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James P. Hawkins Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2008-025

Scope and Content

The principle part of the collection consists of a bound expense/account notebook of James P. Hawkins, agent of the Southern Express Company, which also contains diary entries from 2 April - 10 April 1865, and a collection of loose pages with Hawkins's diary entries for 11 April - 11 May 1865.

Dates

  • Creation: 1864 - 1865

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the James P. Hawkins Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Biographical Information

James P. Hawkins was born in Albemarle Co., Virginia in 1845. The 1850 census shows James, then 5 years old, living with his father, Richard, listed as a harnessmaker, and his mother, Elizabeth, in Charlottesville. By 1860, the family was in Staunton, VA and included daughters Mary and Kate. Also by that year, Richard, James's father, was working as a Stage Agent. The 29 September 1865 issue of the Staunton Vindicator reports that "office of the Adam's Express Company has been refurbished" and that "company agent, Richard Hawkins, has again taken up business in the old quarters." In 1870 and 1880, respectively, Richard Hawkins's profession is listed as Express Agent and Adams Express Agent. The Adams Express Company was the parent company of the Southern Express Company, the company for which James P. Hawkins worked during the war.

Full Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection includes a bound expense/account notebook of James P. Hawkins, agent of the Southern Express Company, which also contains diary entries from 2 April - 10 April 1865. Also included are a collection of loose pages with Hawkins's diary entries for 11 April - 11 May 1865. Related documents, including special orders, exemption from military service, receipts, Oath of Allegiance, letters (2), envelopes, and a photograph complete the collection.

Arrangement

Hawkins's diaries, bound and unbound, are arranged at the beginning of the collection, followed by the related material, with the unidentified photograph at the end.

Acquisition Information

The James P. Hawkins Papers were purchased by Special Collections in 2004.

Related Materials

See also Holcomb, Julie. America's Civil War, "Confederate Express Agent James P. Hawkins Got Caught Up in the Evacuation of Richmond," May 2003, Vol. 16, Issue 2, page 58.

General Physical Description note

1 container; 0.1 cu. ft.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement and description of the James P. Hawkins Papers commenced and was completed in May, 2008. Additional description was added in November 2011.

Title
A Guide to the James P. Hawkins Papers, 1864-1865
Status
Completed
Author
Jared Camins-Esakov
Date
© 2008 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308