Letters: 1856-1858

Letters written by Franklin Garrett to his mother, father, and siblings while he was a student at Louisiana College in St. James Parish, La., and later Centenary College in Jackson, La. The family letters are generally chatty in tone and pertain to Garrett's studies in French, Greek, and Latin, examinations, books he is reading, events he attended, such as a dance and a Fourth of July barbecue, his health, travel by steam ship, extended family, and yellow fever cases in Louisiana. He also requests and responds to news from home, especially the general health of family members and crop production, particularly cotton, on the family's plantation. Of interest are two letters dated 8 and 20 June 1857 in which Garrett refers to the health of enslaved "hands" and the impact of illness on the plantation. On 8 June, he writes, "I am glad to hear you have had such good luck with the stock. And sorry there is so much sickness among the negroes." On 20 June, he writes, "So poor Aaron is dead. The continued sickness among the hands must indeed have put the crop behind."

Letters: February-March 1859

Letters written by Franklin Garrett to his mother, father, and siblings while he was a student at Centenary College in Jackson, La. In his letters, Garrett discusses travel by steam ship, extended family, health, college life, events in Jackson, La., including a ball and a wedding where students conducted a "Chariviri" [sic], boarding with professors, his studies including languages and "Electric Psychology," his need for money to cover debts, and his desire to leave school and finish his studies at home. In a 1 February 1859 letter to his mother, Franklin Garrett requests approval for a revised promise he had made. Instead of waiting until graduation to indulge in vices, he promises, "I am neither to Drink any spiritous liquors or play at cards till I am Twenty one." In a 6 February 1859 letter, he advises his brother, "Never let the boys prevail on you to Play Cards, Smoke or chew Tobacco or drink intoxicating liquors." Also included are two letters from Isaiah Garrett to his son Franklin. He writes with news from home and the plantation and mentions the cases of whooping cough among the enslaved "negroes." In the 15 February 1859 letter, he also advises his son about the use of alcohol and tobacco. "It is very hard to quit." In a 22 March 1859, he responds to Franklin's request to return home.

Letters: April-November 1859

Letters written by Franklin Garrett to his mother and father while he was a student at Centenary College in Jackson, La., and later the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. In his letters, Garrett discusses travel by steam ship and stage, flooding from the Mississippi River that submerged River Road near Baton Rouge, sickness in Jackson, La., a trip to Washington, D.C., his impressions of Georgetown University, traveling through mountains, his application to UNC and the students there, his studies, weather in Chapel Hill, and his interest in Whig politics. In a 17 May 1859, he refers to slaves purchased by his father in New Orleans and inquires about the health of the "negroes" at Linwood and the plantation's crop production. Also included are three letters from Isaiah Garrett to his son Franklin. He writes with news from home and the plantation and shares his hopes and concerns.

Letters: 1860

Letters written by Franklin Garrett to his mother and father while he was a student at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. In his letters, Garrett discusses a visit to a "Female School" in Salem, N.C., weather in Chapel Hill, his studies and marks, his health, student life and elections on campus, events he attended, his interest in a "young lady," his debts and money needs, a trip to the mountains, and his reaction to seeing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. He also asks for news from home. Of interest is a 31 March 1860 letter in which Garrett describes the stabbing death of a man at the hands of a UNC student. Also included are three letters from Isaiah Garrett to his son Franklin with news from home about the family's health including his own and the crops. He also offers advice to his son, and in a 18 March 1860 letter, he discusses local politics and government, which is "in the hands of superficial men."

Letters: 1861-1866

Scattered letters written by Franklin Garrett to his mother and father. In an 11 April 1861 letter written from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., shortly before his graduation, Garrett discuss his debts and the idea of marrying for money. In a 1 April 1862 letter, he writes from Virginia about his discharge from the Confederate Army for health reasons, and in a 4 January 1863 letter he writes from Mississippi about the families he has met there, his desire to marry, and the officers with whom he works on "our Papers." He also reports on his impressions of the war's progress. "The Yankees seem to be having rare times. The God of Battle certainly favors our cause." In the post war letters written to his mother from New Orleans, La., Garrett discusse his desire to find happiness and marry, his appointment to "Enrolling Clerk from the Senate," an article he wrote for the "Delta newspaper," the cost of living in New Orleans, acquaintances and friends he has made there, the Louisiana legislature, his study of the law, the cotton market and stocks, and his wish to work at his father's law office. Also included are four letters from Isaiah Garrett to his son Franklin. In a 6 March 1861, he expresses his fear of a war, and in the 1862 letters he writes with news from home and inquires about Franklin's health and medical discharge.

Other materials: 1862-1876

Includes a certificate dated 23 October 1862 exempting Franklin Garrett from military service in the Confederate army, receipts including an 1864 provision return for rations, an 1868 membership certificate for the Ouachita Central Democratic Club, receipts, and election results for Lincoln, Jackson, and Bienville Parishes, La., for the 1876 presidential election and local elections.

Garrett's law office in Monroe, La., circa 1890s

Mounted albumen print

Image depicts Franklin Garrett with several white men outside the office and one African American man with a bicycle at the side of the building.