19 November 1850

Higgins, Ann L., fl. 1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her brother Tobias Gibson

Louisiana, Tobias' wife, is ill. Ann tried to get a minister to visit Louisiana, but she refused to see him. She also discusses a man whose fiancee made him switch churches.

GLC04501.061

28 November 1850

Cartwright, Samuel, fl. 1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Gibson

Mr. Gibson's daughter (in Lexington) is ill with either pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs. Dr. Cartwright prescribes cough drops and " bleeding, cold air, thin clothing, cold water & cooling things . . . ."

GLC04501.062

17 July 1851

Wallace, L.P., fl. 1851

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah L. Gibson

He is glad to hear that Sarah is feeling better. He suggests that she needs more recreation and exercise.

GLC04501.064

13 July 1852

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Preston Gibson

He urges Preston to do something with his life. Writes that uncle William is ill, his daughter Loula has worms, and Hart and Claude are on their way home. He concludes by commenting on the pageantry of Mr. Clay's funeral.

GLC04501.067

January 15, 1853

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Discusses plantation business. They are still digging ditches in an attempt to make the place healthier. He discusses the debates concerning the annexation of Cuba. Sarah will soon have to make a decision between J.H. (Joseph Humphreys) and T.G.R. (perhaps another suitor for Sarah). Her father will not interfere as he thinks both would make a good match.

GLC04501.068

11 October 1853

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph A. Humphreys

He has decided to stay in Lexington for a while. Sarah (Gibson Humphreys) writes the second page of the letter and teases her husband about being away from home.

GLC04501.071

November 1853

Humphreys, Sarah Gibson, fl. 1853

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her father Tobias Gibson

The date of the letter is taken from the docket. Writes that Loula is doing much better. Sarah discusses the visitors she entertained last week. Reports Mat Ward was arrested for murder. At first he was placed in a debtor's cell but a mob demanded that he be moved to a criminal cell and placed in chains. She does not think he will hang because his family is rich and influential.

GLC04501.072

13 February 1854

Rowlands, Alfred, fl. 1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Receipt for purchase of Frank, an enslaved man]

One receipt belonging to Alfred A. Rowlands for the amount of $1,250 to purchase an enslaved man, Frank from Rowlands. Docket indicates Frank was sold as property by Tobias Gibson on behalf of his daughter, Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys.

GLC04501.073

30 December 1855

Gibson, Hart, fl. 1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Sarah Gibson

The first letter is written by Hart Gibson. He informs his sister of his progress in school. He writes about the family and his displeasure with President elect Polk. He also reports that Miss Webster, Toby and Claude's old teacher, has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for helping enslaved people seek refuge. Writes, "You recollect the young lady Claudy and Toby went to school to last sumer and (Miss Webster) she has been tried by the Court for carrying off negroes to the free States found guilty and sentenced to the Penitentiary for two years Some of the people tried to get the…

GLC04501.075

September 1866

Carpenter & Mullen Magnolia Gallery

Photograph

Title: Carte de visite [Gibson family]

Image of McKinley Gibson, Louisiana Hart Gibson, Maria (Ridie) Tevis, and Margaret Howard Preston playing backgammon. The circular pattern on Ms. Preston's dress has been drawn with ink.

GLC04501.078

31 October 1856

Breckenridge, W.L., fl. 1856

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

The "Old Lady's" health has improved but her memory is slipping. He thinks his trip to Texas has greatly improved his health.

GLC04501.079

1 September 1857

Miller, Eliza, fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to her brother Tobias Gibson]

Recipient is inferred from content of the letter. Eliza describes her stay at the Battery Hotel and hopes that such resorts in the South will prevent Southerners from going north "in search of pleasure or comfort."

GLC04501.083

14 December 1857

Higgins, R., fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Tobias Gibson]

Announces that he has married Ann. He encourages Tobias to remarry after the death of Louisiana Gibson (see GLC04501.100).

GLC04501.084

15 August 1858

Slaughter, Atticus, fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Tobias] Gibson

He writes about his wife Virginia and plantation business.

GLC04501.086

7 October 1858

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

Writes that he has just arrived and that both the cash crop and the provision crops are doing well. He wishes he could bring surplus hands from Sumners Forest to Live Oak to help with the sugar grinding. He feels guilty about leaving Loula and Hart with her since she has children of her own. The letter is continued on October 8th.

GLC04501.087

25 July 1860 to 29 July 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: Journal entries

Journal entries taken from a book. The first leaf appears to be journal or diary entries from Blue Lick Springs. It contains information about the weather, news about various people, and illness. Second leaf dated April 30th (no year) contains a listing of clothes for Loula Gibson and Lucy [Humphreys]. A section dated January 4, 1863 contains a listing of beverages consumed, mostly port wine and brandy.

GLC04501.090

12 October 1856

Gibson, John McKinley, fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Gibson

A letter written at school which discusses the strictness of his instructor, asks for an allowance, declares that he neither smokes nor swears, and asks his father for permission to talk to girls.

GLC04501.098

20 February 1871

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

A melancholy letter discussing the difficulty of running a profitable plantation. Tobias worries over his children and his failings. He mentions the death of his wife, 20 years ago to the day. He writes of another woman he fell in love with after Louisiana died: "we were everything to each other but the nuptial ceremony . . . ." but "we do not correspond, but I hear occasionally of her."

GLC04501.100

29 March circa 1840

Humphreys, Sarah, fl. 1830-1840

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph A. Humphreys

Writing to her son, she recounts the family's experiences in the city. Her daughters have attended so many parties they are running out of clothes. She wishes for a lock of her son's hair to make a bracelet. Writes that she has been to see "Daguerre's celebrated chemical pictures [Dioramas] from Paris, (oil paintings) in which, by modifying the light upon the picture, are exhibited two entirely distinct representations on the same canvas . . . ." She identifies the images as the Monastery of Mount Surrat in Catatonia, St. Eteinne's church at Paris, and the crumbling of mount Rouffiberg…

GLC04501.101

1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson]

Writes to her niece that she is feeling better and sends news of other family members.

GLC04501.102

1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson]

Writes to her niece about family news, particularly concerning a cousin who just married and Nathaniel, who is very ill.

GLC04501.103

1861-1865

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson Humphreys]

He discusses social activities in Lexington. He also instructs Sarah to forward his letters if she and Mr. Humphreys cannot come to Lexington.

GLC04501.104

1861-1865

Humphreys, Marian, ?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sallie

News concerning family members. Contents suggest these are probably Sarah Gibson Humphreys' children. The letter is partly cross-written.

GLC04501.105

24 November 1862

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents and sister

Writes that he and Darius have received money by way of Mrs. Warner, their captain's wife. He reports that General Dumont is issuing a notice in the papers identifying men who have deserted and offering a reward for their return. In response, the regiment voted that "it was justice to proceed in this manner." Wheeler writes that he and Darius are elated that they have their families support.

GLC07460.006

15 March 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry [incomplete]

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says she is sorry she sent her last letter, which reported that Henry's resignation was accepted and that another surgeon was being sent to replace him. Says it is not true. Says Admirals Lee and De Clymer both intervened in Washington to keep the resignation from going through. Wonders where he is and says "how I would like that wonderful trunk of the Danish storyteller Anderson to carry me to China and in ... the Wyoming." Says their father is still anxious about his resignation and that he would "just [be] throwing away what is most valuable, a…

GLC03523.21.52