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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 2.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 970 items) |
| Abstract | William A. Whitaker was a chemist; business executive; and collector of art, autographs, literary and historical manuscripts, and rare books. The collection consists of manuscripts collected by Willaim A. Whitaker. Among them are materials pertaining to British and Spanish colonial America; the Revolutionary War, including correspondence of General Nathanael Greene; slavery, including certificates of freedom and slave bills of sale; the Civil War; English literature, including correspondence by George Cruikshank, Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackery, and others; and other items, including correspondence of Henry Clay. Also included are Whitaker's personal correspondence, 1904-1957; his diaries, 1952-1956; and records of his collecting activities. |
| Creator | Whitaker, William Asbury, 1883-1960. |
| Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Processing Information
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Biographical Information
William Asbury Whitaker was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1883. His parents were William A. Whitaker, Sr., and Anna Bitting Whitaker. Whitaker graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1904 and did postgraduate work at Columbia University (1905) and at the University of Chicago (1911-1912). He was a teacher of chemistry and metallurgy, first at the City College of New York and later at the University of Kansas (1911-1918). He moved to the import/export business, worked as a chemist, and was a partner in the firm of Francis I. DuPont. He retired in 1940.
Whitaker's passion was collecting books and manuscripts. Starting in 1946, he made a series of major donations to the University of North Carolina Library. In recognition of Whitaker's accomplishments in his profession and for his generosity, the University awarded him an honorary degree in 1956. William A. Whitaker died in New York City on 28 February 1960.
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Scope and Content
The collection is divided into three major components: Series 1 and 2 represent Whitaker's collection of autographs, literary, and historical manuscripts; Series 3 comprises Whitaker's personal papers; and Series 4 is his collection of images of autograph subjects and his postcard collection. The majority of his correspondence and diaries center on his activity as a collector and donor to the University of North Carolina.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Americana, 1630-1865.
Arrangement: topical.
This series consists of manuscripts collected for their autograph value. Selected autographs of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and members of the Continental Congress are present. Subseries 1.6 and 1.7 contain substantive correspondence by Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene and 19th-century orator Henry Clay. Engravings of Clay, Greene, and others can be found in Series 4.
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Subseries 1.1. Spanish America, 1630-1741.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Folder 1 |
Collected manuscripts pertaining to Spanish territories in the colonial Americas (Florida and Mexico)Orders by Don Rodrigo Pacheco, Marquis de Cerralvo, Viceroy of New Spain, to the Royal Officials of the City of Mexico, 16 June 1630 Official copy of a royal letter to the Royal House of the City of Mexico, 9 November 1702 Official copy of a royal letter to the Duke de Albuquerque, Viceroy of New Spain regarding the protection of New Spain, 25 August 1703 Document by the Duke de Albuquerque, Viceroy of New Spain, approving purchase of muskets to strengthen the Presidio of Florida, 5 November 1703 Document by the Duke de Albuquerque, Viceroy of New Spain, approving expenditures for St. Augustine, Florida, 26 February 1706 Royal letter by Philip V of Spain to the Bishop of the Pueblo of Los Angeles appointing the Bishop to procure provisions for the Province of Florida, 8 December 1723 Royal letter to the Bishop of the Pueblo of Los Angeles acknowledging receipt of information regarding the situation in Florida, 20 May 1726 Official copy of a royal letter to the Bishop of Los Angeles regarding importing provisions into Florida, 20 November 1741 |
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Subseries 1.2. Early South, 1667-1832.
Arrangement: chronological.
A sampling of documents collected primarily for their autograph value, covering North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia.
| Folder 2 |
1667-1776Rappahanock County, Va., deed, 3 May 1667 Westmoreland County, Va., deed, April 1705 Ann Arundel County, Md., deed, 29 May 1766 Letter to Lachlan McIntosh from Henry Laurens, Charleston, S.C., 5 December 1768 Warrant from Governor William Tryon to the Treasurer of the Northern District requesting funds for his residence in Newbern, N.C., 12 March 1770 Judgement signed by Governor Samuel Johnston (North Carolina), 27 August 1772 Letter from Samuel Johnston to James Iredell, Halifax, N.C., 2 May 1776 |
| Folder 3 |
1780-1794Petition of Philip Miner (Savannah, Ga.) signed by George Walton (Chatham County, Ga.), 1780(?) Petition of John Garrett (Savannah, Ga.) signed by George Walton (Chatham County, Ga.), 1783(?) Jefferson County, Va., deed, 1786 Order for salary to be paid to Thomas Smith, signed by Charles Pinckney, Charleston, S.C., 14 July 1790 Iredell County, N.C. survey by William Sharpe, 24 January 1793 Order to pay John Haywood, Halifax, N.C., 1 July 1794 Request for orders to the Governor of Maryland from William Miller of Frederick Town, Md., 12 November 1794 Governor William Moultrie to the President and Senate, Columbia, S.C., 8 December 1794 |
| Folder 4 |
1795-1832Governor William Blount (North Carolina) to Colonel David Henley, Knoxville, Tenn., 5 August 1795 Abbeville County, S.C., survey signed by Charles Pinckney, 30 May 1797 Lease to James Ormand by Isaac Franks, Germantown, Md.(?), 8 November 1798 Letter to Major John Habersham from Benjamin Hawkins, Savannah, Ga., 6 October 1799 Botetourt, Va., deed, 15 October 1799 John Randolph of Roanoke letter to Richard K. Randolph, R.I., 25 March 1811 Augustin Smith Clayton letter to William Turner, Eatonton, Ga., 16 March 1832 |
| Museum Item MU-3433/1 |
Sampler made by Nancy Clark of Charlotte, N.C., 1830 (in the North Carolina Collection Gallery) |
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Subseries 1.3. Slavery, 1769-1856.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Folder 5 |
Documents and forms pertaining to sale and freedom of slavesSale of slave, Warwick County, Va., 23 August 1769 Ten certificates of freedom, New York City, 27-29 April 1811 Two certificates of freedom, New York City, 21, 25 April 1814 Sale of slave, Halifax, N.C., 22 January 1830 Sale of slave receipt, 5 January 1831 Sale of slave, Halifax, N.C., 1 May 1835 Sale of slave, 14 October 1835 Sale of slave, Leon County, Fla., 7 May 1839 Sale of slave receipt, 25 May 1839 Sale of slave, New Orleans, La., 7 January 1842 Sale of slave, Baltimore, Md., 4 May 1851 Deed of 30 slaves by William J. Sims, Union, S.C., 26 January 1832 Sale of slaves, Tallahassee, Fla., 1 February 1854 Slaves listed in the estate of William Stone, 16 January 1856 Slaves furnished for the Confederate States of America, Charleston, S.C., 21 December 1864 |
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Subseries 1.4. Revolutionary War Era, 1750-1853.
Arrangement: chronological.
A rough grouping of documents relating to the revolutionary war and the pre-Civil War United States.
| Folder 6 |
1750-1789Six items relating to Daniel, Thomas, and Moses St. John of Norwalk, Conn., 1749-1769 Southampton, Suffolk County, N.Y., deed, 3 April 1750 Order to pay Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, signed by Hopkins, 5 April 1755 Bond for Sherburne Sleeper of Rockingham County, N.H., 13 September 1771 Boston, Mass., deed, 5 December 1771 Owen Biddle to Philadelphia Committee of Safety, 1 June 1776 Christr. Leffingwell to Governor Trumbull, Norwalk, Ct., 1 October 1776 Request for storing ammunition directed to the Penn. Board of War, signed by Richard Bache, 20 June 1777 Benjamin Hawkins letter to Abner Nash, Philadelphia, Pa., 17 November 1781 Payment receipt signed by Robert McPherson, Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pa., 16 April 1782 Letter to Brigadier General McIntosh from Robert Morris, Office of Finance, 22 October 1783 William Murren (Charleston, S.C.) letter to Isaac Franks, supply officer, Philadelphia, Pa., 22 April 1784 Richard Caswell to Jas. Glasgow, 22 January 1787 Pay roll for the Members of Council signed by five members; Benj. Lincoln, Nathan Cushing, Jonathan Greenleaf, Samuel Adams, and William Phillips, 9-12 September 1788 Bethlehem, Pa., deed, 9 December 1789 |
| Folder 7 |
1790-1853Printed resolution of the United States Congress signed by Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1790 Port of entry paper for the schooner, "Hanna," signed by Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1804 Richard Stockton letter to Garret D. Wall, Princeton, N.J., 17 February 1823 Club notice signed by Michael Faraday, 4 March 1824 Treasury Department notice signed by Joseph Nourse, 29 October 1824 Daniel Webster letter, 25 May 1834 J.C. Spencer letter, New York, 11 March 1840 Endorsement of William A. Ingersoll, 4 March 1853 |
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Subseries 1.5. Civil War Era, 1844-1865.
Arrangement: chronological.
Grouping of primarily correspondence relating to the Civil War, and participants in the war (some pre-dating the conflict).
| Folder 8 |
1844-1862William T. Sherman letter, Fort Moultrie, S.C., 30 June 1844 Jefferson Davis letter to Comm. Meade, 21 December 1859 Muster roll signed by Robert E. Lee, 31 December 1860 Walter Gywnn letter, Fort Moultrie, S.C., 18 January 1861 Charleston, S.C. report on Morris Island batteries, 30 January 1861 Castle Pinckney arms request, 19 February 1861 Letter to Governor Ellis (North Carolina), regarding delivery of rifles, 8 June 1861 Letter to Virginia governor from War Department, Confederate States of America, 15 August 1861 Yankee troop movement report by Brigadier General James Boggs, 28 August 1861 General Ripley ordinance requisition, South Carolina, 8 September 1861 Receipt to Major Leadbetter, 21 September 1861 Requisition for Enfield rifles, South Carolina, 8 November 1861 South Carolina Treasury Department, William Gist letter, 28 February 1862 Statement of Major Baskerville, 26 February 1862 Joseph Henry of the Smithsonian, letter to the Vice President, 1 May 1862 Fort Jackson, La. report, 15 April 1862 Report for Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles, Confederate States of America, 21 May 1862 Telegram to General Ruggles, 19 June 1862 Chatham County, Ga. mortgage, 4 September 1862 James Walker letter, 23 September 1862 Telegram to General Ruggles, 18 October 1862 Telegram, 22 October 1862 Captain George Schwartz letter from camp near Falmouth, Va., 27 December 1862 |
| Folder 9 |
1863-1865Captain George Schwartz letter from camp near Potomac Creek, Va., 19 April 1863 Colonel James Chesnut Jr. letter to Jefferson Davis, 11 August 1863 General Orders No. 1, signed by Major General William T. Sherman, 24 October 1863 United States Army Special Requisition signed by Lieutenant George Templeton, 16 November 1863 Letter to Miss Hattie Crook, Columbia Female College, Columbia, S.C., 13 December 1863 Two Confederate States of America telegrams to General Beauregard, 24 May, 15 June 1864 Letter from Hon. James Farrow, Spartanburg, S.C., 6 August 1864 Two letters to Miss Hattie Crook, Greenville, S.C., 16 September, 4 October 1862 Morning Report of brigade commanded by Colonel C.C. Crews, 4 November 1864 Letter from the North Carolina Adjutant General's Office, 12 December 1864 Telegram from General Hood to General Beauregard, 14 December 1864 Brigade report, First Tennessee Cavalry, 10 January 1865 Two letters, to General Beauregard and Colonel Otey, from Major General Wheeler, 12 February 1865 Telegram to Colonel Otey, 23 February 1865 Hospital Report, Columbus, Ga., 21-22 February 1865 Lieutenant Colonel Roman to Colonel Brent, Augusta, Ga., 4 April 1865 |
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Subseries 1.6. Nathanael Greene Correspondence, 1781-1783.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Folder 10 |
Primary field correspondence by the American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene (1742-1786)To Lieutenant Colonel Lee, 15 January 1781 To General Marion, 16 January 1781 To General Lillington, 22 January 1781 To Lieutenant Colonel Lee, 26 January 1781 To General Sumner (Camp Halifax), 18 February 1781 To Lieutenant Colonel Lee (Boyds Mill, between the Haw and Deep Rivers), 5 March 1781 To Lieutenant Colonel Lee (Camp at High Rock Ford), 9 March 1781 To Lieutenant Colonel Lee (Camp at High Rock Ford), 10 March 1781 Two letters to Lieutenant Colonel Lee, 19 March 1781 To Lieutenant Colonel Lee (Camp at South Buffalo), 22 March 1781 To Lieutenant Colonel Lee (Camp before Camden), 24 April 1781 To General George Washington (Headquarters, Charlestown), 11 July 1783 To Greene from Ben Guerard (Charlestown, S.C.), 12 August 1783 To Greene from Warner Mifflin, with note by Benjamin Rush, 21 October 1783 |
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Subseries 1.7. Henry Clay Correspondence, 1807-1848 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence by Henry Clay (1777-1852), American politician and orator. The 9 August 1848 letter has an oval photo of Clay attached to the letter. The undated letter is to the Hon. Joseph Nickolson and has a fragment from a letter addressed to Washington Irving attached.
| Folder 11 |
1807-1848 and undated |
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Series 2. Literary Miscellany, 1587-1899.
Arrangement: topical.
A miscellaneous grouping of manuscripts collected primarily for their autograph value.
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Subseries 2.1. George Cruikshank Correspondence, 1837-1876.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Folder 12 |
Four letters25 June 1837 15 July 1838 27 November 1843 17 March 1876 |
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Subseries 2.2. Charles Dickens Materials, 1844-1932.
Arrangement: chronological.
Eight letters by Dickens and the manuscript for an article on Dickens and related correspondence to appear in The Dickensian .
| Folder 13 |
Eight letters20 April 1844 26 January 1848 20 September 1849 24 October 1850 18 August 1859 28 January 1865 14 October 1867 Undated (28 July?) |
| Folder 14 |
Dickensian article: "Did Mr. Dombey take his Chariot?" by Newbury Frost Read, and related correspondence, 1932 |
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Subseries 2.3. William Makepeace Thackeray Correspondence, 1849-1857.
| Folder 15 |
Two letters by Thackeray13 November 1849 10 January 1857 |
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Subseries 2.4. Miscellany, 1597-1899
and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Folder 16 |
Miscellaneous itemsTwo English deeds (in Latin), 1597, 1609 Two letters by Sir Humphry Davy (inventor of laughing gas), 30 June 1812, 1 December 1818 Notice from Michael Faraday, 11 January 1837 Diploma from the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, signed by John Dalton, 23 January 1844 Letter from Thomas Henry Huxley to Lady Wrothesley, 28 September 1867(?) Letter by Benjamin Silliman, New Haven, 19 June 1869 Letter by James Thomas Fields, 5 April 1880 Letter by S.L. Clemens (Mark Twain), 18 July 1881 Letter by William Morris (Kelmscott Press), 20 February 1890 Letter by J.B. Gordon (Georgia senator), 6 December 1895 Letter by Joesph Conrad, 10 April 1897 Joseph Jefferson to "Maggie" (Margaret Jane Jefferson Farjeon, wife of Benjamin L. Farjeon), 18 November 1899 Letter by Johnston Forbes-Robertson, undated |
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Series 3. Personal Papers, 1904-1957.
Arrangement: chronological.
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Subseries 3.1. Correspondence, 1904-1957.
Arrangement: chronological.
Whitaker's early correspondence is primarily from his mother and father (William A. Whitaker, Sr. and Anna Bitting Whitaker) of Winston-Salem, N.C. From 1913 to 1915, Whitaker, a professor of the University of Kansas, received a number of letters from John Muldoon. Muldoon lived with an aunt in Atlantic City, N.J. and Whitaker acted as his "Big Brother."
Whitaker's later correspondence centered around building his collection of autographs and books as well as correspondence with UNC librarian, Charles Rush. Most of the correspondence with Rush concerns his substantial donations of books and manuscripts to the University Library. From the late 1940s on, substantial correspondence with rare book dealers is present, including Alan Thomas, Parke-Bernet Galleries (Arthur Swann), Francis Edwards, Ltd., A.S.W. Rosenbach, and Mary Benjamin among others. Copies of Whitaker's correspondence is present in many instances.
The undated correspondence in folder 29 also includes some genealogical materials on the Whitaker family.
| Folder 17 |
October 1904-March 1905 |
| Folder 18 |
April-December 1905 |
| Folder 19 |
1906-1912 |
| Folder 20 |
1913-1917 |
| Folder 21 |
1921-1948 |
| Folder 22 |
1949 |
| Folder 23 |
January-June 1950 |
| Folder 24 |
July-December 1950 |
| Folder 25 |
1951 |
| Folder 26 |
1952 |
| Folder 27 |
1953 |
| Folder 28 |
1954-1957 |
| Folder 29 |
Undated and family data |
| Oversize Paper Folder OPF-3433/1 |
Photocopies of pages from manuscript volume of genealogical records, undated |
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Subseries 3.2. Diaries, 1951-1956.
This grouping consists of Whitaker's personal diaries for 1952, 1954-1956. In the diaries Whitaker kept track of book and manuscripts acquisitions and donations as well as social engagements and financial matters. Also present are three logs documenting his collections and donations to UNC.
| Folder 30 |
Personal diaries: 1952, 1954 |
| Folder 31 |
Personal diaries: 1955, 1956 |
| Folder 32 |
Donation logsLog of Dickens and other rare books donated to UNC, 1951-1954 Log of shipments to UNC, 1955 Log of donation of costume plates, 1954 |
| Folder 33 |
Blank book entitled "True Stories of the Bitting and Whitaker Families Told by W.A. Whitaker," bound by Elizabeth N. Whitaker, Christmas 1953 |
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Subseries 3.3. Receipts and Acknowledgments, 1930-1957 and undated.
Arrangement: roughly chronological.
Receipts for rare book and manuscript purchases and gift acknowledgements from the UNC Library. The bulk of the material falls between 1949-1953.
| Folder 34 |
1930-1949 |
| Folder 35 |
1950 |
| Folder 36 |
1951 |
| Folder 37 |
1951 |
| Folder 38 |
1952 |
| Folder 39 |
1953-1957 |
| Folder 40 |
Americana autographs acquisition records |
| Folder 41 |
Spanish americana acquisition records |
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Series 4. Pictures, undated.
Arrangement: by format, then content.
This grouping consists of engravings, prints, and postcards. Whitaker collected engraving of individuals whose autographs were present in his collection. The postcards are primarily of the Western United States dating from the early 20th century. They document scenic wonders, mines, and refineries. An autographed postcard of Orville Wright is contained in PF-3433/12.
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Items Separated