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No restrictions. Open for research.

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Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the James W. Albright Diary and Reminiscences #1008-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Mrs. E. C. Chambers of Asheville, N.C., in 1945.

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The 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.

• Albright family.
• Albright, James W., 1835-1913.
• Confederate States of America. Army--Military life.
• Confederate States of America. Army--Officers--Diaries.
• Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Artillery, 12th.
• Diaries (Blank-books)
• German Americans--North Carolina--History.
• Greensboro (N.C.)--History--19th century.
• North Carolina--Genealogy.
• North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Peninsular Campaign, 1862.
• Petersburg (Va.)--History--19th century.
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate.
• Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Wilmington (N.C.)--History--19th century.

Born in 1835, James W. Albright spent his early years in Greensboro and Mount Airy, N. C, where he worked in the newspaper and publishing business. In 1856, he married Celestia Crowson, who died in 1861, leaving one son. Albright married Mattie S. Purvis of Isle of Wight Co., Va., in 1865. Their daughter Clara (Mrs. E. C. Chambers) is the donor of these books. Albirght enlisted in the army in 1862, and served as an ordnance sergeant with the 12th Virginia Artillery Battalion. After the war, he returned to Greensboro, but in 1892, moved to Asheville, N.C., where he resumed his newspaper work.

Four volumes including typescripts of each. The first two apparently kept during Albright's war service, and the last two compiled at a later date. The diaries and reminiscences are written in great detail, giving particulars as to daily life in the army, companions, living arrangements, etc. His memoirs of childhood contain notes on political, social, religious and business life in Greensboro, North Carolina. Newspaper clippings and other material add to the details.