Scope and Contents
The Henry Fitzhugh Papers consist of correspondence and legal and financial paers documenting Fitzhugh's business affairs and the management of his estate. The earliest materials concern his project to import military supplies from England to aid the Confederacy during the Civil War. A letterpress copybook from this period contains copies of his letters written from England to his business associates and to his sisters, as well as a copy of a memorandum on America sent to the British Foreign Office.
The bulk of the papers, including a second letterpress copybook and a margins book, comes from Fitzhugh's postwar career as a banker in New York. Other materials document his involvement in a mining venture in Mexico, his personal accounts, and his estate. About half of the incoming correspondence consists of family letters.
Other individuals represented in the collection include his mother, Henrietta Fitzhugh; his maternal uncle, Henry W. Fitzhugh; his brother, George N. Fitzhugh; and his nephew, Archie M. Quarrier.
The papers were given to the Yale Library by Fitzhugh Quarrier in October, 1984. They are arranged in Alphabetical order by record type.
Dates
- 1860-1948
- Majority of material found within 1860 - 1898
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Extent
5 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The papers consist of correspondence and legal and financial papers, which document Henry Fitzhugh's career as a financier for the Confederacy and a banker in New York City.
Biographical / Historical
Henry Fitzhugh was born in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1831, the son of Henry Fitzhugh and Henrietta (Fitzhugh) Fitzhugh. He was educated at Marietta College, Ohio, and practiced law in Charleston before becoming president of the Bank of Kanawha. During the Civil War Fitzhugh served as a colonel in the army of the Confederate States of America and engaged in procuring and managing steamers for blockade running. Steamers travelled to England with various goods and returned with military supplies for the War Department of the Confederate States. In 1863, on one such voyage, Fitzhugh was captured, but was able later to complete his journey to England, where he continued his services for the Confederacy. At the end of the war he went to Mexico in connection with a successful mining venture. In 1867 he moved to New York, and remained there for the rest of his life. He worked for the banking house of Soutter & Company, formed the banking house of Fitzhugh & Stewart, and was a director of the Chicago Gas Trust Company. He died in 1890, unmarried.
- Title
- Guide to the Henry Fitzhugh Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- compiled by Diane E. Kaplan and John Espy
- Date
- June 1987
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu
Location
Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511