Sangster Papers (MS294)
Content Description
The letters in this collection center around the children and family of Edward Ford Sangster (1802-1883) an Alexandria resident, and his wife Mary Kendall Lee of the Ditchly Lees. Their children; John ( Jack ), Tom, James ( Jim ), Virginia Lee ( sister ) and Mary Edward ( "Puss" ) are all represented in the correspondence. William Wallace Bennett was the fiance, and later, husband of Virginia Lee. Many of Bennett's earlier letters deal with church matters and his impending marriage to Virginia Lee. There are a number of Civil War letters in the collection. A letter dated 1866 to Bennett and several other ministers from Varina Davis on behalf of her imprisoned husband is also included. There are several letters involving Daniel and F.E. Lee, and Sally Ford, all of whom were Sangster cousins. The University Account Book of John Sangster, dated 1856-1859 and listing expenses, weather and classes is placed in a separate series.
Dates
- 1853-1891
Biographical / Historical
The letters are arranged in chronological order from 1853 to 1891 with undated copies placed at the end. While most of the letters are written to, or by Virginia Sangster Bennett, there is also other correspondence between her brothers John, James and Thomas as well as Mary Edward Sangster, their sister. John and Thomas were killed during the War. The third brother, James, survived and later became a judge in the county court.
William Wallace Bennett (1821-1887) was a noted Methodist Episcopal South minister as well as president of Randolph - Macon College from 1877 until 1886. Bennett served as a chaplain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was in England purchasing Bibles for the troops at the end of the war. He and Virginia Lee Sangster were married in 1855.
Extent
.21 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is organized into five series. Series I, William Bennett and Virginia Sangster Bennett Correspondence, focuses on the correspondence between William Wallace Bennett and Virginia Lee Sangster from courtship to parenthood and documents William's time as a chaplain during the Civil War. Series II, Sangster Family Letters, holds all correspondence between the immediate Sangster family belonging to Edward and Mary Sangster. Series III, Mary Edward "Puss" Sangster Letters, are a series of letters written to Puss Sangster, as she was known by all. The majority of this series were written by cousins, though there are some correspondence with Maj. S. B. Brewer, approving Puss to be a clerk in the new Confederate Administration. Series IV, Miscellaneous Letters, holds all letters written by or to people outside the Sangster family. Series V, John Hancock Lee Sangster Notebook, holds a single folder with a single notebook belonging to Jack Sangster during his time at the University of Virginia in the late 1850s.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Elizabeth R. Cannon, 1994-1995
- Title
- Sangster Papers Finding Aid
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library Repository