Family and business correspondence of the Davis family of Virginia and North Carolina and their Virginia relatives. Principal family members are itinerant Methodist minister, Joseph Davis, who travelled on several North Carolina and Virginia circuits; his wife, Anne Turberville Beale Davis; and their children, Robert, Wilbur, John, Olin, and Nannie.

Frequent correspondents include Anne's brother, Richard L. T. Beale, and other Beale family members in Westmoreland County; Anne's Compton relatives, especially A. Compton, in Greenville; her Arnest relatives in Westmoreland County; her Ball relatives in Fairfax County; and Joseph Davis's brother, W. T. Davis, in Petersburg. Scattered business letters appear for Attorney James Thomas, Jr., of Richmond, and for John and William Murphey of Westmoreland County. A few business letters also appear for Robert Beale Davis.

The bulk of the correspondence comprises family and school letters exchanged between 1855 and 1860, while Joseph Davis was president of the Wesleyan Female College in Murfreesboro, N.C., and co-head of the Petersburg Female College, and his sons were attending Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia. Earlier letters are primarily those exchanged by Joseph and Anne while Joseph was travelling, and those received by the Davises from relatives and friends.

Only about 100 items are dated before 1855. Among these are letters written between 1836 and 1838 by Anne T. Beale at Hickory Hill, her family home in Westmoreland County, to her future husband, Joseph Davis, concerning her family; the welfare of Joseph's son, Robert, who remained in her care; and local church news. After marrying in 1838, Anne and Joseph wrote when he was away and she was living with their children in Boydton, Fredericksburg, and later Richmond. Their letters discuss church matters; news of family events, illnesses, births, and deaths; Joseph's travels; and his religious work. His letters frequently describe his attempts to save souls, pastoral visits, conversions, revivals, and camp meetings. Of note is a letter, dated 27 October 1853, in which Davis wrote from Lynchburg describing the results of the conference sessions, a visit from the Bishop, other clergymen attending, and the town of Lynchburg. Joseph also occasionally wrote to his children discussing similar topics during this period. Of interest is a letter he wrote his son on 7 December 1854 about his going to Murfreesboro, N.C., to be head of the Wesleyan Female College, at a salary of $1500 and board for his family.

Many of the remaining early letters are from Richard L. T. Beale, while he studied law at the University of Virginia and after he settled at his home Cabinford in Westmoreland County in the early 1840s. He wrote Anne at Hickory Hill before her marriage and later wrote her and her sons in Raleigh, Boydton, Fredericksburg, and Richmond. Beale often discussed family and neighborhood affairs, including illnesses, deaths, births, visits, camp meetings, and local duels, and frequently mentioned his crops and home affairs. Of note is a letter, dated 3 July 1849, from Richard to Wilbur Davis concerning books and history, and describing Robert Beale, Sr.'s part in the Revolution.

Scattered early letters also appear from Robert Beale, Sr., in Hague, and from various relatives in Fairfax, Westmoreland, and other Virginia counties. These letters provide mostly news of family and religious life, including discussion of revivals, meetings, and other Methodist matters. There are also a few letters between 1849 and 1854 from Robert Beale Davis at Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia.

Between 1855 and the Civil War, there is a large collection of Davis family letters. Mrs. Davis wrote frequently and regularly to her sons while she was living at the Wesleyan Female College in Murfreesboro, N.C., and they were away at Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia. Joseph Davis also occasionally wrote to his sons. Both tell of building and planting projects, revivals, students, and faculty at Wesleyan. These letters also contain parental advice and soul-searching, as well as news of the neighborhood and religious affairs of Murfreesboro. Letters of note are one, dated 6 March 1855, from Joseph Davis to his son, Robert, telling him about missionary work among South Carolina slaves organized by Bishop Capers and the Honorable C. C. Pinckney, and another, dated 5 January 1857, from Anne Davis, giving a detailed and graphic account of a rumored slave insurrection and the fear and unrest attending it around Murfreesboro. The Davis daughters, Olin and Nannie, who both attended Wesleyan, also wrote their brothers concerning life at the school.

The brothers, in turn, wrote home letters rich in information on their respective schools. They described school activities, pranks, courses, examinations, professors, and debates. Several letters of particular note appear. On 28 February 1855, Robert wrote describing his life at the University of Virginia and a Washington's birthday celebration there. In 1856, he wrote describing the dedication of the Hall of the Sons of Temperance, the attempt to get Mr. Thackery to lecture, and the employment of servants at the University. Letters from Wilbur at Randolph-Macon in November 1855 discuss the case of Dr. Deems versus Dr. W. A. Smith. His later letters in 1857 and 1858 discuss the organization of a military company at the college and politics. John W. C. Davis also wrote from Randolph-Macon describing his life there. Of note is a letter, dated 1 November 1858, in which he described the typical routine at the school, giving an hour-by-hour account of his day. Both Wilbur and John wrote later from the University of Virginia concerning the political unrest sweeping the area.

Other letters appear from Beale, Compton, Arnest, Davis, Ball, and other relatives, and from Methodist acquaintances of the Davises. Topics include politics (especially in letters the Davises exchanged with Richard Beale), missionary work, church affairs, and family news. Richard L. T. Beale often wrote between 1858 and 1860 concerning Know-Nothingism, the court system of Virginia, and the secession crisis. Robert Beale Davis returned to Murfreesboro in 1856; he began practicing law with Richard Beale in 1857. His letters to his family often discuss politics. Other correspondents of note are A. Compton of Greenville, who wrote most frequently concerning Methodist affairs, and W. T. Davis of Petersburg, who wrote concerning family and church affairs.

Scattered business letters appearing between 1855 and 1860 are from tobacco factors to James Thomas, Jr., of Richmond, and from factors to John and William Murphey of Westmoreland County. The Murpheys were cousins of Anne Davis. A few business letters also appear for Robert Beale Davis in 1858, concerning the sale of wooden rails at Murfreesboro.

Letters of Robert Beale Davis and Wilbur Davis just before the outbreak of war and of John W. C. Davis while he was serving in the Confederate Army. Letters for 1861 discuss secession, the formation and drilling of the Potomac Rifles and other Virginia companies, the procurement of arms, and family news. Correspondents include Anne T. Davis, S. C. Brickenstein, and Captain C. Dimmock of the Armory of Virginia. Anne Davis wrote most frequently concerning politics around Charlottesville and family. Of note is an undated letter to her son John concerning his military prospects and the military activities of Robert and Wilbur. Also of special interest is a letter of 16 January 1861 from S. C. Brickenstein, a law student in Baltimore, to Robert Davis, which addresses his studies, political happenings in the city, Maryland's peculiar position in the secession crisis, the Crittenden Amendment, and slavery.

Two letters were written by John W. C. Davis while he was a member of the Topographical Engineers. The first, dated 9 December 1864, from Camp Brick Church near Wytheville, describes his life in camp to his mother. The second, dated 6 January 1865, was written from Camp at Olive Branch Church to his sister Nannie. It discusses the possibility that Wilbur might join him in the Engineers and describes neighborhood responses to his company.

Chiefly family letters the Davises exchanged with each other and relatives, discussing family, farming, teaching, church, and social activities. Letters also appear from friends and fellow Methodists, and business letters appear for John W. C. Davis. In the early years of this period, about an equal number of letters appear for Joseph, Anne, Wilbur, John, and Olin Davis; beginning in the mid-1870s, the bulk of the letters are those of John W. C. Davis.

Family correspondents include Davis cousins in Petersburg and at the University of Virginia, Compton cousins in Greenville, and members of the family of Ella (Mrs. Wilbur F.) Davis. Numerous letters appear to John W. C. Davis from his friend, John T. Humphreys, in Lynchburg and in Hickory, N.C.

Topics in the family letters immediately following the war include miscellaneous business affairs, the scarcity of money, reading clubs, debating, music, and women's fashions. In 1867, letters begin to appear from the family of Ella Davis in Clifton, Va. Most of these are addressed to Olin Davis and discuss family news and mutual friends.

Letters written by Anne and Joseph Davis from Hickory Hill to their children throughout the 1870s typically give news of their farming, crops, and household activities, as well as of church and other religious affairs. Letters the Davises received from John and Wilbur provide news of Wilbur's teaching activities in Farmville and Fredericksburg in the late 1860s; John's position at the University of Virginia in the early 1870s and at A & M College in Blacksburg in 1873 and 1874; and Wilbur's teaching in Union, W.Va., in 1875. John and Wilbur also wrote concerning family and telling of events in their respective locations. Of interest is a letter, dated 16 October 1870, in which John described events in Charlottesville upon the death of General Robert E. Lee. Also of note is a letter from Wilbur of 24 February 1871 describing a great Methodist revival in Lynchburg. Later letters for this year discuss the closing down of private schools upon the arrival of Free Schools. Letters Joseph Davis received from fellow Methodists discuss mostly the affairs of the church and Methodist doctrine.

From the mid- to late 1870s, the bulk of the correspondence is that of John W. C. Davis. He received letters from friends and colleagues and from his students and frequently corresponded with school officials throughout Virginia and other southern states seeking teaching positions. Of interest is a letter of 4 July 1873 from W. H. F. Lee on the need in Virginia for a practical agricultural and engineering school. Several letters appear between 1873 and 1875 pertaining to Davis's efforts to help develop Virginia A & M College (now Virginia Polytechnic Institute) in Blacksburg. Davis also received frequent letters from a number of friends, especially John T. Humphreys, who were interested in geology and natural science. Humphreys wrote regularly from Lynchburg in the early 1870s and later from Hickory, N.C., in the late 1870s, concerning field trips they planned together, scientific experiments he was conducting, and other geological, agricultural, and mineralogical matters. He also often wrote concerning his family and other personal affairs.

Only 15 items appear between 1880 and 1896. They include letters of Robert H. Beale, who married Nannie Davis; Anne Davis; John W. C. Davis; James Thomas, Jr.; and Robbie. Most of the letters received by Robert Beale concern his finances. Of note is a letter, dated 17 August 1886, to Robert from his wife, who, anticipating her death, wrote him her last wishes. Anne Davis received several letters from her sister, Anna, concerning church affairs in Petersburg and sicknesses in the family. The correspondence of John W. C. Davis includes discussion of his farm affairs, genealogy, and Virginia Methodist conference affairs. One letter appears in 1882 to James Thomas, Jr., and pertains to items he had ordered. One letter also appears in 1889 for "Robbie" in Greenville from "Sallie," discussing personal matters.

Letters, mostly antebellum, of Anne and Joseph Davis; their children, Robert, Wilbur, John, and Olin; and other Davis family members and friends.

Letters received by Anne Davis from her friend R. A. Wingfield; her nephew, A. H. Compton, and Marie Compton in Greenville; her husband in King and Queen County, Virginia; and her niece, Emily A. Arnest, at Nomony Hall, all focus on family news, chiefly of illnesses, deaths, and births.

Three letters appear for Joseph Davis, all from his wife, who wrote from Richmond and Murfreesboro concerning her uneasiness over him in his travels, news of their children and household affairs, and affairs of the Wesleyan Female College. Of note is a letter, dated 30 November 185?, in which Mrs. Davis expresses discomfort over a spontaneously organized group of women holding an emotional prayer meeting at the college.

Letters received by Robert Beale Davis are from Robert Crawford of Eutaw, Ala.; his sister Olin in Murfreesboro; his cousin Mary Beale; his mother in Petersburg; M. Dulaney Ball in Williamsburg; and John F. Dent in St. Mary's County, Md. Both Crawford and Dent wrote concerning business; Ball wrote giving news of school expulsions at William and Mary. Davis's sister and mother most often mentioned news of family and friends and discussed happenings at Wesleyan Female College and Petersburg Female College.

While a student at Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia, Wilbur F. Davis received letters from his mother, his sister, Olin, and Lizzie Davis, probably a cousin. Lizzie wrote concerning her teaching in a girl's school in Petersburg and mutual friends. Mrs. Davis and Olin wrote describing religious and social affairs at Wesleyan Female College and concerning family.

John W. C. Davis received family letters while a student at the University of Virginia and several business letters while he later taught there. His sisters, Olin and Nannie, wrote from Wesleyan Female College and from Petersburg discussing their school affairs, teachers, and fellow students. Business letters discuss the election of professors at the University and the welfare of students. A fragment of a letter appears from Davis's friend, John Humphreys, who wrote concerning scientific experiments in which he was interested and his family. One letter appears from John W. C. Davis to Messrs. Stockpole & Bro. pertaining to scientific instruments he had ordered.

Letters from Anne and Joseph Davis to their sons discuss mostly family and school. One letter from Wilbur to one of his brothers also discusses family and the Wesleyan Female College.

Two letters appear to Olin Davis, one from an unidentified woman in Ashland, Va., and another from her sister-in-law, Ella Davis, in Farmville, Va. Both discuss news of family and friends.

Miscellaneous correspondence appears for members of the Davis family and relatives of Ella Davis. Family is the topic of the bulk of the letters. Letters appear from Dora in Clifton to her brother; from Anne in Southampton City to her sister; from Eugene to his sister; and from Mary L. in Finedowery to Ella in Farmville. Miscellaneous letters appear from Selby & Dulaney to James A. Davis in Hague, Va., and from William Arnold to George Murphey.

Diary, in two volumes, of Anne Davis, wife of Methodist minister, Joseph Davis. First begun in Raleigh, N.C., Davis's diary contains entries for every year between June 1838 and January 1883, except 1847, 1854, 1856, 1858, 1860-1861, and 1865-1872. Volume 1 contains 170 pages dated between 1838-1859 and 1873-1883. Volume 2, 121 pages, contains diary entries for 1862-1864, a brief memoir of her life, and entries made by her husband.

The diary is fullest for the years 1838-1840, with monthly or more frequent entries for that period; after 1840, only one to seven entries appear per year. Locations at which Davis kept the diary include Raleigh, Gates County, Murfreesboro, and New Bern, N.C., and Fredericksburg, Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk, and Westmoreland County, Va. Entries between 1873 and 1883 were made while the Davises were living at Hickory Hill in Westmoreland County. The diary contains mostly religious meditations and retrospective accounts of each year's major events. It occasionally notes the whereabouts of her husband, mentions the births of her children and visits she made, and gives her thoughts on sermons, the Methodist church, and camp meetings. Of note in Volume 1 are an "account of my convictions," dated 1851, and her description of a dream she had in 1853. Three enclosures to this volume are poems: one by her son, Robert, entitled "A Dirge," on the death of a young student at Wesleyan Female College; one by M. A. Brown entitled "The Happiest Time"; and another anonymous poem entitled "The Parted Spirit."

Volume 2 contains entries for 1862-1864 (6 pages, hand copied from the original by her son Wilbur) and Davis's memoirs (22 pages) written in 1880 and 1881. Also appearing in this volume are memoirs penned by her husband, Joseph Davis, an index he kept, notes he took on religious readings, and genealogical notes. One enclosure is a page of genealogical notes on the Davis family. Anne Davis's memoirs demonstrate clearly the difficult life of an itinerant minister's wife.

Pocket diaries of Joseph H. Davis, itinerant Methodist minister in North Carolina and Virginia, covering the years between 1855-1859 and 1864-1877. The diaries appear in seventeen volumes (Volumes 3-19), and contain almost daily entries concerning Davis's ministry, his personal life, and farm notes. Also appearing in the diary are agricultural, household, and ecclesiastical accounts. The volumes range from 48 pages (Volume 3) to 403 pages (Volume 15) in length, but average about 150-170 pages.

The diary opens with Davis beginning new duties as president of Wesleyan Female College in Murfreesboro, N.C., where he remained for four years. During these years (covered in Volumes 3-7), he wrote most frequently concerning the students and faculty at Wesleyan, his preaching, conference news, and the health of his family. Volume 8 recounts Davis's experiences as a preacher in western Virginia around Charlottesville in the last days of the Civil War and in the year following the war. This volume also contains a register of marriages Davis performed in Virginia and North Carolina between 1838 and 1854. According to the diary, after the war, Davis and his family moved to Hickory Hill, formerly the home of Anne Davis's parents, in Westmoreland County. The diary after 1866 deals with church affairs, annual conferences, details of farming, the education of his daughters, his health, and neighborhood news. Between 1865 and 1877, Davis ministered to churches near his home except for 1874 and 1875, when he served the East Norfolk Circuit. He often recorded baptisms and conversions of community members, identifying them by race.

Enclosures to the diaries are mostly newspaper clippings and accounts. Topics covered in the clippings include the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Know Nothings, use of the Wesleyan Female College lawn by the public, the financial woes of Rutherford College in North Carolina, and obituaries. Accounts are for church monies collected, travel expenses, groceries, and sundries. Of interest is a broadside, dated 24 August 1858, announcing "A Plan For the Establishment of Conference Depositories and for the Augmentation of the Capital of the Publishing House."

Diary, in two volumes, in which Robert B. Davis recorded his thoughts while a student at the University of Virginia and later while practicing law in Westmoreland County.

Volume 20 (43 pages) is dated between 18 February 1856 and 27 December 1857. It discusses details of Davis's school work, reports conversations he had with professors, and describes his friends and schoolmates, the weather, visits he made, and his future plans. Volume 20 is fullest for the period between 18 February and 31 March 1856, when Davis made almost daily entries. After falling ill in April, he made only sporadic entries. Three entries, dated 6 January, 4 October, and 27 December, appear for 1857.

Volume 21 (134 pages), maintained between 7 October 1857 and 7 March 1860, contains entries Davis made as a student and later while reading and practicing law under his uncle, Richard Beale, in Westmoreland County, Va. The diary begins with Davis's lecture notes (70 pages) from Professor John Minor's law class. Personal entries describing his reading, his amusements, and his legal experiences begin on page 72 and appear regularly between 2 August 1858 and 7 March 1860. Pages 129-130 are genealogical notes Davis made on the Beale family. The enclosure is a page of undated notes on a tribute to J. B. Hayes, first president of the "W. M. S. of the S. M. Church."

Daily diary of John Davis, kept while farming at Hickory Hill, near Hague, Va., between January 1881 and July 1913. The years 1903, 1909, and 1912 are missing from the eleven-volume diary (Volumes 22-42). Entries include a record of Davis's farm activities and accounts, notes on the weather, mention of trips, and brief discussion of events in the life of his family.

The approximately 200 enclosures appearing from Davis's diary are chiefly accounts of crops sold, sundries and publications purchased, travel expenses, and his financial dealings with local millers, merchants and others, especially his sister Nannie and her husband, Robert H. Beale. Other financial records include loan notes and receipts. A few clippings, mostly of a political nature, appear. Enclosures are dated 1874, 1880, 1884-1885, 1890-1899, 1901-1908, 1910-1911, and 1920. There are also undated enclosures.

Volumes 43-53 contain the diary of Nannie Davis Beale, widow of Robert H. Beale. The diary, kept at Sunnyside, near Hague, Va., provides details of her housekeeping, farming, visiting, entertaining, and church work. It also records the comings and goings of her children and other family members. Her two sons were away at Randolph-Macon College in the first years of the diary. Household and farm accounts appear in several volumes. Volume 47 contains a record of poultry and eggs.

Enclosures to the volumes, dated 1912, 1915, 1933, and undated, consist mostly of accounts for travel expenses, poultry, groceries, and clothing. Of note is an account of monies "Collected for Female Fund by L. A. Society of Carmel Church"; Nannie Beale was treasurer of the L. A. Society. Other enclosures include bills, receipts, and miscellaneous items pertaining to church committees and boards. Of interest is an undated broadside on the Marvin Grove District Training School of Henderson Church.