James White McClung Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0945

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the personal and business papers of James White McClung, his wife, children, and estate from 1820-1891. It includes the business and legal papers of J.W. McClung, including correspondence as well as legal papers. The collection also contains the personal papers of J.W. McClung including correspondence, accounts, and receipts. Margaret Patricia (Mrs. J.W.) McClung's personal correspondence includes a letter to a Captain Allison regarding money for clothes for Confederate prisoners of war on Johnson's Island. The collection contains correspondence of the McClung children. The papers of S.D. Cabaniss, executor of J.W. McClung's estate including correspondence pertaining to the estate, accounts and receipts, McClung's will, fire insurance policies are also included as well as other miscellaneous papers and documents.

Dates

1820 - 1891

Creator

McClung, James White (1798-1848) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

James White McClung, born June 6, 1798 in Knoxville, Tennessee, was the son of Colonel Charles McClung and Margaret White McClung. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1816. In 1819, after studying law under James Hopkins in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he was admitted to practice and moved to Huntsville, Alabama. He represented Madison County in the state legislature serving in the House of Representatives in 1822, 1826, 1835, 1837, 1838, 1842, and 1844. McClung was the speaker of the House in 1835, 1837, and 1838 sessions. In 1845 he was elected to the State Senate and headed the judiciary committee. In 1841 he ran for governor as an independent but lost to the Democratic nominee, Benjamin Fitzpatrick.

McClung was married three times. He married Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell, daughter of Gov. David Brydie and Jane (Mills) Mitchell of Savannah, Georgia on April 29, 1823. They had six children: Charles, Mary Ann, David Brydie Mitchell, Hugh Lawson White, Thomas Fern, and Matthew. His second marriage, to Elizabeth F. Spotswood, daughter of Elliot and Sally (Littlepage) Spotswood in 1834, produced two children: James White and Elliot Spotswood. The third wife Margaret E. Patrick, daughter of Isaac and Matilda (Penn) Patrick, whom he married on June 26, 1839, gave him five children: William Penn, Annie Parsons, Frank Armstrong, Howard and Arthur Henderson.

He died on May 31, 1848 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet (1,288 items)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection includes the personal and business papers of James White McClung (1798-1848), an attorney in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, and state representative for that county, as well as correspondence of various members of his family.