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Alfred Austell letters

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS472f

Scope and Content

This collection consists of three letters written by Alfred Austell to his sister. Austell writes about sending a check in the mail; travel plans; the decrease in property values; how family members are doing; and responds to his sister's letters.

Dates

  • 1863-1876

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and 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Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright.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

Alfred Austell (1814-1881) was born in eastern Tennessee to Jane Wilkins and William Austell. He married Francina Cameron of LaGrange, Georgia, in 1853, and they had four children: Alfred, Jr., Janie, Leila, and William. In 1865, Austell and E. W. Holland purchased the Bank of Fulton and he also established the Atlanta National Bank. He served as president until his death. Austell was also a partner in a number of cotton brokerage firms including Austell and Camp, Austell and Inman, and Austell and Swann. In addition to his dealing in the cotton trade, Austell invested in real estate in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as in railroads in several southern states. Austell also served on Atlanta's first board of education and on the finance committee of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Although he was opposed to secession, Austell supported Georgia when it voted to secede. Upon the conclusion of the Civil War, he was a member of the committee that passed resolutions celebrating the end of the Civil War, condemning the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and obeying the laws of the United States. He died on December 7, 1881, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Extent

1 folder(s)

Language

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1984

Existence and Location of Copies

Transcriptions of two letters are included in this collection.

Related Archival Materials

Alfred Austell papers, MSS 29, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center.

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.

Description Control

This collection was re-processed in 2012.

Title
Alfred Austell letters
Author
Paul Crater
Date
August 2012
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in 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