2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Archive of 26 items pertaining to William Preston Johnston (1831-1899), eldest son of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, aide-de-camp to Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and founder of Tulane University in 1884. Included are the following: 5 Autograph Letters Signed "Wm Preston Johnston", 20 pages total, octavo, 1886-1894, New Orleans to Edward Ellsworth of Poukeepsie, New York. Johnston found a likely pen-pal in his cousin's husband, Ellsworth. The letters, all penned on Tulane letterheads, read in small part as follows: "(11/7/86)...I am sorry to see the Radical victory in Virginia. It means the revolt of a proletariat, white as well as black against order and good government. The men elected as Republicans are a dirty lot...(4/25/87)...I have had the greatest difficulty in my College of getting a teacher of penmanship & book keeping. One year I had a drunkard, the next a man deficient in breeding, this year a fossil...(5/16/87)...I send you today what I hope is my final reply to Genl Beauregard...(12/28/92)...I have been under some mental strain and depression of late in the sickness and death of my early friend, Gen. Gibson...(2/19/94)...I take great interest in public education as you see but the cause of education is one everywhere in our country. It is our only hope against the rising tide of savagery in America..."....Plus; Cabinet card portrait of William Preston Johnston, ca. 1890, Washburn, New Orleans. An elderly and immaculate Johnston is shown in this pristine image having strong tonal contrasts...Plus; 4 letters, 9 pages, quarto, 1880's - 1890's, to Edward Ellsworth, Pouhkeepsie, New York from varied writers. The latest letter, dated July 18, 1899, is from a friend upon news of Johnston's death...Plus; 6 booklets, over 150 pages total, all small octavo, 1880's - 1890's. This group contains bound and printed transcriptions of Johnston speeches, monographs, and articles. Memorials to his parents, a study of Macbeth, and discourses on Louisiana education are among the topics covered...Plus; 3 booklets about Johnston, including a 32-page memorial...Plus; 6 pieces of printed ephemera, mostly menus from formal dinners, that appear to have belonged to Edward Ellsworth. The average condition of items throughout the group is Fine.
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