Francis W. Pickens papers, 1772-1900
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Summary
- Creator:
- Pickens, F. W. (Francis Wilkinson), 1805-1869, Bonham, Milledge L. (Milledge Luke), 1813-1890, and Dalton, Harry L.
- Abstract:
- Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805-1869) was a white politician, enslaver, and plantation owner of Edgefield, South Carolina. He was the governor of South Carolina from 1860-1862. This collection consists of the political and personal correspondence (chiefly 1809-1886) and legal papers of Pickens and his family, concerning secession, the outbreak of the Civil War, slavery, and other matters. The majority of the material dating from 1863-1864 consists of the correspondence and other records of Milledge L. Bonham, Pickens' successor as governor of South Carolina. The collection includes one volume of plantation records (1839-1864) and several bills of sale for enslaved persons. Correspondents include P. G. T. Beauregard, M. L. Bonham, Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Brown, Armistead Burt, Lewis Cass, W.M. Churchwell, Jefferson Davis, R.W. Gibbes, Isaac W. Hayne, J.L. Orr, and William H. Seward.
- Extent:
- 1 Linear Foot (2 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.13157
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection consists of the political and personal correspondence (chiefly 1809-1886) and legal papers of Francis W. Pickens and his family, concerning South Carolina's secession, the outbreak of the Civil War, and other matters. The majority of material dating from 1863-1864 consists of correspondence and other records of Milledge L. Bonham, Pickens' successor as governor of South Carolina, and his office. Correspondents include P. G. T. Beauregard, M. L. Bonham, Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Brown, Armistead Burt, Lewis Cass, W. M. Churchwell, Jefferson Davis, R. W. Gibbes, Isaac W. Hayne, J. L. Orr, and William H. Seward. There is a small amount of correspondence (1853-1855 and circa 1850s) of members of the Brunson family of Edgefield, South Carolina.
The collection includes material pertaining to slavery, including one volume of plantation records (1839-1864) and several bills of sale for individual enslaved persons. There are also a few employment agreements between Pickens and freed Black people dating from around 1865-1867.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805-1869) was a white politician, enslaver, and plantation owner of Edgefield, South Carolina. He was the governor of South Carolina from 1860-1862.
- Acquisition information:
- The Francis W. Pickens papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library from 1933-1958. Two folders of correspondence and legal papers were transferred to this collection from the Harry L. and Mary K. Dalton collection in July 2025.
- Processing information:
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Processed by library staff, 1985.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Francis W. Pickens papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1z156