Confederate Survivors Association, Augusta, Georgia.  (1878-1926)   78-06 and (old  83-01)

Reese Library. Augusta State University, Augusta, Ga.

 

Summary.  Correspondence, membership applications, printed items, financial records, roster book, and committee reports.

 

Access.  No Restrictions.

 

Microfilmed.  2000

 

Citation.  Confederate Survivors Association Records. Augusta, Georgia.  Reese Library Collections, Augusta State University, Augusta, Georgia.

 

Biographical/Historical Note.

 

The Confederate Survivors= Association of Augusta, Georgia, was regularly organized on May 3, 1878 but had its beginning in an older organization known as the Cavalry Survivor=s Association, Augusta, Georgia, in 1866.  This may have been one of the earliest Confederate veteran=s organizations.  Captain William B. Young was the president of the Cavalry Survivor=s Association for twelve years until merged with the Confederate Survivors= Association in 1878.  

 

The Confederate Survivors= Association was a benevolent, historical and social association dedicated to preserving the comradeship of those who served all functions of Confederate military and naval service.  Membership was based upon service accompanied with endorsements verifying that service.  The CSA adopted the United Confederate Veteran=s constitution on February 7, 1894, but not without concern of loss of individual identity.  The Augusta Confederate Survivors Association became Camp No. 435 of the United Confederate Veterans however retained its original name.  In 1896 the Augusta CSA petitioned the UCV to change its name to Confederate Survivors Association so that the C. S. A. could be retained.

 

Presidents, or commanders, of the association  included General Clement A. Evans (1878-79); Colonel Charles G. Jones, Jr (1879- July, 1893); Captain F. E. Eve, (1894-May, 1897), Salem Dutcher, (1897- 1899); H. B. Smith, (1889-1900); George W. McLaughlin, (1900- ?).  The list of association presidents is incomplete in available records; George T. Lamback, (1912); A. J. Twiggs, (1921) and General J. D. Fooshee, (1936).

 

Membership in the Confederate Survivors Association numbered upwards to approximately 900 members not all in the Augusta, Georgia. Some were absentee members.  The majority of the membership drives occurred during the week including and following Confederate Memorial Day beginning April 21 of each year. Applications were made by printed form and by letter. The printed form measured 52 by 82 inches (13.8 by 21.5cm). There are three versions of the printed form. Earliest October 30, 1878 with minor variations in printing, a second version, displaying the Confederate Battle Flag in color, from about 1897, and a third from about 1917, 52 by 9 inches (13.8 by 22.8cm), displaying a waving Texas-style Confederate Battle Flag, with large white star in center of crossed bars.

 

 

 

List of Records.

 

Membership Applications.  3 Folders. (2 inches) 

The majority are by printed application form. Others applied by letter or note. Applications, some incomplete, include name, date of birth, place of birth, rank, service organization (in detail), and the names of those verifying service.  Applications are arranged alphabetically.  The applications do not show allow the members, some gaps exist.

 

Folder 1.  Membership Applications, A - F.  Arranged alphabetically.

 

Original Forms.  87 - 52 by 82 inches (13.8 by 21.5 cm).

Letters.    14 - 8 by 11 inches (20.1 by 25.5 cm) average.

Notes.                 09 - 4 by 6 inches (10 by 15 cm) average.

 

Folder 2. Membership Applications, G - O.  Arranged alphabetically.

 

Original Forms.  100 - 52 by 82 inches (13.8 by 21.5 cm).

Letters.    18 - 72 by 102 inches (18.7 by 26.5 cm) average.

Notes.                 19 - 4 by 6 inches (10 by 15 cm) average.

 

Folder 3 . Membership Applications, P - Z.  Arranged alphabetically.

 

Original Forms.  99 - 52 by 82 inches (13.8 by 21.5 cm).

Letters.    16 - 72 by 102 inches (18.7 by 26.5 cm) average.

Notes.                 20 - 4 by 52 inches (10 by 13.6 cm) average.

 

Roster of Surviving Members.

 

Association roster book (2 inch) containing  ARoster of the Surviving Members of Confederate Survivors Association of Augusta, Ga.@ and ANecrological Record of Assn.@ original inventory number 1466.  This record was prepared by Charles Edgeworth Jones, association historian, on January 25, 1895. There are five sections in the ledger;

1)  A tabbed index in alphabetical order listing names of members in, evidently, order of election.

2) Alphabetical listing of members with pages numbers referring to application information. Name are not listed in alphabetical order on each page.

3) Member Listing.  Arranged in near chronological order by name of man when he joined the association. The listing provides details members military service, position of service in the association,  month and year joined, month and year resigned, and on occasion date of death.

4) Necrological Record.  Arranged chronological order by year-long groups from 1878 - 1898; this listing provides names of member dying with the indicated year groups.

5) Member Tally.   Handwritten on inside cover is a tally of members from 1878 to 1898. The notations from 1897 - 1898 include the number of members on hand, dropped, resigned, or dead

 

1. Tabbed pages.   21 -  7 X 12 inches. (18.2 X 30.6 cm).  No entries for Letters X and Z.

2. Alphabetical Index with page numbers.     27 -  7 X 12 inches. (18.2 X 30.6 cm). 

3. Member Listing.  (Begins at page 45) 32 - 15 X12 inches ( 37.3 X 30.6 cm) 

4. Necrological Record.            3 - 7 X 12 inches. (18.2 X 30.6 cm).

5. Member Tally.            1 - 7 X 12 inches. (18.2 X 30.6 cm). 

 

 

Correspondence Files.   1880 - 1926.  (2 inches)

 

General correspondence relating to membership, deaths and memorials, reunions, reorganization, and historical matters.

 

Folder 4.  1880 - 1890.

Folder 5.  1891 - 1926.

 

Committee Reports.

 

Drafts of Confederate Survivors Association constitution, memorial for death of Jefferson Davis, the design of an association badge, adopting a uniform, and assistance for the maimed, needy and disabled. Most are undated drafts.  Printed constitution and by-laws of the United Confederate Veterans.

 

Folder 6.   (7 pieces, 2 inch).

 

Speeches and Memorials.

 

Drafts of speeches given on Confederate Memorial Day and memorials for deceased members.

 

Folder 7.    (6 pieces, 2 inch).

 

Miscellaneous.

 

Unclassified letters, memorial pamphlets, invitations, bank book, material for the dedication at Stone Mountain, Georgia, convention materials, two packets of blank membership applicants; one from 1898 and the other after turn of the 20th century. from off prints of speeches and U. S. Senate Bills.

 

Folder 8.  (13 pieces, 3/4 inch)

 

Receipts.

 

Receipts for goods and services used by the Confederate Survivors Association.  Arranged in no order.

 

Folder 9.  (2 inch).

 

 

Record Book. Confederate Survivors Association.  1 3/4 inch. (No. 83-01)

 

This record book  was presented to the Confederate Survivors Association on April 26, 1894 and maintained until 1909   The record contains minutes of meetings, newspaper clippings, letters from individuals, copies of speeches, histories, applications and resignations from the association, a Arunning@ ledger of association accounts and expenditures, general orders and circulars from the United Confederate Veterans, and an originally signed letter from Mrs. Jefferson Davis. 

 

The 315 pages measure,  in maximum, 10 X 13 2 inches.  The record book is leather bound with end binding, gold edged pages and  inscribed in gold leaf , ARecord Book, Confederate Survivors Association. Presented April 26th 1894.@   An old inventory number, 1591, is located on the upper left corner of the inside front cover.

 

 

Collection assembled and inventoried by William R. Wells, II BA, MEd. Augusta State University.  February - March, 2000.