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Carrie Berry papers

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS29f

Scope and Content

This collection contains four items including an original diary kept by Carrie Berry from 1864-1866; an original diary kept by her from 1868-1874; a friendship book published in 1870, which is titled Mental Photographs an Album for Confessions or Tastes, Habits, and Convictions; and a letter written to Carrie Berry and Blanche Hardin from Clement A. Evans dated 2 February 1872, which was written while Carrie was a student at the North Georgia Female Academy. In the diary kept from 1864-1866, Carrie gives a child’s account of the siege, occupation and burning of Atlanta. Specifically, she describes the shelling of her home and neighborhood; the experience of hiding in her cellar during the shelling of the city; as well as various household/family activities such as knitting, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her younger siblings. She also writes about her school and teachers and church-related activities. In the diary kept from 1868-1874, Carrie writes about attending school, where she studied History, Latin, Philosophy, Algebra, Rhetoric and participated in reading societies. She also describes attending Sunday school and church service at Wesley Chapel, along with more mundane activities such as cooking, cleaning, quilting, rug-making, dress-making and visiting friends and the dentist. In addition, she describes elaborate family dinners and Christmas traditions. The diary also includes several hand-written poems. The friendship book lists the “tastes and characteristics” of individuals and includes some photographs. Some individuals mentioned in this book include: Carrie Berry, Nannie Colquit, C.R Bilbro, W.G. Robinson, Jr., and Zuelette Crumley. The 1872 letter to Carrie Berry and Blanche Hardin is Clement A. Evans’ acknowledgement of her election to the Mnemosynean Literary Society.

Dates

  • 1864-1874; 1897

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research.

Restrictions on Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

Carrie Mabry Berry Crumley (1854-1921) was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 3, 1854 to Harriet Key Berry and Maxwell Rufus Berry. She had three sisters, Fannie, Zuie, and Maggie, and one brother, Maxwell R. Berry, Jr. In February 1875, she married William Macon Crumley, and they later had three children, Charles Locke, Zulette, and William Gregg. She died in May 1921.

Extent

4 item(s)

Language

English

Acquisition Information

Gift of Dan Franklin, 1970 (1970.232)

Other Formats

Typed transcriptions of original diary contained in folder 1

General

America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia received support from a Digitizing Historical Records grant awarded to the Atlanta History Center, Georgia Historical Society, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the Digital Library of Georgia by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Processing Information

Collection reprocessed in 2007

Title
Carrie Berry Papers, 1864-1874; 1897
Author
Inventory prepared by Paul Crater
Date
June 2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040