"First Lady of the Confederacy"
Provenance: Descended through Jefferson and Varina Davis family, later Hayes and Webb families by marriage (see note)
December 1884 dated letter to Jefferson Davis from his wife at Beauvoir home, 7-3/4 x 9-3/4 in., with outer envelope; 1906 check to “Miss V. D. Howell“ signed by "V. Jefferson Davis" (endorsement on back); portrait of Varina Howell Davis in period oval-shaped frame, 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 in.; small locket worn by Mrs. Jefferson Davis containing a picture of daughter "Winnie"; three cabinet cards of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Varina Anne Davis “Winnie”, each 6-1/2 x 4-1/4 in.
Note: Joel Addison Hayes married Margaret Howell Davis and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1885. They had a daughter Varina Hayes Davis who married Dr. Gerald B. Webb. Their son Joel, married Barbara A. Palmer. Upon Barbara's passing these objects were offered through a Webb family estate sale circa 2012.
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Descended through Jefferson and Varina Davis family, later Hayes and Webb families by marriage (see note)
good overall; letter with fold and mild toning; envelope with period end tear to open contents; check hammer canceled and some paper loss at center, ink smear; locket hinge fully separated; cabinet cards with some handling wear, minor surface marks, fading, and occasional staining
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