David L. Swain (1801-1868) Papers, PC.84
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- David L. Swain (1801-1868) Papers
- Call Number
- PC.84
- Creator
- Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868
- Date
- 1763-1895
- Extent
- 2.000 cubic feet
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Collection Overview
Papers of Swain, Buncombe Co. jurist, legislator, governor (1832- 1835), UNC president (1835-1867), and founding member of the North Carolina Historical Society, including letters from business associates D. L. Barringer and Nicholas W. Woodfin and family members in Georgia, Texas, the navy, and western North Carolina concerning debts, farming, slaves, a voyage to Africa, Cherokee removal, and investments in banks, railroads, and mines. Correspon- dence about the university concerns the board of trustees, buildings and grounds, equipment and books, faculty, curriculum, current and former students, student unrest and morals, fate of the University Magazine (1861), and relations with other universities, with letters from William Bell, Elisha Mitchell, Charles F. Deems, Basil Manly, William J. Rivers, Edward B. Dudley, Charles Manly, William Gas- ton, WIlliam H. Battle, Thomas Bragg, George E. Badger, Weldon N. Edwards, Jonathan Worth, Thomas L. Clingman, Charles Upham Shepard, William A. Graham, and Dorothea L. Dix. Swain's work for the historical society is reflected in letters from John Hill Wheeler, Denison Olmstead, Romulus Saunders, John L. Blake, Henry B. Daw- son, E. W. Caruthers, Asa Biggs, and Frederick Kidder. Other sub- jects include railroad construction; Cherokee lands; schools, including Calvin Jones about Bolivar Academy in Tennessee (1838); and medical advice from Dr. Samuel Henry Dickson (1839-1861). Letters from Swain to his wife describe journeys to Asheville, Charleston, Augusta, Tennessee, and Alabama, with news of troops returning from the Cherokee removal and later from the Mexican War. Other letters from Swain are to Joseph Seawell Jones, D. L. Barringer, Asa Biggs, W. P. Mangum, Dr. Dickson, and nephew William T. Coleman. Historical material collected by Swain includes "Thoughts on Government" by John Adams [1776] and correspondence between Charles Phillips and John Quincy Adams (1846) about the essay; let- ters and papers relating to Thomas Burke's estate (1772-1797); William Caswell's will (Dobbs Co., 1784); letters (1801-1807) to John Steele, with lists of customs collectors' reports and warrants to be signed by him (1801-1802); letters about the Mecklenburg Declara- tion, including copy of one from John Adams to Sen. John Williams (1822); letter from A. D. Murphey to Gen. Joseph Graham and one from William Gaston to Thomas P. Devereaux about Catholicism and public office (1833). Swain's diary (Jan. 1-Aug. 29, 1832) describes legislative debates; persons and events in Raleigh; travels to Tarboro, Murfreesboro, and Hertford as circuit court judge; court business; canal trip to Norfolk; the Pettigrew plantation; early settlements; old records; and commencement at Chapel Hill. Volume also contains ex- tracts from Albemarle County court minutes, wills, and grants (1679- 1712); copy of a loyalist orderly book; notes on Quaker records, on colonial governors and judges, and on taxes and depreciation of money during the Revolution; copies of letters from Anna Sothel to sister (1693), from John Marshall on notable North Carolinians (1827), from William Gaston on land grants, and from J. A. Bradford on uses of cement in building (1840). Among the miscellaneous items are some unrelated land records (1778-1800); a few court records, including sworn statements by slaves (1858) and ejectment of family of Cherokee John Welsh; reprieve and pardon for a freedman (1867); descriptions of cotton gins; bounty roll and power of attorney for members of Co. C, 11th Regt. NCT; and notes and clippings (1832-1895) relating to UNC. There is also a list of Raleigh subscribers to the Daily News (Raleigh), 1877-1878. Typescripts in this collection (1772-1869) are copies of Swain papers in the Southern Historical Collection at Chapel Hill.