Charles B. Moore Collection, 1797-2003

Scope and Contents: The Charles B. Moore Collection includes Charles Moore's diary, as well as family letters and some additional materials. The diary spans Moore's life from age 28 (January 1, 1851) until just a few months before his death at seventy-nine (December 31, 1900). The original diary consisted of approximately 34 leather-bound pocket-sized volumes that factually recounted each day's events without additional comment. Generally, Moore summarized each year's events on December 31 and on January 1 gave a personal status report. Returning to Texas after the Civil War, Moore documented Union raids on the local area and farms, as well as other disruptions following the official end of the conflict. The collection of family letters are, in most cases, exchanges between the immediate families of Moore and his wife Mary Dodd Moore. Anxiety over illness and death, and worry about food and crops are balanced by accounts of musical and social events, and successful flower beds and farms. Letters that correspond with Moore's lifetime are from September 5, 1832 to November 16, 1901. The last is from Moore to his daughter, Linnet, just nine days before his death. Some of the letters in the collection include samples of dress fabric, patterns, photographs, and seeds. Correspondents include: Ziza Moore (father); Sabina Rucker (sister); Henry Moore (brother); Elvira Moore (sister); Josephus Moore (brother) who also has a diary in the collection; Elizabeth Moore (sister); Mary Moore (wife); Linnet Moore (daughter); Matilda Dodd (mother-in-law); Bettie Franklin (sister-in-law); and Dinkie McGee (sister-in-law). A small accumulation of additional material in the collection consists primarily of newspaper clippings, financial records, photographs (most unidentified), and personal writings (poems, mechanical plans, etc.) The oldest document in the collection is an indenture document, dated 1797. It also contains papers from Rebcca W. Danvers's dissertation on Charles B. Moore.