Daniel Williams Papers
The Daniel Williams family papers digital collection contains selected materials from the physical collection. The collection document the history of the family from 1823 to1966. The papers consist of correspondence, Civil War tax documents, bills and account statements, contracts, newspaper clippings, genealogical material, essays, poetry, cards, and miscellany. The bulk of the materials is dated from 1870 to1914. Most of the correspondence in the collection consists of letters between the brothers, their friends, and other family members. The collection provides valuable insight into one family’s experience during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Mississippi, from the Civil War and a yellow fever epidemic to college life and politics.For more information, contact the Special Collections faculty and staff at this link
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Letter to Cammie Williams
George H. Douglas
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, George H. Douglas, in Morgan City, Louisiana.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
George H. Douglas
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, George H. Douglas, in Morgan City, Louisiana. Douglas mentions being a "silver bug," a reference to the 1896 political debate over the gold standard versus "Free Silver."
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Order Form from Paragon Nurseries
S. H. Robinson
Order form for Cammie Williams from Paragon Nurseries in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Warrant for Arrest
C. Standifer
Warrant for the arrest of Jim Butler in Hinds County, Mississippi, issued by Justice of the Peace C. Standifer.
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Sharecropping Contract
Campbell Williams
Contract between Cammie Williams and Lem Walker, witnessed by W.E. Jones.
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Sharecropping Contract
Campbell Williams
Handwritten contract between Virginia Williams and Bob Sherman, for 450 pounds of baled cotton in exchange for rented land.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Mims Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his brother, Mims Williams, in Terry, Mississippi, urging him to try to break a contract with a "worthless and rascally negro" named Lew Berry in favor of a man named Bob Sherman.
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Sharecropping Contract
Contract between Cammie Williams and Martin Banks, witnessed by Sue Hollingsworth, exchanging one fourth of raised crops for rented land.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
C. V. Hill
Letter to Cammie Williams from C. V. Hill in Long Beach, Mississippi, regarding courtship, crops, and families from Honduras.
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Sharecropping Contract
Campbell Williams
Contract between Cammie Williams and Wade Wilks, exchanging one fourth of the crop for rented land.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Mims Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his brother Mims Williams, who was attending Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Most of the letter is about books and authors.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Mims Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his brother, Mims Williams, at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, regarding books he has read, political matters, his opposition to women's suffrage, and a Natchez pastor found out to be homosexual.
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Letter to Hattie Carmichael
Letter to Hattie Carmichael from her cousin, Bettie, in Bear Creek, Mississippi, regarding mutual acquaintances and local events.
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Letter to Hattie Carmichael
Letter to Hattie Carmichael Williams from her friend Lola, regarding various people and events in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.
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Sharecropping Contract
Contract between Cammie Williams and Martin Banks, witnessed by Sue Hollingsworth, exchanging one fourth of raised crops for rented land.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
C. V. Hill
Letter to Cammie Williams from C. V. Hill in Punta Gorda, British Honduras (present-day Belize). Hill mentions a "tariff bill" that probably refers to the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of August, 1894. "Breckenridge" probably refers to Clifton Rodes Breckinridge, an Arkansas Congressman from 1883-1894, briefly unseated due to a scandal involving voter fraud and assassination of another candidate.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
L. K. Hill
Letter to Cammie Williams from L. K. Hill in Punta Gorda, British Honduras (present-day Belize), 1894.
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Sharecropping Contract
Campbell Williams
Contract between Cammie Williams and Wade Wilks, exchanging one fourth of raised crops for rented land.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Mims Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his brother, Mims Williams, who was attending Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and working over the summer at the Davis-Ellis Co. in Terry, Mississippi.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Mims Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his brother, Mims Williams, who was attending Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Written on stationery from the college's Lamar Literary Society.
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Letter from Postmaster General
John Wanamaker
Letter from John Wanamaker, Postmaster General of the United States, to the postmaster of Dry Grove, Mississippi, 1893.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Mims Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his brother, Mims Williams, attending Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
L. H. Hill
Letter to Cammie Williams from L. H. Hill in Long Beach, Mississippi, regarding his and his family's new life there.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Willie R. Hollingsworth
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, Willie R. Hollingsworth, in Chicago, Illinois, regarding politics and his support of Grover Cleveland over the Republican (Benjamin Harrison) and Populist (James Weaver) party candidates.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Willie R. Hollingsworth
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, Willie R. Hollingsworth, in Chicago, Illinois, regarding courtship and politics - particularly his support of the Democratic party and Grover Cleveland.
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Land Survey
W. H. Sims
Land survey and personal note written on a letterhead from the Hinds County Chancery Court, 1892.
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Letter to Sister
Letter from an unidentified woman (surnamed Hutchins) in Egypt, Mississippi, to her sister. Note "From Mrs. Williams' family."
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Bill from Hollingsworth Bros.
Bill for Henry Butler from Hollingsworth Bros., dealers in general merchandise and plantation supplies in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1890. This is a corrected version of a previous bill.
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Bill from Hollingsworth Bros.
Bill for Cammie Williams from Hollingsworth Bros., dealers in general merchandise and plantation supplies in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1890. This is a corrected version of a previous bill.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from "TB," regarding jobs in and around Dry Grove and Ben Lomond, Mississippi, 1890.
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Letter to Hattie Carmichael
Letter to Hattie Carmichael from an unknown friend in Forest, Mississippi; pages are missing. The letter is mostly about various men and flirtations.
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Lewis T. Fitzhugh
Drawing of L. F. Fitzhugh, President of Whitworth Female College in Brookhaven, Mississippi. On the back is a map of the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railway System. Though the caption says "L. F. Fitzhugh," this must refer to Lewis T. Fitzhugh, who was President of Whitworth Female College until 1893 and opened Belhaven College (Jackson, Miss.) in 1894.
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Chancery Court Document
W. W. Downing
Sectional map of Townships 3 and 4, Ranges 2W and 3W, from the Chancery Court of Hinds County, Mississippi. Note to Cam Williams discloses that the map apparently relates to a petition concerning the land area of Chapel Hill, Mississippi.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from his friend Herbert in Morgan City, Louisiana.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
George H. Douglas
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, George H. Douglas, in Morgan City, Louisiana, regarding a recent storm, family illnesses, and life in southern Louisiana.
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Letter from Punta Gorda
L. K. Hill
Letter from L. K. Hill, a Mississippi native living in Punta Gorda, British Honduras (present-day Belize) to "Nick." Hill describes the people and culture of Punta Gorda for his friend in Mississippi.
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Invitation to Commencement Exercises
Whitworth Female College.
Invitation to the commencement exercises of Whitworth Female College in Brookhaven, Mississippi, including a list of the graduates. Events took place June 19-21, though no year is stated. Lewis T. Fitzhugh was President of the college from 1886-1893, and Robert L. Taylor was governor of Tennessee from January 1887 to January 1891.
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Tax Collector's Deed
Tax collector's deed and land survey for Cal Williams in Dry Grove, Mississippi.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Willie R. Hollingsworth
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, W. R. Hollingsworth, in Clinton, Mississippi, regarding farming, keeping books, and courtship.
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Invitation to Dry Grove Social Club Ball
Invitation to the First Annual Ball of the Dry Grove Social Club, held at McClelland's Hall on Friday, October 19, 1883.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
George H. Douglas
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, George H. Douglas, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Douglas mentions joining the Vaudry Rifles, a division of the Crescent City Battalion.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Lizzie N. Douglas
Incomplete letter to Cammie Williams from Lizzie N. Douglas at Calvary Rectory in New Orleans, Louisiana. She writes about Mardi Gras and their local church.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Letter to Cammie Williams from "A. P." [?] about the arrest of a man surnamed Miller.
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Survey Map
Land surveyor's map and coordinates on a Whitworth Female College (of Brookhaven, Mississippi) letterhead.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
George H. Douglas
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, George H. Douglas, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Letter to Cammie Williams
Willie R. Hollingsworth
Letter to Cammie Williams from his cousin, Willie R. Hollingsworth, in Fairfield, Texas, 1878.
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Letter about Yellow Fever Quarantine
John Calvin Williams
Letter from John Calvin Williams to his brother, regarding the yellow fever quarantine in Dry Grove, Mississippi, 1878.
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Yellow Fever Journal
John Calvin Williams
Small journal kept by John Calvin Williams during the yellow fever epidemic in Dry Grove, Mississippi, in 1878. According to the note pasted later into the front of the journal, Williams himself died of the fever on October 31, 1878.
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Letter to Lulu
Fletcher E. Starr
Letter to "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) from her father in Nacoochee, Georgia.
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Letter to Pa
Letter to "Pa" (M. A. Banks in Westville, Mississippi) from "Cal & Jennie," regarding their cotton crop, a hailstorm, and family news.
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Annual Report of the Superintendent of the Blind Institute
Sarah B. Merrill
Pamphlet published by Alcorn & Fisher, Mississippi state printers, in 1872, containing the 1871 annual report by Sarah B. Merrill, superintendent of the State Blind Institute. The pamphlet includes the names of the pupils in 1871, their places of residence, and the causes of their blindness.
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Tribute of Respect
R. H. Wingate
Tribute of Respect for John Curtis Williams, whose funeral was hold at Masonic Lodge 321 in Dry Grove, Mississippi, 1872.
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Letter from Lulu
Martha Louisa Starr
Letter from "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) in Charleston, South Carolina, to her fiance. They were married in December of 1870, and Wednesday fell on May 4 in 1870. She mentions meeting Robert E. Lee; he died only five months later.
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Letter from Lulu
Martha Louisa Starr
Letter from "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) in Nacoochee, Georgia, to her sister, Mamie.
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Letter from Lulu
Martha Louisa Starr
Letter from "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) in Nacoochee, Georgia, to her Aunt Sarah.
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Tax on Naval Stores, Wines, Etc.
Confederate tax form signed by J. M. Ragland of Simpson County, Mississippi, and witnessed by assessor Laban Harper.
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Confederate Tax Receipt
Joseph Bennett
Receipt for Joseph Bennett's payment of the Confederate tax for Mississippi District 40 to tax collector M. A. Banks in Westville, Mississippi, 1864.
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Schedule of Articles of Taxation
Confederate taxation form signed by M. B. Chandler of Simpson County, Mississippi, and witnessed by assessor Laban Harper.
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Tax on Naval Stores, Wines, Etc.
Confederate tax form signed by M. B. Chandler of Simpson County, Mississippi, and witnessed by assessor Laban Harper.
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Notice to Confederate Taxpayers
M. A. Banks
Notice to Confederate taxpayers from Simpson County Confederate tax collector M.A. Banks, regarding a visit to Westville, Mississippi. The notice lists various occupations and taxable goods.
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Note from Confederate Soldier
Joseph T. Owens
Dan Williams left a note with this document: "My great grandmother & great grand father gave aid to Civil War soldier trying to find his way home from Vicksburg. This note he left to them."
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Letter to Lulu
George W. Williams
Letter to "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) from her uncle, George W. Williams, in Charleston, South Carolina, 1863. Williams mentions knowing the authoress Sue Petigru Bowen King. He also mentions meeting and shaking hands with Jefferson Davis.
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Letter from Lulu to Her Mother
Martha Louisa Starr
Letter from "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) to her mother in Nacoochee, Georgia, 1861.
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Letter to M. A. Banks
H. F. Johnson
Letter to M. A. Banks from H. F. Johnson in Fayette, Mississippi, requesting payment for legal services he provided.
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Letter to Hannah
Martha Louisa Starr
Letter to Hannah from her daughter "Lulu" and "Aunt Mat," who Lulu is staying with in Fairforest, South Carolina, 1860. "Mossgiel" must be the name of the house or plantation. A later note identifies Lulu as Martha Louisa Starr, grandmother of Mrs. Daniel Williams.
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Letter from State Auditor
George T. Swann
Letter to M. A. Banks in Simpson County, Mississippi, from George T. Swann, the state auditor. Includes possible reference to President Zachary Taylor.
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The Picture
E. Ford
A handwritten poem called "The Picture." Grouped with another poem by "E. Ford," dated in 1846.
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Land Sale Certificate
Land sale certificate for Thomas S. Maxwell of Franklin County, Mississippi, signed by President James Monroe. The land described is "the Southeast quarter of section two, in township six of range four /east) Containing one hundred & sixty acres & eighty one hundredths of an acre."
