See also UPA Microfilm:

MF 5735, Series B, Reels 11-12

J. P. Knox and Family Papers

(Mss. 715)

Inventory

Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections

Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library

Louisiana State University Libraries

Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University

Reformatted 2007

Contents of Inventory

Biographical/Historical Note	4
Scope and Content Note	4
Collection Description(s)	5-7
Index Terms	8
Container List	9

Use of manuscript materials. If you wish to examine items in the manuscript group, please fill out a call slip specifying the materials you wish to see. Consult the Container List for location information needed on the call slip.

Photocopying. Should you wish to request photocopies, please consult a staff member. The existing order and arrangement of unbound materials must be maintained.

Publication. Readers assume full responsibility for compliance with laws regarding copyright, literary property rights, and libel.

Permission to examine archival materials does not constitute permission to publish. Any publication of such materials beyond the limits of fair use requires specific prior written permission. Requests for permission to publish should be addressed in writing to the Head, Public Services, Special Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-3300. When permission to publish is granted, two copies of the publication will be requested for the LLMVC.

Proper acknowledgement of LLMVC materials must be made in any resulting writing or publications. The correct form of citation for this manuscript group is given on the summary page. Copies of scholarly publications based on research in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections are welcomed.

Summary

Size.	928 items, 9 volumes

Geographic locations.	East Feliciana Parish, La.; New Orleans, La.; Hammond, La.; Baton Rouge, La.; Vicksburg, Miss.; Jamaica; Cuba; Costa Rica

Inclusive dates.	1851-1921

Bulk dates.	N/A

Language.	English

Summary.	Personal and business papers of the J. P. Knox family of Clinton, East Feliciana Parish, owners of the Clinton Brick and Tile Company and the East Louisiana Land Investment Company, including Civil War and World War I letters.

Organization.	Arranged chronologically

Restrictions on access.	If microfilm is available, photocopies must be made from microfilm. Theodore Roosevelt letter (December 5, 1898) restricted. Copy available E:26, box 4.

Related collections.	N/A

Copyright.	Copyright of the original materials is retained by descendants of the creators in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Citation.	J. P. Knox Family Papers, Mss. 715, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La.

Stack location(s).	E:25-26; Vault:1, Box H-M

Also available on:	Microfilm 5735, Series B, Reels 11-12 Omission: Papers 1870-1921, Vols., Printed Matter

Biographical/Historical Note

The Knox family resided in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish, La., where they grew cotton and owned the Clinton Brick and Tile Company and the East Louisiana Land Investment Company.

Family members include Mrs. Amelia E. Alspaugh, her son Granville L. Alspaugh, her daughter Gertrude Alspaugh Knox, who married J.P. Knox. Gertrude Alspaugh and J.P. Knox had two children, Robert Granville Knox and Gertrude Knox. Miss Elise Walker is the daughter of Gertrude Knox and R. Flournoy Walker, of Clinton, La.

Scope and Content Note

Personal and business papers reflect Knox family activities in Clinton, La., including their ownership of the Clinton Brick and Tile Co. and the East Louisiana Land Investment Co.

Letters (1861-1863) of Granville L. Alspaugh to his mother, Amelia E. Alspaugh of Clinton, La., describe his service in the Confederate Army at Vicksburg. Knox family letters and papers (1851-1893) reflect social, personal, and business matters including the sale of cotton through factors in New Orleans and the settlement of J.P. Knox's estate.

Letters of Robert Granville Knox (1890-1899) describe his time as a student at Louisiana State University, his partnership in a drugstore in Hammond, La., and his departure to Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Cuba. In Cuba, he participated in the Spanish American War, joining Roosevelt's Rough Riders. A letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Knox is included.

Letters (1900-1921) include many written to Miss Elise Walker, Robert Granville Knox's niece, by soldiers during the First World War. Four photographs portray unidentified family members.

Collection Description

Stack Location	Box	Folder	Date	Contents

E:25	1	1-2	1851-1867	56 items:
				Mostly letters from Granville L. Alspaugh to his mother (Mrs. Amelia E. Alspaugh of Clinton, La.) while in Confederate Army at Vicksburg, describe his life as a soldier; a few miscellaneous items, letters, receipts, etc.; sworn statement by Mrs. Alspaugh that her son was under 18 and had enlisted without her consent and requesting his discharge—request denied by Lt. Gen. Pemberton until term of enlistment ended.

		3	1870-1878	5 items:
				Announcements of balls to be given by Masons of Clinton; a two-sheet description written by [J. P. Knox] in 1878, giving an account of his business condition, theories regarding loans, and conclusion that he had not handled his business in a profitable manner.

		4	1879	207 items:
				205 accounts of sale of cotton for J. P. Knox, mostly by Norwood and Richards, cotton factors of New Orleans—giving number of bales, date received, by what steamer, charges for sale, weight and price per pound as sold (charges for sale include: freight, labor, river insurance, fire insurance, etc.); 2 business letters to Knox.

		5	1880-1889	66 items:
				42 accounts of sale of cotton for J. P. Knox; 10 miscellaneous items; 14 family letters, personal.

E:25	1-2	6-12	1890, 1892-1893	147 items: Approximately 111 personal letters to Robert Granville Knox, including several from him, while a student at LSU and after his return to Clinton; indication that J. P. Knox died in 1893; some indication of events in and near Clinton; several letters regarding estate of J. P. Knox; bookkeeping exercises 1893

	3-4	13-20	1894-1899	195 items:
				Approximately 125 letters to and from R. G. Knox, indicating that he was partner in drugstore in Hammond, La., and was in legal and financial difficulties in business; that he went to Costa Rica and Jamaica thereafter, and finally went to Cuba where he joined Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War—one letter describing his entering Roosevelt’s tent to join and Roosevelt’s reaction; letters to Knox and others regarding attempt to get President McKinley to appoint Knox as an officer in U. S. Army; one letter written and signed [?] by Senator S. D. McEnery regarding Knox’s appointment; copy of letter to Knox from Col. Theodore Roosevelt (December 5, 1898); letter to McKinley on Knox’s behalf signed by John Blair Reiley of New Jersey.

				Miscellaneous letters, bills, accounts, etc., of Mrs. J. P. Knox; contract between Mrs. Knox and Isidore Mayer for him to collect note due her husband.

				Personal letters to Miss Gertrude Knox, sister of Granville, and indication that she married R. F. Walker of Clinton; appointment of R. F. Walker as alderman of Clinton.

	4-5	21-27	1900-1921	150 items:
				Miscellaneous accounts, mostly Mrs. G. A. Knox; bills, letters; several postcards to Miss Elise Walker; invitation to Granville Knox to attend unveiling of statue in Arizona in honor of Rough Riders; approximately 85 letters to Miss Elise Walker from soldiers in World War I.

	5	28-29	undated	100 items:
				Miscellaneous letters, accounts, etc., including accounts of money owed Mrs. G. A. Knox; typewritten manuscript titled “Hapsburg Romances;” two Civil War letters to Mrs. A. E. Alspaugh from her son G. L. Alspaugh.

	6	30	undated	Photographs, 4 unidentified


	6	31		Printed volumes:

				Pamphlet of National Correspondence Institute
				Pamphlet of the Bradstreet Co.
				Charter and By-laws of Mutual Bldg. & Loan Association, St. Francisville.
				Rules of Wesleyan Society of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, 1877.
				Women’s Literary Club, Clinton, La., 1907-1908.
				Bay View Magazine, 1905 and 1909.

	6	--	1902	Manuscript volumes:

				Account Book of Mrs. G. A. Knox with Isidore Mayer, 1902.
				Memorandum Book [1902?]

				Newspapers

				Southern Watchman, Clinton, Feb. 25, 1899—mutilated
				The Columbian, Wilson, Louisiana, Nov. 30, 1899

Index Terms

Alspaugh, Granville L., 1845-1863.

Cotton trade--Louisiana--New Orleans.

Clinton (La.)--Social life and customs.

East Feliciana Parish (La.)

Knox, Robert Granville.

Knox, J. P., d. 1893

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College--Students.

Photoprints.

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.

Spanish-American War, 1898--Campaigns--Cuba.

United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 1st.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate.

Vicksburg (Miss.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.

Container List

Stack Location	Box	Folder(s)	Contents (with dates)

E:25	1	1-7	1851, 1860-1892

	2	8-12	1893

	3	13-18	1894-1897

E:26	4	19-24	1898-1917

	5	25-29	1918-1921

	6	--	Photographs (undated); Printed items (1877, 1905-1909, undated); Manuscript volumes (ca. 1902)

Vault 1	H-M		Theodore Roosevelt letter, Dec.5, 1898


MF:5735, Series B	--	Reels 11-12	Omission: Papers 1870-1921, Vols., Printed Matter