Historical Highlight: Student Requests for Scholarship under President Lee

Sponsored by Students for Historical Preservation (SHP)

[The following highlight features four letters from or on the behalf of prospective students to Washington College in 1869. All letters request a scholarship to pay for their tuition. During Robert E. Lee’s presidency the college introduced several different scholarships to help educate young men whose financial standing had been destabilized by the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery. The first two students did not receive a scholarship, but the third and fourth student referenced below did. After Lee’s death and the college’s financial decline, the number of scholarships offered decreased significantly. Please contact SHP with any questions.]

Letter 1

Monroeville, Ala Aug. 27th 1869

Dear Sir.

If it is possible for me to be received as a student, without money on what conditions will I be allowed to enter? I am penniless, my friends are not able to assist me, in regard to my Character address Hon M. M. Corvey, Hon. John W. Leslie, and J.W. Fosey of this place. They representing the respectability of Monroeville; I also refer you to Dr. J.W. Cotter LLD. of Claiborne Ala. and to the representative Elect of Monroe- the Hon. JJ Parker, to S.J. Cumming of Camden Wilcox County Ala. and to General Edmund Martin of Evergreen Ala.

I also refer you to the Spotswoods — To T.E. Spotswood of Molino Fla and the Hon Dr. Spotswood of the Navy, formerly of Pensacola Fla, now living at Corpus Christi Texas. I want to finish or rather acquire an education at Washington College, if it is possible write me what I can do. If I do not hear from you, I will certainly be in Lexington on the 3d Thursday in September, when I shall expect to be admitted.

Yours very respectfully,
Daniel H. Duke

P.S. Do not reject me, on account of my abrupt & ungrammatical sentences, which may indicate bad taste &c — for it is with the design of improving & perfecting that I ask admission.

Credit is all I ask, 
D.H.D.

Letter 2

Manning, Clarendon Co, S.C.
Sept. 20th, 1869

Sir, 

Being desirous of attending your college, I write for further information than your circular gives. You say a number of young men intending to make journalism their profession will be educated free of charge, on liberal conditions, please let me know your terms. 

I am unable to pay the full charge on account of having a mother and several small brothers to support, and having no way to do it but by laborious work and hope that you can assist me in getting an education. I now find need of it. I have been employed in several printing offices in this state and flatter myself that I can get a good recommendation from each office and one from my present residence, respectfully submitted I remain very respectfully yr. obb. st.

Wm Chaffe Ivey 

Letter 3

Barnwell C.H. S.C. Sept 6th 1869
To the Faculty of Washington College
Lexington Va.

I take pleasure in stating that Mr. N. A. Patterson has been a pupil of mine during the present year. He has read some in Caesar and written a few Latin exercises, and is familiar with English Grammar and other primary English studies, and has gone over about three fourths of Davie’s Arithmetic. 

I can recommend him as a young man of steady habitats and desirous to secure a first class education. Any attention and consideration he may receive will be appreciated by his family and friends.

S H Shuck
Pastor of Baptist Church
at Barnwell S.C.

Letter 4

Dear sir - the candidate we selected and about whom I wrote you, Edwin Levy, in accordance with the advice of his family physician, has declined to go for fear of the effect of the rigorous climate on his constitution. The committee brought the subject to the attention of the Union, when, by a unanimous vote of that body, we were instructed to select another student.

In the discharge of our high trust we met, and selected Henry D. Leon, the bearer of this letter. This young man has never served any time at the printing business, but at the time of selection was a student at the Academy here under the charge of the learned and justly celebrated Col. Rains.

His character is as unexceptionable as the other young man, and he has the prestige of ambition and a much better education. I think you will find in him all that is desired of a student, and with a fair chance, he will come out second to none in your college. He has a brother that is a printer; his father was formerly a highly respected magistrate here but now connected with the Southern Express Company.

We sent him to you with all confidence, feeling satisfied that Augusta Union will have no reason to be ashamed of her representative. A peer among his fellow students here, he will tower above all his competitors of industry, appliance, and energy … Receive him, sir, in the name and on behalf of Augusta Union —  put him to the full effect of all his powers, and his Alma Mater will crown him with the cypress and the laurel.

Very truly and respectfully yours, 
L. Parrish Ashly, Ch’n Committee