[Manuscript notes for] The University of Virginia Library, 1825-1950; story of a Jeffersonian foundation. |
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LEE PAPERS |
 | [Manuscript notes for] The University of Virginia Library, 1825-1950; |  |
LEE PAPERS
Records from minutes of meetings of the Board of Visitors and
of the Faculty.
Faculty. 8 December 1835. The Chairman laid before the
Faculty the request of Mr. Richard H. Lee, Professor in
Washington College, Pennsylvania, to be allowed to withdraw
for a time, some manuscripts belonging to his Grandfather,
R. H. Lee, as he stated and which he had presented to the University
on condition of his having this privilege. His
object was to make a copy of them, and he would then return
the Originals to the University.
Mr. Tucker offered the Following resolution which was
seconded and passed.
Richard H. Lee, Esq. having applied to the Faculty for permission
to withdraw certain papers heretofore presented by him
to the Library of this University, Resolved that with every
disposition to comply with Mr. Lee's request, the Faculty do not
conceive it within the scope of their powers to grant it. They
however suggest that if Mr. Lee wishes copies of any of their
papers they will afford him every facility in their power. But
if Mr. Lee should find it more convenient to have possession of
the papers themselves, they presume that on application to the
Visitors, to whom alone it is competent to consent to their
removal, his application will be granted.
Faculty. 15 December 1835. The Chairman presented a
report from the Librarian in regard to the revolutionary papers
presented to the University by the descendants of R. H. Lee.
Visitors. 12 August 1836. A letter from Wm. T. Joynes,
late a Student of the University addressed to the Rector on the
30th of June containing an extract of a letter from Richd. H.
Lee, Esqr. touching the papers of his grandfather, which were
formerly given to the University having been read; in consideration
thereof:
Resolved, that the Visitors having regard to the value of
the manuscripts referred to and the danger of loss or injury
in sending them without the walls of the Institution feel it a
duty to decline to part with the originals with the exception
of a single letter or other manuscript to be selected by the
Chairman of the Faculty from the collection of said manuscripts,
one of the late Richd. H. Lee, one of Francis L. Lee & one of
Mr. Jefferson, and to be sent to Mr. Lee as autographs of his
Grandfather, of Francis L. Lee & of Mr. Jefferson.
Resolved That the Secretary be requested to make copies
of all the writings in said collection of the Late Richd. H.
Lee Esqr. of the following dates viz: - 1775, 1776, 1777,
1784, 1785, 1788 & 1789 and also all the letters of the late
Edmund Pendleton Esqr. and to transmit the said copies to Mr.
Richd. H. Lee as requested in the letter laid before the
Board.
Resolved, that it shall be the duty of the Secretary to
retain copies certified by the Chairman of the Faculty of the
three original papers directed to be returned by the preceding
resolution.
Visitors. 8 July 1841. 19. Resolved that the Chairman
of the Faculty cause the papers and manuscripts deposited in
the library by the Representatives of the late Richard Henry
Lee decd. to be examined and classified by some competent hand
on terms that he may deem reasonable & and that they, together
with a brief descriptive list of such as may appear to be of
general interest or value be carefully lodged in such cases
in the library as will best ensure their safety & preservation,
the expense of this work to be paid by the proctor upon the
order of the Chairman.
Visitors. 27 June 1856. On motion of Mr. Joynes [the
former student who wrote the letter referred to in the minutes
of 12 August 1836 was now himself a Visitor] it was Resolved
That the original papers of Richard Henry Lee decd. in the
possession of the University be placed in the hands of Professor
Holcombe, who is hereby requested to examine the same and
cause any of them to be copied which may be in such a condition
as to require it, and of sufficient interest or importance
to justify it, and to make such suggestions as may seem proper
in relation to their future preservation.
Visitors. 30 June 1857. On the suggestion of Professor
Holcombe, (who represents that he cannot conveniently perform
the duty) he is requested to transfer the original papers of
Richd Henry Lee to Mr. N. Francis Cabell of Nelson County,
with the request that he discharge the trust confided to Mr.
Holcombe in reference to such papers.
Faculty. 24 January 1881. The Chairman read a letter
received from Prof. Cabell, now in Washington City, in relation
to the sale of the Lee Papers to Congress. And a doubt arising
as to the title of the University in these papers, and whether
the authorities had a right to dispose of them:
On motion Resolved, That a committee be appointed to
investigate the matter and make report to the next meeting of
the Faculty. The Committee, meanwhile to have authority to
action of the Faculty.
Committee Professors Venable, Holmes, Fontaine.
Faculty. 1 February 1881. Prof. Venable, Chairman of
the Committee on the Lee Papers, submitted a report and resolution
of the majority of the Committee — Prof. Holmes from
the same Committee dissenting.
On motion, the Report was received, and laid on the table
for further consideration at the next meeting of the Faculty.
On motion of Prof. Minor, Resolved that it is the opinion
of the Faculty that no publication shall be made of any of
the letters contained in the Lee Collection, so-called, now in
the Library of the University, until and without the formal
consent of the Board of Visitors shall be obtained thereto.
Faculty. 1 March 1881. The Report of the Committee on
the Lee Papers, which was laid on the table at the last meeting
was taken up and adopted; it is as follows.
Your Committee have found indubitable evidence that the
Lee Papers belong to the University, being a gift from Richard
Henry Lee, grandson of Richard Henry Lee of the Revolution.
We recommend the passing of the following resolutions by the
Faculty:
1. We respectfully recommend to the Board of Visitors to
negociate for a sale of the Lee Papers to the U. States
Government, with the consent of the present representatives of
the Lee family, to be filed and preserved in the Congressional
Library — and the purchase of a collection of books for the
Library with the proceeds of the sale, said collection to be
kept separate and styled the Richard Henry Lee Memorial -
2. That the Faculty cannot give their consent to any publication
of copies of any of the hitherto unpublished letters
or documents belonging to the Lee Papers, until the Board of
Visitors at their next meeting, have acted on the above recommendation.
The resolution was passed.
Professor Holmes offered a series of resolutions in regard
to the Lee Papers, which, on motion, were laid on the table for
consideration at the next meeting of the Faculty.
Faculty. 1 April 1881. Prof. Holmes' resolutions in
reference to the Lee Papers were again postponed to the next
meeting of the Faculty.
Faculty. 30 April 1881. On Motion of Prof. Holmes, the
resolutions offered by him and laid on the table, in regard to
the Lee Papers were referred to the Committee on the Faculty
Report.
Faculty. 15 June 1881. [The annual report of the
Faculty to the Board of Visitors was approved at this meeting.
It included the following section.]
1. On three several occasions, within the last forty
years, to wit: in July 1841, June 1856, and June 1857, the
Visitors directed the examination and more or less complete
transcription of what are known as the Lee Papers, presented
by Richard Henry Lee Jr. to the Library of the University.
Nothing has yet been done in this regard, except what is now
in progress under the Authority of the Rector.
Many of these Papers are already in a very dilapidated condition.
Some have been apparently lost.- To prevent further
injury, to retain a record of the several Papers, and also a
copy of them in case they should be disposed of, it is recommended
that the Visitors direct a fair copy to be made of all such of
them as possess permanent interest. It seems advisable also that
a Calendar or Catalogue of the Papers, with a brief indication
of their contents, should be ordered for ordinary Consultation -
It is further recommended that it should be ascertained and noted
which of these Papers have been already published and where, and
that correspondence should be opened with Harvard University,
and with any other quarters where information is likely to be
obtained, to discover what unpublished mss. remains among the
Papers bestowed or left elsewhere by Richard Henry Lee, Jr. The
information so obtained should be appended to the Calendar suggested
- with a like Calendar of the Contents of such Papers, if
the abstract of them can be procured.
For the due execution of this important work, a suitable
person should be employed and a small appropriation should be
made for his compensation.
2. We also recommend that the Visitors negotiate for a sale
of the Lee Papers to the U.S. Government, with the consent of
the present representatives of the Family, to be filed and preserved
in the Congressional Library; and that a collection of
books be purchased for the Library with the proceeds of the Sale,
such Collection to be kept separate and styled the Richard Henry
Lee Memorial.
Visitors. 29 June 1881. The [Visitors' Library] Committee
feel especially called upon to endorse the action of the Rector
and to respond to the recommendation of the Faculty with reference
to the "Lee" papers & to recommend the continuance of Col.
Th. L. Preston in the duty of digesting & collecting these
valuable papers for their proper preservation upon reasonable
terms of compensation to be approved by the Rector, for his past
& future services in the premises, until the completion of the
same — but your Committee do not approve the recommendation of
the Faculty for the sale of these manuscripts, believing them to
be especially appropriate & valuable to the archives of the
University... [This report of the Visitors' Library Committee
was signed by Jno. L. Marye, Jno. Goode, Jno. F. Lay.]
On motion the foregoing resolutions are adopted and
approved by the Board.
Visitors. 29 September 1881. 2. Correspondence of Col.
T. L. Preston with reference to his claim to additional compensation
for work done by him in preparation of synoptical
Catalogue of the "Lee Papers." ...
The Board being informed, that since the payment of two
hundred & twenty five dollars to Col. Thos. L. Preston for his
services in the preparation of a synoptical Catalogue & Index
of the Lee Papers, and the direction to suspend said work, he
has voluntarily continued his labors in this matter and rendered
his bill for 40 days of this continued labor amounting to one
hundred dollars, the Board hereby authorize the payment of this
Bill by the Proctor; and in view of the fact that the cost of
this work has already exceeded the expectation of the Board,
when the prosecution of it was authorized, the Board is compelled
to decline any further outlay of money in this work, and
the Secretary of the Board is directed to deliver a copy of
this minute to Col. Preston.
Faculty. 24 June 1882. [A report from Major Green Peyton,
Proctor, is included in the faculty minutes of this date. This
report includes the item] ... and of $325 for the Lee Papers.
Visitors. 29 June 1882. Resolved, That the communication
of Colo. Thomas L. Preston in regard to the Lee Papers be
referred to the Committee on the Library.
Faculty. 2 November 1885. On motion of Prof. Garnett,
any letters of George Mason found amongst the Lee papers, may
be copied in the library during library hours; but said letters
are not to go out of the custody of the Librarian.
Visitors. 28 June 1887. The chairman of the Faculty sent
unto the Board the following documents: ...
9. Petition Rev. M. D. Conway for leave to make copies of
the Edmund Randolph letters in the Lee correspondence, in the
University Library.
Resolved, that permission be granted to Mr. Moncure D.
Conway to make a copy of any manuscripts or papers at the University
by, or relating to the late Hon. Edmund Randolph and provided
that all such copies be made in the Library and under the
supervision of the Librarian.
[In a Visitors minute of this same date is a recommendation
from the Visitors' Library Committee that the above resolution be
adopted.]
Faculty. 1 February 1888. On motion Prof. Garnett is given
permission to examine the "Lee Papers."
Faculty. 2 April 1888. The application of Dr. Francis
Wharton to examine the "Lee Papers" is referred to the Board of
Visitors.
On motion of Prof. Holmes, Resolved that Dr. Wharton's
letter of application be filed with the "Lee Papers."
Visitors. 30 June 1891. The following papers were handed
in ... Application of Mr. J. T. Jameson for permission to
examine the Arthur Lee papers & other manuscripts of that period
in the Library.
Faculty. 19 September 1901. A communication is submitted
from Mrs. Ida A. Green, of Washington City, asking permission to
make copies of and publish several letters of the Lee Papers
belonging to the University Library.
On motion, Resolved, That the matter be referred to the
Library Committee for consideration and report.
Faculty. 4 October 1901. The following report submitted
by the Library Committee in regard to the publication of documents
in the Library is adopted:-
The general subject of the publication of hitherto unpublished
documents in the Library having been referred to the
Library Committee because of some recent applications for the
privilege of publishing certain letters now preserved in the
Library, the Committee, after mature deliberation, respectfully
submits the following report:-
1. No general rule seems possible except either to prohibit
any such publications or to grant all applications for
the privilege of such publication, neither of which rules seems
wise.
2. The Committee, therefore, recommends that, in all cases
of application for the privilege named, the application be acted
on by the Faculty after reference to and report from an appropriate
committee.
3. It is recommended that the application now before the
Faculty be referred to a special committee composed of Professors
Dabney, Harrison[1]
and Kent.
Committee
Milton W. Humphreys
James M. Page
James A. Harrison
Richard H. Wilson
Faculty. 4 December 1901. On motion, Resolved, That
Mrs. Ida A. Green be informed that the Faculty does not wish
copies of letters of the Lee Papers to be made for publication.
Faculty. 4 March 1903. Professor Dabney announced that
Dr. Ballagh of Johns Hopkins University desired to be
informed whether the University of Virginia would publish,
in connection with Johns Hopkins University, the unpublished
Lee Letters owned by the University of Virginia. The matter
was postponed until such time as the University of Virginia
shall have investigated more fully with a view to publishing
these MSS. on its own account. Formal application to Mr.
Carnegie for funds for such publication was authorized.
Faculty. 4 April 1903. A letter from Mr. DeCourcey
W. Thom on the subject of the publication of the Lee Letters
was referred to a special committee composed of the Library
Committee and the Professor of History.
Faculty. 5 October 1903. The Chairman read again Mr.
DeC. W. Thom's letter in regard to the Lee letters, after
which Mr. Thom's request that he be permitted to publish them
under the conditions named in his communication, was referred
to the Board with the Faculty's approval. Prof. [Richard H.]
Wilson voted No.
Faculty. 10 November 1903. [The autumn report of the
Faculty to the Board of Visitors contained the following:-]
I. That the application of Mr. DeCourcey W. Thom to be
permitted to publish the Lee Letters under the conditions
named in his communication of June 19, 1903, be granted.
Visitors. 10 November 1903. Resolved: Pursuant to
recommendation I of the Faculty, that the application of Mr.
DeCourcey W. Thom, of Baltimore, Md., to publish the Lee
Letters, now belonging to the University, be, and it is hereby
granted on the conditions named in the two letters of Mr.
Thom to the Board dated June 19th, 1903, and Sept. 8, 1903,
respectively, said letters to be recorded with this resolution.
To the Board of Visitors
of the University of Virginia,
Gentlemen:
I beg to reproffer my request to have the
"Lee Letters" entrusted to me or my agent for conveyance
with certain published "Lee Letters" that I may
bring out a new and complete edition of them if it
shall seem to me wise. I will be responsible for
the safe guarding of the MSS. letters. Furthermore,
I will bear the whole cost of transporting and publishing
them if those things occur, and will present
to Alma Mater any net profits in the venture. In
the whole affair I will seek to properly advertise
the University of Virginia.
Faculty. 4 March 1904. The Chairman read a letter from
Mr. DeCourcey Thom saying that the "Lee Letters," property
of the University loaned to Mr. Thom, had not been injured
by recent severe fire in Baltimore.
[There is inserted at this point in the chronology a
paragraph from the annual report of the Librarian, John Shelton
Patton, for the year ended 1 March 1913. This report was
printed in the Alumni Bulletin, third series, volume 6, number
2, April 1913, pages 240-246.]
I suggest in this place that the Lee Letters be mounted
and bound after the manner in which the original letters in
the Polk collection in the Library of Congress have been treated.
Letters in bulk, however well cared for, decay. It has been
learned by a long series of experiments and by observations in
European archives, as well as in American, that manuscripts
packed away and excluded from light and air decay much more
rapidly than those kept in the open — that is, as the average
book is kept in a library. It would cost something, but I
believe the money would be well spent, and it would probably
be proper to charge the expense to the Byrd fund.
Faculty Library Committee. 20 March 1913. The Committee
also decided that the manuscript case which it has had under
consideration should be provided at once. Professor Thornton,
chairman of the committee on furniture, reported the style of
case that seemed to him the best suited for the Library and
it was understood that he would proceed at once to have it
made and installed.
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