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BENJAMIN T. DuVAL

Family Papers, 1816-1957
Manuscript Collection MC 1212
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BENJAMIN T. DuVAL

Benjamin Taylor DuVal (1822-1905) was the eldest of six children born to William DuVal (1786-1851), a pioneer resident of Fort Smith, Arkansas who arrived with his family in 1822 to establish a trading business. Benjamin's brothers and sisters were named Catherine, Susan, Elias, William, and Virginia. Benjamin became an attorney and Arkansas state legislator. He served on the staff of Confederate general James F. Fagan during the Civil War and married twice, first to Ellen R. Field of Little Rock and, following her death in 1886, to Rose Scott of Fort Smith. Catherine married Elias Rector, a Fort Smith surveyor and U.S. Marshal. Susan married Major Francis S. Page, Seventh U.S. Infantry, who was stationed at Fort Smith in the 1830s and 1840s. Elias and William both became doctors, and Virginia married another member of the Fort Smith garrison, Colonel Harvey Brown. Among the siblings Benjamin DuVal achieved the greatest prominence and when he died in 1905 he had outlived all of them. As a result of his fame and longevity, the bulk of the material in these papers pertains directly to Benjamin DuVal.

THE COLLECTION

Personal and professional papers created or collected by members of the Benjamin T. DuVal family were donated to Special Collections by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin DuVal Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. Burley C. Johnston, and Mr. and Mrs. David C. Johnston, all of Fort Smith, Arkansas, on September 6, 1992.

The DuVal family papers represent the combined collections of at least three of the six children of William DuVal, an early settler of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Benjamin, Catherine, and Susan DuVal were the creators and collectors of most of the papers which were afterwards passed on to Marie DuVal Johnston, the daughter of Benjamin DuVal and his second wife, Rose Scott DuVal. Marie's sons, Benjamin DuVal, Burley C., and David C. Johnston were the final inheritors of the material.

The papers consist of letters, a diary, speeches, essays, photographs and other materials pertaining to the DuVal family. The letters include three folders of military correspondence primarily dealing with the career of Brigadier General Matthew Arbuckle. Susan DuVal's husband, Major Francis Page, was Arbuckle's aide in the Seventh U.S. Infantry and was probably the collector of these letters. An additional seven folders of letters document Benjamin DuVal's courtship with Ellen Field in the 1840s, Confederate Army service, and postwar political career. Also among these letters are those written by or to William DuVal, Ellen Field DuVal, and her father, Major William Field of Little Rock. The bulk of the twentieth century letters pertain to Marie DuVal Johnston. The diary in the collection was kept by Catherine DuVal Rector from 1850-1853. Essays and speeches include those written by Benjamin DuVal, W.C. Connell, and Ellen Field DuVal. Other papers include samples of Arkansas Confederate money and war bonds, financial notes and receipts, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia. The photographs are primarily of family members and acquaintances, along with two early views of Fort Smith, Arkansas. The material has been arranged in seven series by document type, with oversize materials indicated and removed for separate storage.

Processed by Kim Allen Scott, August 1992. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Series 1. Letters, 1816-1957. Box 1, folders 1-10.

Letters created or collected by Benjamin DuVal, his two wives, his siblings, or his descendants. The first three folders are military correspondence (probably collected by Major Francis Page) pertaining to Brigadier General Matthew Arbuckle and military activities during the First Seminole War, 1817-1818, the Texas revolution of 1836, and the operation of military posts at Fort Gibson and Fort Smith during the 1830s and 1840s. DuVal family and professional letters are in folders 4-10 and include letters from Benjamin's military service in the Confederate Army, postwar political career, and courtship of his first wife, Ellen R. Field. Also included are letters to Ellen from a member of the Arkansas regiment in the Mexican War and her sister. Twentieth century letters almost entirely pertain to Marie Duval Johnston. Military correspondents include Andrew Jackson, Matthew Arbuckle, Thomas S. Jesup, and Edmund P. Gaines. Family and professional correspondents include James F. Fagan, William Cabell, Augustus Garland, Elias C. Boudinot, Thaddeus Caraway and DuVal family members. The letters have been chronologically arranged, and two hand-drawn maps have been removed to separate oversize storage.
Box 1
Folder 1. 1816-1829.
  1. Richard Catts (Washington D.C.) to Matthew Arbuckle, August 24, 1816.
  2. Matthew Arbuckle (Fort Scott) to Secretary of War and Major General Andrew Jackson, December 19, 1817.
  3. Andrew Jackson (Nashville, Tennessee) to Matthew Arbuckle, January 20, 1818.
  4. Matthew Arbuckle (Fort St. Marks) to Major General Andrew Jackson, April 28, 1818.
  5. Andrew Jackson (Camp 3 miles west of St. Marks) to Matthew Arbuckle, April 28, 1818.
  6. Andrew Jackson (Nashville, Tennessee) to Matthew Arbuckle, September 20, 1818.
  7. D. Parker (Adjutant and Inspector General's Office) to Matthew Arbuckle, September 24, 1818 [true copy signed by R.J. Easter, aide de camp].
  8. Matthew Arbuckle (Fort Harkins) to Andrew Jackson, November 5, 1818.
  9. Matthew Arbuckle (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to John C. Calhoun, October 18, 1822.
  10. Matthew Arbuckle (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Edmund P. Gaines, January 24, 1823.
  11. Edmund P. Gaines (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) to Matthew Arbuckle, April 7, 1823.
  12. Thomas Jesup (Washington, D.C.) to Matthew Arbuckle, March 15, 1826.
  13. Edmund P. Gaines (Pensacola) to R. Jones, Adjutant General, February 14, 1827.
  14. [unidentified Cherokee] to "My young friends," June 8, 1829.
Folder 2. Letters, 1833-1836.
  1. Benjamin L.E. Bonneville (Fort Gibson, I.T) to Matthew Arbuckle, November 2, 1830.
  2. Alexander Macomb (Washington, D.C.) to Matthew Arbuckle, April 26, 1833.
  3. William Whistler (Fort Gibson, I.T.) to Roger Jones, December 4, 1835.
  4. Lewis Cass (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, January 23, 1836 [true copy].
  5. Roger Jones (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, February 22, 1836 [true copy].
  6. Roger Jones (Washington, D.C) to Matthew Arbuckle, March 10, 1836.
  7. Thomas Green (Crow's Ferry, Louisiana) to Andrew Jackson, March 11, 1836 [true copy].
  8. Roger Jones (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, April 11, 1836 [true copy].
  9. Lewis Cass (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, April 25, 1836 [true copy]
  10. Roger Jones (Washington, D.C.) to the Secretary of War [Lewis Cass], April 30, 1836.
  11. Lewis Cass (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, May 4, 1836 [true copy].
  12. Lewis Cass (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, May 12, 1836 [true copy].
  13. Lewis Cass (Washington, D.C.) to Edmund P. Gaines, June 8, 1836 [true copy].
  14. Roger Jones (Washington, D.C.) to Matthew Arbuckle, July 13, 1836.
  15. Andrew Jackson (Hermitage, Tennessee) to Edmund P. Gaines, September 4, 1836 [true copy].
  16. Andrew Jackson (Hermitage, Tennessee) to Edmund P. Gaines, September 4, 1836 [true copy].
Folder 3. Letters, 1837-1841.
  1. George H. Griffin (Camp Sabine) to Matthew Arbuckle, February 9, 1837.
  2. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, August 1, 1838.
  3. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Matthew Arbuckle, October 15, 1838.
  4. Roger Jones (Washington, D.Charles ) to Major Belknap, April 11, 1839 [true copy].
  5. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, May 11, 1839.
  6. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, May 20, 1839.
  7. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, June 8, 1839.
  8. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, January 11, 1840.
  9. Charles W. Thomas (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, September 7, 1840.
  10. William W. Lear (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, October 10, 1840.
  11. Charles W. Thomas (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Matthew Arbuckle, December 1, 1840.
  12. Benjamin Alvord (Fort Gibson) to Matthew Arbuckle, June 13, 1840.
Folder 4. Letters, 1842-1847.
  1. Benjamin DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Ellen Field, June 5, 1842.
  2. Benjamin DuVal (Danville, South Carolina?) to Ellen Field, August 11, 1844.
  3. Delegates of Western Cherokees (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to John Rogers and William DuVal, November 19, 1845.
  4. Frank Field Lewis to Ellen Field, February 17, 1846.
  5. N.J. Gaines (La Encanta, Mexico) to Ellen Field, April 21, 1847.
  6. Benjamin DuVal (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Ellen Field, June 4, 1847.
  7. William DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, September 15, 1847.
  8. Fragment by Benjamin DuVal, ca. 1847.
Folder 5. Letters, ca. 1847 (9 items).
Folder 6. Letters, 1851-1858.
  1. William DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, January 11, 1851.
  2. Benjamin DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to William Field, July 3, 1851.
  3. Benjamin DuVal (Washington, D.C.) to Ellen Field, March 14, 1853.
  4. Benjamin DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to "Editors, Herald," June 24, 1857.
  5. Henry F. Carter (Cotton Garden, Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, November 8, 1858.
Folder 7. Letters, 1861-1863.
  1. William Cabell (Fort Cobb) to Benjamin T. DuVal, January 11, 1861.
  2. John King (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, February 18, 1862.
  3. John T. Hurley (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin T. Duval, February 20, 1862.
  4. Benjamin DuVal (Camden, Arkansas) to "Judge," November 9, 1863.
  5. Benjamin DuVal (Camden, Arkansas) to Catherine Rector (?), December 20, 1863.
Folder 8. Letters, 1867-1872.
  1. William E. Woodruff, Jr. (Little Rock, Arkansas) to John King, September 10, 1867.
  2. Wyate Thomas (Washington, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, September 12, 1867.
  3. John Connell (Clarksville, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, July 8, 1868.
  4. Benjamin DuVal and William Cravens (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Pickney Lugenbeel, July 10, 1868.
  5. James Fagan (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, July 11, 1868.
  6. James Fagan (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, July 12, 1868.
  7. James Fagan (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, October 1, 1868.
  8. Augustus Garland (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, November 29, 1869.
  9. Elias Rector (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to "General" [James Fagan?], January 9, 1870.
  10. Augustus Garland (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, March 18, 1871.
  11. R.M. Johnson (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, July 13, 1871.
  12. Elias C. Boudinot (Washington, D.C.) to Benjamin DuVal, December 18, 1871.
  13. A.M. Wilson (Fayetteville, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, June 10, 1872.
  14. Augustus Garland (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, June 25, 1872.
  15. B.F. Rice (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, September 9, 1872.
Folder 9. Letters, 1896-1898.
  1. Marie DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to "Mary," December 17, 1896.
  2. Anna Crothers (Wellsburg, West Virginia) to Benjamin DuVal, September 20, 1898.
  3. Marie DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, ca. 1890s.
  4. Rose Scott DuVal (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, ca. 1890s.
  5. F.W. List (Wellsburg, West Virginia) to Benjamin DuVal, ca. 1890s.
Folder 10. Letters, 1905-1957.
  1. George Sengel (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Benjamin DuVal, January 3, 1905.
  2. Benjamin DuVal (San Diego, California) to Marie DuVal, January 21, 1905.
  3. L.J. Davis (Concordia, Mexico) to Marie DuVal, January 31, 1912.
  4. Rose Scott DuVal to Marie DuVal, September 15, 1915.
  5. Jesse Turner (Van Buren, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, January 23, 1918.
  6. Kate Rector Thibaut (Washington, D.C.) to Marie DuVal Johnston, March 7, 1926.
  7. J.T. Dickman (Washington, D.C) to Marie DuVal Johnston, December 1926.
  8. Marie DuVal Johnston (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to the Adjutant General, May 17, 1927.
  9. Adjutant General (Washington, D.C.) to Marie Duval Johnston, May 18, 1927.
  10. R.S. Grigsby (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, December 31, 1928.
  11. James F. Dooley (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, January 12, 1929.
  12. L.L. Hilton (Fayetteville, Arkansas) to DuVal Johnston, April 11, 1929.
  13. T.D. Rambo (Widener, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, May 16, 1929.
  14. James F. Dooley (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, May 28, 1929.
  15. Thaddeus Caraway (Washington, D.C) to Marie DuVal Johnston, February 27, 1930.
  16. Marie DuVal Johnston (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Thaddeus Caraway, March 1930.
  17. Thaddeus Caraway (Washington, D.C.) to Marie DuVal Johnston, March 27, 1930.
  18. Society of Mareen DuVall Descendants (Baltimore, Maryland) to Marie DuVal Johnston, April 29, 1930.
  19. St. Edwards Mercy Hospital (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, May 2, 1931.
  20. L.L. Hilton (Fayetteville, Arkansas) to DuVal Johnston, April 23, 1932.
  21. Lester Hargrett (Washington, D.C.) to Marie DuVal Johnston, December 29, 1943.
  22. Marie DuVal Johnston to "My Sons," April 13, 1945.
  23. Ben J. Field (Little Rock, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, January 25, 1953.
  24. John M. Martin (St. Louis) to Marie DuVal Johnston, October 8, 1954.
  25. Marie DuVal Johnston (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Mrs. John Carter, July 10, 1955.
  26. John P. Woods (Fort Smith, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, May 24, 1957.
  27. Eva Kinman (Fayetteville, Arkansas) to Marie DuVal Johnston, no date.
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Series 2. Diary, 1850-1853. Box 1, folders 11-12.

Diary of Catherine DuVal Rector documenting her domestic life from March 11, 1850, to May 9, 1853, and a typed transcript.
Box 1 (cont.)
Folder 11. Original diary.
Folder 12. Transcript.

Series 3. Essays and speeches, 1846-1910. Box 1, folder 13.

Manuscript essays and speeches written by: Benjamin T. DuVal regarding George Washington, presentation of the Arkansas regiment's flag from the Mexican War, and the history of Fort Smith; W.C. Connell regarding George Washington; Ellen R. Field regarding the presentation of the Arkansas regiment's flag from the Mexican War; James H. Van Hoose regarding the history of Fayetteville and Washington County; Marie DuVal Johnston regarding a Mardi Gras celebration and poetry.
Box 1 (cont.)
Folder 13. Essays and speeches.
  1. Benjamin Duval, [George Washington], 1840.
  2. Benjamin DuVal, [Presenting the flag], 1847.
  3. Benjamin DuVal, [Horse Racing in Fort Smith].
  4. Marie DuVal, "A Western Idyll," 1910.
  5. Marie DuVal, "Some Highlights from a journal of travels into the Arkansas Territory by Thomas Nuttall."
  6. Marie DuVal, "King's lines as he crowns queen."
  7. Marie DuVal, [Elias Rector].
  8. Ellen Field, [Presenting the flag], 1846.
  9. W.C. Connell, [George Washington].
  10. Works Progress Administration, "Lessons on Arkansas History."
  11. James H. VanHoose, "Copy of record of first circuit court held in Washington County."
  12. Joseph Smedley, "To the Fort Smith Centennial Historical Committee."
  13. William Cabell, "Report of the part Cabell's Brigade took in what is called price's Raid into Missouri and kansas in the fall of 1864," 1900.
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Series 4. Financial papers, 1859-1905. Box 1, folders 14-15.

Miscellaneous ledger sheets and promissory notes pertaining to Benjamin and Elias DuVal; Arkansas Confederate money and war bonds.
Box 1 (cont.)
Folder 14. Notes and ledger sheets (13 items).
Folder 15. Money and bonds (15 items).

Series 5. Certificates and scrapbook materials, 1860-1951. Box 1, folders 16-17.

Attorney's licenses from Arkansas and Louisiana for John King and Benjamin T. DuVal; other membership certificates; amnesty oath of Benjamin T. DuVal, 1865; membership lists, genealogical notes, and other scrapbook materials.
Box 1 (cont.)
Folder 16. Certificates.
  1. Benjamin DuVal, Amnesty oath, 1865.
  2. Benjamin DuVal, Louisiana attorney's license, 1866.
  3. John King, Arkansas attorney's license, 1868.
  4. Benjamin DuVal, American Catholic Conference admission, 1889.
  5. Marie DuVal Johnston, Arkansas Pioneer certificate, 1951.
Folder 17. Scrapbook materials.
  1. Benjamin DuVal, business card
  2. Mrs. Burley Clay Johnston, calling card.
  3. Mrs. Charles Breckenridge Faris, UDC campaign notice, 1929.
  4. Golden Jubilee, St. Anne's Academy, 1903.
  5. Membership list, UDC post 252, 1929.
  6. Marie DuVal Johnston, genealogy notes.
  7. Judge Isaac Parker, quotation postcard.
  8. 1860 Democratic Party presidential campaign ribbon, Breckinridge and Lane.
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Series 6. Printed materials, 1820-1962. Box 1, folders 18-19.

Pamphlets, brochures, broadsides, and newspaper clippings, mostly written by or pertaining to Benjamin T. DuVal and his political, historical, and legal interests. Obituaries of family members and friends are included with the newspaper clippings. Oversize materials listed this series have been removed for separate storage. Several unlisted titles by Benjamin DuVal and Albert Pike have been removed for item level cataloging in the division's Arkansas Collection.
Box 1 (cont.)
Folder 18. Printed ephemera.
  1. Adjutant General's office, general order, 1820.
  2. American Legal Association, catalog of members, 1851.
  3. Supreme Court of Arkansas, Shields vs. Tramell, 1855.
  4. Albert Pike, The Magnolia, broadside, 1863.
  5. Telegraph Bulletin, Washington, Arkansas, April 20, 1865.
  6. Democratic-Conservative Party, proceedings, 1871.
  7. Address of Ben. T. DuVal, 1885.
  8. Speech of William J. Bryan, 1896.
  9. The Joined-Vowel Systems, 1902.
  10. Rebecca Allen Turner, obituary, 1917.
  11. Act 555, 1953.
  12. Sebastian County Chapter, Arkansas Pioneers Association, 1954-55.
  13. Cherokee Seminaries Students Association, Homecoming 1962.
  14. "On Albert Pike," n.d.
  15. DuVal's Report, 1875.
Folder 19. Newspaper clippings.
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Series 7. Photographs, ca. 1850-1930s. Boxes 2-3.

Portraits of members of the DuVal family, their friends and acquaintances, and two views of Fort Smith ca. 1860. All of the portraits in the album numbered 34-72 are unidentified, but are likely the siblings of Benjamin DuVal and their offspring. One of the Fort Smith photographs, #25, has been removed for separate oversize storage.
Box 2. Photographs 1-33.
  1. Benjamin T. DuVal
  2. Benjamin T. DuVal
  3. Benjamin T. DuVal
  4. Benjamin T. DuVal
  5. Benjamin T. DuVal
  6. [Ellen Field DuVal?]
  7. Rose Scott DuVal Reed
  8. Rose Scott DuVal Reed
  9. Rose Scott DuVal Reed
  10. Rose and Benjamin DuVal
  11. DuVal family, Eureka Springs, 1890
  12. DuVal family, Eureka Springs, 1890
  13. Marie DuVal
  14. Marie DuVal
  15. Marie DuVal
  16. Marie DuVal
  17. Marie DuVal
  18. Marie DuVal
  19. Marie DuVal
  20. Marie DuVal
  21. Burley C. Johnston, 1915
  22. Linda Hursey
  23. Rob Hursey
  24. Fort Smith, ca. 1860s
  25. Fort Smith, ca. 1860s
  26. Rosa Aguirre
  27. Chief Moty Tiger
  28. Dr. David Johnson
  29. Franz Liszt
  30. Dr. Anderson
  31. Sequoyah, [drawing] by A. Mesnard.
  32. Unidentifed Matthew Brady photograph, ca. 1870s
  33. [William DuVal?]
Box 3. Photograph album, images 34-72.
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