Digital Durham

(Toggle MetaData View / View Subject Headings / TEI Transcription / Printer-Friendly Version)

Title:
Letter from James Southgate to Delia Haywood Southgate, September 18, 1883: Electronic Edition.
Author:
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Southgate, Delia Haywood Wynne
Funder:
Funding by the Institute of Museum of Library Services (IMLS) and the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), with support provided through North Carolina ECHO.
Transcription Information:
Text transcribed by: Kelly Clark
Images scanned by: Digital Production Center
Text encoded by: Katherine M. Wisser
Transcription Edition:
Edition: First edition,
Date: 2006
Publication Information:
Publisher: Duke University Libraries
Date: 2006
Availability: ©This work is the property of the Duke University Libraries. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching, and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
Source Information:
Title: Letter from James Southgate to Delia Haywood Southgate, September 18, 1883
Author: James Southgate
Date: 18830918
Note: James Southgate writes his wife Delia Southgate about his medical regimen at the Retreat of the Sick, in Richmond and the news he has heard about illnesses in Durham. Responding to reports from Durham of the Whitaker family's illness, Southgate advises that Mr. Whitaker eliminate his hogs, dismantle the hog pen, and put in a layer of lime on the top of the soil. He advises his family to clean their property and use lime to purify the grounds and sleeping rooms. He expresses his concern about the ill health of his Durham friends Mrs. Blackwell, her daughter Mary Blackwell and his daughter's school mate Minnie. He notes his correspondence with Grandma Zach about the Richmond fruit market and makes plans with Delia purchase peaches and pears from Chapel Hill for canning. He describes the mischievous antics of sailors at the Retreat who baptize a brood of kittens. In closing, Southgate mentions his correspondence and visits with friends and relatives including Kate Sanborn, Cousin Augusta Christian, Sarah "Sallie" Raboteau, Hunter, and Tom and Mary ___________.
P: James Southgate papers, 1794-1944 and undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Class: Durham (N.C.) -- History
Class: Diseases -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Class: Farmers (Durham, N.C.)
Class: Southgate, Annie
Class: Sanborn, Kate Christine
Class: Retreat of the Sick (Richmond, Va.)
Class: Communication in the family -- Southern states -- History -- 19th century
Class: Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Class: Moore, Minnie, d. 1883
Class: Disease outbreaks -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Class: Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Class: Southgate, Delia Haywood Wynne
Class: Christian, Augusta
Class: Family -- Social life and customs -- Southern states
Class: Disease outbreaks -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Class: Family -- North Carolina -- History
Class: Medical care -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Class: Blackwell, Emma E., 1855 - 1885
Class: Blackwell, Mary E.
Class: Grandma Zack
Class: Canning and preserving -- History -- 19th century
Class: Raboteau, Sallie
Class: Southgate, Cordelia Hunter
Class: Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Class: Southgate, Delia Haywood
Class: Durham (N.C.)
Class: Richmond (Va.)
Class: Bainbridge (Ga.)
Class: Chapel Hill (N.C.)

Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Durham (N.C.) -- History
Diseases -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Farmers (Durham, N.C.)
Southgate, Annie
Sanborn, Kate Christine
Retreat of the Sick (Richmond, Va.)
Communication in the family -- Southern states -- History -- 19th century
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Moore, Minnie, d. 1883
Disease outbreaks -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Southgate, Delia Haywood Wynne
Christian, Augusta
Family -- Social life and customs -- Southern states
Disease outbreaks -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Family -- North Carolina -- History
Medical care -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Blackwell, Emma E., 1855 - 1885
Blackwell, Mary E.
Grandma Zack
Canning and preserving -- History -- 19th century
Raboteau, Sallie
Southgate, Cordelia Hunter
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Southgate, Delia Haywood
Durham (N.C.)
Richmond (Va.)
Bainbridge (Ga.)
Chapel Hill (N.C.)

I am glad to hear such good news from our household each day. That you all keep out of the bed and are able to be up and about- Should any one be sick I should be strongly tempted to pull up stakes + travel homewards. I fear Mr Whitakers sickness shows some local cause of disease in our neighborhood and you should see that our lot is kept well cleaned + lime used freely-I think de-odorizers should be used in the sleeping rooms also. I expect the hog pen in Whitaker's lot is the cause of sickness- It is a great nuisance to any premises and should not be allowed by the authorities, for a man has no right to make his non-family sick any more than to make his neighbor sick- I have feared that pen all this while. Tell him I say, to sell his hogs clean up the pen and put lime two inches thick on it- I am pained to hear of Mrs Blackwells affliction and so much fear she will lose her little girl. It would be terrible on Mr B were he to lose his children + if it is really Dyptheria it will be most likely to take them both. If this dire disease should take root in Durham it will indeed be a terrible calamity. I know of nothing more fatal- Do keep our children away from it by all means- I am glad to know Minnie is improving as also the others who were sick. I do so sympathise with those who are not in the enjoyment of health-we cannot appreciate the blessing of a sound body until we get sick. How unthankful we are to the Great Giver of all good! Who crowns our lives with loving kindness and tender mercies- I received a letter from Mattie last Saturday but sent it to Kate Sanbom as I did Kate's to Matt, so they will both hear from each other

The copyright interest in the material in this digital collection has not been transferred to the Digital Durham project. These text and images may not be used for any commercial purpose without the permission of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library and the Digital Durham Project. Copyright permission for subsequent uses is the responsibility of the user.