Guide to the James Boykin papers MSS.0196
Boykin, James
- Publication:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
Mary Harmon Bryant Hall
May 2009
500 Hackberry Lane
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487-0266
205.348.0500
archives@ua.edu
- Creation:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-12-07T09:51-0600
- Language Usage:
English
- Description Rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
James Boykin papers
- Unit ID:
MSS.0196
- Repository:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
- Quantity:
0.8 Linear feet
- Dates:
Bulk, 1848-1870
- Dates:
1833-1967
- Abstract:
Papers of an important Dallas County, Alabama planter family, including correspondence, household and plantation records, domestic and business expenditures, records of cotton sales, sales receipts for slaves, foodstuffs, tools and other hardware, papers regarding James Boykin’s cavalry unit during the Civil War, and papers of Boykin's descendants down to the mid twentieth century.
- creator
Boykin, James, 1823-1907
- creator
Lewis, Burwell Boykin
Scope and Contents note
The papers are divided into the following groups: 1. James Boykin. This group contains correspondence, records for medical expenses for his household and plantation, domestic and business expenditures, and records of cotton sales. Other papers in the groups include sales receipts for slaves, foodstuffs, tools and other hardware; as well as papers regarding James Boykin’s cavalry unit during the Civil War. 2. Burwell Boykin. This group consists of Burwell’s correspondence and other papers, mostly business related. III. Other Boykin Family Papers. Miscellaneous business, legal and military papers of Samuel T. and R. D. Boykin, brothers of James. Included are papers related to real estate as well as some correspondence from the early twentieth century.
- Preferred Citation:
Preferred Citation
James Boykin papers, W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama.
- Acquisition Information:
Provenance
Gift of Frank Boykin, 1989, 1993, 1995
Biographical/Historical note
James Boykin (8 August 1823-13 July 1907), was one of six sons of Francis Boykin (1785-1839) and Mary Darrington James Boykin (1795-1854), who arrived in Alabama from Camden, South Carolina about 1818. The Boykins were part of a large and prominent Southern family with branches in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. James was a cousin of Mary Boykin Chestnut.
James Boykin was a planter and soldier from Tilden, Dallas County, Alabama. On 16 March 1847, he married Elizabeth Ann Scott (1827-1894). They had seven children who survived to maturity: Frank, Mary Bibb (d. 1900), James W. (d. 1885), Charlotte Taylor, James Burwell, Thomas Scott (d. 1900), and Ernest Cuculu (d. 1897). Boykin served in the Mexican War and in 1861, raised a company of cavalry and was stationed in Mobile. Known as the Alabama Mounted Volunteers, or the Alabama Mounted Rifles, the company was attached to Matthew’s Guards and later served with the Third Alabama Cavalry.
His business losses as a result of the war forced him to declare bankruptcy in 1869. He continued farming until his eyesight failed completely near the end of his life. Eliza Ann died in 1894; Boykin himself in 1907.
- Access Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Access note
None
- Usage Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Use note
None
- Processing Information:
Processed by
Unknown; updated by Andrew Harris, 2012
Source(s)
Boykin Family (local)
Boykin, James, 1823-1907 (local)
Alabama (localbroad)
Business and Labor (localbroad)
Business records (aat)
Civil War (localbroad)
Commerical products--Prices (lcsh)
Correspondence (aat)
Cotton (lcsh)
Daily Life and Family (localbroad)
Dallas County (Ala.) (lcsh)
Deeds (aat)
Farming and Agriculture (localbroad)
Legal documents (aat)
Medical fees--Alabama (lcsh)
Military records (aat)
Receipts (financial records) (aat)
Slave bills of sale--Alabama--Specimens (lcsh)
Slaveholders--Alabama (lcsh)
Tax records (aat)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 (lcsh)
|v Records and correspondence (lcsh)
James Boykin - Correspondence and Medical, Financial, Legal, Business and Military Records
Components in Detail
Correspondence – Outgoing – James Boykin – 1871 – 1894 (most undated) 9 items Box 1518 Folder 1
Correspondence – Incoming – James Boykin – alpha – 1848 – 1902. 59 items Box 1518 Folder 2
Medical Expenses – James Boykin Family and Slaves (1847 – 1886). 25 items Box 1518 Folder 3
Financial Expenditures – Personal/Domestic – James Boykin 1837 – 1859. 109 items Box 1518 Folder 4
Financial Expenditures – Personal/Domestic – James Boykin 88 items Box 1518 Folder 5
Business Records and Expenditures – James Boykin – Planter 1836 – 1896. 93 items Box 1518 Folder 6
Legal Affairs and Taxes – James Boykin – 1832 – 1907. 53 items Box 1518 Folder 7
Business Records – James Boykin for Boykin and McRae, 1857 – 1858.Ledger Balance Sheets for 1857 – 1858 (incomplete). 8 items Box 2910 Folder 1
Military Records – Captain James Boykin, C. S. A. Commander, Alabama Mounted Volunteers. 1861 – 1865 and undated. 25 items Box 2910 Folder 2
James Boykin. Land Deeds/Papers/Tax Receipts, etc. for Land Owned by James Boykin, Elizabeth Ann (wife of James Boykin), and Others. 1833 – 1855. 25 items. 25 items Box 2910 Folder 3
Miscellaneous Business Records – Boykin and McRae (Commission Merchants) 12 items Box 2910 Folder 4
Burwell Boykin - Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers
Components in Detail
Burwell Boykin (1813 – 1857) Correspondence – alpha – Incoming 1847 – 1856. 19 items Box 2910 Folder 5
Burwell Boykin (1813 – 1857) Miscellaneous Business/Legal/Tax/Slave Papers 1834 – 1862. 29 items Box 2910 Folder 6
MIscellaneous Boykin Family Papers
Components in Detail
Miscellaneous Papers R. D. [Robert Darrington] Boykin (no date.) and Samuel Thomas Boykin (1830 – 1891). 1855 – 1872. 17 items Box 2910 Folder 7
Miscellaneous Papers – Burwell Boykin (no date). Papers date from 1886 – 1920 and undated. 15 items. 15 items Box 2910 Folder 8
Miscellaneous Boykin Family Correspondence – Some undated and/or unsigned. 1885 – 1931. 13 items Box 2910 Folder 9
Miscellaneous Boykin Family Collection – 19th and 20th Centuries. 43 items Box 2910 Folder 10