Inventory of the Francis M. Parker Papers, 1861-1949
Collection Number 4896
Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
- Contact Information:
- Manuscripts Department
- CB#3926, Wilson Library
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
- Phone: 919/962-1345
- Fax: 919/962-3594
- Email: mss@email.unc.edu
- URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
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Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
- Creator
- Parker, Francis M. (Francis Marion), 1827-1905.
- Title
- Francis M. Parker Papers, 1861-1949
- Call Number
- 4896
- Language of Materials
- Materials in English
- Extent
-
- Items: 16
- Linear Feet: 0.5
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Administrative Information
- Alternate Form of Material
- A typescript copy of the autobiographical essay by Francis Marion Parker is available.
- Acquisitions Information
- Received from Francis King of New Bern, N.C., in November 1997 (Acc. 97139).
- Processing Information
- Processed by: Nick Graham, February 1998
- Encoded by: Nancy Kaiser, April 2005
- Funding from the Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc., supported the encoding of this finding aid and microfilming of this collection.
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], in the Francis M. Parker Papers #4896, Southern Historical Collection, 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.
Online Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
- Chancellorsville, Battle of, Chancellorsville, Va., 1863.
- Confederate States of America. Army--Military life.
- Confederate States of America. Army--Officers.
- Confederate States of America--Social conditions.
- Confederate States of America. Army. North Carolina Infantry Regiment, 30th.
- Confederate States of America. Army--Photographs
- Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
- North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Parker, Francis M. (Francis Marion), 1827-1905.
- Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)--North Carolina.
- Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862.
- Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of, Va., 1864.
- Weddings--North Carolina--History--19th century.
Related Collections
-
Frank M. Parker Papers, 1861-1865 (Private Collection #42), North Carolina State Archives
Biographical Note
Francis Marion Parker was born in Tarboro, N.C., in 1827. He was educated in schools in Greensboro and Raleigh, N.C. At 19, he returned to Tarboro and took charge of the family farm. In 1853, Parker moved to Halifax County, N.C., and continued to farm.
Parker was one of the founding members of a volunteer military company named the "Enfield Blues," formed in 1859. In 1861, this group became the 1st North Carolina Volunteers, Company I. By October 1861, Parker was elected colonel of the 30th Regiment, North Carolina Troops. He served in this position until a wound in May 1864 left him ineligible for active duty. During the war, Parker saw action in several battles including the Battles of Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Spotsylvania.
After the war, Parker continued to manage his plantation and his family until his death in 1905.
See also the entry for Francis Marion Parker in the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.
Back to TopCollection Overview
The collection consists of papers of Francis M. Parker and his family, emphasizing Parker’s service in the 30th North Carolina Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. The collection includes a handwritten copy of a 1861 letter from Parker to his wife about taking care of the couple’s farm in Tarboro, N.C., and several biographical essays discussing Parker’s war service, especially in the battles of Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania. Also included are a few items relating to Parker’s children and grandchildren, including several items about the family’s survival during Reconstruction; an essay about the Parkers’ 1851 wedding; two photographs of Parker in uniform; and other items.
Back to TopArrangement of Collection
-
1. Francis M. Parker Papers
2. Other Papers
Items Separated
-
Photographs (P-4896/1-2)
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Francis M. Parker Papers, 1861-1903.
10 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Materials by and about Francis Marion Parker and one letter addressed to Parker. There are two items by Parker: a handwritten
transcription of a 15-page letter to his wife written during the Civil War and an undated six-page typescript autobiographical
essay. Also included are three essays about the life and military service of Parker, a short essay describing the wedding
of Francis Marion Parker and Sallie Phillips, and a 1903 letter from J. F. Means to Parker.
The Civil War letter was written from Camp Fayetteville, Va., and dated 12 September 1861. In the letter, Parker chastised
his wife for not writing more often and gave her instructions about managing their farm in his absence. Parker wrote a great
deal about his children, especially his daughter Mary who had just begun school. He briefly described the food and living
conditions at camp and lamented the fact that his regiment was not intended to return to North Carolina anytime soon. He also
noted that his company had lost eight members, all to disease, in the four months they had been together. "There was a great error committed in recruiting so extensively and promiscuously," he wrote. "We have men in our company who have never been of any benefit whatever to us, or to the Confederate States."
The autobiographical essay by Parker appears in both typescript and in a handwritten copy. The autograph version, however,
is not contemporary with Parker and was probably copied by one of his children. The essay includes an account of Parker’s
early life and schooling and a short catalogue of his Civil War activities. The only battles described in detail are the Battles
of
Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania. Of Sharpsburg, Parker wrote, "I cautioned my men to hold their fire until I should give the command, and then to take deliberate cool aim; that I would
not give command to fire until I could see the belt of the cartridge boxes of the enemy, and to aim at these. They obeyed
my orders, gave a fine volley, which brought down the enemy, as grain falls before a reaper." No details are given of Parker’s life after the war. Parker’s military experience is also described in an article he wrote
for the Wilmington Messenger published 15 September 1895. The article is a sketch of the 30th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. In it, Parker listed members
of the regiment and described their movements during the war, especially in battles of Sharpsburg and Chancellorsville.
There are three undated essays about Francis M. Parker, written by members of the Bethel, N.C., chapter of the United Daughters
of the Confederacy in the early part of the 20th century. The essays are very similar and all rely heavily on the other materials
in this collection. Another essay, entitled "An Old Time Wedding," written by Blake Nicholson and dated 17 December 1902, tells of the wedding of Francis Parker and Sallie T. Phillips in 1851.
The author, who was a guest at the wedding, described the other guests, the ceremony, and the reception. Also included is
a short letter from J. F. Means to Parker, dated 30 December 1903. Means asked for information about "the spot where Gen Pender fell" on 2 July 1863. There is a hand-drawn map on back of the letter.
There are also two photographs of Francis Marion Parker in his military uniform and a piece of a blanket that is framed and
labelled: "This is a piece of a home woven blanket that was used during the war 1861-1865 by Col. F.M. Parker, 30th Regt. N.C."
Folder
1Francis Marion Parker to Sallie Parker, 12 September 1861
Folder
2Autobiographical essay by Francis Marion Parker
Folder
3Sketch of 30th North Carolina Infantry Regiment from Wilmington Messenger, 15 September 1895
Folder
4Essays about Francis M. Parker
Folder
5"An Old Time Wedding," by Blake Nicholson
Folder
6J. F. Means to Francis M. Parker, 30 December 1903
Folder
7Piece of blanket used by Francis M. Parker
Image
P-4896/1-2Pictures of Francis M. Parker in uniform
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2. Other Papers, 1924-1949.
6 items.
Papers of Francis Marion Parker’s children and grandchildren. Among them are three items of Haywood Parker, Francis Parker’s
son: a long letter to Ella Battle in which he reminisced about his father and about the difficult times his family faced during
Reconstruction; a pamphlet by Haywood Parker entitled "Recollections and Observations of the Reconstruction Era," 19 June 1930; and a short 1934 letter to his nephew, Francis King.
Also included is a biographical essay about Mary Parker Battle, Francis M. Parker’s daughter, which was presented by the Bethel
Heroes Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy on 10 December 1935; a certificate from the U.D.C., presented to
Francis Parker King in honor of his military service in World War II; and a handwritten copy of a speech, unsigned and undated,
in honor of Robert E. Lee.
Folder
8Haywood Parker materials
Folder
9"A Tribute to Mrs. Mary Parker Battle," 10 December 1935
Folder
10Francis Parker King certificate, 19 January 1949
Folder
11Speech in honor of Robert E. Lee, undated
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