Booth's diary and missing pages

[Susan Higginbotham]

(07-18-2014 08:19 PM)SSlater Wrote:  

(07-18-2014 08:45 AM)L Verge Wrote:  That's my question also - what is the process? And, are you aware that the FBI examined that entire diary soemtime in the 1980s or early-90s? There used to be a website devoted to it.

P.S. I run the Surratt House Museum, and I would not release anything to private citizens to "test" unless ordered to do so and with specific plans fully outlined in advance. What other such artifacts have you worked on? Preservation of history is foremost in importance.

Take it from me, Laurie means what she says. The Surratt Museum will not release ANYTHING, to a private citizen for a project. A few years ago I wanted to borrow their copy of the "Saint Lawrence Register" and have it put on a disc. The Register is no longer available from Montreal. I made all sorts of promises - they could approve the professional Copier - They would have exclusive ownership - they would not incur any costs, etc. etc. etc.
On top of that - their Reader was out of commission.
I still don't have a copy of the Register.
I don't fault the Society. What if a problem developed that was no ones fault. Then their copy is destroyed. At least they have a copy that may be readable someday. Has anyone any information of a change in Policy in Montreal? While we are on the topic, Where can I get a copy of BGen E.G. Lee's Diary??

I was told by a librarian at UNC-Chapel Hill, which used to have a microfilm of the diary, that it has been "deaccessioned" and thus is no longer at UNC but that the original is at Duke University's Rubenstein Library as part of the Edmund Jennings Lee papers. I haven't been there to look yet, but the finding aid does mention the diary:

EDMUND JENNINGS LEE II, PAPERS, 1737-1912.
The letters and papers of Edmund Jennings Lee II, concern the Lee family, the related Rutherford, Lucas, Dandridge, Rust, Washington, and Shepherd families, and Lee's law practice. The collection contains correspondence among the brothers Edmund Jennings Lee II, Charles Henry Lee, Richard Henry Lee, and Cassius Francis Lee pertaining for the most part to Edmund J. Lee's extensive legal practice; letters and papers relating to the settlement of the estate of Rezin Davis Shepherd in which Edmund J. Lee's children had an interest; letters concerning family matters; bills and receipts, primarily from Edmund J. Lee's legal practice and business interests; miscellaneous family writings; and family pictures. Correspondence from the period of the Civil War includes copies of letters from Edwin Grey Lee, son of Edmund J. Lee, describing his service in the Confederate Army and alluding to his later work with the Confederate secret service in Virginia and Canada. There are 8 volumes dealing with legal matters including notes on the law and financial ledgers; a ledger from the Virginia-Maryland Bridge Company, 1849-1851; a record book, 1818-1848, from the Shepherdstown and Winchester Turnpike Company; diaries of Henrietta (Bedinger) Lee, 1874-1877, Edwin Grey Lee, 1864-1865 and 1865, and Edmund Jennings Lee III, 1866; and a book of notes from a logic class taken by George Rust Bedinger at the University of Virginia, 1859, which was later used as a letter book and ledger.

6,373 items and 11 vols.