Correspondence Cambridge , 1850-1851

Collection — Box: 1, Folder: 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

There are over 500 letters in the Nuckolls Collection. They tell the story of the family, the times, the conflicts among family members, especially after the father died and his will was read and monies and lands dispersed. The 1850s Cambridge letters paint a colorful image of both Cambridge and Boston when Thomas was attending Harvard Law School. The Civil War letters give more details the home front, telling of the activities and worries of the family members at home, the encouraging letters to Thomas and William, the boxes of supplies that were constantly being sent by the family to its soldiers, than the life of the soldiers themselves. The family was a warm and loving entity, usually writing each other weekly. All the sisters wrote regularly to Thomas ("Dear Bro"), praising, complaining, but staying in contact even as their families were dispersed from Columbus, Georgia and across Alabama, to Russell County, Seale, Gadsden, Cherokee and Tuskegee. Relatives moving even further westward are included in the correspondence.

A history of the family, newspaper articles and census records have been included in a separate folder from the letters to help fill in their story. The letters are in wonderful condition, many still with their envelopes. Even the paper and size of the envelopes, the return address, the postage – all tell a history of the times.

In addition to the letters there are several packets of legal and financial documents. They were left in the groupings made by Thomas J. Nuckolls, with his handwritten labels. Many of the items referred to in the letters, such as deeds, promissory notes, plat maps, receipts, vouchers and other enclosures mentioned, were placed in these bundles. There is also a small bundle of Slave Documents. The bundles have been opened and are filed in chronological order in folders of Box 4.

The letters are filed in chronological order.

Dates

Other: 1850-1851

Extent

From the Collection: 1.5 Linear Feet : 4 boxes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

[Processor's note – These letters were written and received by Thomas J. Nuckolls while he was a student at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.] August 19, 1850 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls, Columbus from Theophilus Parsons, Cambridge Law College concerning his admission and the degree awarded if he is late to enroll. [Processer's note –According to Wikipedia, Theophilus Parsons (1797–1882) was Dane Professor of Law at Harvard from 1848 to 1870.] August 20, 1850 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls from Cambridge from Judge Joel Parker concerning his graduation date of July 1851 and admittance to the bar. September 14, 1850 – Memorandum of thoughts and events, at 4 o'clock, by T.J. Nuckolls on his doings before leaving Columbus. September 23, 1850 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Dear Father") from Cambridge, MA. Telling of his arrival, details of trip north and settling in. September 27, 1850 – Letter to Mary V. Nuckolls in Columbus from Tom in Cambridge (with envelope) describing in flowery language the trip north, passing Mt. Vernon, seeing G. Washington's clothes in Washington, traveling through Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York to Boston, the make-up of Harvard, the hair style fashion of the day and an upcoming Jenny Lind concert. October 12, 1850 – Letter to Gus (Nathaniel Augustus Nuckolls) at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville from his brother Tom in Cambridge, MA telling of his journey from Columbus to Boston, traveling with Col Woolfolk to New York, and stopping in Washington City. He described Cambridge as "a handsome city" and described his classes and readings, the expense being more than at Athens, how the University of Virginia is admired and offers advice to his brother. October 22, 1850 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Father") from Thomas Nuckolls ("the dutiful son"), in Cambridge, MA describing his up-coming moot court trial, brother Gus starting at the University of Virginia, the Webster family at church, "the Yankees always seem to be in a hurry about something", "dress very plainly, ladies are remarkably ugly," "a selfish, little minded, picayune race of men", his need of a watch, and asks the opinion of the "excitement in the southern states". November 5, 1850 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Dear Father") from Thos J Nuckolls thanking him for the check, telling of Moot court trial, the southern point of view. November 7, 1850 – Letter empty envelope, blue, addressed to Col. Nathaniel Nuckolls, Columbus, Georgia from Cambridge, MA November 11, 1850 – Letter (with envelope) to N. Augustus Nuckolls at the University of Virginia from Tom Nuckolls in Cambridge telling his brother of his concerns of his studies, the high prices charged by "these skinflints", talks about a watch he has ordered, life with "the Yankees", the ladies, and transportation in Boston. November 17, 1850 – Letter to Thomas Nuckolls ("My dear Tom") from his college friend Morgan Callaway in Washington, Georgia. He discusses his law practice since graduating, and asking Tom to join him in his practice. November 17, 1850 – Letter to Mollie Nuckolls from her brother Tom in Cambridge, MA commenting on her reports of many weddings at home, his suggestion of the name Mt. Auburn for their hill, his not finding pictures for her, and telling her "he has not seen a pretty lady in Massachusetts yet". December 7, 1850 – Letter to Miss M. Virginia Nuckolls (Mollie) from her brother Thomas Nuckolls in Cambridge, MA. December 22, 1850 – Letter Col Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Dear Father"), from Thos. J. Nuckolls, Cambridge , MA concerning life in Cambridge, an upcoming legal case, his friend M. Callaway setting up law practice. December 28, 1850 – Letter to Mary Virginia Nuckolls ("Dear Mollie") from her brother Tom in Cambridge telling of life in Boston, plants, the snow, sleighs. December 29, 1850 – Letter to Gus Nuckolls from his brother Tom Nuckolls in Cambridge, MA. He described the snow storm, sleighing, news of home, Father's work with the Boykin plantation, his personal appearance, advice again on Gus' lady love, his Jenny Lind concert. Envelope marked with an X. January 11, 1851 – Letter to Louisiana Nuckolls from her son Thomas Nuckolls in Cambridge, MA telling her of school events, his moot court trial, his vacation plans in Cambridge, parties, his bundles home of art, books for sister Mary to copy, home styles in Boston and a wash stand called a sink. February 7, 1851 – Letter to Augustus Nuckolls ("Dear Gus") from his brother Thos J Nuckolls, Cambridge, MA, talking about his future and a flirtation with a young lady. [February, 1851] – Letter to Nathaniel Augustus Nuckolls. Unsigned but sent from Athens, Georgia and addressed to "Dear Gus". It told of school news, friends, and their lady friends. February 13, 1851 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls "Father" from Thomas Nuckolls, thanking him for the cheque, telling of his law class, a moot court and a case his father has brought to him. February 15, 1851 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls at Cambridge from Thomas Boykin and his sister Lou from Glennville, Alabama telling of the farm, his cotton crop, negroes, and Lou's sewing. March 2, 1851 – Letter to Mary Virginia Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from Brother Tom in Cambridge, MA. A chatty letter about Cambridge life, the opera, a girl in Columbus, whether he will go straight home after graduation or visit relatives in Virginia, mother's furnishings. April 21, 1851 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Father") from Tom Nuckolls included references to Girard Railroad (he feels he has more correct law of the case than any lawyer in Columbus), his moot court case, his summer plans to get his law degree on 16 July, then travel to Athens for his second Degree of Master of Arts and to see classmates at the 50th reunion of the college. He outlined his expenses in Cambridge as being so much more than in Athens. His brother Gus asked for advice in attending law school in Cambridge. May 11, 1851 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Father") from Thos. J. N. thanking him for his cheque, advise to brother Gus about attending law school in Cambridge, which was to "stay in Va Univ till summer", his pending return home, reading law for the summer, then decide. He also told of his plans to meet L.B. in New York with his sister. June 7, 1851 – Letter to Augustus Nuckolls ("Gus") from Tom in Cambridge to Gus telling of his travel plans to New York, Athens, his surprise of seeing his friends' departure for Liverpool, their father's possible visit. He hinted about the girls and the danger of mock weddings. Mentioned a new style of dress in Boston called the "Turkish costume" or "Turk a la mode". June 18, 1851 – Letter to Col. Nathaniel Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from Thomas in Cambridge asking his father if he was coming north this summer and his request for money, his justification for funds, his plans when returning home, adding "the task before me is a great one". June 30, 1851 – Letter to Nathaniel Nuckolls ("Father") from Tom Nuckolls in Cambridge thanking him for the cheque even though it wasn't as large as he had asked, speaking of his summer plans after graduation. July 3, 1851 – Letter to Col Nathaniel Nuckolls in Columbus ("Dear Father"), from Thos. J. Nuckolls ("your most grateful son"), in Cambridge, MA thanking him for the cheque and telling of his return to Columbus, Georgia by August. He also mentioned the weather and rheumatism and a controversy about stock and commissioners. July 17, 1851 – Letter Col. Nathaniel Nuckolls from his son Thos J. Nuckolls in Boston telling of his upcoming trip to Columbus via Newport and New York. [He had graduated from law school on the 16th of July.]