Archive of thirty-two (32) paper ephemera items, pertaining to the Fite-James family of Tennessee and Kentucky, including Judge Samuel McClary Fite (1816-1875), his brothers Albert Beard Fite (b. 1832), CSA 15th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, and Leonard Beard Fite (1811-1882), and Samuel's daughter Josephine "Josie" Rowena Fite (1856-1943), and William James (1794-1864) and his sons Rufus James (1854-1879) and Volney James (1851-1932). 1st-6th items: Six (6) Civil War-era letters and envelope, including one (1) ALS from Albert Fite, Camp Douglas, Chicago, IL, addressed to Samuel Fite, Carthage, TN, dated September 4, 1864. His letter outlines the restrictions of the prison camp, stating "…by an order of the war department we are not longer allowed to received provisions from our friends liveing[sic] this side of the federal lines except by permission of the post surgeon in case of sickness…"; two (2) ALS letters from Leonard Fite, Nashville, TN, addressed to Samuel Fite, Carthage, TN, dated September 29 and October 25, 1865. The letters primarily address financial issues, however, his letter on September 29 also mentions the status of his pardon writing "…Also as yet the President has not sent on my pardon & expected it from time to time & as my house & a lott[sic] is Libled for confiscation & court comes on 15 Next Month…if in 3 days more I do not get the pardon I must goe[sic] straight to Washington and present myself in proper person& ask for what I want it seems this is the way…" includes one (1) envelope; one (1) ALS letter from Samuel, Woodbury, TN to his wife Catherine Isabella Fite (b. 1835), dated February 15, 1864, in which he discusses a female academy, possibly the Carthage Female Academy; and one (1) ALS letter from Thomas D. Fite, Nashville, TN to his cousin Samuel, dated May 24, 1864, urging Samuel to take an oath of amnesty. 7th-8th items: Two (2) Civil War-era documents, including one (1) ALS letter from William James, of Madisonville, KY, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Mann, dated December 13, 1860, in which he addresses the imminent war, the hardships that will follow and that he and his wife Agnes are currently enduring, and the state of affairs concerning slaves, stating "…We would doublte[s]s have to run our Negroes South to prevent them from running North; & thus Ky would through nece[s]sity become a free state. I think negroes would bring very little here now–I would not give $300 for any common fellow…"; also includes one (1) two-page handwritten bifolium document containing the rough draft of a speech, likely written by James, proposing a peaceful settlement to the war. 9th-10th items: Two (2) land indentures, including one (1) between Newton and Mary Headley and William James, all of Hopkins County, KY, for three tracts in Hopkins County, for the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, dated August 9, 1852, and one (1) between William H. and Catherine W. James of Mecklenburg County, KY and William James of Hopkins County, KY, for a tract of land in Mecklenburg County, KY, for the sum of eight hundred ninety-one dollars and forty-seven cents, dated October 30, 1858, both with additional notations by county clerks. 11th-22nd items: Twelve (12) paper ephemera items related to Rufus James (1854-1879) and Volney James (1851-1932), the sons of William James, both of Nashville, TN, primarily concerning Rufus's death at the San Juan Mine in Coahuila, Mexico, due to having "…met with the misfortune of being shott[sic]…" on February 7, 1879. The documents include one (1) ALS letter from Rufus to Volney explaining that he had been shot and requesting funds for his medical treatment, dated February 8, 1879; three (3) ALS letters from Alexander Warfield, regarding details about Rufus's gunfight, his medical treatment, and eventual death, dated February 9-May 28, 1879, includes one (1) envelope addressed to Volney; four (4) receipts for Rufus's medical treatment and internment on February 19, 1879; and one (1) copy of a document by Rufus granting Volney his power of attorney, recorded by H.S. Claiborne, Notary Public of Davidson County, Nashville, TN, dated January 26, 1876. Also includes one (1) ALS letter written by Volney to his fiance Josephine "Josie" Rowena Fite, Carthage, TN, that addressed their impending marriage, a cholera outbreak, and a postscript regarding a visit from Rufus who was in "…wretchedly bad health". Includes one (1) envelope addressed to Fite. 23rd-32nd items: Ten (10) paper ephemera items related to the Fite-James-White family, including five (5) photographic images, one (1) depicting Mr. and Mrs. Volney James with an inscription indicating that it was taken on the occasion of their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary; and five (5) items related to the death of Judge Samuel McClary Fite in 1875. Many items housed in plastic archival sleeves. Note: This archival material has been documented by the Department of State of Tennessee Library and Archives. (see: https://sos-tn-gov-files.tnsosfiles.com/forms/FITE-JAMES_FAMILY_PAPERS_1814-1879.pdf). Biography: "Samuel McClary Fite was a Representative from Tennessee; born near Alexandria, Smith County, Tenn., June 12, 1816; attended the common and private schools and was graduated from Clinton College, Tennessee; studied law in Lebanon; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Carthage, Tenn.; member of the State senate in 1850; presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1852; judge of the sixth judicial district 1858-1861; resumed the practice of law in Carthage, Tenn.; appointed on July 24, 1869, judge of the sixth judicial district to fill a vacancy; elected to the same office on January 8, 1870, and served until 1874; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John W. Head and served from March 4, 1875, until his death, at Hot Springs, Ark., October 23, 1875, before the assembling of Congress; interment in Carthage Cemetery, Carthage, Tenn.; reinterment in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tenn., in 1908." (source: https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/F000160).

PROVENANCE: The Estate of Raymond White, Nashville, Tennessee.

CONDITION: All items in overall good, legible condition with toning, foxing spots, areas of dampstaining, acid burn, tears, largest 5", to fold lines, to be expected from age and manner of use.