Nathan E. Edwards Letter

Collection

Identifier: MC 2682

Staff Only
Select files to request

Content Description

The collection contains a letter from Arkansas State Representative Nathan E. Edwards, writing from Grand Lake, Arkansas to Elizabeth Adams Snow of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The letter is on Arkansas State House of Representatives stationery. An addendum at the end of the letter, likely added by one of Elizabeth Snow's children, notes "This letter is from one of Grandma Snow's old servants." Edwards refers to his interest in hearing from Snow about his "childhood home" and those he knew growing up, mentions his hearing of the death of his former enslaver, "Mistress Virginia" (possibly Virginia Snow, Elizabeth Adams Snow's mother) and shares about his family and his role in the state legislature, as well as mentions recent flooding in Chicot County.

Dates

Feb. 10, 1894

Creator

Edwards, Nathan E., 1855-1908 (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Conditions Governing Use

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical / Historical

Nathan E. Edwards (1855-1908) was an Arkansas State Representative, farmer, and minister.

Edwards was born in 1855, likely in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was born into slavery, and was likely enslaved by Charles Snow (1803-1884) and Virginia Penn Snow (1810-1888). Edwards later moved to Chicot County, Arkansas, where in 1873 he married Lydia Gilchrist; the couple had at least four children (one son and three daughters). In 1893, Edwards was elected to the Arkansas State House of Representatives as a Republican; he was one of only four Black men serving in the legislature at that time. He served as the pastor of First Baptist Church near Eudora, Arkansas.