Collection Guide

Dr. Edward Bradford Papers

Date Range: 1830-1871
188 items
0.25 linear feet

Biographical Note:
Dr. Edward Bradford, 1830- 1871, was a general merchant and plantation owner in Leon County, Florida.

Scope and Content:
Contains personal and business correspondence, documents, bills, receipts, etc., of Dr. Edward Bradford (183 0- 1871) general merchant and plantation owner. Contains personal and business correspondence, documents, bills, receipts, etc., of Dr. Edward Bradford. Contains personal and business correspondence, documents, bills, receipts, etc., of Dr. Edward Bradford.
Collection also includes a letter of introduction of James E. Broome, Tallahassee, Fla., to Hon. Jacob Thompson, Washington City, and a long handwritten letter of Governor Bragg, Raleigh, N.C., and other important papers show that Dr. Bradford was a well-known and prominent citizen. For the period before 1840 there are only a few scattering bills, receipts, and notes, but from 1840 to 1866 records of the plantation, commission merchants, forwarding agents, and New York cotton brokers evidence that a prosperous business was transacted. Another letter from James E. Broome about the sale of slaves, records of the "hiring of slaves out to other plantation owners and farmers show that they were important slave owners. Also, letters of Geo. H. Meginnis pertaining to "bacon and pork of the commissary store house all being issued to the soldiers or turned over to the state authorities by order of Governor Jones and Capt. Wescott to be dealt out to the poor and needy families of the state, and expressing doubt that: "The Yankees will respect the action of the authorities" - together with an application of A. H. Hopkins for exemption of the plantation overseer - show that they had their difficulties during the Civil War. The correspondence of F. Whitaker, William H. Branch and others show that there was considerable wrangling over division of estate.

Citation: Dr. Edward Bradford Papers, Special Collections, Robert Manning Strozier Library, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
Source: Gift of Florida State Library, Tallahassee, Fla. (2-14-55) Gift of Louise Richardson and Clara R. Hayden, Tallahassee, Fla. (retrieved the papers from trash pile set on fire at plantation) Gift of Mrs. Henry Moore, Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia. (6-22-63)
Access Restrictions: none
Manuscript Number: MSS 0:28
Location: Box 515

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