Sarah Garrison Devereux LANDRUM’s Wills Papers to University of Texas

George Edward FREENEY Jr. · 2023-01-13T03:51:50-06:00

(February 5, 1954) provided:I hereby give, devise, and bequeath:(e) Unto the University of Texas all the papers of Julien Sydney, DEVEREUX, known as the "Devereux Papers" now in the custody of my son-in-law, Douglas WEEKS, and stored in his office in Garrison Hall at the University of Texas provided, however, that the said Douglas WEEKS shall be permitted to retain custody of such papers so long as he may desire and provided, further, that any member of my family shall be permitted full and free access to all of such papers, including the right to photostat and copy.Sarah Garrison Devereux LANDRUM's desire that the papers become the property of The University of Texas was motivated by a life-long interest in and many connections with the University. She herself was a student here in the long session of 1884-1885 at a time when her brother-in-law, the late Professor George P. GARRISON was a member of the faculty. Her two children, my wife and Dr. William P. DDEVEREUX of Dallas, and two of her grandchildren, Sarah Jane WEEKS HILLS and Julien DEVEREUX WEEKS, as well as a number of her nieces and nephews, were graduates of the University. My long service on the faculty was also of influence.The DEVEREUX papers consist of several thousand items and are made up of letters, diaries, day books, bills and receipts, broadsides, and other memoranda belonging to John William DEVEREUX, and other members of the DEVEREUX family. The collection is without doubt one of the most complete records of any antebellum Texas slave plantation. It is rich with primary source material in early Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. Some items date from the eighteenth century. The items are most numerous for the period from 1840 to 1856 when Julien Sydney DEVEREUX lived in Texas in Montgomery and Rusk Counties. In Rusk County, where he last resided, the records of his Monte Verdi plantation are especially voluminous. In his last years he erected an imposing mansion on this plantation, which has recently been carefully restored by Mr. and Mrs. Emmett LOWRY of Texas City, Texas. They use it as their country home, but they have been very generous in making it available to the public.Dr. Dorman H. Winfrey, now Director and Librarian of the Texas State Library, has done a most painstaking job in what was his doctoral dissertation at The University of Texas. His doctoral committee agreed on its superior quality. My wife and I as well as all other members of the DEVEREUX family are quite grateful to Dr. Winfrey for restoring to proper prominence an important figure in the early development of Texas.

Monte Verdi Plantation Descendants

Sarah Garrison Devereux LANDRUM’s Wills Papers to University of Texas

Posted by George Edward FREENEY Jr. on January 13, 2023 at 3:51 am

(February 5, 1954) provided:

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath:

(e) Unto the University of Texas all the papers of Julien Sydney, DEVEREUX, known as the “Devereux Papers” now in the custody of my son-in-law, Douglas WEEKS, and stored in his office in Garrison Hall at the University of Texas provided, however, that the said Douglas WEEKS shall be permitted to retain custody of such papers so long as he may desire and provided, further, that any member of my family shall be permitted full and free access to all of such papers, including the right to photostat and copy.

Sarah Garrison Devereux LANDRUM‘s desire that the papers become the property of The University of Texas was motivated by a life-long interest in and many connections with the University. She herself was a student here in the long session of 1884-1885 at a time when her brother-in-law, the late Professor George P. GARRISON was a member of the faculty. Her two children, my wife and Dr. William P. DDEVEREUX of Dallas, and two of her grandchildren, Sarah Jane WEEKS HILLS and Julien DEVEREUX WEEKS, as well as a number of her nieces and nephews, were graduates of the University. My long service on the faculty was also of influence.

The DEVEREUX papers consist of several thousand items and are made up of letters, diaries, day books, bills and receipts, broadsides, and other memoranda belonging to John William DEVEREUX, and other members of the DEVEREUX family. The collection is without doubt one of the most complete records of any antebellum Texas slave plantation. It is rich with primary source material in early Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. Some items date from the eighteenth century. The items are most numerous for the period from 1840 to 1856 when Julien Sydney DEVEREUX lived in Texas in Montgomery and Rusk Counties. In Rusk County, where he last resided, the records of his Monte Verdi plantation are especially voluminous. In his last years he erected an imposing mansion on this plantation, which has recently been carefully restored by Mr. and Mrs. Emmett LOWRY of Texas City, Texas. They use it as their country home, but they have been very generous in making it available to the public.

Dr. Dorman H. Winfrey, now Director and Librarian of the Texas State Library, has done a most painstaking job in what was his doctoral dissertation at The University of Texas. His doctoral committee agreed on its superior quality. My wife and I as well as all other members of the DEVEREUX family are quite grateful to Dr. Winfrey for restoring to proper prominence an important figure in the early development of Texas.

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