Correspondence, 1890 March 27-1912 February 19
1890 March 27 Annette Ramsey, daughter of Robert Ramsey, Huntersville, N.C., to her aunt, Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Expresses appreciation for money sent by Lizzie and Mack. Reveals that the family has had a difficult time since her father became too ill to work. Discusses her studies and her plans to leave school and help her family financially.
1890 April ? Margaret Jane Dickson, Riverside, near Knoxville, Tenn., to her sister, Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Expresses concern about Sue's illness and mentions Robert's health. Informs her sister that she tries to bear troubles patiently and concentrates on preparing for death.
1890 April 14 Annette Ramsey, daughter of Robert Ramsey, Huntersville, N.C., to her aunt, Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Informs her of Sue's death. Relates that none of them were with Sue at her death but that they all attended the funeral. Refers to the grief of her father and of Sue's children.
1890 June 5 M.C. Kuretes, M.D., Robert Ramsey's physician, Huntersville, N.C., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. At Robert's request, informs Lizzie that he is near death. Expresses Robert's appreciation for her financial aid which helped especially with his medical expenses. Assures her that everything possible was done for Robert. States his concern for Robert's large family which will be left without support.
1890 August 18 Annette Ramsey, daughter of Robert Ramsey, Huntersville, N.C., to her aunt, Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Account of her housekeeping while her mother and sister are gone and of her poor health and teaching during the summer. Thanks her aunt for her kindness to them. Discusses her sister's going to live with Lizzie and her own desire to come. Mentions the effect which her father's death had upon her.
1890 October 12 William Davidson Alexander, Edgewood, N.C., to his son, James Alexander, Knoxville, Tenn. Asks him to relay instructions for Lizzie concerning a note she holds and some land which she plans t leave t Robert's children. Describes his younger children's activities and his worries about who will care for them. Mentions the weather and his farming.
1893 March 23 Adelaide L. Fries to J.G.M. Ramsey asking for information regarding Margaret B. Crozier
1900 January 27 W. A. Anderson of Southern Railway Company in Washington, DC, to J. G. M. Ramsey. Enclosure of letter to John Allen of Nashville.
1902 November 17 Mrs. Oscar Barthold, Weatherford, Texas, to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Requests a copy of the family Bible record. Speaks of her growing interest in her Alexander ancestors and in Dr. Ramsey.
1903 October 27 Mrs. Oscar Barthold, Weatherford, Tex., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Expresses appreciation for the copy of the family Bible record and her pride in being distantly related to J.G.M. Reports that she is studying Dr. Ramsey as an historic figure and asks for information concerning his service to the Confederacy. States that many Texans claim the Alexanders of North Carolina as ancestors. Requests picture of J.G.M.
1903 November 7 Elizabeth Ramsey Breck to Mrs. Oscar Barthold
1904 April 18 L.W. Youmans, Planter and dealer in General Merchandise, Fairfax, S.C., to Mrs. E.R. Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Thanks Elizabeth for sending him a copy of Lyman Draper's book, Lives of the House of King's Mountain. Feels that it furnished material for other books, including Roosevelt's Winning of the West. Remarks that high prices have induced him to plant more cotton. Remembrance of Henry and Bessie Lenoir.
1905 January 16 Jasper D. Porter, Nashville, Tenn., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Hopes that Lizzie will give the Jackson letters and her copy of the Annals to the historical Society. Recollection of J.G.M., the writer's part in having Dr. Ramsey's portrait painted, and his attendance at J.G.M.'s funeral.
1905 April 12 Henry A. Chambers, Chattanooga, Tenn., to Henry R. Lenoir, Knoxville, Tenn. Informs Henry that the writer was asked to write an obituary of Henry's father, Dr. B.B. Lenoir because of family dissatisfaction with the newspaper notice. Outlines sources of information used for the article. Suggestions for having it published either privately or in newspapers. Warns them to have it carefully proofread. Enclosed is the lengthy obituary containing remarks about Dr. Lenoir's ancestors, events in his life, illustrations of his character, and an account of his funeral.
1910 October 10 Mrs. A.R. Gordon (nee Nellie Alexander), Franklin, Tenn., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Request for information about the Alexander family from whom Mrs. Gordon is descended. Includes detailed relationships among both living and dead members of the Alexander family. Offers to send her a copy of the family tree which she is trying to complete.
1910 October 22 Mrs. A.R. Gordon (nee Nellie Alexander), Franklin, Tenn., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Further details concerning the Alexander family. Mentions sending a copy of the family tree to Lizzie. Asks for facts, particularly on John McKnitt Alexander, to add to the information she is compiling for her son.
1910 November 24 Nellie Alexander Gordon, Franklin, Tenn., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Further information on their Alexander family ancestors of North Carolina. Encloses a tissue tracing of the Alexander family tree, which has been removed to oversize.
1910 December 23 Nellie Alexander Gordon, Franklin, Tenn., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Christmas card.
1911 January 7 Nellie Alexander Gordon, Franklin, Tenn., to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck, Knoxville, Tenn. Throws more light upon the Alexander family in early days of the country. Discussion of several books pertaining to Alexander family history and genealogy, with the prices and instructions for ordering them. Offers to send copies of letters concerning their Alexander ancestors.
1911 February 20 Nellie Alexander Gordon to Elizabeth Ramsey Breck
1910 November 17 Hester Dorsey Richardson, Richardson & Richardson, Historical Biographers, Baltimore, Md., to Mrs. Frances Alexander Butterworth, Chicago, Ill. (Enclosed with Feb. 20, 1911 letter) Relates meeting her daughter and reading Mrs. Butterworth's book on the Alexander family in Maryland. Reports on their genealogical studies in Scotland and Ireland. Offers to include Alexander family information in their book, The American Aristocracy of Birth, if the descendants pay for the research involved.
1912 February 19 Edith Scott, Morristown, Tenn., to Bessie Lenoir, wife of Henry Lenoir, Knoxville, Tenn. Encloses typewritten copy of John McKnitt Alexander's will made July 2, 1807. Regrets that Elizabeth did not live to see the will. Reports that her work as a violin teacher prevents her from studying family papers in Bessie's possession. Discusses her work on five wills of the Alexander ancestors and the cost of typing them.
Dates
- 1890 March 27-1912 February 19
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
From the Collection: 6 Linear Feet (7 boxes - 2 full, 4 flat, 1 oversize)
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository