Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840–1898

This series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter.


The letters have been previously divided into "copied" (Series 1a.) and "not copied" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A&M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the "copied" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the "not copied" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends.
"Copied" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898.


"Not copied" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900.


The incoming letters encompass a variety of topics:


Everyday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty "disabilities"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University).


The letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22).


Selected correspondents include:

Robert Anderson;
W.W. Arnett;
James Barns (WTW’s uncle);
Gordon Battelle;
Alfred Beckley;
Judge Berkshire;
Jacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica);
Governor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia;
R.M. Brown (U.S. Navy);
Gideon D. Camden;
Archibald W. Campbell;
John S. Carlile;
Secretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase;
Schyler Colfax;
John J. Davis;
Spencer Dayton;
H.C. Dean;
M.M. Dent;
H. Dering;
T.J. Evans;
Harrison Hagans;
J. Marshall Hagans;
Granville D. Hall;
Alpheus F. Haymond;
T. and L. Haymond;
Richard Garrett;
Nathan Goff;
Ulysses S. Grant (autograph);
John J. Jackson;
Governor John Letcher of Virginia;
Alexander Martin (West Virginia University President);
John L. Pendleton;
Francis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia);
T.P. Ray;
General Winfield Scott (copy of letter);
F.W. Seward;
W.M. Shinn;
Edwin M. Stanton;
Governor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia;
David Hunter Strother;
George W. Summers;
Peter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey);
Alexander L. Wade;
James O. Watson;
William J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s);
Willey's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.


The letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s.