The Reuben T. Durrett Papers at The Filson Historical Society

Collections Essay Ihe Reuben T.Durrett Papers at The Filson Historical Society n May 1884,ReubenT Durrettand nine prominent Louisvillians founded the Filson Club,now the Filson Historical Society Many of the founders were amateur historians or manuscript collectors. I) urrett,the instigator of the Filson' s founding,was both. Although his interest in preserving history dated to the 18505, he did not begin in earnest ·, is a collector until 1880. As president of the Filson from 1884 until his death in 1913, Durrett continued to build his collection of rnanuscripts,books,pamphlets,portraits,and artifacts. He also became a widely recognized expert on Kentucky history. Although the University of Chicago purchased most of Durrett's collection in 1912,he retained a l·arge qiiantity of his personal papers. After Durrett's death, his family began donating these papers to the Filson. Reuben T.Durrett in his library.7he Filson I listorical Society The Reuben T Durrett Papers arrived in several batches beginningin 1929. The Filson cataloged a large portion of its Durrett Papers in the midtwentieth century, but 1 1 '' ': * 16.. five cubic feet of them remained unprocessed and largely , forcotten until the 1980s. In 1986,when the Filson moved to its current location at the Ferguson Mansion, curator James J. Holmberg found what became the Reuben T.Durrett Added S »-' ' St»- » » , . 1 2« ts' 1, '.' » 5, Papers in the attic of the Filson' s 2'* 1 '4. Q« '»'' ij : 1* »'. 417 . older building. From 1986 until the summer of 2005, the uncataloged papers remained in storage. During that summer,the collection, still packaged in old correspondence boxes,was carefully examined,probably fc, r the first time since the 1930s. The Reuben T Durrett Papers include a variety of materials,includit »lg items related to the founding and operation of the Filson,documents 54 OHIO VALLEY HISTORY from his law practice after the Civil War,and personal correspondence from Durrett's antebellum romance with Elizabeth Bates, whom he married in 1852. The legal papers include pension applications from the 1860s for hundreds of federal soldiers who used Durrett as their lawyer. 1[ he Durrett Papers also contain forms from Kentuckians applying for compensation for slaves inducted into the Union army. What became the Reuben T Durrett Added Papers consists mostly of correspondence from 1887 to 1898 and from 1904 to 1909. The collection fills in gaps in the other Durrett Papers,which contained only a small amount of material from the years represented in the newest addition. Ihese papers cover more than half of Durrett's time as Filson president, the years he was most devoted to his historical pursuits. Durrett corresponded with prominent Kentuckians such as John B. Castleman,Cassius M. Clay,Basil W.Duke,and Bennett H. Young, and the collection also contains letters from national figures like William Jennings Bryan. However,the true significance of these papers is that they demonstrate the ex8 1.. Ath arc' " Ift 1©44.-™t (, 1 / 4« fill. I. 1 '· 44. 444 5= p-, J -. 4,. 3r ' . 1, LA . ' T»» m f\> , ' k«& 5 estly and dishonorably prevented me from doing in his miserable envy,jealousy and malice." 12 Coues also had little use for Butler' s friend, Reuben G. 1hwaites. 1 . '' In 1894, Thwaites traveled by canoe down the Ohio River,briefly staying with Durrett in Louisville. In the ptiblished account of his journey, ' Ihwaites mentioned his host in Louisville but did not name him.13 Coues believed this was disrespectful OHIO VALLEY HISTORY 56 to Durrett. In the same letter in which he lambasted Butler, Coues mentioned reviewing 1hwaites's book for a most important quarter. " Now kindly suggest to me, Loues wrote, " anything you think ought to be said about it,or that you would like to be said about it, and I will try to serve up this ingrate as he deserves." 14 Colles' s next letter to Durrett was less adamant, but he stated, " I have no use for a man to whom the obvious proprieties of social intercourse are not obvious." 1' Coues's colorful and entertaining letters reveal the close ties Durrett had with other historians. Durretts correspondence also provides provenance on items iii the...