Contents
of Inventory
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Size.
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14 linear ft., 27 v.
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Geographic
locations.
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Louisiana, Southern States, Northeastern States, West (U.S.), Washington
D. C., Wisconsin, Great
Britain, Alaska, Korea, France,
Germany, Italy.
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Inclusive
dates.
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1812, 1826-2000
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Bulk
dates.
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1885-1983
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Languages.
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English
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Summary.
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Collection is comprised
primarily of correspondence, but also includes financial papers, legal
documents, printed items, photographs, diaries, notebooks, ledgers of five
generations of the Ellis family of Tangipahoa Parish, La.; a family of
educators, lawyers, and public officials.
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Arrangement.
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Subgroups arranged
chronologically within series.
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Related
collections.
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E. John, Thomas C. W. Ellis and
Family Papers, Mss. 136; E. P. Ellis and Family Papers, Mss. 663; John
Hamilton and Harriet Boyd Ellis Papers, Mss. 4092; William H. Ellis Papers,
Mss. 2274.
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Access.
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No restrictions.
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Copyright.
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Physical rights are retained by
the LSU Libraries. Copyright of the
original materials is retained by descendants of the creators of the
materials in accordance with U.S.
copyright law.
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Citation.
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Buck-Ellis Family Papers, Mss.
4820, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Stack
location
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16:1-14, J:27, OS:B
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The
Ellis family of Tangipahoa Parish,
La. was a prominent family of
lawyers, judges, politicians, planters, and clergymen. Ezekiel Parke Ellis (1807-1884) was born in Columbia County, Ga.,
to John and Sarah Johnston Ellis. As a
young man, he moved to St. Tammany Parish, La.,
where he taught school and studied law in the office of Judge Thomas Cargill
Warner, the first territorial judge of present day St. Tammany and Washington
parishes. Ellis began practicing law in Covington, La.,
after his marriage in 1831 to Tabitha Emily Warner, daughter of Judge Warner.
Ezekiel Parke relocated first to a plantation south of Clinton,
La. in 1847, and then to Amite, La.,
where he practiced law until he was elected judge of the Sixth Judicial
District in 1869, a position he held until 1873. He and Tabitha had six children, Thomas
Cargill Warner (1836-1918), Ezekiel John (1840-1889), Stephen Dudley
(1845-1926), Emily Margaret “Mag” (1848-1916), Ellen
Olivia “Ollie” (1852-1873) and Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” (1842-1927), wife of
Rev. John A. Ellis of Hattiesburg, Miss.
Ezekiel Parke’s three sons were all lawyers.
Thomas served as judge of the Civil District Court in New Orleans; Ezekiel held seats in the
Louisiana State Senate and the U. S. Congress; and Stephen Dudley served on the
Louisiana State Court of Appeals. Thomas
and Ezekiel also served as officers in the Civil War. Several of Ezekiel Parke’s
descendents continued in the legal profession and public life.
Martina
Hamilton Ellis Buck (1898-1996), great granddaughter of Ezekiel Park Ellis, was
an educator in Tangipahoa Parish,
La. After graduating from Newcomb College,
New Orleans, in 1920, she taught at Hammond High School
in Hammond, La.
Martina later accepted a position as a history professor at Southeastern University
in Hammond, La.
She married Carroll Buck (1893-1975), a practicing attorney in Amite, La. Carroll also served as state assistant
attorney general to Bolivar R. Kemp, Jr., 1948-1952, and as second assistant to
Fred LeBlanc, 1952-1956. He was named
special assistant to Attorney General Jack Gremillion
in 1956, and in 1960, he was appointed Gremillion’s
top aide.
The papers are divided
into two subgroups: the Ellis family papers and the Martina and Carroll Buck
papers.
Ellis
family papers (1812, 1826-1987) are comprised almost entirely of personal
correspondence relating to daily activities, politics, health, religion, employment,
military service, education and travel of five generations of Ellis family
members. Other material includes
financial papers, legal documents, speeches and lectures related to the study
of law, printed items, account books, diaries, inventories, notebooks, court
logbook, family scrapbook and minute books of United Daughters of the
Confederacy, Blue Cross Chapter.
The
Martina and Carroll Buck papers (1922-2000) consist primarily of personal
correspondence from family and friends, but include some professional
correspondence, mostly that of Carroll Buck.
Papers also contain personal and professional papers, newspaper
clippings, family photographs, and an account book for the Church of the
Incarnation Sunday School.
LIST OF SUBGROUPS, SERIES AND SUBSERIES
Subgroup 1. Ellis Family Papers,
1812, 1826-1973
I. Correspondence, 1812, 1826-1969
II. Financial
papers, 1837-1959, n.d.
III. Legal documents, 1837-1941, n.d.
V. Lectures and speeches, 1857-1907, 1961 n.d.
V. Printed items and graphic material, ca.
1860-1969, n.d..
VI. Personal papers, 1831-1973, n.d.
Subgroup 2. Martina and Carroll Buck papers, 1904-2000
I. Correspondence, 1941-2000
1. Personal correspondence, 1941-2000
2. Professional correspondence, 1939-1976
II. Professional papers, 1922-1970, n.d.
III. Personal papers, 1944-1987, n.d.
IV. Printed items and graphic material, 1904-1989, n.d.
VI. Manuscript volume, 1949-1956
Subgroup 1. Ellis Family Papers,
1812, 1826-1963
Ellis
family papers are comprised primarily of personal correspondence, but also
include some financial, legal, personal papers, along with speeches, lectures,
printed materials, and photographs.
I. Correspondence,
1812, 1826-1969
Personal correspondence comprises the vast majority
of this subgroup. Letters illustrate the
lifestyles, daily activities, travel, social activities, employment, education,
health, and personal affairs of individual family members. Much of the correspondence of the 1930s and 1940s relates to Ellis
family history, and includes the discovery of Thomas C. W. Ellis’ diary (Dec.
6, 1937), information on Colonel C. T. Warner’s land holdings on the Bogue Chitto Bayou (April 13,
1938); and genealogical information from Mississippi
court records (Aug. 4, 1940). Letters of congratulations,
letters of condolence, and love letters between Reverend John A. Ellis and “Lizze” Ellis (1870-1893), and between “Ollie” Ellis Grant
and Bullitt Grant (1894-1900) are also found in this series. A series of
letters (Dec. 4, 1890-April 24, 1893) document the activities and experiences
of "Gessie" Ellis Harrison before her separation from her husband, Willie Harrison, until her suicide in April 1893. Her letters to her father, Rev. John A.
Ellis, reflect the social and financial difficulties she faced as a single
mother at the end of the 19th century. Two letters from Daisy Hodgson give the
options available for the placement of
orphaned children in New Orleans,
La. (June 7, 1910; Aug. 28,
1913).
Of particular interest is
correspondence relating the political environment; race relations; business and
economy; religion; natural disasters; health; travel; military activities; and
student life at Centenary College at Jackson,
La. (1854-1857; Jan. 23, 1867)
and LSU (1917-1918).
Note: The letters in the following
categories are arranged in chronological order within the series.
Political correspondence.
Letters
relating to politics span the entire collection. Early correspondence reveals Rev. John A. Ellis’ [1830-1893] mixed feelings regarding the temperance movement
(Aug. 18, ca. 1844), the political atmosphere in Washington Parish (Oct. 28,
1852), and legislative funding for the College of Louisiana
(Feb. 9, 1855). In a letter (typescript,
no original) to H. E. Randall of New York,
Lord Macaulay of England, discusses the inevitable political and economic downturn
in United States
due to future population growth (May 23, 1857).
Thomas C. W. Ellis [1836-1918] comments that the nation
slighted their choice for president in election of 1856. Many letters written by Thomas C. W. Ellis [1836-1918] and Stephen Dudley Ellis
[1845-1926]
between 1878 and 1900 reflect political environment at the time, particularly
in Louisiana. These letters contain predictions concerning
the outcome of elections, election results, and comment on conventions and
delegates. Charles E. Kennon, while critical of the Radicals, writes at length
the need to attract African-American support for a white government (July 12,
1878). He refers to the new constitution
(July 17, Aug. 26, 1878,) and his support for Maton S. Newsom (Oct. 2, 1878). A group of letters pertains to the constitutional
convention and control of the delegates (Sept. 1879). Thomas mentions the state lottery and discusses
gubernatorial elections, including the race between Murphy Foster and Samuel McEnry (Dec. 15, 17, 1883, Sept. 11, 1885, Nov.-Dec. 1891,
Sept. 11, 1885, March 1892, n. d.: politics), and the race between Jared Young
Sanders and Horace Wilkinson (Sept. 12, 14, 15, Dec. 17, 1907). He also expresses his distrust of the
Radicals (Oct. 26, 1876), commenting on the political threat posed by their vote if combined
with the African-American vote (April
5, 1892). He also comments on the
political appointments of African-Americans by Gov. Nicholls (Nov. 33, 1887,
April 1888). James Moore complains of “reconstructionists”
controlling the Democratic Party and freedmen participating in government
(Sept. 20, 1888). Ezekiel John Ellis (1840-1889) writes to his
brother, Stephen Dudley that local African-Americans are not very political,
and that they were tired of the carpetbaggers (Sept. 30, ca. 1880). Thomas C. W. Ellis writes to his brother,
Stephen Dudley, that the opponents of the lottery must form a ticket of honest
men (Dec. 12, 1891). Correspondence criticizes Grover Cleveland’s
administration, the Democratic Party, and again the Radicals (Sept. 6, 1894). Congressman Samuel M. Robertson comments on
finance legislation (Feb. 11, 1895) and the out of control constitutional
convention (April 15, 1898). U.S. Senator Donelson Caffery
(Dec. 14, 1894) discusses the Democratic Party (March 27, 1896) and William Taft’s
attendance at the dedication of the first Presbyterian Church in the Philippines
(Nov. 8, 1907). J. H. Amacker writes to Thomas C. W. Ellis on the consequences of
the Civil War and how the South suffered (May 27, 1915).
Correspondence also includes a claim that Stephen Dudley pressured
a candidate to withdraw his candidacy for the office of Deputy Surveyor (June
10, 1898). In a letter to C. T. Moise, chairman of the Tangipahoa Parish Executive
Committee, Charles E. Kennon resigns from the
committee in protest to a resolution restricting the nomination of Maton S. Newsom
supporters (n. d.: politics). A letter
to Thomas C. W. Ellis requests his participation at the Arbitration Conference
concerning the Treaty of Arbitration between United States and Great Britain
(Dec. 31, 1903), and another pertains to a the U. S. Supreme Court decision
concerning river navigation (April 17, 1904). Mention is made of the lawlessness (July 20, 1897),
political violence
in Franklinton, La. (April 8, 1899), and crime in Tangipahoa Parish (Sept.
8, 1910).
E. F. Stilley offers his
political support to Robert
Stephen Ellis, Sr. [1871-1945] in exchange for alcohol and money (Aug. 18, 1908). Stephen
Dudley solicits political support for his re-election to the First District
Court of Appeals (Aug. 15, 1914). Olivia
“Ollie” Ellis Grant [187?-1947] refers to a state senatorial race in Texas (Oct. 25, 1911) and a telegram to Robert Stephen
requests his assistance in Edward J. Gay’s senatorial campaign (July 23, 1918). Thomas C. W. Ellis remarks on the defeated
retirement bill, Mexican hostilities, and the military service of Ezekiel and
Hamilton Ellis should war break out (July 3, 1916). There is in addition a letter concerning the
construction of a controversial bridge (June 14, 1926). Robert Stephen Ellis, Jr. [1899-1966] discusses voter turn out in the parishes east of the
Mississippi River in his father’s election (n.d.; politics), and he attempts to convince his father to
withdraw from an election (June 29, 1923).
Frank B. Ellis
[1907-1969] writes of his own victory in
the primary election and praises Sam Jones’ honor and integrity (Feb. 8,
1940). An analysis is made of Frank’s
defeat in 1944 (Jan. 23, 1944), and differences between Adlai Stevenson and
Dwight D. Eisenhower are cited (Dec.
16, 1952).
Racial relations.
Correspondents’ attitudes toward minorities,
particularly African-Americans are reflected in this group (July 21, 18--; July
2, 1890; Jan. 16, May 1891; Feb.1, 26, June 15, 1900; Aug. 10, 1911; May 27, 1915; Nov. 8, 1927; Nov. 10, 1941), along with
comments relative to servants (May 28,
June 4, Oct. 9, 1892; April 9, 1900; May 24, June 3, Aug. 20, 1901; July 11,
1906; Oct. 12, Dec. 3, 1911; Jan. 14, 1928; Sept. 27, 30, 1944; Dec. 16, 1952; n.d.: fragments).
Correspondents also discuss laborers (Oct. 30, 1896; Sept. 2, 1901; May
8, 1903; Feb. 11, 1918), and labor problems (Sept. 21, 1918; Oct. 21, 1899;
April 26, Nov. 25, 1953), and a high rate of unemployment (Nov. 25,
1933). There are several references to “Mammy”, Leda LeShopper,
who was an employee of the Ellis family for many years in the latter 19th
and early 20th centuries.
Other topics mentioned are a Fourth of July celebration
(June 30, 1899), housing conditions (Jan.
14, 1901), a crop failure that devastated tenant farmers (Jan. 12, 1912), Additionally,
there is a request for housing and
medical assistance for a indigent, elderly woman (Oct. 12, 1936) and report on
the financial assistance given to “Mr. Belsy” (Oct.
21, 1936). Letters mention the lack of school bus transportation for
African-American children (Sept. 27, 1944), and the government should limit the
public dole (Dec. 16, 1952). Charlie
Palmer writes to his mother, Maud, stating his personal views on race relations
(May 15, 1955). A letter to Stephen
Dudley Ellis reports that African-Americans are not very political and they
tire of the Carpetbaggers (n .d.: politics-Sept.
30). Of particular interest is a
letter detailing the circumstances surrounding the murder of an African-American man (Aug. 4, 1900).
Also related to African-Americans is the
participation of African-American volunteers during a yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans (Oct. 5, 1898), support in the Democratic Party
to promote white supremacy (April 16, 1896), and the mention of an
African-American character in a vaudeville act (Nov. 2, 1911). A letter signed “Indian Girl” request her
family history (Feb. 3, 1909), and another refers to the interesting tales of a
speaker at an Indian Affairs conference in New York (Nov. 9, 1911). Hamilton Ellis [1894-1971] remarks that African-Americans
are interested in buying “Zeke’s” guitar (Feb. 12, 1917). Ezekiel Parke Ellis [1897-1979] tells of the African-American
soldiers in camp (Jan. 11, Aug. 19, 1917), and he describes the different musical styles heard from the
African-American barracks and the barracks of the white soldiers (Feb. 27,
1919). In Civil War letters, Ezekiel John Ellis mentions slaves singing in the fields at Chickamauga (April 21,
1863), and he sends his greetings to the slaves at home (Aug. 3, 1863).
Business and economy.
Correspondence discusses poor crop production and crop failure (May 25,
Oct. 28, 1852; Jan. 12, 1912; Oct. 11, 1915); production of paper (July 13,
1886; Jan. 26, 1887), cultivation and marketing of ramie (April 6, 1885), hemp
and livestock (May 13, 14, Sept 1887, Sept. 1907), and logging (Jan. 16, 1913).
In a letter to Ezekiel Parke Ellis
(1807-1884), his
brother Stephen Ellis writes of career possibilities in Louisiana
and Texas
(Feb. 24, 1850). Other correspondence discusses economic conditions
in Louisiana (April 7, 1879) and Texas (March 21, 1900), gold in Alaska
and California (March 21, 1900; Feb. 24,
1912), Seattle’s
rapid growth (March 20, 1903), and the mining industry (Oct. 27, 1899; April 1,
1905; March 26, 1906; Jan. 3, 1907; June 19, 1908; April 2, 1909). Correspondents
remark on investments in oil stocks and fields (July-Aug. Oct. 3, 1901),
discovery of oil by Neches River Oil Co. (Dec. 17,
1901), and an oil lease contract (March 2, 1917). Tom S. Ellis [1870-1944] writes of business opportunities
in Washington State (Oct. 21, 1899),
and comments on a possible labor strike by trainmen (Oct. 8, 1911).
Letters
describe land situated in Amite (Jan.
8, 1914), and discuss timber, land value and the prospect of discovering
oil (March 5, 1916) in the vicinity. References are made to land in the Jackson, Miss., area (May
11, 1917), oil
refinery work in Arkansas (Nov. - Dec. 1921),
oil reclamation (Feb. 17, 1922), and sugarcane farming in Cuba (May 17,
1930). Letters also convey the economic
problems of the Great Depression with references to government assistance to
farmers and high unemployment (Nov. 25, 1933), desperate living conditions in Tickfaw, La. (July 15, 1932), the closure of
Tangipahoa Bank and Trust and women in the workforce (Jan. 8, 1934). Letters also mention the profitability of
stock in the National Biscuit Co. (Jan. 4, Aug. 13, 1937) and Coca Cola (Aug.
13, 1937).
Religion. Correspondence of a religious nature concerns
the Methodist Church and Christian Science. The majority of letters related to the Methodist Church were written between Rev. John A. Ellis [1830-1893]
and his wife, Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie"
Ellis [1885-1893]; they concern Church business
and religious thought. Additionally, a group of letters (1890-1911) by Rev. Hicks Ellis, son of Rev. John A. Ellis, relates to Church affairs and
includes the discipline imposed upon a member of the congregation (June 8,
1891). The majority of letters regarding Christian Science discuss the health
benefits of faith healing (Jan. 29, 1908; April 29, July 30, Aug. - Oct., Dec.
3, 9, 1911; Feb., Oct. 1, Nov, 19, Dec. 21, 1912; Feb. 17, 1913; Feb. 13, 1914;
July 28, 1916; July 23, Aug. 13, 1937; Aug. 19, 1939; July 17, 1946; May 31,
July 4, 1947). A form letter released by Eugene R. Dilworth, of the Christian
Science Committee on Publication, strongly objects to pending legislation in
Congress that would require the administration of silver nitrate to newborns
(March 8, 1934).
Natural disasters. Correspondence
relates news of fires and natural disasters that resulted in loss of life,
property, and travel. These reports
pertain to tornados in East Feliciana (May 22, 1882), Louisiana
and Mississippi (March 14, 1884,April 30, May 18, 1908), hazardous roads and rivers between
Franklin, La.
and Moss Point, Miss.
(Aug. 23, 1889), torrential rains in Meridian, Miss. (May 10, 1900), and flooding in Mandeville, La.
(April 29, 1910; Sept. 15, 1941). Other
accounts regarding widespread flooding include a Mississippi River flood, with
a short account of the evacuation people and livestock (two letters, n.d.: major events), the Texas flood of 1936 (July 4, Oct.
21, 1936), and the use of deforestation as a means of flood control in Honduras
(Feb. 14, 1932). Additionally, letters
report on an earthquake in Virginia (Aug. 15, 16, 1900), fire damage in
Covington, La. (June 13, 1911), hurricane damage near Anahuac, Texas (Aug. 22, Sept.
2, 1915), assistance provided by the Red Cross to storm victims (March 10,
1937), and a
volcanic eruption in Guatemala (Jan.25, 1932). Sara Ellis [d. 1940] tells
of a storm and its accompanying waterspout causing considerable damage (n.d.: major events). Also within this group is a form letter
by Amite Methodist
Church soliciting aid for tornado
victims in Amite (June 8, 1940), and comments on fires in Maine prompting evacuation preparations
(Dec. 16, 1947).
Health.
Most correspondents refer to their own health or that of family members. Many write detailed accounts of physical
ailments, symptoms and treatments. They
report on births, deaths, and illnesses, frequently mentioning fevers, colds,
pneumonia, grippe, boils and asthma.
Correspondence related to major illnesses or epidemics include comments
on yellow fever (n.d.: health; June 3, 1887, Oct. 5, 1898; Sept.
9, Dec. 21, 1905; Aug. 5, 1906), travel in a quarantined area (Sept. 19, Oct.
4, 1898), and Dr. Thomas C. W. Ellis’ [1868-1940] assignment to the government
quarantine service (July 16, July 17, Aug. 16, 1904).
Mention is also made of small pox (Feb. 20, March 21, 1900;
Oct. 19, 1901), typhoid
fever (Feb. 29, 1857; March 5, 1882; Oct. 11, 1905; May 23, 1907; May 24, 1943;
n.d.: health) and typhoid vaccinations (Sept. 7, 1918;
May 1, 1940; n.d.: health[My darling Nin]). Correspondents also comment on malaria (Oct. 1,
1904; May 23, 1907; June 17, 1911; Dec. 10, 1916; Aug. 5, 1918; July 3, 1927; Sept.
18, 1928; n.d.: disease[My dear Cousin Lizzie]; n.d.: disease[My dear Teene]);
scarlet fever (March 21, 1900; July 20, 1901; Sept. 5, 1907), leprosy (June 23,
1911), and influenza (1918-1919, Feb. 4,
1925). Letters talk of a child’s
tonsillectomy and his recovery (April 18, 1908), rickets (n.d.:
health), and a case of the measles (April 1, May 6, 1857; n.d.: fragments-July 8).
Letters
concerning illness among military troops during World War I (Sept.-Oct., Nov. 27, 29, Dec. 4,
1918; Feb. 16, 1920) tell of the high incidence of illness at Camp Beauregard,
the presence of disease at other camps, strictly enforced quarantines, and a
description of life under quarantine at Camp Beauregard
(Jan. 13, 1919). Letters also refer to flu epidemics in New
Orleans, Lafayette, and twenty cases among cadets at LSU (Jan. 1, 14, 1919, n.d.:
health), and travel restrictions due to quarantines (n.d.:
health; n.d.: fragments).
Several Ellis family members visited hot springs for health
reasons. Their letters depict the
scenery of Blue Ridge Springs, Va.,
(July-Sept.1880), and they praise the health benefits of the hot springs.
They write about Crockett Springs, Va. (July 24, 1900), Browns Wells (July 29, 1896; Sept.
28, 1901), and Cooper’s Wells, Miss.
(Aug. 2, 4, 1903) among others (July 23, 1904, Aug. 14, 18, 1911). Josie Chamberlain Ellis [d. 1912] details medical treatment
available at the Alma Springs Sanitarium, Mich.
(June 22, Aug. 28, 1903) and Galbraith
Springs, Tenn. (June
22, 1908).
Travel.
Members of the Ellis family traveled extensively for pleasure and
employment. Rev. John A. Ellis describes Goliad,
Texas and its residents (Aug 4,
1855). Others describe the sights of
Washington D. C. (Sept. 19, 1882) and its vicinity (March 18, 21, 1885), trips to Williamsburg, Va. and Jamestown (Aug.
17, 1935), Central Park, N. Y. (June
12, 1872), the Niagara River and Niagara Falls
(Sept. 21, 1901), and New York City
(March 10, 1898; n.d.: travel[My
precious Nin]).
Gessie Ellis Harrison depicts the mountains surrounding Jamestown,
Colo. (Sept. 9, 1891) and the vicinity of Colorado Springs, Colo.
(Sept. 10, 1905). Additionally, letters
describe Opelousas, La.
(Oct. 11, 1900), Ashbury Park,
N.J. (n.d.: travel
[Dear Teene]), and York Village,
Maine, and the recent return of a Navy ship
from the Philippines
(Sept. 16, 1900),. Letters also recount Christmas Day
in Covington, La.
(Dec. 29, 1900) and Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Feb. 19, 1901). Areas described in these letters include Tacoma, Wash. (March 26,
1906), Sparta, Wis.
(Sept. 15, 1910), Little Rock, Ark.
and surrounding scenery (July 15, 1906), and the landscape between Memphis and Little
Rock (July 7, 1906).
A letter details a visit to Mandeville,
La. and a nearby Catholic school
for deaf children (Oct. 4, 1911). A
series of letters from Alaska describe Anchorage (Dec. 8, 1953),
fishing and hiking in the Alaskan wilderness (May-June 1954).
Several family members wrote of their experiences and observations
while traveling overseas. Correspondence from Honduras
reflects family life, social activities, travel, and depict of landscape
(1927-1932). Comments are also made on
the banana industry (July 5, 1927) and crime (Aug. 24, 1928) in Honduras. Martina Hamilton Ellis [1898-1996] gives an account of steamboat
passage across the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to Honduras (July
23, 1928).
Correspondence
recounts travel in Europe (July 21, 1902) seeing members of the royal family (July 7, 1936), visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle
(n.d.: travel[Dear Aunt
Ollie and Uncle Bullitt]). A set of letters (June-Aug. 1953) report on traveling aboard a
French passenger ship, the English countryside, and bombed-out areas near St. Paul’s Cathedral. The writer recounts her trips to Rome and France,
with comments on cultural differences and the French view of the Eisenhower
administration. Letter to Maud Ellis describes the food and surroundings aboard
a cargo ship (March 3, 1953). Robert Ellis Palmer [b.
ca. 1931]
relates his impression of commercial air flight, and he tells of his travels in
England, Italy, France
(July 1957); and another series of letters gives details on accommodations,
landscape and people of Wales
and Scotland
(July-Aug. 1963). Noteworthy is a
letter by Ezekiel John Ellis depicting the serene beauty of the landscape at Chickamauga, Ga.
(April 21, 1863).
Military activities.
Most of the Civil War letters are those of Ezekiel John Ellis (1840-1889). He reports on the lack of Confederate
reinforcements and the probability of a military engagement with General
William Rosecrans’ army; he remarks on General
Bragg’s character, the disrespect shown towards the general by some officers,
and he blames the scarcity of military provisions on poor Army’s poor
management practices (April
6, 1863). He later informs his mother
that a Confederate force of 75, 000 men will face Rosencrans,
and believes the general’s defeat will convince the North to quit the war. He goes on to speak of Southern supporters
and an anti-war movement in the North. This letter also reports on the death of
many Confederate prisoners in Union prisons, the contribution to the war effort
by the ladies of Atlanta,
and details the cost of his clothing (April 21, 1863). In addition, Ezekiel tells of cotton
speculators, military engagements, and the growth of the Confederate navy (Aug.
3, 1863); he
reports on the news of fellow soldiers and a sense of isolation at Johnson Island, Ohio
(Dec. 29, 1864).
Other Civil War letters tell of the despair felt
among the troops over the capture of New
Orleans, anger over conscription, and illnesses
suffered by the soldiers (April 24, 1862).
Stephen Dudley Ellis writes of camp life, his duties, illness among the
soldiers and the stoppage of mail into camp by Gen. Beauregard (April 14,
1862). A Franklinton, La. merchant lists medicine he offers for
sale (Oct. 17, 1862).
Bolivar
Edwards writes to Ezekiel John Ellis, from Fort Delaware
prison, about the inexplicable release of all imprisoned Confederate surgeons
(Aug. 7, 1864).
Much of the 1917-1919 correspondence relates to World War
I. News of the war effort, military
assignments, military life, and medical conditions of soldiers is related by
soldiers or by their family members. Letters pertain to John Hamilton (1894-1971) and Ezekiel Parke (b. 1897) training for war (April 9, 1917),
sewing bandages for the Red Cross (April 27, 1917), the passage of the
conscription bill and the desire to enlist (April 27, May 2, 1917). John Emerson [1868-1939], who served on the draft board,
comments on an impending draft bill (Aug. 7, 1918) shortage of building
materials and possibility of having roadwork considered a war measure (May 17,
1917). References are made to the Naval
Academy (July 29, 1917),
high cost of goods and conservation of supplies (Aug. 19, 1917, Dec. 17,
1917). Hamilton
describes the physical condition of a wounded soldier and camp life at Camp Beauregard
(Nov. 12, Nov.
29, 1917), and he later notifies the Ellis family of his deployment over seas
(July 30, 1918). An American diplomat depicts life in Paris, France
during WWI, regarding air raids, living arrangements, scarcity of food, as well
as art and historical sights (July 19, 1918). Hamilton Ellis writes to Sara
Ellis informing her of military censors (Oct. 12, 1918), and cadets relate
concerns about health, academics, and social activities (1918-1919). “Lil” writes to “Nin" of the
sorrow caused by the war
(Nov. 26, 1918).
World War II correspondence expresses concern and apprehension over the political situation in Europe, military service, labor shortages, daily
activities, and the war and its duration.
Myra Ellis writes of increased production at the defense plant and the evacuation of children (Jan. 4, Feb.
4, 1942); she later writes that she left home due to an increase in military
activity in the area (Feb. 22, 1942). Myra also
relays news regarding the destruction of Naples,
Italy during the invasion (March 6, 1944), and an attack on
a U. S. naval ship in Europe (Aug. 9, 1944). “Lil” writes to
Ollie Ellis Grant from Florida
that a torpedo hit tanker and in the same letter comments on the difficulty in
finding servants because, most women are doing defense work (April 12, 1942). Tom S. Ellis [1870-1944] comments on military engagements with the Japanese and their military strength
(Jan. 30, Feb. 17, March 16, 1943, Jan. 24, 1945). Marguerite Ellis writes of her concern about the war (n.d.:
major events).
Other letters from men in military service reflect wartime
and peacetime experiences. Leslie Black, Dick Ellis and Steve Ellis write letters from the Pacific
recounting their duties and observations. Steve also gives a description of the
Philippines shortly after
its liberation from the Japanese, and he tells of two priests who were held as
prisoners of war by the Japanese (March 27, 1945) He also describes the
civilians and condition of buildings in Yokohama,
Japan (Sept.
30, 1945). Dugie Palmer details camp life, military
training, job assignments, and leisure activities while in basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif. and serving in Alaska (May –July
1953). He also strongly objects to a
published article criticizing the condition of the troops and their
vulnerability to Russian attack (Feb. 8, 1954)
II. Financial
papers, 1837-1959, n.d.
Financial
papers relating to the personal finances and expenditures of several Ellis
family members consist of receipts for groceries, sundries, property taxes,
school tuition, services, lodging, reading material, and payments on personal
debts. Two receipts issued by the Parish
of New Orleans for the registration of Martina Virginia Ellis’ birth (May 22,
1878) and Olivia “Ollie” Ellis to C. Bullitt Grant’s marriage (April 1,
1898). Other items include voter
registration and poll tax receipts (1923-1925), promissory notes, bank drafts,
statements of account, and two stock certificates for Fluker
Realty Co. (Aug. 10, 1915). Additionally, there are receipts for pine timber
transported (Dec. 1955-Jan. 1956).
III. Legal documents, 1837-1941, n.d.
Legal
papers concern the sale and transfer of land located in Ashley County, Ark.
(Sept. 24, 1852), Rankin County, Miss. (May 22, 1891), Tangipahoa Parish (May
10, June 4, 1874; July 21, 1922; Feb. 21 1825; Sept. 18, 1930), a lease to the
Central Light and Power Co., Ltd. (Sept. 7, 1923), and transferred of the right
of way to Illinois Central Railroad (May 15, 1941). Documents contain marriage
certificates of Stephen D. Ellis and Amanda Davis, (Oct. 17, 1876), Thomas C.
W. Ellis, Jr. and Lucy Cothran (May 9, 1893), and
Colquhoun Bullitt Grant and Olivia “Ollie” Ellis (March 24, 1898). A well water contract (April 10, 1886) is
accompanied by a petition filed in the 18th Judicial District Court
claiming the contract was breached (Aug. 17, 1886). Papers also relate to the disputed election
between Ezekiel P. Ellis and W. B. Kemp for 6th Judicial District
Court judgeship (April 19, 1873), the contested succession of Sarah and Simon
C. Bankston of Tangipahoa Parish (July 20, 1877) and
the succession of T. C. W. Ellis, Sr. (July 8, 1912; Nov. 21, 1919); as well as
voters’ registration for T. C. W. Ellis (May 1899); military induction order
for Ezekiel Parke Ellis (Sept. 1, 1918); affidavits and briefs regarding
delinquent tax debt (n.d.) and seizure and sale of
property (n.d.). Additionally, there is a note signed
by Dr. Thomas. C. W. Ellis transferring the custody of his sons, Hamilton and
Ezekiel, to his sister, Sara Ellis (Dec. 27, 1907). Certificates issued to Stephen D. Ellis upon
his election as District Attorney (1879) and as a justice on the Third District
Court of Appeals (1907-1920) are also included.
IV. Lectures and
speeches, 1857-1907, 1961 n.d.
This
series contains class lectures, drafts of speeches and religious sermons
(1899-1903, n.d).
A lecture by Professor Roselino defines a
legal contract, including a description of those individuals excluded from
contracting (Jan. 25, 1857). Lectures
delivered by Thomas C. W. Ellis at Tulane University, Law Dept. discuss
international law (1899-1903) and the jurisdiction of the federal courts (March
5, 1900). E. John Ellis wrote a paper on
the effects of Confederate currency on contracts and business transactions
after the war (March 9, 18--). The speeches discuss the dedication of a
Confederate monument (n.d.), rationale behind the
growth of slavery in the Southern States (Camp Moore, fall 1907), endorsement
of a system of spillways to supplement the levee system (n.d.),
necessity and practicality educating Southern women in the post-war era (n.d.), and the historical basis of white superiority (n.d.). Also
contained are speech fragments and notes concerning the similar topics. The sermon
“Backsliding” refers to man’s propensity for self-indulgence (n.d.), and in “Choose ye this day that ye will serve,” the
speaker argues that man is responsible for his own actions (n.d.).
V. Printed items and
graphic material, ca. 1860-1969, n.d.
This
series includes newspaper clippings, booklets, brochures, admission tickets,
flyers, currency, illustrations, and photographs. Booklets consist of
By-laws for the Franklinton Lodge, no. 18 (1894) and Amite City Lodge,
no. 130 (May 24, 1894) for Knights of Pythias; Prospectus
of the Hualgayoc Smelting Co. (ca. 1888); and Miniatures
from Paris, a catalog of women’s fashion hats (1899). Items published by
the Christian Science Publishing Society are "The Material So-Called
Gases (1940) and La Ciencia Cristiana – (1940), and Concerning Them Which Are
Asleep, is a publication of the American Tract Society (n.d.). Material of a political nature (1884-1945)
contains handbills, brochures, flyers, slates of candidates related to national
and local elections, issues and the Democratic Party. These items include a presidential address concerning
the Pacific settlement of international disputes (1899); brochures speaking
against U. S.
military buildup (1913) and organized labor (1945?); and the constitution of
the Jackson Democratic League of Louisiana (n.d.). Other material includes a decision made by
Judge Thomas C. W. Ellis in the suit of W. Cucullu
vs. Brakenridge Lumber Co., and a legal brief
presented to the Supreme Court of Louisiana in the suit of Martha B. Warren vs.
Francis T. Copp (1896). Programs (1878-1918); a quarterly statement
of the Citizen’s Bank of Louisiana (Jan. 31, 1906); remedies for various
diseases (n.d); catalog of medical equipment for the
asthmatic (n.d.); and five centavos currency of the
Philippines (194?) comprise the remaining printed items in addition to
handbills and flyers produced by religious and charitable organizations,
petroleum companies, and publishing houses. Newspaper clippings (1906-1945, n.d.) pertain to judicial elections, Ku Klux Klan,
obituaries, announcement, social events, travel, and poetry. Graphic material
is comprised of children’s drawings, sketches of house floor plans and lots,
printed color illustration cutouts, and photographs of mostly unidentified
individuals (ca. 186?-).
VI. Personal
papers, 1831-1973, n.d.
Personal
papers document the lives, history, interests, education, and social background
of the Ellis family. They include church
documents pertaining to the clerical appointments of John A. Ellis (1849-1853),
genealogy of the Hamilton
line of the family, lists of Confederate soldiers and other genealogical
material (n.d.).
Education material (1854-1926, n.d.) consists
of reports cards, certificates, and school assignments. Poetry
concerns (1831-1878, n.d.) romance, religious
convictions, grief, the demise of the South (Jan. 29, 1870), and the plight of
the Confederate soldiers (n.d.). Ephemera
(1853-1946, n.d.) consist of wedding and graduation
invitations, acknowledgements (1881-1946, n.d.) and a
funeral notice for E. John Ellis (1889).
Other material includes rules of the Gun Club (n.d.),
miscellaneous lists of household goods (n.d.),
remedies for typhoid, pneumonia and colds (n.d.), and
non-official election returns (n.d.), and a
chronology of the Methodist Church in Covington
and St. Tammany Parish [typescript] (n.d.). Of particular interest are typescripts of the
diaries kept by Thomas C. W. Ellis and Ezekiel John Ellis and woman’s narrative
account of her experiences, impressions and observations while traveling from
1875 to 1878 throughout the United
States with a husband, a military
surgeon. She describes her daily
activities and places visited during her travels with the army. She gives detailed descriptions of Native
Americans and their customs, ancient Indian ruins, and the landscape. Thomas Ellis’ diary relates his daily
activities as a young man and reflects his political and philosophical thoughts
at the time (1853-1856); several political and philosophical essays accompany
Thomas' diary (1853-1855). The diary of Ezekiel John Ellis documents his
experience as a prisoner of war at Johnson’s Island
during the Civil War (1865).
VII. Manuscript volumes, 1855-1943
Subseries 1.
Account books
|
v. 1
|
1860-1865
|
Account book of Thomas C. W.
Ellis, Sr. recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 2
|
1865-1867
|
Account book of Thomas C. W.
Ellis, Sr. recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 3
|
1869-1877, 1888
|
Account book of Thomas C. W.
Ellis, Sr. and John Ellis recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 4
|
1879
|
Account book of Thomas C. W.
Ellis, Sr. and John Ellis recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 5
|
1880
|
Account book of Thomas C. W.
Ellis, Sr. and John Ellis recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 6
|
1881-1885
|
Account book of Thomas C. W.
Ellis, Sr. and John Ellis recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 7
|
1869
|
Account book of Stephen D. Ellis
recording notes concerning legal cases.
|
|
v. 8
|
1869
|
Bank account book with two
account entries. Also contained are
the dates of individuals and the location of gravesites, with an entry
stating that the slaves were buried at Ingleside Plantation.
|
|
v. 9
|
1912
|
Account book of the Women’s
Civic League.
|
|
v. 10
|
1912-1915
|
Accounts of women enrolled in
business courses.
|
Subseries 2.
Diaries
|
v. 11
|
1873-1874
|
Diary of Thomas C. W.
Ellis. Entries records weather, daily
activities, family visits, and events, with some notes on legal matters.
|
|
v. 12
|
1881
|
Diary of Thomas C. W.
Ellis. Entries records weather, daily
activities, family visits, and events, with some notes on legal matters.
|
|
v. 13
|
1882-1883
|
Diary of Thomas C. W.
Ellis. Entries record weather, daily
activities, family visits, and events, with some notes on legal matters.
|
|
v. 14
|
1885
|
Diary of Thomas C. W.
Ellis. Entries record appointments and
daily activities related primarily to legal cases.
|
|
v. 15
|
1936
|
Travel diary details activities
and observations while traveling by the steamer Ireland
to England, and then to Norway, depicting English villages,
countryside and London.
Entries give detailed accounts of the landscape, villages, sightseeing
in London and Norway, with comments on history,
social activities, weather, people and the ambience of places visited.
|
|
v. 16
|
1940
|
Diary of Olivia “Ollie” Ellis
Grant. Entries
record daily activities, household chores, visits, and acknowledges
birthdays of family members.
|
|
v. 17
|
1943
|
Diary of Olivia “Ollie” Ellis
Grant. Entries
record daily activities, household chores, visits, and acknowledges
birthdays of family members. She
comments on Madame Chiang Kai-shek speaking before the U. S. Congress (Feb.
18) and on U. S.
armed forces in Tunsinia (Feb. 18, April 8).
|
Subseries 3.
Notebooks
