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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 1 volume |
| Abstract | Susan Cornwall Shewmake (circa 1825-1905), of Alexander (Burke Co.), Ga., was the daughter of Francis Cornwall and the wife of Oscar Lassiter Shewmake (fl. 1820-1885). The collection is one volume, partly original poetry presumably composed by Susan Cornwall, and partly a diary written between 1857 and 1866. Diary entries include descriptions of family activities and reflections on events in the Civil War. |
| Creator | Cornwall, Susan, circa 1825-1905. |
| Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Processing Information
Processed by: Shonra Newman, June 1990
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
TT-1061/1 Typed transcription.
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Biographical Information
Susan Cornwall (circa 1825-1905) was the daughter of Francis Cornwall, who was reportedly with Wellington's army at Waterloo and came to Savannah, Ga., from the West Indies.
Susan Cornwall married Oscar Lassiter Shewmake (fl. 1820-1885). Shewmake's brother, John T. Shewmake, was a member of the Confederate Congress. The family lived at Alexander in Burke County, Ga.
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Scope and Content
One volume of poems and diary entries by Susan Cornwall. The first half of the volume contains poems, apparently original compositions by Susan. The second half is a diary, beginning 7 March 1857 and ending 27 October 1866.
The entries in the diary during 1857 describe daily events, domestic activities, and activities of Susan's family and friends. Also included are personal reflections on her own character. The entries end in May.
The diary picks up again in January 1861 and continues through May of that year. Susan described current events, and there are many entries devoted to her personal feelings about the political events of the time. Susan staunchly supported slavery and the secession of the South from the Union. Also included are a few entries about Susan's friends and family.
There is only one entry during 1863. In it, Susan describes events in the war and the deaths of two of her friends in battle. The next entry is dated 22 August 1865. Susan mentions the end of the war and deplores the sufferings of the South. The next entry, dated 29 May 1866, is similar. The final two entries describe the death of a child of the local pastor, and the baptism of her own child.
A typed transcription of this diary also is on file.
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