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Sarah Probert Watkins/Probert Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2292

  • Staff Only

Series I: Correspondence of Sarah Probert Watkins, 1857-1915 houses letters written between Watkins and various (primarily female) family members. These women discuss their daily activities and communicate family and local news. Among the most frequent correspondents are Eliza (Probert) Freeman and Emma Frances Watkins.

Series II: Correspondence of George Probert, 1866-1899 and Series III: Correspondence of Other Family Members, 1864-1948 house letters written between other members of the Probert family. The majority of George Probert's correspondence discusses business and personal matters and dates from between 1866 and 1899.

Series IV: Other Family Papers, 1838-1879 houses letters to John Watkins (including a notice of an 1873 reunion of the 19th Ohio Battery) and items documenting Tinnie Watkins' training and certification as a school teacher.

Dates

  • 1838-1948

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.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet (1 half box, 1 quarter box)

Abstract

The bulk of this collection houses correspondence between Sarah (Probert) Watkins and family and friends living in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois between 1865 and 1905. Other letters were written to and from George Probert and other members of the Probert family.

Biographical/Historical Note

Sarah Victoria Probert was born to James and Sarah (Davies) Probert in Pittsfield, Ohio on May 24, 1841. She was one of seven children, including Eliza (Probert) Freeman (1830-1910), John (1832-1890), George W. (1835-1899), James (1837-1867), David G. (1839-), and Albert B. (1843-1913). Sarah Probert married Civil War veteran John Watkins on October 26, 1865 and the couple had five children: Mary (Watkins) Mills (1868-1898), Eliza Tinnie (1873-1960), Cornelia Corla (Watkins) Crosier (1877-1931), Louis Greble (1879-1951), and Emma Frances (1881-1932). Both Mary and Tinnie attended Oberlin College and became school teachers in Ohio. Sarah (Probert) Watkins died of cirrhosis of the liver on September 11, 1916 and is buried in South Pittsfield Cemetery.

Arrangement

This collection consists of two boxes divided into four series:

  1. Series I: Correspondence of Sarah Probert Watkins, 1857-1915
    • Sub-Series A: Letters to Sarah Probert Watkins, 1857-1915
    • Sub-Series B: Letters from Sarah Probert Watkins, 1898-1900
  2. Series II: Correspondence of George Probert, 1866-1899
    • Sub-Series A: Letters to George Probert, 1868-1898
    • Sub-Series B: Letters from George Probert, 1866-1899
  3. Series III: Correspondence of Other Family Members, 1864-1948
  4. Series IV: Other Family Papers, 1838-1879

Acquisition Note

Mildred Haines donated these papers to Special Collections.

Related Archival Materials

Interested researchers may also wish to consult:

Missing Title

  1. MS.1161: John Watkins Papers, 1862-1958
  2. MS.1781: John Watkins Letters and Poem, circa 1860s
  3. MS.3394: John Watkins Letter and Speech Transcripts, 1862-1865

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480