Madge Preston papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-0180

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of two bound holographic volumes. In the first volume (1868), Preston copied letters sent to family and friends during a trip to Europe in 1868 in which she described the sea voyage, visits to German cities, and various social activities. Most of the letters are addressed to her husband, William P. Preston. The second volume (1885) is a record of letters sent and received and a daily ledger of weather and activities.

Dates

Creation: 1868, 1885

Creator

Preston, Madge, 1815- (Person)
Beauchamp, Virginia Walcott (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Special Collections department. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Biographical / Historical

Madge Preston was born Margaret Smith in 1815 in Frederick County, Maryland. In 1846, she married William P. Preston, a Baltimore attorney. They were the parents of a daughter, May, born in 1849. Madge Preston wrote long social letters to her friends and family and kept descriptive diaries during her lifetime. In 1868, Madge and May left Baltimore for an extended trip to Europe, visiting both Germany and Italy. Madge Preston died in Baltimore in 1895.

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of two bound holographic volumes of Baltimore resident, Madge Preston (1815-1895). In the first volume (1868) Mrs. Preston copied letters sent to family and friends during a trip to Europe in 1868 in which she described the sea voyage, visits to German cities, and various social activities. Most of the letters are addressed to her husband, William P. Preston. The second volume (1885) is a record of letters sent and received and a daily ledger of weather and activities.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

No aquisition information is available at this time.

Accruals

Accession number 1988-89.ms.039

Related Materials

William P. Preston's career as a Baltimore attorney is represented in MS.0174, MS.0175, and MS.0176, Special Collections.

Family papers of William P. and Madge Preston are held at the Manuscripts Section, McKeldin Library, University of Maryland, College Park, MD and the Maryland Historical Society.

Letters and diaries of Madge Preston were edited by Virginia Walcott Beauchamp and published in 1987 under the title "A Private War."

General

Letters and diaries of Madge Preston were edited by Virginia Walcott Beauchamp and published in 1987 under the title "A Private War."

William P. Preston's career as a Baltimore attorney is represented in Ms. 174, Ms. 175, and Ms. 176, Special Collections.

Processing Information

This is no known processing information for this collection.

Liz Beckman revised the Scope and Contents and Biographical note in this finding aid in December 2023 to bring them into compliance with Johns Hopkins guidelines for inclusive and conscientious description (2023). The previous version of the finding aid is available upon request. Additional edits to the Biographical note to address the Prestons' history with the Confederacy and slavery are forthcoming (see the University of Maryland Special Collections' digital exhibit for details of this history here: https://exhibitions.lib.umd.edu/civilwarwomen/primary-source-evidence/diaries).