, 1854-1868
1	2	Family, 1869
1	3	Family, 1870
1	4	Family, 1871
1	5	Family, 1872
1	6	Family, 1873
1	7	Family, 1874 January-June
1	8	Family, 1874 July-December
1	9	Family, 1875 January-April
1	10	Family, 1875 May-December
1	11	Family, 1876-1878
1	12	Family, 1879-1882
1	13	Family, undated
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11	1	Alexander H. Stephens, 1838-1839
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15	1	Alexander H. Stephens, 1840-1849
15	2	Alexander H. Stephens, 1850-1859
15	3-4	Alexander H. Stephens, 1860-1869
15	5	Alexander H. Stephens - petitions, military, 1861-1865
15	6	Alexander H. Stephens - wartime, 1861-1865
15	7	Alexander H. Stephens - from Grier family, 1862-1863
15	8	Alexander H. Stephens - flag design proposals, 1861-1862
15	9	Alexander H. Stephens - Union prisoner William Cable release petition, 1864
15	10-11	Alexander H. Stephens, 1870-1879
15	12-14	Alexander H. Stephens, 1880-1883
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16	1	Alexander H. Stephens, 1880-1883
16	2	Alexander H. Stephens - General P.G.T. Beauregard, 1882
16	3-4	Alexander H. Stephens - Linton Stephens
16	5-6	Alexander H. Stephens - William G. Stephens
16	7	Alexander H. Stephens - John L. Stephens
16	8-12	Alexander H. Stephens - John A. Stephens
16	13	Alexander H. Stephens - Rebecca Stephens
16	14	Alexander H. Stephens - cousins
16	15	Alexander H. Stephens - invitations
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11	2	Alexander H. Stephens - Joe E. Brown, 1882-1883
11	3	Alexander H. Stephens - Robert Toombs
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1		Alexander H. Stephens - Aaron G. Stephens describing Athens, 1828 August 6
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3		Alexander H. Stephens University of Georgia letter regarding sponsorship by Alonzo Church, 1829
3		J.J. Abert letter to James McLelland with orders to leave Great Lakes survey to begin Texas Territory survey, 1844 November 21
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11	4	Linton Stephens - "A Oad to a Lizard"
11	5	John A. Stephens - POW correspondence, army orders, 1862-1863
11	6	M.E. Stephens
11	7	Robert L. Avary - Janie Stephens Avary
11	8	Alexander W. Stephens, 1893, 1932
11	9	Arch Avary - Asa Candler, 1897
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16	16	Margaret Grier Stephens - Linton Stephens, 1862
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17	1-2	Linton Stephens
17	3	Mary W.S., Mrs. Linton Stephens
17	4	William Grier Stephens
17	5	Grier Stephens, 1839
17	6	Aaron Grier Stephens
17	7-9	John A. Stephens
17	10-12	M.E. Simpson Stephens
17	13	M.E. "Emma" Simpson - Ed Simpson
17	14	Emma and Belle Simpson
17	15	Ed Simpson
17	16	William Wingfield Simpson
17	17	Jane Simpson
17	18	Mary Stephens Reid - John A. Stephens, 1862
17	19	Alexander W. Stephens - M.E. Reid
17	20	Alexander W. Stephens - University of Georgia, 1891-1892
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18	1-4	Alexander W. Stephens - University of Georgia, 1891-1892
18	5-11	Alexander W. Stephens
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19	1-3	Alexander W. Stephens
19	4	M.E. Reid - Alexander W. Stephens
19	5	Petitions regarding Alexander W. Stephens for Solicitor, 1898
19	6	A.D. Candler - recommendations regarding Alexander W. Stephens, 1898
19	7-9	Janie Stephens
19	10	Robert L. Avary
19	11	Mrs. Robert Stephens, 1902
19	12	Mrs. James M. Reid
19	13	John C. Reid
19	14	John L. Bird, 1852
19	15	Mamie
19	16	Miscellaneous correspondence
19	17	Unidentified letter
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5	1	William Wingfield Simpson, 1861-1883
5	2	Business, 1839-1844
5	3	Business, 1845-1847
5	4	Business, 1850-1856
5	5	Business, 1857-1859
5	6	Business re: proposed duel between Thomas W. Thomas and James M. Smythe, 1851
5	7	Business, 1860
5	8	Business, 1861
5	9	Business, 1862
5	10	Business, 1863
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6	1	Business, 1864
6	2	Business, 1865-1866
6	3	Business, 1867-1869
6	4	Business, 1872-1873
6	5	Business, 1874-1879
6	6	Business, 1880-1884
6	7	Business, 1906-1944
6	8	Business re: publication of sketch of Alexander H. Stephens by Alexander W. Stephens, 1939-1940
6	9	Business, undated
6	10	Business empty envelopes, 1858-1864, undated

 

2. Writings
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2	1	Writings, 1851-1871, undated Access Online
2	2	Letters to the editor by Alexander W. Stephens, 1905-1906
2	3	Sketches of Alexander H. Stephens by Alexander W. Stephens - typed versions
2	4	Law Library of Linton Stephens - typed list
2	5	Report of latter part of speech by Alexander H. Stephens at Dalton, 1860
2	6	Re: Margaret Grier Stephens and Matilda Lindsay Stephens
2	7	"The Can-Non" by Dr. Pill Garlick
2	8	Arguement by J. A. Stewart in opposition to state sovereignty doctrine, 1868
2	9	Medical reports - re: daily condition of Alexander H. Stephens, 1876 March 14-May 24
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10	2	Alexander W. Stephens - law school notebook
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11	10-11	Alexander H. Stephens - personal accounts, transcribed letters with edits
11	12	Alexander H. Stephens - notes, transcriptions
11	13	Alexander H. Stephens - notebook
11	14	Alexander H. Stephens - writing
11	15	Alexander W. Stephens - journal
11	16	Written comments on Case and Comment article about Alexander H. Stephens
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19	18	Alexander H. Stephens - notes, business cards
19	19	John L. Bird
19	20	Writing - miscellaneous
19	21	Linton Stephens - Memorial, 1872

 

3. Printed Materials
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7	1	re: Alexander H. Stephens
7	2	Speech - "On the President's message... concerning Texas and New Mexico", 1850 August 9
7	3	Speech - "...bill to prevent frauds upon the Treasury of the United States" , 1853 January 13
7	4	Speech - delivered before the Georgia Legislature, 1864 March 16
7	5	"Study of the Law" by Alexander H. Stephens letter to a class of Liberty Hall law students, 1871 May 17
7	6	"Address of the Hon Alexander H. Stephens before the Literary Societies of the University of Georgia", 1873 August 4
7	7	"Address on Alexander H. Stephens by Alexander W. Stephens", 1928 February 11
7	8	"Sketch of Alexander H. Stephens" by Alexander W. Stephens, 1940
7	9	"Alexander H. Stephens" by Henry D. Capers, 1908 May 12
7	10	Catalog of literary books belonging to Alexander H. Stephens
7	11	Program - unveiling the statue of Alexander H. Stephens in Washington, D.C. , 1927 December 8
7	12	"Address delivered by John A. Stephens... before the O. M. Mitchell Post, G.A.R." , 1886 February 26
7	13	"Reminiscences of an old Georgia Lawyer" by Garnett Andrews, 1870
7	14	World atlas (some pages missing) with drawings and writings by Linton Stephens
7	15	Clippings, 1859-1883
7	16	Miscellaneous items
7	18	Speech by Alexander H. Stephens at Anthon School, 1875
7	19	Postcards - Alexander H. Stephens home
7	20	Alexander H. Stephens - obituary, memorials
7	21	Political materials
7	22	Pamphlets, advertisements
7	23	Robert Stephens - Hunter's School, 1896-1897
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10	3-4	Alexander W. Stephens - law books (2)
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11	17	Alexander H. Stephens - railroad passes, 1881
11	18	Alexander W. Stephens - educational materials
11	19	In Memory of Alexander H. Stephens by I.W. Avery - complimentary copies for Janie and Alexander W. Stephens, 1883
11	20	Pandora - signed by Alexander W. Stephens, 1894
11	21	Robert L. Avary - Kappa Alpha
11	22	Illustrations from Little Aleck, 1932
11	23	Clippings - recipes, household
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1		Linton Stephens - Phrenological chart
1		College of Music of Cincinnati - advertisement
1		Broadside - Speech of Tom Hardwick at Hamilton, Georgia - Georgia's Fiscal Problem, 1932
1		Supplement - Chronical and Sentinel-Extra - Letter from the Hon. B.H. Hill
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2		Supplement - The Daily Sun - Speech of Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, 1872 December 22
2		Supplement - Atlanta Constitution- Speech of Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, 1872 December 22
2		Gazette-Supplement - The Weekly News, Savannah, Georgia - Stephen's Speech, 1882 September 8
2		Roll call of the Democratic and Know-Nothing and the American party Senators and Representatives
2		Broadside - The Metric System
2		Broadside - Straight Democrat ticket and Address by Rutger B. Miller to the Voters of Oneida, 1872
2		Supplement - Senator Conklin's Speech on the XVth Amendment
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19	22	E.A. Stephens - railroad pass, 1840
19	23	Alexander W. Stephens - clippings, poems
19	24	Alexander W. Stephens - law, office advertisements
19	25	Sample ballots - city and state elections, 1896-1898
19	26	Lucy Cobb Day Alumni Reunion - program, 1895
19	27	Broadsides - miscellaneous
19	28	Advertisements
19	29	Alexander H. Stephens - business, signature cards
19	30	Tariff of the Confederate States of America , 1861
19	31	Address of the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, Theme - The Letters of Junis , 1873 August 4
19	32	Miscellaneous
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20	1	Recipes - receipts
20	2	Alexander H. Stephens Memorial State Park
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3		Newspapers and clippings

 

4. Photographs
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7	17	Alexander W. Stephens, House - 149 W. Peachtree
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2	1	Robert L. Avary - Law School class in front of Ivy Building, 1890
2	2	Alexander H. Stephens - group - presented to Judge Alex Stephens by Sara Stephens, 1928
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11	24	Alexander H. Stephens - photographs and negatives
11	25	Alexander H. and Linton Stephens
11	26	Alexander H. Stephens memorial
11	27	Robert L. Avary - Kappa Alpha group, "Juvenile Curiousity" group, 1890
11	28	Family - some identified
11	29	KKK parade - negatives

 

5. Financial and Legal
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2	10	Deed, Receipts, Contract, 1806-1877
2	10	Contract between Alexander H. Stephens and Archibald Speights
2	11	Plantation account book - William Wingfield Simpson-owner, S. R. Oliphant-manager, Hancock County (Ga.), 1861-1869 Access Online
			The plantation book lists the names of 61 enslaved people present in 1861. Also included is an 1868 contract with 15 freedmen, named Carson Kindrick, Joe Walker, William Walker, John Miller, Daniel Roberts, Jordan Williams, Richmond Simpson, Jack Hardwick, Jackson Little, Henry Watkins, James Thomas, Adolphus Brindley, Burrell Kindrick, William Rowland, and Frank Brindley.
2	12	John A. Stephens, Assistant Assessor's Pocket Record, 1865
2	12	John A. Stephen's docket, 1870
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12	1	Land grant - Archibald Graham, Henry County, 15th District, Lot 103, 1824
12	2	Land grant - Henry Joyce, Henry County, 15th District, Lot 105, 1824
12	3	Land grant - John Williams, Henry County, 15th District, Lot 234, 1824
12	4	Land grant -William Bailey, Henry County, 15th District, Lot 122, 1829
12	5	Thomas Wynne, Jr. v. R.Q. Dickinson - Taliaferro County Inferior Court, 1839
12	6	Alexander H. Stephens - cases returned record book, 1837-1841
12	7	Alexander H. Stephens - receipts, settlements, 1854-1856
12	8	Alexander H. Stephens - doctor's account, 1863
12	9	Alexander H. Stephens named executor for John Fagan, 1874
12	10	John A. Avary, executor for Alexander H. Stephens - credits by amounts paid, 1883
12	11	W.W. Simpson - Penitentiary Company 3 - prisoner invoices, receipts, correspondence, 1878-1879
12	12	W.W. Simpson - Penitentiary Company 3 - invoices, receipts, 1878
12	13-14	W.W. Simpson - Guardian of DuBose minors - receipts, invoices, 1873-1881
12	15	W.W. Simpson - Guardian of DuBose minors - legal, 1869-1883
12	16	W.W. Simpson - invoices, receipts
12	17	W.W. Simpson - plantation ledger, 1862-1876
12	18	Irene Stephens - invoices, receipts, 1888-1889
12	19	Irene Stephens - canceled checks, 1888-1889
12	20	Irene Stephens - rent, 1888-1889
12	21	Alexander W. Stephens - receipts
12	22	Mary E. Stephens - rent receipts, lease
12	23	Mary E. Stephens - business, insurance
12	24	Robert L. and Janie S. Avary - business
12	25	Janie S. Avary - insurance
12	26	George R. Gilmer, Robert L. Avary - wills, 1859, 1902
12	27	Robert A. and Emma Belle Stephens - deed, 1903
12	28	Alexander W. Stephens - business, insurance
12	29	Alexander W. Stephens - The Collector and Commercial Lawyer advertisement
12	30	Alexander W. Stephens - election, 1907-1908
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3		Agreement to survey final townships in Michigan Territory prior to statehood - Abner Van Ness, 1837 July 22
3		Petition for payment - Abner Van Ness, 1839-1848
3		List of expenses for surveying - Abner Van Ness, 1837-1838
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4	1	Simpson family deeds, 1818-1869
			This folder includes the 1821 will of Lovica Simpson regarding seven enslaved people by the names of Old Peter and his wife Aggy, Young Peter, Bryant, Isham, Caroline, and Sapha.
4	2	Wilkes County land surveys, 1819-1841
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5		Henry Baker - Warren County indenture and accounts, 1849-1851
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20	3	Alexander H. Stephens - plantation book, 1872 Access Online
20	4	Alexander H. Stephens - account books, 1872-1880
20	5	Alexander H. Stephens - account book, documents, 1879
20	6-7	Alexander H. Stephens - business, legal
20	8	Alexander H. Stephens - land titles, 1839-1843
20	9	Alexander H. Stephens - government documents, 1866-1882
20	10	John L. Stephens - invoice, 1850-1853
20	11	James A. Stephens - receipts
20	12	John A. Stephens - notebook, wallet with railroad passes, documents, 1883-1886
20	13	John A. Stephens - account books, 1871-1884
20	14	John A. Stephens - signature cards
20	15	William W. Simspon - receipts, 1818-1840
20	16	Williamson Bird - list from sale of property, 1843
20	17	Stephens family - estate documents, 1883-1900
20	18	Alexander W. Stephens - plantations in Taliaferro, Wilkes and Washington property Access Online
20	19	John Ferguson v. Sarah Taylor - Lincoln County, 1834-1842
20	20	Henry Baker - deeds, invoices, receipts
20	21	George Palmer - legal, land documents, 1875-1882
20	22	Richard Roe v. John Doe - Lincoln County, 1840-1843
20	23	Lincoln County - deeds, 1834-1845
20	24	Lincoln County - legal documents, 1836-1842
20	25	Deeds, legal documents, miscellaneous, 1837-1875
20	26	Notes paid - miscellaneous

 

6. Scrapbooks
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3	1	Alexander H. Stephens, 1873-1874
3	2	Alexander H. Stephens, 1880-1881
3	3	Alexander H. Stephens, 1881-1883
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4	1	Alexander H. Stephens, 1881-1882
4	2	Alexander H. Stephens, 1861-1870
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1		Alexander H. Stephens, 1851-1867
1		Alexander H. Stephens, 1857
1		Alexander H. Stephens, 1866-1867
1		Alexander H. Stephens, 1877
1		Alexander H. Stephens, 1878-1880
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10	1	Alexander W. Stephens - campaign scrapbook, 1909-1910
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2		Alexander W. Stephens - campaign book, by county, 1893-1894
2		Stephens family clippings
2		Miscellaneous prints, advertisements

 

7. Artifacts and ephemera
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8		Alexander H. Stephens Committe ribbons
8		Cards left at New Years reception at mansion - A.H. Stephens, Governor, 1882 January
8		Business and calling cards
8		John A. Stephens - empty envelopes
8		Alexander W. Stephens - empty envelopes
8		Various empty envelopes, wallets (2)
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9		Campaign cards, business cards, ribbons, souvenirs, stamps
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12	31	Alexander H. Stephens - committee ribbons
12	32	Alexander H. Stephens - hair, 1883 March 4
12	33	Hand painted Christmas card - Mable Appleton, 1882
12	34	Hand painted card to Alexander H. Stephens - Mary Floyd
12	35	Fanny Avary - composition book - Decatur Academy, 1868-1874
12	36	John A. Stephens - school work, penmanship
12	37	Susan F. Avary - memorial card, 1899
12	38	Unknown architectural sketch
12	39	John A. Stephens - hair
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13		Alexander H. Stephens - empty envelopes
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14		Fraternal organization sash and apron
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1		Liberty Hall arch - drawing by James B. Knox, Union Point, Georgia
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1		John A. Stephens - small trunk