Back to TopDescriptive Summary
- Repository
-
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
- Creator
-
Gibson family.
Humphreys family.
- Title
- Gibson and Humphreys Family Papers, 1846-1919
- Call Number
- 922
- Language of Materials
- Materials in
English
- Extent
-
- Items: About 350
- Linear Feet: 1.0
Abstract
Gibson and Humphreys families of Live Oak Plantation and Oak Forest Plantation near Tigerville in Terrebonne Parish, La.,
and Sumner's Forest Plantation near Versailles, Ky. Prominent family members included Louisiana plantation owner Tobias Gibson
(d. ca. 1870); his son, Randall Lee Gibson (1832-1892), lawyer and U.S. representative and senator, 1875- 1892; Tobias's daughter,
Sarah Gibson Humphreys (fl. 1846-1885), fiction writer; and her son, Joseph A. Humphreys, Jr. (fl. 1870-1898).
The collection contains chiefly correspondence relating to Gibson and Humphreys family members. Letters document the period
before the Civil War when the Gibson children were in school at the Phillips Academy and Yale College, and while traveling
in Europe, and include a discussion about slavery. Post-war letters chiefly document the lives of Humphreys family members
and their efforts to improve their financial situation. Among the subjects discussed are Sarah Humphreys's writing efforts
and her support of women's causes, particularly suffrage; Joseph Humphreys's efforts to run a sheep ranch near Miles City,
Mont.; and the experiences of two female family members who worked at the Post Office and the Department of the Interior in
Washington, D.C. There are also a number of letters written by Randall Lee Gibson on family and business affairs and a small
amount of financial and miscellaneous material relating to both families.
Back to TopAdministrative Information
- Restrictions to Access
- No restrictions.
- Acquisitions Information
- Received from Given by Mrs. S. G. Humphreys of Lexington, Ky., in November 1944.
- Processing Information
- Processed by: Shonra Newman, December 1990
- Encoded by: Lynn Holdzkom, January 2006
- This inventory is based on an original inventory compiled in June 1955.
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], in the Gibson and Humphreys Family Papers #922, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright
law.
Back to TopOnline Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
- Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892.
- Gibson, Tobias, d. ca. 1870.
- Gibson family.
- Humphreys, Joseph A., fl. 1870-1898.
- Humphreys, Sarah Gibson, fl. 1846-1885.
- Humphrey family.
- Phillips Academy--Students--Social life and customs.
- Yale College (1718-1887)--Students--Social life and customs.
- Yale University--History--19th century.
- College students--Connecticut--Social life and customs.
- Family--Kentucky--Social life and customs.
- Family--Louisiana--Social life and customs.
- Plantation owners--Kentucky.
- Plantation owners--Louisiana.
- Plantations--Kentucky.
- Plantations--Louisiana.
- School children--Massachusetts--History--19th century.
- Sheep ranchers--Montana--History--19th century.
- Women--Employment--History--19th century.
- Women--Suffrage--Kentucky.
- Women authors, American--Kentucky--History--19th century.
- Women in the civil service--History--19th century.
- Europe--Description and travel.
- Live Oak Plantation (Terrebonne Parish, La.)
- Miles City (Mont.)--Social life and customs.
- Oak Forest Plantation (Terrebonne Parish, La.)
- Sumner's Forest Plantation (Versailles, Ky.)
- Terrebonne Parish (La.)--Social life and customs.
- Tigerville (La.)--Social life and customs.
- Versailles (Ky.)--Social life and customs.
Back to TopBiographical Note
The chief figures in these papers are Tobias Gibson of Live Oak Plantation and Oak Forest Plantation near Tigerville, Terrebonne
Parish, Louisiana, and members of his family, especially his daughter, Sarah, who married Joseph A. Humphreys of Kentucky;
and her son, Joseph Humphreys.
Tobias Gibson and his wife, whose maiden name is not clear, probably moved to Louisiana from Kentucky. They maintained, however,
close relations with the relatives and friends they left behind. Tobias was a planter and owned plantations named Live Oak
and Oak Forest, and another plantation referred to as Holly Wood. Their children, in approximate age order, are noted below.
Preston, who studied medicine and was a planter, had a wife named Elodie and a son named Preston. There is not much in the
papers about Preston Gibson, who died sometime between 7 April 1864 and 13 February 1867, and there are only brief references
to his wife and son thereafter.
Randall Lee, the best known member of the family, served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He was
born in 1832, graduated from Yale College in 1853, and studied law at the University of Louisiana (later Tulane). He became
a brigadier general in the Confederate Army and, after the war, practiced law in New Orleans. He served as a representative,
1875 1883, and as a senator from 1883 until his death in 1892. He married Mary Montgomery of Kentucky and had a son Montgomery,
a daughter Leila, and perhaps other daughters. There are many letters from him in the collection, chiefly on family and business
affairs rather than politics. His family frequently refered to him as "Lee."
Sarah Thompson Gibson married Joseph A. Humphreys, of Sumner's Forest near Versailles, Kentucky, probably in 1853. She wrote
fiction and evidently had a few short stories published. The papers indicate that she also wrote a book, but she apparently
did not find a publisher. She had three children, Lucy, Sarah Gibson (Sallie), and Joseph A., Jr. Sarah's husband seems
to have been sickly. He probably did not serve in the Confederate Army. He died sometime during the war years. Lucy married
Lewis A. Johnstone; Sallie evidently never married. Sometime between 1888 and 1898, Joseph, Jr., married a woman named Mary.
They had a son named Joseph.
Claude, was a student at Andover, at Yale, and in Europe. He may have been killed during the Civil War.
Tobias, studied at Andover, Yale, the University of North Carolina (1857), and in Europe. He served in the Confederate Army,
studied law, and later lived in Louisiana and in Kentucky. His wife was named Eva. He was usually called Tobe or Toby in
the correspondence.
Hart studied at Yale and became a planter at Hartland in Kentucky before the Civil War. He married Mary Duncan of Lexington,
Kentucky, and had a son named Duncan.
John McKinley was called McKinley, Kin, or Kinny. He studied at Andover and in Europe, served in the Confederate Army, lived
in Kentucky after the war, was usually in ill health, and died in 1880.
Louisiana H., called Loulie, the youngest of the children, was sent to school in Paris during the Civil War. She married
sometime in the mid 1870s (husband not named in the papers) and died in childbirth in 1877.
Less is known about the family of Joseph A. Humphreys. Joseph A. was the son of D. C. Humphreys, whose chief plantation seems
to have been Waverly, in Woodford County, Kentucky. He had a brother named Samuel, and possibly sisters named Mary, Lucy,
and Sue. D. C. Humphreys apparently died long before his wife, who continued to live at Waverly most of the time. The Humphreys
children were frequently with her and refer to her as "Grandma" and "Aunt Mary." In later years, she travelled quite a bit in the north, visiting relatives in New York, frequently accompanied by one of
the Humphreys girls.
There are many letters from and references to relatives in Kentucky, where both the Humphreys and the Gibsons seem to have
had widespread connections. Aunt Anne was Tobias Gibson's sister, but whether she was married and, if so, to whom, is not
clear. Susan was a cousin of the Gibson family, married a Grigsby, and was a widow with several children, including Virginia
and Hart, when she corresponded with Sarah Gibson Humphreys. Many other relatives cannot be identified at all.
Back to TopCollection Overview
This collection consists chiefly of correspondence, with a few, scattered financial papers and miscellaneous items. Papers
relating to Tobias Gibson and his family cover the years before and during the Civil War. Many of the letters are from Gibson
children at school and in Europe. Starting in the 1870s, most of the papers relate to Sarah Gibson Humphreys and her children.
Many letters deal with their efforts to improve their financial situation, as well as with family activities. There is some
documentation of the writing efforts of Sarah Gibson Humphreys, as well as her support of the women's movement, particularly
suffrage. Also documented are Joseph A. Humphreys, Jr.'s attempt to run a sheep ranch in Montana, and the experiences of
two female family members who worked at the Post Office and the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.
Randall Lee Gibson's professional life is not documented, but there are numerous letters written by him on family and business
affairs.
Back to TopArrangement of Collection
Series 1. 1846 1849
Series 2. 1850 1869
Series 3. 1861 1865
Series 4. 1867 1872
Series 5. 1873 1879
Series 6. 1880 1885
Series 7. 1886 1919
Series 8. Undated
Back to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
13 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly correspondence received by Sarah Thompson Gibson, and Joseph A. Humphreys. Sarah received several letters from Ellen
of Green Plains, Virginia, who was apparently a schoolfriend. Sarah also corresponded with Mrs. George L. Guion, giving family
news and news of the parish elections. Joseph also received several letters from friends.
Folder
1
1846-1849
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About 45 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly correspondence of the Gibson family, including numerous letters from the Gibson children to their father and to each
other while they attended various schools and traveled in Europe. Also included are a few letters to Joseph A. Humphreys
who traveled in Europe in 1850 and 1851.
In 1849, Randall was accepted at Yale. In December 1850, Randall wrote his father telling him he would leave school and manage
the plantation if his father intended to travel for his mother's health. Included in this year are instructions for treating
Mrs. Gibson written by Dr. Samuel A. Cartwright, a New Orleans physician. He believed she was suffering ill effects from
an early menopause. Mrs. Gibson, in fact, died sometime in the early 1850s.
In 1851, Joseph A. Humphreys was traveling in Europe, where received letters from his father, sending local news, and from
his banker or man of business who assisted him with transferring money and forwarding mail.
On 21 October 1853, Randall Gibson wrote to his brother Hart while on a visit to the University of Virginia. He felt it compared
poorly to Yale. Randall also mentioned that his sister Sarah and her husband, Joseph Humphreys, were at Sumner's Forest.
This is the first indication of their marriage.
In May 1854, L. H. Taylor at the Phillips Academy in Andover wrote to Tobias Gibson about the progress of his sons Claude
and Tobias. In September of that year, Claude wrote to his father about the various boys in school. Tobias and John McKinley
were at Andover, and Hart and Claude at Yale. On 26 March 1855, Hart wrote about two speakers (George?) Fitzhugh of Virginia
and Wendell Phillips of Boston, who presented lectures to the students on their opposing views of slavery. In the late 1850s,
Claude, Tobias, and John McKinley (Kin or Kinny), were traveling in Europe. Randall wrote Claude in 1859 advising him that
he was too old and had neglected his studies for too long to take a German course. Randall sent advice and home news to the
boys in Europe, insisting that they must know French well to work in Louisiana. Randall practiced law in Thibodaux, had a
plantation in Lafourche Parish, and conducted all his business in French.
The youngest Gibson daughter, Louisiana (Loulie), was in school in New Orleans. On 15 May 1857, she wrote a very homesick
letter to her father.
Other letters during these years include several from Randall to his father about the care of the plantation. Relatives and
friends wrote to Sarah Gibson Humphreys whose two daughters were born in 1854 and 1855. In 1854, Brown Shipley & Co. of Liverpool
wrote that they would handle for Joseph Humphreys the payment of passage for a Mr. A. Bode and an English gardener who were
coming to work for the Humphreys. In 1857 and 1858, there are a few letters of introduction for Joseph Humphreys, who was
apparently traveling in Virginia.
Folder
2
1850-1853
Folder
3
1854-1855
Folder
4
1856-1860
Back to Top
12 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
There is scattered correspondence during the Civil War years. The Gibson sons served in the Confederate army. Many of the
letters were to Loulie from a schoolfriend in Paris. It appears that Loulie was also studying abroad at this time.
On 17 April 1861, Tobias Gibson wrote a gloomy letter to Mr. Guion about the boys getting ready for military service. In
1862, he wrote expressing ardent southern feelings. In June 1862, Hart wrote of the local political situation in Kentucky.
He also mentioned his brothers Claude, Tobias, and Kin and their activities in the war. Toby wrote from Tennessee in August
1862, where he was with Bragg's army near Chattanooga.
Tobias Gibson wrote Sarah on 10 December 1863, telling her that it might be dangerous for her to leave her property; he had
been saved from ruin only by being on the plantation. On 7 April 1864, Toby sent Loulie news of all the family, telling her
that Hart was a prisoner in the Ohio Penitentiary.
Folder
5
1861-1865
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12 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
A few scattered letters among the Gibson family. After the war, Randall practiced law in New Orleans and married Mary Montgomery
in 1868. Several letters describe the activities of the various members of the family. Randall wrote in 1871 about his efforts
to pay off his debts.
Folder
6
1867-1872
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About 60 items
Arrangement: chronological.
Beginning in 1873, the correspondence is chiefly directed to the Humphreys family, particularly to Sarah Gibson Humphreys.
Many of the letters deal with her efforts to combat financial difficulties.
There are numerous letters from "Aunt Anne" and other unidentified female relatives. Sallie Humphreys sent schoolgirl letters to her mother. Mary Montgomery Gibson,
wife of Randall, wrote several times, once about the death of Loulie, who died in childbirth in 1877.
In 1878, Sarah Humphreys wrote to her son Joe about the yellow fever epidemic. John D. Shaffer also wrote to Joe about the
yellow fever epidemic, news of Terrebonne Parish, and crops.
Sarah Gibson Humphreys was living at Oak Forest and apparently having financial difficulties during these years. She was
involved in a disagreement with her brothers and seemed particularly angry at and distrustful of Randall. In 1879, there
are several letters that mention the affair. Randall wrote to Kin about the distressing state of his sister's affairs. On
5 October, Sarah Humphreys also wrote to Kin and expressed her great distrust of Randall. On October 17, Sarah wrote to Joe
about a scholarship Randall could get him. She disliked the idea of accepting it, but felt she ought to do everything possible
to further Joe's education.
In 1879, Sarah Humphreys wrote to Joe while she was in Kentucky, Evansville, Indiana, and Hopkinsville, Ohio. In the summer,
she returned to the plantation, and Joe and Sallie went to Kentucky.
Folder
7
1873-1874
Folder
8
1875-1876
Folder
9
1877-1878
Folder
10
1879
Back to Top
About 120 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Beginning in 1880, many of the letters are directed to Joe Humphreys, who went to Montana in 1883 to start a sheep ranch with
Hart Grigsby.
In January, Lucy wrote from Washington, D.C., where she was visiting the Randall Gibsons. She described her social activities,
including a call upon Mrs. Hayes at the White House. There are several papers relating to Randall's efforts to get work for
Joe with the Census Bureau and with the Mississippi River Commission. A friend of Joe's wrote him about his plans to go west.
McKinley died that year, and there are letters referring to his death.
In 1881, letters from family continue, and there are also letters from Randall about the disposition of Live Oak. In the
1880s, Sarah's relationship with her brother Randall seemed to improve greatly. In March, Lucy wrote from West Point, New
York, where she was visiting.
In 1882, the Humphreys family began spending most of their time at Sumner's Forest in Kentucky. They received several letters
from Randall about financial arrangements and the settlement of McKinley Gibson's estate. There are letters from Louisiana
neighbors describing recent floods, damage to crops, and a strike of farm laborers. In December, Sarah Humphreys wrote to
Joe from Washington describing the very comfortable house the Randall Gibson's lived in. It is believed that Sarah published
a story during this year.
On 19 January 1883, Sarah Humphreys wrote from Washington to Joe describing the property settlement she had made with her
brothers, exchanging her interest in Live Oak for Magnolia, plus cash. She said that Randall expected to build up a sort
of principality around Live Oak. He hoped to buy out Tigerville and change its name; he may have succeeded since the map
now shows Gibson and no Tigerville. In this year, Joe apparently sold a portion of Sumner's Forest, possibly to get cash
to start the ranch in Montana.
On 10 June 1883, Sarah Humphreys sent a letter to Joe in Montana, expressing her fears that his ranching plan would prove
unprofitable. She also mentioned that Randall had obtained jobs for Susan and Virginia Grigsby in Washington, D.C., one at
the Post Office and one at the Department of the Interior. A letter to Randall from Virginia had had a great effect on him,
showing him that, "(a woman) could feel the same human necessities, to eat, to sleep, to be clothed and sheltered, and get ahead in the world,
that he did." This is one of several references that Sarah made in her letters during these years to her support of the women's movement,
particularly of suffrage. She also mentioned her writing, stating that her friend at the "Weekly" had died and that they had not accepted any of her stories since.
Susan Grigsby corresponded with Sarah and wrote her on 5 August 1883 about how tired she was from work and that she no longer
had the energy to go to church on the Sabbath. There are several other letters from Susan Grigsby and her daughter, Virginia,
describing their experiences in Washington as they begin work in government offices, revealing their reactions to the experience
of working outside the home.
A few letters written at the end of the summer of 1883 between Joe and his mother mentioned the possibility of Lucy and Sallie
getting married. Lucy apparently did get married, for, on 30 January 1884, Susan Grigsby wrote to Sarah about Lucy's impending
marriage.
In 1884, Joe made a trip home, but returned to Montana. He and Hart decided to give up the ranch and, in 1884 and 1885, he
attempted, with Randall's help, to secure a government appointment in Montana. There are several letters in 1885, among Joe,
Randall, and others, about Joe's efforts to be appointed U.S. Marshal of Montana. Randall was confident that Joe would get
the place if Augustus H. Garland became Attorney General, which he did. Grover Cleveland, however, insisted on giving the
marshal's appointment to someone else. On 26 April 1885, Sarah wrote a letter to Joe saying that she had tried to borrow
money to send to him, but had been turned down because she was a woman.
Joe returned East, and received a few disconnected letters from friends in Montana, including one from Washington Berry of
the U.S. Land Office in Miles City, about his troubles as a land agent and the ranchers who were trying to get him fired.
He enclosed a copy of his recent report, which he wanted Senator Gibson to read and endorse.
Folder
11
1880
Folder
12
1881
Folder
13
1882
Folder
14-15
1883
Folder
16
1884
Folder
17-18
1885
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About 30 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
After 1887, the letters are few and scattered. On 20 August 1886, Lucy wrote to Joe, saying that she heard he was going to
study law with Uncle Hart. In 1887, there are letters from Joe in Chicago and St. Paul, where he went on business. He seems
to have worked for a while for a friend, S. M. Magoffin, who was a real estate dealer in St. Paul. In 1888, there are two
letters to Montgomery Gibson, one from his father Randall at White Sulphur Springs, and one from his Uncle Tobias.
There are no papers until 1898, when M. A. Spurr, who had been president of a bank in Nashville that failed, wrote to Joe.
Charges had been brought against Spurr in the federal courts, and he had been convicted, but at the time of his letter he
was optimistic about the prospects for a new trial. He referred to Joe's wife Mary and to Joe, Jr., and sent remembrances
to all at Sumner's Forest. In 1916, there is a wedding invitation to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Johnstone at Sumner's Forest, and,
in 1919, a letter to Lucy Humphreys Johnstone from a friend in New Orleans, discussing Christmas gifts, children, and servants.
Folder
19
1886-1887
Folder
20
1888-1919
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About 40 items.
Undated letters and letter fragments, chiefly written and received by Sarah Gibson Humphreys and her children, Lucy, Sallie,
and Joe. There are several letters from Aunt Anne to Sarah giving family news, and one mentioning the flooding around Bayou
Black in Terrebonne Parish. Sarah wrote to Joe about plantation business. There are a few letters from other members of
the Gibson family. Also included are copies of advertisements run by Sarah Gibson Humphreys in The Ohio Farmer, offering fruit farms for rent or for sale.
Folder
21-22
Undated fragments
Folder
23-24
Undated
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