Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Martha (Williams) Carter Papers |
Date |
1838-1899 |
Object Name |
Manuscript |
Collection |
Martha (Williams) Carter Papers |
Catalog Number |
MS6 |
Scope & Content |
The Martha (Williams) Carter Papers consist of correspondence, subject files, literary productions, a few financial records, and scrapbook material. The general correspondence reveals her close involvement with the Custis and Lee families at Arlington House and her attempts to get a West Point appointment for her brother, William Orton Williams. In addition to the general correspondence, there are letters from family members: Martha (Custis) Peter, America (Peter) Williams, Major Laurence Abert Williams, William Williams, and Captain William George Williams. Her letters contain many details about life at Tudor Place and her social activities. The Major Laurence Abert Williams' correspondence describes his activities as a young boy and West Point cadet; some letters were written while he was stationed later in the western territories. His letters from the 1870s detail his unsuccessful attempts to establish himself after the end of his military career; these letters reveal that his wife, Sarah (Law) Williams, had separated from him. Captain William George Williams' correspondence describes her father's activities in the last five years of his life, including descriptions of his travel and family news. Many of the subject files are scrapbooks or letters received by family members. Two subject files contain important correspondence related to events in the lives of her two brothers, and one file holds correspondence received from Captain William George Williams over a period of twenty-seven years and material related to his estate. One subject file contains correspondence, copies of correspondence, notes, and printed material related to the dismissal of Major Laurence Abert Williams from the Army and his attempt to be reinstated and put on its list of retired officers; another file includes correspondence of William Orton Williams and material related to his death. Literary productions consist of notes, diaries, and diary excerpts. The notes detail her speculations on religion. Her diaries and diary excerpts record her activities and thoughts as she traveled in England and on the Continent during 1852 and 1853. Most of the other material was written while she was living in Philadelphia studying art during 1862 and during the first year of her marriage to Samuel Powhatan Carter in 1877. There are a few financial records, a significant amount of scrapbook material, some address lists, and printed material. The scrapbook material includes letters written by historical figures or members of the Peter or Williams families, news clippings with information about family members, and address lists. |
Search Terms |
Finding Aid |
People |
Carter, Martha Custis Williams (1827-1899) Williams, William G., Capt. Flint, Dr. Austin Custis, George Washington Parke (1781-1857) Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward) Lee, Mary Anna Randolph Custis Peale, Rembrandt Williams, William Orton Peter, Martha "Markie" Kennon Harrison, William Henry (1773-1841) Williams, Laurence Abert Kennon, Britannia Wellington Peter Carter, Samuel Powhatan, Admiral (1819-1891) Williams, America Pickney Peter Upshur, Columbia (Williams) Gibson, Mrs. James |
Subjects |
Correspondence Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial (Va.) Michigan--Sault Sainte Marie Canal Alexandria, Virginia Civil war Michigan--Mackinac Island (Island) Paris, France Diaries |