Gregg Family Papers
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Scope and Content Note
Family and legal papers pertaining to the Lafayette Gregg family of Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas.
The family papers consist of letters, biographical materials, invitations, diplomas, poetry, tax receipts, deeds, financial papers, and newspaper clippings. Of particular interest in the family letters are those written by Russell Cravens Gregg while serving with the U.S. Army at Camp Pike, Arkansas, and in France during World War One. The legal papers consist of court papers, promissory notes, deeds, and other materials pertaining to the law practice of Lafayette Gregg and his son, Lafayette W. Gregg. The majority of the legal papers concern the settlement of the estate of William F. Wilson (1815-1882) a prominent Washington County farmer. Originally from Kentucky, Wilson settled in Washington County and married a widow, Matilda Barren Phelan, in 1827. In addition to her five sons from her first marriage, Matilda had three children with Wilson: Andrew, George, and Elizabeth (Lizzie). When he died in 1882, Wilson named Lafayette Gregg as the administrator for his estate and guardian of his children. Andrew died shortly thereafter, George remained at home with his mother, and Lizzie eventually married a man named Gabbert. In 1888, the Wilsons directed Gregg to sell $18,000 in U.S. Bonds in order to increase their quarterly income. A dispute over the handling of these and other funds arose after Lafayette Gregg's death in 1891, and the Greggs were sued by Lizzie Wilson Gabbert. In the course of the settlement, Lafayette W. Gregg divided all of the expense receipts as falling before or after November 15, 1888 and presented them to the court. The arrangement of the Wilson legal papers preserves this original order. Other files included in the legal and professional papers pertain to the Bank of Fayetteville, Emma Cardwell, J.S. McDaniel, William Genn, and Lafayette Gregg's Civil War service. The third series consists of photographs of the Gregg family.
Dates
- 1839-1983
Creator
- Gregg family (Family)
Language of Materials
Materials are in English.
Access Information
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.
Use Information
No Use Restrictions Apply.
No Interlibrary Loan.
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Biographical Note
Lafayette Gregg (1825-1891) was an attorney, soldier, banker, and a founder of the Arkansas Industrial University (University of Arkansas). He was born in Alabama and moved to Fayetteville in 1849. After receiving his preliminary education at the Ozark Academy, Gregg studied law in the office of William D. Reagan and opened his own practice which lasted until his death. He served as Colonel of the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry (Union) during the Civil War, and afterwards helped rebuild northwest Arkansas by working to establish the Arkansas Industrial University at Fayetteville and founding the Bank of Fayetteville. Married in 1852 to Mary A. Shreve, Lafayette Gregg had five children: Lafayette, Alfred, Henry, Andrew, and Ida Gregg. Andrew S. Gregg (1857-1938) became a prominent Fayetteville physician, practicing medicine for nearly fifty years in the town. Alfred W. Gregg (1854-1880) was one of the first graduates of the Arkansas Industrial University in 1876. Henry Lincoln Gregg (1868-1946) lived most of his life in Fayetteville and Little Rock, investing in zinc mining among other business interests. Henry's son, Russell Cravens Gregg, served as a Lieutenant in the 346th U.S. Infantry during World War I. Ida Gregg, who never married, inherited the family mansion on 339 Gregg Street, Fayetteville, and lived there for the rest of her life. A complete family tree is included in the hardcopy finding aid.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Arrangement of the Papers
The Gregg papers have been divided into four series and several subseries.
- Series 1. Family Papers, 1852-1983. Boxes 1-2.
- Series 1. Subseries 1. Family correspondence, 1882-1963.
- Series 1. Subseries 2. Biographical materials, 1876-ca. 1923.
- Series 1. Subseries 3. Cards and invitations, 1881-1947.
- Series 1. Subseries 4. Diplomas and certificates, 1868-1955.
- Series 1. Subseries 5. Poetry and recipes, n.d.
- Series 1. Subseries 6. Tax receipts, 1870-1957.
- Series 1. Subseries 7. Land deeds, 1852-1946.
- Series 1. Subseries 8. Financial papers, 1875-1902.
- Series 1. Subseries 9. Wills and contracts, 1890-1938.
- Series 1. Subseries 10. Gregg house materials, 1927-1983.
- Series 1. Subseries 11. Newspaper clippings, ca. 1880s-1940s.
- Series 2. Legal and professional papers, 1839-1896. Boxes 2-3.
- Series 2. Subseries 1. Wilson estate, 1881-1896.
- Series 2. Subseries 2. Bank of Fayetteville, 1888-1895.
- Series 2. Subseries 3. Civil War papers, 1863-1865.
- Series 2. Subseries 4. Emma Cardwell, 1875-1878.
- Series 2. Subseries 5. J.S. McDaniel, 1891-1893.
- Series 2. Subseries 6. William Genn, 1887-1891.
- Series 2. Subseries 7. Miscellaneous legal papers, 1839-1896.
- Series 3. Photographs, 1864-ca. 1930s. Box 3.
- Series 4. Artifacts, circa 1864-1900
Acquisition Information
The Gregg Family Papers were donated to Special Collections by Mrs. Emily Gregg Pritchard on March 11, 1991.
Processing Information
Processed by Kim Allen Scott, December 1989. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Series 4, Artifacts, was added by Katrina Windon in January 2021 in order to integrate collection items that had not been included in the original finding aid; item descriptions for items in this series were derived from inventory created by Kim Allen Scott in January 1991.
- Title
- Gregg Family Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kim Allen Scott
- Date
- 1989
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Department Repository
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444
specoll@uark.edu