Charles Doe Correspondence,
Scope and Content
The collection consists of two letters written by Doe to his family in Maine in 1850. Both were penned in Danville, Virginia, when Doe was traveling to the South. Each letter is around three pages in length.
The first is an eyewitness account of how the US Congress goes about their debates. References Congressmen Toombs, Webster, Clay, and Cass. It includes the quote "I imagine it will take some time for me to get used to these negroes. I would not mind a few, but everybody must have so many around them, that it requires some tact to more without stepping on them. I don't like to see them work. They move as if they had rheumatism in every joint."
The second is a description of church culture in Danville. It mentions churches of the following denominations: Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian, describing the physical arrangement of the church as women in front, men on the sides, and negroes in the gallery. Doe also relays that morning preaching is generally for whites and afternoon for blacks. He mentions there is a lack of free schooling and describes most people as ignorant and claims Virginia is "as far behind as any state" he has seen.
Dates
- Creation: 1850 - 1850
Creator
- Doe, Charles, 1830-1896 (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Charles Doe Correspondence must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Biographical Information
Charles Doe was born in Derry, New Hampshire, in April 1830. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he went on to practice law in Dover, New Hampshire. He served as Solicitor for Strafford County, and later as an assistant clerk to the New Hampshire State Senate (1853-1854). In 1859, he was appointed as a justice to the New Hampshire Supreme Judicial Court. The court was dissolved briefly during 1874 and 1875, but upon the creation of the State Supreme Court in 1876, Doe was reappointed, this time as Chief Justice. He remained Chief Justice until his death in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, in 1896.
Full Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection contains two letters by Charles Doe, future Chief Justice of New Hampshire. Written to his parents in Maine in 1850, Doe's letters detail his travels and observations in Virginia.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
Acquisition Information
The Charles Doe Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections in June 2010.
General Physical Description note
1 folder; 0.1 cu. ft.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Charles Doe Correspondence commenced and was completed in July 2010.
- Title
- A Guide to the Charles Doe Correspondence, 1850
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Josh Howard
- Date
- © 2010 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
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu