Robert Selph Henry Papers,
Scope and Content Note
The Robert Selph Henry Papers consist of correspondence, subject files, photographs, and clippings concerning Henry's research on the Civil War, focusing on the Confederacy and Nathan Bedford Forrest, and also railroad history. Most subject files involve research notes and photocopies or transcriptions of primary sources such as diaries, letters, and reminiscences. This collection also contains Henry's Southern Historical Association (SHA) and Association of American Railroads papers.
The collection dates from 1861 to 1971; however, most of the Civil War letters and diaries contained in this collection appear to be either later reprints, transcriptions, or copies of the original. The dates given in this finding aid correspond to the year for the original document. Many of the photographs are reproductions as well.
Dates
- Creation: 1861 - 1971
Creator
- Henry, Robert Selph, 1889-1970 (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the Robert Selph Henry Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Biographical Note
Robert Selph Henry (1889-1970) was born in Clifton, Tennessee on October 20, 1889. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with an L.L.B. in 1910 and a BA in 1911. He served as a Captain of Field Artillery in WWI, and remained in the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of colonel, until his retirement in 1952. He worked for the newspaper in Nashville (1907-1913), served as secretary to the Governor of Tennessee (1913-1915), practiced as a lawyer in Nashville (1915-1921), and worked for the railroads, first as Director of Public Relations for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway (1921-1928), then as Assistant to the Vice President of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railrway (1928-1934), and lastly as as the Vice President of the Association of American Railroads (1934-1958).
Henry was also a historian of the Civil War and the railroads. He published several books including The Story of the Confederacy (1931), The Story of Reconstruction (1938), First with the Most Forrest (1944), and This Fascinating Railroad Business (1942). Henry also served as President of the Southern Historical Association (SHA; 1957).
Full Extent
4.3 Cubic Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Spanning 1861 to 1971, The Robert Selph Henry Papers consist of correspondence, subject files, photographs, and clippings concerning Henry's research on the Civil War, focusing on the Confederacy and Nathan Bedford Forrest, and also railroad history. This collection also contains Henry's Southern Historical Association (SHA) and Association of American Railroads papers.
Arrangement
This collection is organized thematically in alphabetical order by folder title.
Acquisition Information
The collection was acquired by Virginia Tech Special Collections in 1989.
Separated Materials
The following book has been removed from the collection and has been catalogued for the rare book collection: Diary of Capt. Heber S. Thompson, Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, May to December, 1864
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Robert Selph Henry Papers was completed in July 2013.
- Title
- Robert Selph Henry Papers, 1861-1971
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Alexandra Dowrey, Graduate Assistant and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
- Date
- © 2013 Virginia Tech. All rights reserved.
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu