John Rufus Jefferson Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-3883
Scope and Contents
The collection contains one letter written from Jefferson in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Postmaster of New Orleans, Louisiana, requesting employment with the postal service. The letter includes references and cites Jefferson’s service as a United States soldier.
Additionally, the collection contains photocopies of Liddie E. Jefferson's (John's widow) application for a widow’s pension, as well as papers rejecting her claim. The reason cited for the rejection is that Jefferson’s name was not found on official roles from the War Department despite protestations from Jefferson’s family that he was the bugler boy for Company A, First Regiment Cavalry, Alabama, Union Volunteers, led by Jerome J. Hinds.
The collection also contains a newspaper clipping from 1961 recounting the Jefferson families’ version of Johns' service during the Civil War and of the bugle he allegedly played during the war.
Also in this collection are images of Jerome J. Hinds during the Civil War and after, images of members of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, Carrie S. Kirkwood (Hinds' secretary), and Union Generals.
Additionally, the collection contains photocopies of Liddie E. Jefferson's (John's widow) application for a widow’s pension, as well as papers rejecting her claim. The reason cited for the rejection is that Jefferson’s name was not found on official roles from the War Department despite protestations from Jefferson’s family that he was the bugler boy for Company A, First Regiment Cavalry, Alabama, Union Volunteers, led by Jerome J. Hinds.
The collection also contains a newspaper clipping from 1961 recounting the Jefferson families’ version of Johns' service during the Civil War and of the bugle he allegedly played during the war.
Also in this collection are images of Jerome J. Hinds during the Civil War and after, images of members of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, Carrie S. Kirkwood (Hinds' secretary), and Union Generals.
Dates
- 1863-1961
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.
Biographical / Historical
According to a newspaper clipping included in the collection, John Rufus Jefferson served as the bugler for Company A, First Alabama Cavalry, a volunteer unit in the Union Army. At the end of the American Civil War, Jefferson moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked for the police department. He then moved to Ashville, Alabama, where he married Liddie Jefferson. Together they had eight children. In 1924, John Rufus Jefferson died at the age of 81.
Extent
0.05 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
The collection contains a letter written from Jefferson in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Postmaster of New Orleans, Louisiana, requesting employment, as well as photocopies of documents issued between Jefferson’s widow and the United States War Department debating his service in the First Alabama Cavalry during the American Civil War. This collection also contains images relating to John Rufus Jefferson and the 1st Alabama Cavalry.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Gerald R. Jefferson, 2009.
Processing Information
Processed by Erin Schmidt 2011
- Title
- Guide to the John Rufus Jefferson Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- March 2014
- 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