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Size | 32.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 26,000 items) |
Abstract | Matt W. Ransom (1826-1904) was a lawyer; planter; state official; Confederate general; Redeemer; Democratic United States senator from North Carolina, 1872-1895; and United States minister to Mexico, 1895-1897. The collection includes materials, chiefly post-Civil War, relating to Matt W. Ransom. Correspondence, chiefly 1868-1904, relates to the political, economic, and racial aspects of Reconstruction in North Carolina, particularly the railroad industry machinations of George William Swepson; to Ransom's plantations in northeastern North Carolina, particularly in regard to cotton marketing and labor; to national and state party politics, 1868-1904; and to Ransom's diplomatic service in Mexico. Much of the collection consists of Ransom's papers as a senator, including correspondence with politicians and constituents covering most of the major issues of the time: race relations; federal actions affecting southern agriculture and industry, including the tariff, the debate over silver-backed currency, and agrarian unrest; women's suffrage; and many others. Correspondents include Susan B. Anthony, Sallie Clay Bennett, Grover Cleveland, Sallie Southall Cotten, F. M. Simmons, George William Swepson, Zebulon B. Vance, Garland H. White, and H. G. Williams. Also included are papers relating to a variety of family and business concerns. Material on Ransom's Civil War career and the first three years of Reconstruction is relatively slight, and there is no material related to his pre-war political career. |
Creator | Ransom, Matt W. (Matt Whitaker), 1826-1904. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: SHC Staff
Reprocessed by: Jessica Sedgwick, May 2009
Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007; updated by Jessica Sedgwick, May 2009
Updated by: Laura Hart, January 2021
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Matthew Whitaker Ransom (1826-1904) was a lawyer, planter, state official, Confederate general, Redeemer, Democratic United States senator from North Carolina, and minister to Mexico. Born on 8 October 1826 in Warren County, N.C., to Robert and Priscilla Whitaker Ransom, Ransom was brother to General Robert Ransom and cousin to fellow Confederate officer Wharton J. Green. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1847, Ransom went on to serve as the North Carolina Attorney General and as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. He married Martha "Pattie" Anne Exum in 1853 and moved to her family's plantation, Verona, on the Roanoke River near Weldon, N.C. In 1861, he served as one of the three commissioners selected by the North Carolina state legislature to visit the Confederate convention at Montgomery, Ala. Ransom was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st North Carolina Infantry, later served as colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry, and was ultimately promoted to brigadier general in 1863. Ransom fought in the battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Plymouth, Weldon, Suffolk, and the siege of Petersburg, finally surrendering at Appomattox. In 1866, Ransom moved back to Weldon, N.C., and resumed work as a planter and lawyer. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1872, succeeding Zebulon B. Vance, and served until 1895. He was then appointed United States Ambassador to Mexico and served from 1895-1897. Ransom retired in 1897 and returned to private life and farming at his estate, where he died on 8 October 1904.
Back to TopThe collection includes materials, chiefly post-Civil War, relating to Matt W. Ransom. Correspondence, chiefly 1868-1904, relates to the political, economic, and racial aspects of Reconstruction in North Carolina, particularly the railroad industry machinations of George William Swepson; to Ransom's plantations in northeastern North Carolina, particularly in regard to cotton marketing and labor; to national and state party politics, 1868-1904; and to Ransom's diplomatic service in Mexico. Much of the collection consists of Ransom's papers as a senator, including correspondence with politicians and constituents covering most of the major issues of the time: race relations; federal actions affecting southern agriculture and industry, including the tariff, the debate over silver-backed currency, and agrarian unrest; women's suffrage; and many others. Correspondents include Susan B. Anthony, Sallie Clay Bennett, Grover Cleveland, Sallie Southall Cotten, F. M. Simmons, George William Swepson, Zebulon B. Vance, Garland H. White, and H. G. Williams. Also included are papers relating to a variety of family and business concerns. Material on Ransom's Civil War career and the first three years of Reconstruction is relatively slight, and there is no material related to his pre-war political career.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Folder 1-4
Folder 1Folder 2Folder 3Folder 4 |
Correspondence and related materials, 1845-1869Early materials include deeds; Civil War letters from Matt W. Ransom to his wife, Martha "Pattie" Exum Ransom; and other items. Later letters relate to farming and business, with a few 1869 letters from George William Swepson. |
Folder 5-13b |
Correspondence, 1870-1875Topics include plantation news, senate bills, and railroad business. There are letters from Matt W. Ransom to his wife and children while in the Senate that describe feelings between the North and the South, letters of congratulations to Matt Ransom on his speech in defense of the South, and letters from Matt Ransom Jr. while in college at Lexington, Va., describing college life there. A number of the 1870-1871 letters relate to railroad fraud committed by George William Swepson, treasurer of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad and president of the western division of the Western North Carolina Railroad. Of note are a letter of 3 December 1873 from Jennie [last name not included] of Asheville, N.C., commenting on local politics, especially Asheville's Republican representation and local officials who were advocating for another war; a letter of 29 June 1874 from William Cawthorne in Philadelphia, Pa., commenting on differences between his reception as an African American at all-white Good Templar lodges in Philadelphia and in North Carolina; and a 10 December 1975 letter from former slave and former Union Army Chaplain Garland H. White, requesting that Pierce Lafayette, an African American Democratic preacher, be appointed police officer in Washington, D.C. |
Folder 14a-19 |
Correspondence, 1876-1877Includes letters from family and friends on political events, plantation news, and the price of cotton. There are also some June 1876 letters from Zebulon B. Vance regarding criticisms of Vance. |
Folder 20-51
Folder 20Folder 21Folder 22Folder 23Folder 24Folder 25Folder 26Folder 27Folder 28Folder 29Folder 30Folder 31Folder 32Folder 33Folder 34Folder 35Folder 36Folder 37Folder 38Folder 39Folder 40Folder 41Folder 42Folder 43Folder 44Folder 45Folder 46Folder 47Folder 48Folder 49Folder 50Folder 51 |
Correspondence, 1878-1879Topics include depression in business, the tariff question, pension bills, railroad business, and Senate reports. There are also letters from Robert Ransom on college life at the University of North Carolina and from Matt Ransom Jr. on crop conditions. |
Folder 52-151
Folder 52Folder 53Folder 54Folder 55Folder 56Folder 57Folder 58Folder 59Folder 60Folder 61Folder 62Folder 63Folder 64Folder 65Folder 66Folder 67Folder 68Folder 69Folder 70Folder 71Folder 72Folder 73Folder 74Folder 75Folder 76Folder 77Folder 78Folder 79Folder 80Folder 81Folder 82Folder 83Folder 84Folder 85Folder 86Folder 87Folder 88Folder 89Folder 90Folder 91Folder 92Folder 93Folder 94Folder 95Folder 96Folder 97Folder 98Folder 99Folder 100Folder 101Folder 102Folder 103Folder 104Folder 105Folder 106Folder 107Folder 108Folder 109Folder 110Folder 111Folder 112Folder 113Folder 114Folder 115Folder 116Folder 117Folder 118Folder 119Folder 120Folder 121Folder 122Folder 123Folder 124Folder 125Folder 126Folder 127Folder 128Folder 129Folder 130Folder 131Folder 132Folder 133Folder 134Folder 135Folder 136Folder 137Folder 138Folder 139Folder 140Folder 141Folder 142Folder 143Folder 144Folder 145Folder 146Folder 147Folder 148Folder 149Folder 150Folder 151 |
Correspondence, 1880-1885Includes family letters, petitions to Congress, and topics such as river and harbor bills, the condition of state education, the dedication of the New Oxford Orphan Home, the success of the Democratic Party, and Ransom's re-election to the Senate. There are also letters from Matt W. Ransom to his son advising on managing the farm. 1884-1885 correspondence also includes family letters on plantation news, price and sales of cotton, the election of Grover Cleveland, the oyster industry in North Carolina, the death of Ulysses S. Grant, the rice industry, improving the lower Mississippi River, and tobacco and brandy taxes. |
Folder 152-175
Folder 152Folder 153Folder 154Folder 155Folder 156Folder 157Folder 158Folder 159Folder 160Folder 161Folder 162Folder 163Folder 164Folder 165Folder 166Folder 167Folder 168Folder 169Folder 170Folder 171Folder 172Folder 173Folder 174Folder 175 |
Correspondence, 1886Topics include the debate over silver-backed currency, an act to incorporate an American college for the blind, and bills regarding the sale of artificial butter. |
Folder 176-196
Folder 176Folder 177Folder 178Folder 179Folder 180Folder 181Folder 182Folder 183Folder 184Folder 185Folder 186Folder 187Folder 188Folder 189Folder 190Folder 191Folder 192Folder 193Folder 194Folder 195Folder 196 |
Correspondence, 1887Topics include abuse of the Internal Revenue System, an appeal for women's suffrage in America by Sallie Clay Bennett, a bill to remove the tax upon trade and commerce between the United States and Canada, a visit to North Carolina by President Grover Cleveland, and political discord among various North Carolina counties. Also included are many requests to Matt W. Ransom for political influence. Includes a letter of 16 May from A. M. Noble of Johnston County, N.C., expressing outrage that the Democratic administration had not removed an African American mail agent serving on the Greensboro to Goldsboro route. |
Folder 197-234
Folder 197Folder 198Folder 199Folder 200Folder 201Folder 202Folder 203Folder 204Folder 205Folder 206Folder 207Folder 208Folder 209Folder 210Folder 211Folder 212Folder 213Folder 214Folder 215Folder 216Folder 217Folder 218Folder 219Folder 220Folder 221Folder 222Folder 223Folder 224Folder 225Folder 226Folder 227Folder 228Folder 229Folder 230Folder 231Folder 232Folder 233Folder 234 |
Correspondence, 1888Topics include the value and condition of the mica industry in North Carolina, the building up of North Carolina ports, pension cases, state election, the crash of the State National Bank, the tariff question, prohibition, stock law, labor, the Farmer's Alliance and Industrial Union, and Grover Cleveland's defeat in the presidential race. There are also requests for Matt W. Ransom to make political speeches and a letter from W. M. Grant describing life in Alaska. |
Folder 235-250
Folder 235Folder 236Folder 237Folder 238Folder 239Folder 240Folder 241Folder 242Folder 243Folder 244Folder 245Folder 246Folder 247Folder 248Folder 249Folder 250 |
Correspondence, 1889There are many letters congratulating Ransom on his re-election to United States Senate and requests for favors, as well as letters that discuss changes under the Benjamin Harrison administration and the struggling money market. |
Folder 251-292
Folder 251Folder 252Folder 253Folder 254Folder 255Folder 256Folder 257Folder 258Folder 259Folder 260Folder 261Folder 262Folder 263Folder 264Folder 265Folder 266Folder 267Folder 268Folder 269Folder 270Folder 271Folder 272Folder 273Folder 274Folder 275Folder 276Folder 277Folder 278Folder 279Folder 280Folder 281Folder 282Folder 283Folder 284Folder 285Folder 286Folder 287Folder 288Folder 289Folder 290Folder 291Folder 292 |
Correspondence, 1890-1892Topics include the plantation life, references to Leonidas Polk and the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, the early history of the Democratic Party, references to the life and character of North Carolina Governor D. S. Reid, the struggles of cotton growers, the death of General Robert Ransom, and the debate regarding women's suffrage and its effect upon the North and the South. There is also a letter of 3 February 1892 from Susan B. Anthony, sending a questionnaire to get Matt W. Ransom's opinion on women's suffrage, and a 4 June 1891 letter from F. S. Faison of Garysburg, N.C., notifying Ransom that "the opposition" would be holding a meeting, at which several African Americans were going to speak, and asking if Ransom would join them in "capturing the meeting." Includes a handwritten formula for making guano written by John Ramsay dated 7 January 1882. |
Folder 293-402
Folder 293Folder 294Folder 295Folder 296Folder 297Folder 298Folder 299Folder 300Folder 301Folder 302Folder 303Folder 304Folder 305Folder 306Folder 307Folder 308Folder 309Folder 310Folder 311Folder 312Folder 313Folder 314Folder 315Folder 316Folder 317Folder 318Folder 319Folder 320Folder 321Folder 322Folder 323Folder 324Folder 325Folder 326Folder 327Folder 328Folder 329Folder 330Folder 331Folder 332Folder 333Folder 334Folder 335Folder 336Folder 337Folder 338Folder 339Folder 340Folder 341Folder 342Folder 343Folder 344Folder 345Folder 346Folder 347Folder 348Folder 349Folder 350Folder 351Folder 352Folder 353Folder 354Folder 355Folder 356Folder 357Folder 358Folder 359Folder 360Folder 361Folder 362Folder 363Folder 364Folder 365Folder 366Folder 367Folder 368Folder 369Folder 370Folder 371Folder 372Folder 373Folder 374Folder 375Folder 376Folder 377Folder 378Folder 379Folder 380Folder 381Folder 382Folder 383Folder 384Folder 385Folder 386Folder 387Folder 388Folder 389Folder 390Folder 391Folder 392Folder 393Folder 394Folder 395Folder 396Folder 397Folder 398Folder 399Folder 400Folder 401Folder 402 |
Correspondence, 1893Topics include the presidential re-election of Grover Cleveland (including a letter from Cleveland, 26 February 1893), the value and growth of cotton mills in North Carolina, Egyptian cotton seeds, farm activities, the cotton market, complaints about African American postmasters, the value of income tax, the debate over silver-backed currency, comments from J. S. Carr on the desperate financial situation in North Carolina, fears that Farmers' Alliance members would vote for the People's Party, and the beet sugar industry in America. Of note is a 3 November letter from Garland H. White of Alexandria, Va., a former slave and former Union Army chaplain, describing his work with the Democratic Party and requesting to confer with Matt W. Ransom on organizing local African American Democrats following the next election. |
Folder 403-472
Folder 403Folder 404Folder 405Folder 406Folder 407Folder 408Folder 409Folder 410Folder 411Folder 412Folder 413Folder 414Folder 415Folder 416Folder 417Folder 418Folder 419Folder 420Folder 421Folder 422Folder 423Folder 424Folder 425Folder 426Folder 427Folder 428Folder 429Folder 430Folder 431Folder 432Folder 433Folder 434Folder 435Folder 436Folder 437Folder 438Folder 439Folder 440Folder 441Folder 442Folder 443Folder 444Folder 445Folder 446Folder 447Folder 448Folder 449Folder 450Folder 451Folder 452Folder 453Folder 454Folder 455Folder 456Folder 457Folder 458Folder 459Folder 460Folder 461Folder 462Folder 463Folder 464Folder 465Folder 466Folder 467Folder 468Folder 469Folder 470Folder 471Folder 472 |
Correspondence, 1894-1895Includes an appeal from Sallie Southall Cotten to Matt W. Ransom to aid the Virginia Dare Association in establishing a national school for girls in Raleigh, N.C.; an account of the death of Senator Zebulon B. Vance; Ransom's Senate race and defeat; the political tide among African Americans in North Carolina; and Ransom's appointment as minister to Mexico. |
Folder 675 |
Correspondence, 1895Includes several letters (some photostat copies) regarding Matt W. Ransom's salary as minister to Mexico. |
Folder 473-480
Folder 473Folder 474Folder 475Folder 476Folder 477Folder 478Folder 479Folder 480 |
Correspondence, 1896Topics include Matt W. Ransom's work as minister to Mexico; the Ransom family's mortgages, debts, and sales of land; and the death of Tom Ransom. |
Folder 481-485
Folder 481Folder 482Folder 483Folder 484Folder 485 |
Correspondence, 1897-1898Topics include the conduct of African Americans on the plantation and references to issues between the United States and Spain. There are also letters from Matt Ransom Jr. from Hot Springs, Ark. |
Folder 486-496
Folder 486Folder 487Folder 488Folder 489Folder 490Folder 491Folder 492Folder 493Folder 494Folder 495Folder 496 |
Correspondence, 1899-1900Includes reports on the cotton market and requests for Ransom's support for J. S. Carr in his race for United States Senate. |
Folder 497-508
Folder 497Folder 498Folder 499Folder 500Folder 501Folder 502Folder 503Folder 504Folder 505Folder 506Folder 507Folder 508 |
Correspondence, 1901-1905Topics include claim settlements, finances, Whitaker family genealogy, Matt Ransom Jr.'s appointment as delegate to the Farmer's National Congress in Niagara Falls, and Theodore Roosevelt's presidential nomination. There are also comments on politics, especially in North Carolina, from F. M. Simmons and H. G. Williams. 1904 correspondence also relates to Matt W. Ransom's death. |
Folder 509-510
Folder 509Folder 510 |
Correspondence, 1906-1914Includes letters from Matt W. Ransom's wife, Martha "Pattie" Exum Ransom, to their children and other materials regarding the settlement of debts and Ransom's estate. |
Folder 511-549b |
Correspondence and related items: Undated |
Folder 550-586
Folder 550Folder 551Folder 552Folder 553Folder 554Folder 555Folder 556Folder 557Folder 558Folder 559Folder 560Folder 561Folder 562Folder 563Folder 564Folder 565Folder 566Folder 567Folder 568Folder 569Folder 570Folder 571Folder 572Folder 573Folder 574Folder 575Folder 576Folder 577Folder 578Folder 579Folder 580Folder 581Folder 582Folder 583Folder 584Folder 585Folder 586 |
Printed matter |
Folder 587-662
Folder 587Folder 588Folder 589Folder 590Folder 591Folder 592Folder 593Folder 594Folder 595Folder 596Folder 597Folder 598Folder 599Folder 600Folder 601Folder 602Folder 603Folder 604Folder 605Folder 606Folder 607Folder 608Folder 609Folder 610Folder 611Folder 612Folder 613Folder 614Folder 615Folder 616Folder 617Folder 618Folder 619Folder 620Folder 621Folder 622Folder 623Folder 624Folder 625Folder 626Folder 627Folder 628Folder 629Folder 630Folder 631Folder 632Folder 633Folder 634Folder 635Folder 636Folder 637Folder 638Folder 639Folder 640Folder 641Folder 642Folder 643Folder 644Folder 645Folder 646Folder 647Folder 648Folder 649Folder 650Folder 651Folder 652Folder 653Folder 654Folder 655Folder 656Folder 657Folder 658Folder 659Folder 660Folder 661Folder 662 |
Bills and receipts |
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-2615/1 |
Matt W. Ransom's presidential pardon for his involvement in the Confederate Army signed by Andrew Johnson, 13 December 1866 |
Folder 663-674, 676 |
Other papersIncludes newspaper clippings; congressional records, 1879-1886; a small notebook of scattered notes; an 1880 plantation ledger; and an article by C. A. Upchurch regarding Matt W. Ransom's appointment as minister to Mexico. The contents of folder 673, which is labeled "1895 Addition," are missing. |