Perkins Family Papers
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No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
The Perkins Family Papers spans the period from 1813 to 1928, with the bulk of the collection being from the 1840s to the 1910s.
The Perkins Family Papers consists mainly of photographs and correspondence between family members. Within the collection, there are diaries, ledgers, a scrapbook, an unpublished novel, printed invitations, death notices, receipts, legal documents and other financial papers, and memorabilia. All papers are originals with the exception of some newspaper clippings that are photocopies.
The Perkins collection relates to Stephen C. and Carolina A. Perkins; their son Julian C. and his wife Mamie Kennedy Perkins, and their children: Edwin, Brook, and Julian H. The majority of the correspondence and papers were generated by Caroline A. Perkins and Mamie Kennedy Perkins. It concerns mostly family matters. The family life of Julian and Mamie Perkins and their children are well documented in pictures compiled by their son, Edwin. The photos have been removed from the papers and housed with the Hoole Library’s photo collections.
The main correspondent in this collection is P. W. Connor of Virginia to Stephen and Caroline Perkins. He lucidly describes life in the 1840s to 1870s and the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Dates
- Creation: 1813-1928
Biographical / Historical
Stephen Constantine Perkins:
Stephen Constantine Perkins was probably born in Louisa County, Virginia, 1818. He moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, around 1843 and ran a general store. He also served as city treasurer in 1853. He married Caroline Ann Walker on July 27, 1847, and they had two sons, Wilber C. Perkins and Julian C. Perkins. He died in 1858.
Caroline Ann Walker Perkins:
Caroline Ann (Walker) Perkins was born in Albermarle County, Virginia; upon her mother’s death around 1840, Caroline moved to Louisa County, Virginia, to stay with the Campbell family and lived with relatives in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married Stephen C. Perkins in 1847, and had two children, Wilber C. Perkins and Julian C. Perkins. She died on September 27, 1892.
Julian C. Perkins:
Julian C. Perkins was born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on October 14, 1853. Julian married Mary Kennedy on November 27, 1878, and worked as a dentist in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Upon retirement he bred chickens and champion roosters. He died on January 28, 1917.
Mary Kennedy Perkins:
Mary (Mamie) Kennedy Perkins grew up in Kennedale, Florence, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was born October 13, 1858. She also spent time in Labadieville, Assumption Parish, Louisiana. Her father was John Spinks Kennedy. She had three brothers, John R. Kennedy, Logan P. Kennedy, and David P. Kennedy, and a sister, Vernon Kennedy Warren. She graduated from Tuscaloosa Female College. Mamie Kennedy married Julian C. Perkins on November 27, 1878. She was an accomplished pianist and taught music in her home. Mamie and Julian C. Perkins had four children: Edwin (1879-1972), Brook (1885-1956), Julian Herbert (1888-1958), and a child named David Patton Kennedy, who may have died in infancy. Mamie died around 1952.
Others
Vernon Kennedy Warren was sister of Mamie Kennedy Perkins, and her husband was Edward Warren, Sr. She had two sons, Edward, Jr. and John K. Warren.
John A. Perkins, the brother of Stephen C. Perkins, died on November 6, 1889.
Brook B. Walker, the brother of Caroline Walker Perkins, died in 1858.
Sources:
Green, Bruce. A History of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1816-1949. University, Alabama: Confederate Publishing Company, 1949.
Perkins Family Papers
Social Security Death Index
U.S. Census, 1900
Extent
3.25 Linear Feet (9 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists chiefly of personal and family correspondence and photographs, together with diaries, essays, literary essays, literary manuscripts, legal and financial papers, receipts, clippings, memorabilia, and printed material relating to Stephens C. Perkins, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, his wife, Caroline A. Walker Perkins, his son, Julian C. Perkins, and his children. The principal correspondent is P. W. Connor of Virginia, who describes his life in the period from 1840-1870, including the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction. The bulk of the collection falls in the period from 1840-1910, consisting in part of photocopies of newspaper clippings.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Perkins Family.
Processing Information
Processed by Ann Ulmer and Nena Shelley; updated by Laura Gentry and Donnelly Lancaster, 2008; photographs processed by Jessica Small, Jennifer Culley, and Marina Klarić, 2008.
- Title
- Guide to the Perkins Family Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Ann Ulmer and Nena Shelley; updated by Laura Gentry and Donnelly Lancaster; photos processed by Jessica Small, Jennifer Culley, and Marina Klarić
- Date
- 2008
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository