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John T. Harris Papers

SC #2025

Carrier Library, James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Compiled by Brian E. Crowson, April, 1987
Revised January, 1992   

PLEASE NOTE:  Collection is no longer available on microfilm at James Madison University; microfilm is available at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society in Harrisonburg, Va., and at the Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Scope & Content

The John T. Harris collection consists of 7 Hollinger boxes and two oversize folders, encompassing the years 1771-(1850-1900)-1937. Although the collection contains a large amount of personal and political documents relevant to the life and career of John T. Harris, the bulk of the collection is letters of John T. Harris and family, and of Peyton Randolph and his family.

John T. Harris (1823-1899) was perhaps one of the most prominent citizens of Rockingham County throughout the nineteenth century. The son of Nathan and Ann Harris, he was commonwealth's attorney for Rockingham County from 1852 to 1859 and in 1856 he served as a Presidential elector for James Buchanan. Thereafter, he served in the United States Congress from 1859 until the outbreak of the Civil War. Despite his strong Unionist sentiments and his continual efforts to keep Virginia in the Union, Harris remained loyal to Virginia when she seceded in May of 1861. During the war he served two terms in the Virginia General Assembly. Following the war John T. Harris was judge of the 12th judicial circuit, which included Rockingham County. In 1870 he was again elected to Congress and was continuously re-elected until 1880, after which he resumed his law practice in Harrisonburg. John T. Harris returned to politics in 1889 as a rival of P.W. McKinney for the Democratic nomination for the governorship. Later he was appointed by Governor McKinney as one of the representatives for Virginia to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1892. He died in Harrisonburg, October 14, 1899. It should be noted that in 1999, a master's thesis at the University of South Carolina on the memoirs of John T. Harris, Sr. was completed by Dale H. Harter and is available in Carrier Library, F234.H31 H38 1999.

A major portion of the John T. Harris letters, (1841-1899), are from Harris's constituents requesting personal favors. Those letters from 1860 to 1861 primarily address the issue of Virginia seceding from the Union. Echoing the sentiments of many residents of western Virginia, most of the letters express pro-Unionist feelings and encourage Harris to work for a compromise in the Congress to avert violent conflict. Moreover, the contents of these letters, despite the lack of any letters from him, suggest that Harris worked with and was a close friend of Stephen A. Douglas. The rest of the correspondence consists chiefly of letters among various members of the Harris family. These letters provide little more than descriptions of family life. However, there are several letters to John T. Harris, Jr., himself a prominent lawyer in Rockingham County, from Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt.

In addition to the Harris family letters, there are a large number of miscellaneous letters (3 Hollinger boxes) of the related Peyton Randolph Family. The Randolph family papers came into the Harris family when John T .Harris's son, John T. Harris, Jr. married Peyton Randolph's daughter, Mary Elizabeth Randolph. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1833, Peyton was the son of James Innes Randolph, a congressional clerk, and Susan Armistead Randolph. However, despite the numerous letters to him, little is known about Peyton Randolph. Prior to the Civil War he attended Columbian College (now George Washington University) and was an engineer on numerous railroad projects in Virginia, Indiana, and Alabama through the 1850's. He enlisted in the army in Mobile, Alabama at the outbreak of war and served as an engineer in Pickett's division, rising to the rank of major by 1865. Thereafter, even less is known of his life. He married Mary Fisher following the war, returned to the engineering profession, and died November 28, 1888.

Most of the Peyton Randolph letters, (1846-1884), consist of letters from several college friends and his immediate family. Of these, those from college friend Henry Force are particularly enlightening. Force was the son of historian Peter Force and acted as surveyor on the Border Commission dispatched to study the newly acquired lands in present-day New Mexico and Arizona. In a series of letters to Peyton from 1848 to 1853, Force describes his encounters with Mexican soldiers and Apache Indians, as well as his duties on the trek from New Orleans to San Diego. Transcriptions are available for 8 of Force's letters, 1848-1851. 

Also worth noting are the letters to Peyton from his mother, Susan Armistead Randolph, which form the bulk of the Randolph letters. In her weekly four-page letters Mrs. Randolph describes life in Washington, D.C. during the 1850's, including the inauguration of Franklin Pierce and Henry Clay's funeral. Significantly, Susan Randolph was acutely aware of the political climate of her era and took particular interest in the Know-Nothing party in the 1850's. In several letters she outlines the platform of the Know-Nothings and even urges Peyton to join the party. However, despite her vivid political commentaries and her proximity to the arena of the conflict, she surprisingly never mentions the issue of slavery. In addition to her political and social sketches, she provides detailed accounts of family life, including rather grisly descriptions of the deaths of various family members. Her letters from Richmond during the war describe the changes in life in that city through the course of the war and include detailed examples of the rampant inflation of prices on common goods such as bacon and flour. Of particular interest are Mrs. Randolph's inquiries concerning General Lewis Armistead, who was said to be the first Confederate soldier to cross into Union lines during Pickett's Charge at the battle of Gettysburg. She was, in fact, General Armstead's first cousin. See Randolph Harris Moulton's Some Randolphs Around Civil War Times for transcriptions of some of the Payton Randolph letters.

The remainder of the Randolph letters consist mainly of miscellaneous letters from Susan Randolph to her other children and correspondence among Peyton's sisters, Mollie, Nannie, and Sue. There are also a few miscellaneous Peyton Randolph items including a book of psalms which he carried during the Civil War.

The series encompassing John T. Harris's personal papers includes his law license, a will written in 1861, and his post-Civil War oath of allegiance to the U.S. The certificate in which President Benjamin Harrison appoints Harris as Virginia's representative at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1892 is located in the oversize miscellaneous file. His handwritten autobiography, (photocopy) dated 1898, gives many particulars of his life (see note in second paragraph above for Dale Harter's master's thesis on the Harris memoirs).

The series comprised of John T. Harris's political papers consists primarily of copies of his Congressional speeches as well as several made by other members of Congress. The most notable of these is the resignation speech of Preston B. "Bully" Brookes, who was censured by the Congress for caning Charles Sumner in 1856. In addition, there are election returns from elections in which Harris was a candidate. These include reports from Rockingham County and localities throughout the Shenandoah Valley. A large number of political broadsides and handbills, from both local and national elections, are collected in an oversize file.

In the miscellaneous series, there are three folders of genealogical notes and charts pertaining to the Harris family. These were compiled by members of the Harris family and researchers at the Virginia Historical Society. Among the Civil War documents are requests for exemption from military service, requisition receipts from Confederate military authorities, contracts between individuals and their military substitutes, and requests to John Harris for release from Union prisoner-of-war camps. There is also a typed autobiography (photocopy) by John T. Harris Jr. dated 1936,which includes characterizations of the lawyers he knew.

The James Clarkson papers, (1771-1835), are comprised mostly of legal documents from Albemarle County. These documents were preserved by John T. Harris's wife, Virginia Harris, who was a descendant of James Clarkson. Other miscellaneous items include indentures, as well as numerous items pertaining to the Harris family. Among the photographs is a print of Peyton Randolph and his four brothers.

Arrangement

1. Letters.
   Sub series: John T. Harris Letters, 1845-99, & undated;
   Misc. Harris Family Letters, 1831-1937, & und.;
   Peyton Randolph Letters, 1846-1884, & und.;
   Misc. Randolph Family Letters, 1837-1928, & und.
   Peyton Randolph Misc., 1846-1865.
   
2. John T. Harris Personal Papers, 1843-1898.
3. John T. Harris Political Papers, 1856-1896.
4. Miscellaneous, 1771-1936.
5. Oversize.

Provenance
Placed on deposit according to the Nov. 1985 contract with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.

Bibliography
Boatner, Mark Mayo. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay Co., Inc., 1959.
Dabney, Virginius. Virginia: The New Dominion. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1971.
Daniels, Jonathon. The Randolphs of Virginia. New York: Doubleday, 1972.
Johnson, Allen & Malone, Dumas, ed. Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. VI. NY: Scribner's  

Sons, 1931.

Krick, Robert K. Lee's Colonels: A Biographical Register of the Field Officers of the

Army of Northern Virginia. Dayton, Ohio: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1979.

Members of Congress Since 1789. Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1977.
The National Cyclopedia of American Biography. Vol. XIX. NY: Charles T. White and Co., 1926.
Tewksbury, Donald G. The Founding of American Colleges and Universities Before the Civil War. NY:

Archon Books, 1965.

Wakelyn, Jon L. Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy. Westport, CN: Greenwood, 1977.
Wayland, John W. A History of Rockingham County, Virginia. Dayton, VA: Ruebush-Elkins, 1912.
 

Organization

Box 1, Series 1 (Reel 1 & 2): Letters. Subseries: John T. Harris Letters. 1845-99. 
Folder 1: 1845-1860 (Many letters in 1-3 deal with secession and opposition to it).

• 2 Feb. 1857 Arch Graham on national, state & local politics, with letter of 20 July 1925 from John T. Harris (son) interpreting the meaning of the letter. NOTE: These letters were donated to Carrier Library by descendent P. Randolph Harris after microfilming was completed and are not on microfilm.

• 3 March 1860 Supporter of Stephen A. Douglas & "squatter sovereignty."
  
• 2 May 1860 Talk of secession
  
• 30 Oct. 1860 England blamed for dissolution of the Union
  
• 1 Dec. 1860 South Carolina resident gives plans of that state with regards to the Union.
• 16 Dec. 1860 Harris believes Union must be preserved.
  

Folder 2: January 1861.

• 21 Jan. 1861 Constituent blames "Black Republicans" and Lincoln for conflict between the North and South.
  

Folder 3: February 1861.

• 20 Feb. 1861 Letter from Gov. John Letcher.
  
• 21 Feb. 1861 Constituent refers to slavery as the "never ending nigger question."
  
• 27 Feb. 1861 Letter from Col. David B. Birney, son of abolitionist James G. Birney
  

Folder 4: March 1861-1864.
Folders 5-8: 1865-1872.

Box 2 (Reel 2 & 3): Series 1, Letters. Subseries: John T. Harris Letters, 1845-1899.
Folders 1-8: 1873-1899.
Folder 9: Undated.

Box 3, Series 1 (Reel 4 & 5): Letters. Subseries: Misc. Harris Family Letters, 1831-1937.
Folders 1-2: 1831-1890.
Folder 3: 1891-1901.

• 24 Dec. 1895 J.R. Jones gives sabre to J.T.Harris Jr.
  

Folder 4: 1902-1911.
Folder 5: 1912-1915.

• 13, 18 July 1912 Letters from Woodrow Wilson
  
• 25 Oct., 17 Nov. 1915 Letters from Teddy Roosevelt
  

Folders 6-8: 1916-1937.
Folder 9: Undated.

Box 4, Series 1 (Reel 5): Letters. Subseries: Peyton Randolph Letters, 1846-1884.
Folder 1: 1846-1851.  Eight letters in Folder 1 from Henry Force to Peyton Randolph, 1848-51, are available in transcription (NOT ON MICROFILM).

• 17 Aug. 1850 Henry Force describes voyage from New York to Havana and New Orleans.
  
• 7 Sept. 1850 Henry Force's duties as surveyor on Border Commission in Victoria, Texas.
  
• 5 April 1850 Samuel Force giving views of a Princeton Freshman.
• 29 June 1851 Henry Force describes encounters with Mexicans and Apaches in New Mexico.
  

Folder 2: 1852.

• 9 March 1852 Henry Force describe duties and life in San Diego and survey of the Gila River.
  
• 21 March 1852 Susan Randolph, Peyton's mother, notes new painting in Capitol Rotunda-Washington Crossing the Delaware.
  
• 4 July 1852 Mother describes Henry Clay's funeral.
  
• 3 Oct. 1852 Mother describes father's involvement in Whig vs. Democrat politics.
  

Folder 3: Jan.-June 1853.

• 2 Jan. 1853 Mother describes death of Nannie's son, Randolph, of scarlet fever.
  
• 4 Jan. 1853 Mother describes death of Peyton's grandfather.
  
• 9 Jan. 1853 Mother describes erecting of statue of Andrew Jackson with speech by Stephen A. Douglas.
  
• 6 Feb. 1853 Mother anticipates somber character of Franklin Pierce's inauguration because of recent death of his only son.
  
• 13 Feb. 1853 Henry Force describes Apache attack on return trip from El Paso.
  
• 13 March 1853 Mother describes Pierce's inauguration.
  
• 22 May 1853 Mother describes 25th wedding anniversary.
  

Folder 4: July-Dec. 1853.

• 21 Nov. 1853 James Innes Randolph asks for $200 to avoid fore- closure on house and sale of furniture.
  

Folder 5: Jan.-June 1854.

• 28 May 1854 Father believes Kansas-Nebraska Act will make North- erners refuse to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law.
  
• 18 June 1854 Mother urges Peyton to join the Know-Nothings.
  
• 26 June 1854 Mother notes rumor that Pope's nuncio was engaged in Catholic atrocities to subvert the government and make Washington the headquarters of the Pope.
  

Folder 6: July-Dec. 1854.

• 23 July 1854 Mother describes spread of cholera in Washington.
  
• 19 Nov. 1854 Mother describes financial panic in Washington.
  

Folder 7: 1855.

• 1 March 1855 Mother gives vivid description of Grandmother's death.
  
• 10 May 1855 Wm. Titcomb warns Peyton not to join Know-Nothings.
  
• 22 Dec. 1855 Wm. Titcomb anticipates arrival of Santa Claus.
  
  

Box 5, Series 1 (Reel 5 & 6): Letters. Subseries: Peyton Randolph Letters, 1846-1884, Con't.
Folder 1: 1856.

          9 July 1856 Henry Force describes trial of Preston Brookes for assault of Sumner in the Senate.

• 17 Aug. 1856 Henry Force discusses maintenance of Washington Territory boundary.
  
• 24 Aug. 1856 Father tries unsuccessfully to get a clerkship at Congress.
  
• 3 Sept. 1856 Henry Force describes his father's (Peter Force) problems with his documentary history of America.
  
• 3 Nov. 1856 Peyton believes Buchanan will defeat Fillmore in presidential election.

Folder 2: 1857-1860.

• 7 June 1857 Peyton in Mississippi gladly notes absence of foreigners and Yankees.

Folder 3: 1861-1862.

• 6 Jan. 1861 Peyton believes conflict between South Carolina and the U.S. will not last long because neither can afford a war.
  
• 17 March 1861 Mother believes Lincoln will preserve peace.
  
• 24 March 1861 Peyton joins the Army at Fort Morgan, Alabama.
  
• 24 March 1861 Mother observes that most Know-Nothings have switched to the Republicans.
  
• 14 April 1861 Mother says, "Hurrah for the Southern Confederacy."
  
• 8 Sept. 1861 Mother descibes rising prices in Richmond. Peyton's brother John could see the Capitol rotunda on picket duty outside Washington.
  
• 20 Oct. 1861 Mother visits Richmond hospitals filled with soldiers.
  
• 5 May 1862 Mother describes Confederate evacuation of Yorktown and Norfolk. Notes Merrimac is in the James River.
  
• 24 Dec. 1862 Peyton asks when Gen. Armistead's uniforms will be ready.

Folder 4: 1863-1884.

• 15 Feb. 1863 Prices skyrocketing in Richmond.
  
• 14 July 1863 Mother believes Lewis Armistead still alive despite rumors of his death at Gettysburg.
  
• 20 Aug. 1863 Mother questions fate of Gen. Armistead.
  
• 17 July 1864 Mother describes scarcity of food in Richmond.

Folder 5: Undated

Box 5, Series 1 (Reel 5 & 6): Letters. Subseries: Misc. Randolph Family Letters, 1837-1928.
Folder 6: 1837-1857.

• 6 July 1854 Birthday letter to Mary Fisher, Peyton's future wife. Advises her what to look for in a husband.
  
• 10 Feb. 1856 Letter to Innes Randolph at Hobart College, New York.

Folder 7: 1861-1866.

• 4 Dec. 1861 John Randolph describes winter camp life in the army and his efforts to stay warm.
  
• 6 Feb. 1862 Mollie, fearing that the North will win, wonders why England and France will not recognize the Confederacy.
  
• 12 Aug. 1863 Mother unsure of Lewis Armistead's fate. Notes the high cost of wood and coal.
  
• 22 Nov. 1863 Mother describes death of James Innes Randolph.
  
• 13 May 1864 Family wakes to booming cannon outside Richmond. John brought home wounded in thigh.

Folder 8: 1868-1928.
Folder 9: Undated.
Folder 10: 1844-1865.

Box 6. Series 2 (Reel 7): John T. Harris Personal & Family Papers, 1843-1936..
Folder 1: 1843-1887.
Folder 2: Autobiography of J.T. Harris (photocopy), 1898 (see note in second paragraph of Scope & Content note above for Dale Harter's master's thesis on these memoirs).
Folder 3: Autobiography of J.T. Harris Jr. (photocopy), 1936.
Folders 4-6: Harris genealogy.
Folders 7-9: Newsclippings.

Box 7, Series 3 (Reel 7): John T. Harris Political Papers, 1856-1896.
Folder 1: 1856-1896

• 1856 Resignation speech of Congressman Preston B. Brookes.
  

Folder 2: Undated (Reel 8)

Box 7, Series 4 (Reel 8): Miscellaneous, 1771-1936.
Folder 3: 1795-1863.

• 1795 List of Subscribers to the "New Virginia Justice" including Thomas Jefferson.

Folder 4: 1864-1933.
Folders 5-6: Civil War documents, 1861-1865.
Folder 7: Indentures. 1734 (copy), 1786.
Folder 8: James Clarkson papers, 1771-1835.
Folder 9: Photographs.

• Undated Photograph of Peyton Randolph and his four brothers.
  

Folder 10: Undated

Flat Box 1, Series 5 (Reel 9): Oversize.
Folder 1: John T. Harris Political papers
Folder 2: Miscellaneous

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