Description
This collection holds a wide range of materials relating to the Clay family and White Hall. Both original letters and copies of Clay family correspondence can be found here. The bulk of the correspondence is from Cassius M. Clay or written to Mary Jane Clay, but there are also letters from Laura Clay, Brutus J. Clay, and others. Contracts, deeds, and wills of the Clay family can be found as well, most of which are from Green Clay in Madison County. In addition to this, books belonging to members of the Clay family are included in this collection.
Photographs are a significant part of the collection, both of the Clay family and White Hall. Photographs of Cassius M. Clay, Mary Jane Warfield Clay, Laura Clay, Launey Clay, and other Clay family descendants are included, as well as photographs of White Hall before and after its restoration. Events post restoration, such as a Victorian Christmas at White Hall and weddings, have been photographed as well. Along with this, there is a wide range of stereoscope cards with images relating to religion, landscapes, and famous places.
Plans for the restoration of White Hall are also significant to this collection, as there are many technical drawings of everything from HVAC plans to landscaping plans. Newspapers and newspaper clippings are prominent throughout, as clippings can be found in Green Clay’s scrapbooks and original copies of newspapers with articles featuring Cassius Clay and The True American are included.
