Scope and Content Note
The papers of the Cornelius Chase Family span the years 1745-1974 with the bulk of the material between 1822 and 1870. The collection consists of family papers, correspondence, a journal, financial material, reports, speeches and writings, genealogical material, drawings, printed matter, and miscellany.
The family papers chiefly reflect the lives of Cornelius Chase (1780-1868) and his son Cornelius Thurston Chase (1819-1870), both of whom were ministers and educators. The collection also features Cornelius Thurston Chase's career as superintendent of public instruction for the state of Florida. Included with the family papers are correspondence and writings of other family members, financial material, and genealogical items.
Also included are records relating to the slave trading activities of E. H. Stokes, Betts and Gregory Company, Browning and Moore Company, Dickerson, Hill, and Company, and Moore and Dawson Company. Material relating to the Confederate States Army consist of documents collected by Cornelius Thurston Chase and includes reports on Confederate hospitals in Virginia and South Carolina, medical contracts with private physicians in Richmond, provision returns, circulars and special orders relating to the Medical Department, lists of deserters, quartermaster reports, reports on prisoners of war and sick and wounded soldiers.
A folder of Jonas King material among the Miscellany includes correspondence and a copy of King's interview with Abraham Lincoln.