Dates: 1844-1909; n.d

Access to diaries in boxes 4 and 5 is by permission of manuscript curator only.

Biography:

Cora E. Watson Carey

In the 1870s, Cora E. Watson Carey was an associate editor of the New Orleans Times Democrat and was responsible for editing the children's and women's pages and writing a society column. She was born Cora E. White in Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi, in June of 1843. After the death of her mother, Cora E. White was adopted by Ann Harris, an aunt from Somerville, Tennessee. Cora E. Harris attended a female academy in the mid-1850s.

Cora E. Harris married Will Watson of Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi. In 1861, she moved in with her husbands parents, Judge and Mrs. J. W. Watson, after he was killed in the Civil War. Cora E. Watson assisted in running a female academy that the Watsons opened in their home after the war. Mississippi writer Katherine Sherwood Bonner was a student at the academy, and the two young women began a friendship that would last until Bonner's death in 1883.

Cora E. Watson married Samuel E. Carey in 1869. He was general manager and later president of the Mississippi Central Railroad. Carey subsequently worked as a general passenger and ticket agent for the Illinois Central Railroad, eventually moving with his wife to New Orleans. The Careys had two daughters, Nell (Nellie) S., who was born in January of 1874, and Elizabeth (Bessie), who was born on July 28, 1879. After the death of her second husband on November 6, 1880, Cora E. Carey and her two daughters returned to Holly Springs. Carey died in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, in 1911.

 

Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of correspondence, diaries, photographs, family memorabilia, business and school papers, and printed materials of Cora E. Watson Carey and other family members. 

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Correspondence. 1844-1860; n.d. 9 folders.

Of particular interest is a May 20, 1847, letter written by James F. Green to his sister, Ann Harris, in Tipton City, Tennessee, discussing the death of their sister, Mrs. White, and the distribution of her surviving children among relatives. Mrs. White was apparently the mother of Cora E. White. The majority of the correspondence is addressed to Cora E. Watson Carey between 1853 and 1906. Correspondents include her adoptive mother, Ann Harris, and Carey’s sisters, Bettie, Lily, and Lizzie. Topics of the letters include news of family and friends, anecdotes of family members, and news of male relatives who served in the military during the Civil War. Also included are letters from the organizational committee of a January 1886 theatrical production involving Carey’s daughter, Nellie, and the Holly Springs Silver Cornet Band, which was managed by Carey.

Box 1, folders 1-8

Box 3, folder 1

 

Series 2: Diaries. 1857-1889. 11 folders.

Various Carey family members kept the five diaries between 1857 and 1889. Either Cora E. Watson Carey or Mrs. John W. Harris, who was probably Careys adoptive mother, kept the 1857-1858 diary and personal account book. The entries note the activities of family or friends, places visited by the author, and personal expenses. The 1863-1865 diaries were kept by Carey, and they recount Civil War news, books that she was currently reading, domestic activities, and visits with various family members. The 1880 diary is entitled "Account of Mr. Careys Last Illness Nov 1880 New Orleans." It was written by Carey as a remembrance of her second husband, Samuel E. Carey, and it details Careys thoughts and feelings in the final days before his death on November 6, 1880. The 1886-1889 diary was kept by Careys daughter, Elizabeth (Bessie). The diary is of interest because Elizabeth Carey was only six years old when she began keeping it. Her entries note such daily activities as moving into their new home, playing with friends, and sewing with her sister, Nellie.

Box 2, folder 15

Box 4, folders 1-6 (restricted)

Box 5, folders 1-4 (restricted)

 

Series 3: Photographs. n.d. 1 folder.

The photographs include six unidentified images that may be of Carey or Watson family members.

Box 1, folder 9

 

Series 4: Family Memorabilia (Miscellaneous). 1851-1888; n.d. 5 folders.

The miscellaneous family memorabilia consists of genealogical information, a publicity flyer, a handwritten "newsletter," a sheet-music fragment, locks of hair, hand-crocheted buttons, and a political cartoon. The genealogical information, presumably handwritten by Cora E. Carey, contains data on the Green and White families. The publicity flyer is for a Holly Springs Silver Cornet Band program, and it shows Carey as manager of the group. The handwritten "newsletter" entitled "The Buzzer" is dated 1888, and it contains a poem by Cora E. Carey. The sheet-music fragment is from the "Jennie Watson Waltz," which was composed by Arthur H. Harris and presented to Jennie Watson around 1851. The locks of hair of Carey and Watson family members are accompanied by identifying notes dating from 1862 to 1880. Ten hand-crocheted buttons are also included. The political cartoon (pencil-and-charcoal-on-paper), perhaps related to the activities of Samuel E. Carey, is entitled "Conference at Chicago." The artist was "Mr. Coleman," and the drawing was apparently "after" a political cartoon by Thomas Nast.

Box 2, folders 1-5

 

Series 5: School Papers. 1859-1895; n.d. 7 folders.

The school papers consist of an essay and poetry, programs from school activities, and papers of students Elizabeth and Nellie Carey. The essays and poetry are anonymous. The two programs are both from Holly Springs schools. One is from an 1886 Franklin Female College concert, and the other is from the 1885-1886 Maury Institute commencement exercises. Of interest are the school papers of Elizabeth and Nellie Carey. They include school compositions, a book of verse, and a "Domestic Catalogue." The titles of school compositions by Nellie Carey are "A Christmas Story, "The Minotaur," "The Paper Doll House," and "A Story of a Life." The last story is about her mother, Cora E. Watson Carey. The book of verse contains poems copied by Elizabeth Carey, perhaps as a way of practicing her penmanship. A "Domestic Catalogue," which was drawn by Elizabeth and Nellie Carey, includes a plan of the Carey house and gardens in Holly Springs in 1888 and 1889.

Box 1, folder 10

Box 2, folders 6-11

 

Series 6: Business Papers. 1850-1876. 4 folders.

The business papers consist of legal and financial papers of Carey family members. Items include a waiver, deeds, a legal notice, receipts, and canceled checks. The 1852 waiver of Harvey W. Walter mentions his brother-in-law, Samuel E. Carey. Five of the deeds are for various lots in Marshall County, Mississippi, which Samuel E. Carey purchased between 1853 and 1873. One deed documents Samuel E. Careys purchase of a lot in Louisville, Kentucky, from Sylvester Carey in 1872. Another deed documents Francis Bradleys purchase of a lot in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois, from Charles G. G. Paine in 1873. There is an 1875 Chicago Legal News Company trustees sale notice, which was filed by John Morris on behalf of Luther L. and Elizabeth M. Greenleaf of Evanston, Illinois. The financial papers consist of an 1850 receipt for the tuition of "Miss C. White," apparently Cora E. White, and an 1859 promissory note to Caroline W. Malone. Included are five canceled checks and two receipts of Samuel E. Carey and a tax receipt made out to Francis Bradley for property taxes due on a lot in Evanston, Illinois, all of which are dated 1876.

Box 1, folder 11

Box 2, folders 12-13Box 3, folder 2

 

Series 7: Printed Materials. 1850-1909. 3 folders.

The printed materials consist of booklets, magazines, and newsclippings. The booklet titles include "The Babys Things," "In Memory of Edward Minor Watson," and "The John Cary Descendants." The two magazines are April 1850 and June 1850 editions of Godeys Ladys Book. The newsclippings contain Civil War news, poetry, and miscellaneous articles of the 1880s. Of interest is a series of articles discussing the January 1886 program of the Holly Springs Silver Cornet Band.

Box 1, folder 12

Box 2, folders 14; 16

 

Box List:

Box 1, folders 1-8: correspondence, 1844-1860.

Box 1, folder 9: photographs, n.d.

Box 1, folder 10: school papers, 1887.folder 11: business papers, 1872.folder 12: printed materials, 1863-1898; n.d.

Box 2, folders 1-5: family memorabilia (miscellaneous), ca. 1851-1888; n.d.

Box 2, folders 6-11: school papers, 1859-1895; n.d.

Box 2, folders 12-13: business papers, 1850-1876.folders 14; 16: printed materials, 1850-1909.folder 15: diaries, 1857-1889.

Box 3, folder 1: correspondence, n.d.

Box 3, folder 2: business papers, 1853-1873.

Box 4, folders 1-6: diary, 1863-1864. (restricted)

Box 5, folders 1-4: diary, 1864-1865. (restricted)