George L. Douglass papers, 1825-1924, 1825-1886 (bulk dates)
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- George L. Douglass papers, 1825-1924, 1825-1886 (bulk dates)
- Creator
- Douglass, George L., 1808-1889.
- Extent
- 4 reels of microfilm.
- Subjects
- Carter, William Douglass, 1861-
- Carter, Ellerbe Winn, 1884-
- Douglass, George L, 1808-1889.
- Carter, Sally.
- Hall, John W.
- Rutherford, M. E.
- Western Union Telegraph Company.
- United States.--Post Office Dept.
- Law--Kentucky.
- Postal service--Postmasters.
- Business records--Kentucky--Louisville.
- Businessmen.
- Louisville--Economic conditions.
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Harpers Ferry (W. Va.)
- Checks.
- Receipts
- Arrangement
- Arranged chronologically.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Businessman. Douglass was involved in land developments in Louisville, Ky, and was an early investor in Western Union Telegraph Company. He was born in Barren County, Ky. the son of William and Lemira Douglass. In 1831 he married Drusilla Rutherford near Shepherdstown, Virginia. He became an agent for the Post Office Department of the Southwest in 1836. In 1840 and 1841, he served as Postmaster of Louisville. In the 1840's and 1850's, he made extensive purchases of land in Madison County, Mississippi. After the Civil War, he became involved with Western Union, along with Norvin Green. Douglass's only child was Sally Carter. Her son, Ellerbee Carter, was a Louisville attorney and financier.
- Scope and Content
- The major portion (3 reels) of the collection is made up of the business papers of George Douglass. His papers include receipts, checks, tax statements, ledgers, and notes on several lawsuits in which he was involved. Some of the papers concern Douglass's farming operations in Mississippi and his career as Louisville Postmaster. There is one letter written by M. E. Rutherford from Charlestown, Virginia in May, 1861 which describes conditions at Harper's Ferry. Another letter, written by John W. Hall from Danville, Virginia, April 11, 1865, describes the efforts to save Confederate funds, while a letter written about the same time describes the conditions in Richmond after the Confederate surrender. There are a few records and receipts belonging to Douglass's only child, Sally Carter, who resided in East Orange, New Jersey. There are also personal and business papers of Ellerbee Carter, a Louisville attorney and financier.
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
