John A. Quitman Papers (Z/0156)
Three letters written by John A. Quitman to his only son, Frederick Henry Quitman. The first is dated January 11, 1847, written from Victoria, Mexico, where Quitman was in Command of Mississippi troops. This letter is a warm, affectionate document, and sheds interesting light on Quitman as a family man. Contains a comment on Colonel Jefferson Davis, "I have found him however not that generous and noble hearted man I had taken him for. "The second letter is to his son at Princeton University, and contains advice, family and personal news. The third letter is to Frederick Henry while he was visiting London, gives news of the yellow fever epidemic of 1853. The scrapbook contains miscellaneous newspaper clippings including information on the American, or Know-Nothing Party, the Southern Rights Union, Henry S. Foote, and the Democracy of Mississippi platform.