Leroy S. Edwards Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RMC-00004

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Leroy S. Edwards Papers contains Civil War correspondence and other personal materials, primarily diaries, written by Edwards from his school days and after the war. Included in the collection is a diary from his son, Leroy Jr., spanning his years at Randolph-Macon College from 1893-1899.

Dates

1850 - 1899

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research; appointments to view materials can be scheduled via the appointment request form on the Special Collections and Archives webpage of the library website https://library.rmc.edu/specialcollections

Biographical

Leroy Summerfield Edwards (1839-1901) was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the oldest of three sons born to Rev. John Ellis Edwards, D.D., and Elizabeth A. Clark Edwards. His father was a prominent Methodist pastor, serving in the North Carolina Conference and the Virginia Conference, and was a trustee of Randolph-Macon College. Leroy S. Edwards attended Randolph-Macon College, then in Boydton, Virginia, from 1857-1859, receiving an A. B. degree. Afterwards, he attended the University of Virginia from 1859-1860.

Edwards was teaching at Petersburg Female College in 1861 when he enlisted in the 12th Virginia Infantry, Company E. He was engaged at the Seven Days Battles and was wounded in the arm at Crampton’s Gap on September 14, 1862; he also fought at Sharpsburg. In 1863, Edwards was promoted to sergeant. After fighting in the Battle of the Wilderness, on May 8, 1864, he was captured while en route to Spotsylvania Court House. Edwards was sent to Point Lookout Prison Camp in Maryland and was transferred to Elmira, New York in August 1864, where he remained until his parole and exchange in February 1865. By March 1865, Edwards had returned to Richmond, Virginia. Soon after, he evacuated the Capital in April with the retreating Army of Northern Virginia and surrendered at Appomattox Court House, where he was paroled.

Edwards returned to Randolph-Macon College and received an A.M. degree in 1866. On August 8, 1866, he married Elizabeth Ferguson. By 1868, he and fellow R-MC alumnus, E. E. Parham, founded the Female Collegiate Institute in Richmond, Virginia. Edwards served his Richmond community extensively; he represented Clay Ward as a Councilman from 1878-1883, was a home office agent for the Piedmont and Arlington Life Insurance Co., principal of the Springfield School, and president of the YMCA from 1873-1874. He served as Secretary of the Alumni Society of Randolph-Macon College for many years and was elected to their Board of Trustees in 1877. Edwards was also secretary of the Association of the Virginia Division of the Army of Northern Virginia. He died in 1901 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Extent

4 Linear Feet (3 boxes; 1 metal cannister; letters have been digitized)

Language of Materials

English

Metadata Rights Declarations

Items in this collection may be used for educational, research, and scholarly purposes. Publication, transmission, or reproduction of items protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Contact archives@rmc.edu for more information.

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into eight series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Manuscripts; 3. Printed Materials; 4. Professional Materials; 5. Notebooks; 6. Diaries; 7. Miscellaneous; 8. Newspapers.

Collection Inventory

Series 1: Correspondence Includes Civil War and family correspondence between Leroy S. Edwards and his brother, Landon “Lanny” Brame Edwards, and his father, Reverend John Ellis Edwards.

Series 2: Manuscripts Speeches written by Leroy S. Edwards while he was attending Randolph-Macon College and a member of the Franklin Literary Society.

Series 3: Printed Materials Collected materials relating to Randolph-Macon College, Female Collegiate Institute, the Army of Northern Virginia, and Phi Kappa Sigma.

Series 4: Professional Materials President’s Book for the Lynchburg Youth Debating Society circa 1853.

Series 5: Notebooks, c. 1868-1870 Notebook written by Leroy S. Edwards. Includes an envelope with inserts from the notebook.

Series 6: Diaries, c. 1857-1899 Diaries kept by Leroy S. Edwards, with some entries written by his wife, Elizabeth Ferguson Edwards; many contain inserts, or loose materials. Subjects include the evacuation of Richmond in 1865 and Edwards’ marriage in 1866. The 1865-1868 diary entries were written on a Roll Book for Petersburg Female College dated March 25, 1861. Also included is a diary from his son, Leroy Jr., during his time at Randolph-Macon College from 1893-1899.

Series 7: Photographs CSA and postwar photographs of Leroy S. Edwards, as well as an 1892 photograph of Leroy Jr. Photographs of Leroy S. Edwards are stored separately in the archives’ Meilink cabinet.

Series 8: Miscellaneous Personal memorabilia, miscellaneous printed materials, and paraphernalia for the June 27, 1877, Virginia Primary Election. Edwards’ Randolph-Macon College diploma is located on shelf in its original metal cannister.

Series 9: Newspapers, 1846-1880 Newspapers and collected clippings, much of which documents the Virginia Division of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Much of the collection was donated to the college by Mrs. Frederick N. Thompson, the granddaughter of Leroy S. Edwards, and Leroy S. Edwards, Jr.

Accruals

Additional materials may be gifted in the future.

Related Collections

Edwards Family Papers, Special Collections Libraries, University of Georgia.

Related Materials

Additional material on the Edwards Family is available in the R-MC Alumni files. See also “12th Virginia Infantry” (1987) by William D. Henderson and “Letters of Leroy S. Edwards” (1985) by Terry A. Walton in the Randolph-Macon College library catalogue.

Separated Materials

The following books written by R-MC alumnus Richard Irby were owned by, and inscribed to, Leroy S. Edwards and have been catalogued into the R-MC book collection of the Flavia Reed Owen Special Collections and Archives:

Historical Sketches of the Nottoway Grays (1878) Bird Notes and Other Sketches (1900)

Rights Statement

Copyright restrictions apply to certain materials in the collection. Although the Flavia Reed Owen Special Collections and Archives at Randolph-Macon College physically owns all archival, manuscript, and special collections materials in its possession, it does not automatically own all intellectual property rights (copyright) associated with these materials.

Researchers must obtain permission to copy, publish, exhibit, or display collection materials in part or in whole from the Flavia Reed Owen Special Collections and Archives. For more information, please contact the Special Collections and Archives staff at archives@rmc.edu.

Content Disclaimer

Some images and content in these materials depict prejudices not condoned by the College. These materials are presented as documentation of the historical record of the College and broader American history. Randolph-Macon College values a diverse and inclusive community that promotes student learning and transparency.

For users preferring to avoid potentially offensive content, please contact archives@rmc.edu; we are happy to assist in locating specific materials.