Ezra Walker Collection
Scope and Content
The collection consists of 46 documents: 7 bills, 1 printed document, 1 diagram, 1 hand written manuscript copy (the only document attributed to Ezra Walker), and 36 autographed, signed letters. Each letter is in an individual folder, accompanied by a typewritten transcript. The contents of each are also summarized in a short description in the container list. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by writer, then chronologically. The bills are separated into two folders; one contains 5 postal bills while the other contains 2 account bills.
All but a few of the letters are incoming correspondence to Ezra Walker. The correspondence is of both a personal and a business nature. Many letters mention Ohio University, giving information on the financial and educational status of the University ranging from good to troubled, in addition conveying how it was to be a student there in that time. The letters also give details of the salt industry and development of the Kanawha Valley and the Hocking Valley including the Athens, Ohio area. The importance of the available modes of transportation is emphasized with the development of the mail service, overland roads, railroads, and canals noted. George Summers' letters written from a Whig perspective candidly discuss the relationship between President and Congress, including references to "Loco Foco" Democrats.
The main correspondents are as follows: William Holmes McGuffey
, educator, text book author (The Eclectic Reader), and President of Ohio University 1839-1843. George W. Summers
(OU 1825), lawyer, judge, and member of the Virginia State house of delegates 1830-1832 and 1834-1836, delegate State Constitutional Convention 1851, delegate State Secession Convention 1861, member United States House of Representatives 1841-1845. Lewis Summers
, lawyer, judge, OU Trustee 1829-1843, and elder brother to George. Archibald B Walker
, Hocking Valley businessperson, local historian, founding member and Recording Secretary of the historian, founding member and Recording Secretary of the Athens County Pioneer Association, and Ezra's brother. Ralph M. Walker
, younger brother to Ezra, author of letters while in attendance at OU.
Dates
- Creation: 1826-1853
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection.
Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
Biography of Ezra Walker
Ezra Walker was born around 1802 in East Poultney, Vermont. His father Dr. Ezra Walker moved the family to the Marietta, Ohio area in 1810. In the next year, they traveled further into Ohio, settling in Athens County where Dr. Walker became the first resident physician in Ames Township.
Ezra graduated with a class of four from Ohio University in 1826. He promptly relocated to the Charleston, Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia) area to read law in the office of the Honorable Lewis Summers. He also taught school in the Kanawha Salines for a short while. Following his study of law and admission to the bar, Ezra Walker remained in the Kanawha County area to practice. In 1829 he was awarded his Master of Arts degree from Ohio University--these were then awarded to graduates who continued academic studies for three years following completion of the bachelors degree.
Around 1834 Walker was appointed to the position of Engineer and Superintendent of Western Improvements by the James River and Kanawha Company, where he remained until his death. Ezra also edited and published the Kanawha Banner for a few years. He died in Kanawha County, Virginia in March 1853 leaving a widow, Julia Shepard Walker, and two children, Ezra and Kate.
Extent
0.3 cubic feet
Abstract
Bills, printed matter, and letters
Statement of Arrangement
These records are organized into the following series:
- Series 1: Bills (1833-1840) from Postmaster, Kanawha County Court House (Virginia) Post Office to Ezra Walker
- Series 2: Bills/account slips (1829-1838) from James M. Laidley
- Series 3: Letters (1840-1842) from William Holmes McGuffey, postmarked Athens, Ohio to Ezra Walker, Charleston, Virginia
- Series 4: Letters (1826-1845) from George W. Summers to Ezra Walker
- Series 5: Letters (1827-1843) from Judge Lewis Summers to Ezra Walker
- Series 6: Letters (1841-1852) from A.B. Walker, postmarked Athens, Ohio to Ezra Walker, Charleston, Virginia
- Series 7: Letters (1828-1848) from Ralph M. Walker to Ezra Walker
- Series 8: Miscellaneous business letters (1833)
- Series 9: Miscellaneous family letters (1837-1853)
- Series 10: Letter of recommendation for Ezra Walker (1830)
- Series 11: Mansucript copy of letter (1843)
- Series 12: Printed document (1848)
Other Finding Aid
A paper copy of the folder list is available.
Acquisition Information
The Ohio University received the Ezra Walker Collection as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. John S. Walker in November 1991.
Existence and Location of Copies
Ohio University will entertain requests to photocopy reasonable amounts of material from the collection for the convenience of individual researchers.
Bibliography
- [Note: All items listed below may be found in the department's collections.]
- Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1971.
- Washington D.C.: GPO, 1971.
- General Catalogue of the Ohio University: From the Date of
- Its Charter in 1804 to 1857. Athens: Van Vorhes, 1857.
- Hoover, Thomas N. The History of Ohio University.
- Athens: Ohio University Press, 1954.
- Inter-State Publishing Company. History of the Hocking
- Valley, Ohio. Chicago: Inter-State, 1883.
- Laidley, W. S. History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West
- Virginia and Representative Citizens. Chicago: Richmond- Arnold, 1911.
- Peters, William E. Athens County Business. Athens:
- privately printed, 1945.
- Summers, George W. Unpublished transcription of a letter.
- Kanawha Court House, Va: 1857.
- Walker, Charles M. History of Athens County, Ohio.
- Cincinnati: Clarke, 1869.
- Williams, Clark E., ed. The Ohio Alumnus. Vol. 19, no. 7
- (April 1937), Athens: Ohio University Alumni Association.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Walker, Ezra (1802-1853) (Person)
- McGuffey, William Holmes, 1800-1873 (Person)
- Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868 (Person)
- Summers, Lewis, 1777 or 8-1843 (Person)
- Walker, Archibald B. (Person)
- Walker, Ralph M. (Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Ezra Walker Collection
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Janet M. Carleton in December 1991
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
