Moncure-Lyne Family scrapbooks
Scope and Contents
The collection (1897-1943) consists of three scrapbooks, the subjects of which are the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and Edgar Allan Poe. A photocopy of the Edgar Allan Poe scrapbook is also included. The scrapbooks were compiled by Miss Cassandra Moncure Lyne (born 1875) in collaboration with her mother, Mrs. Cassandra Moncure Lyne (1845-1934). The scrapbooks are composed of clippings and pamphlets with holographic notes that relate family members to many of the persons or events in the published sources. The scrapbooks provide an excellent source for the genealogy of the Moncure and Lyne families.
The first scrapbook in the collection is titled "Civil War 1861-65." It includes articles from 20th century newspapers and magazines dealing with Civil War events. Contained here is a copy of Mrs. Cassie Moncure Lyne's article in the Confederate Veteran (V. 36, 1928) entitled "The Culture of the Old South." Each clipping has a holographic note which relates the subject of the article to a family member. An article about General George Meade has a note listing the song sung by Eustace Conway Moncure who served as a scout for General Robert E. Lee. Mrs. Moncure Lyne added anecdotes about other contemporary figures: Thomas Jefferson Moncure (1831- ), Robert Baylor Lyne, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Sam Houston, and William McKinley.
The second scrapbook is entitled "Abraham Lincoln - From Original 1st Editions. Era - Civil War 1861-65." The compilation was done by Miss Cassie Moncure Lyne "from her mother's clippings." Included are articles and pamphlets about Abraham Lincoln and other assorted pieces with references to Civil War episodes. Often, the articles are incomplete. Along with the printed material are holographic notes establishing a connection with the Moncure-Lyne families. One note relates that Edmund Lyne lived in Christian County, Kentucky when Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, worked there as a hired girl. Another note relates that Robert Baylor (of the Lyne family) used the scaffolding from John Brown's execution to complete a "gate-door." Other anecdotes concern Edwin Booth, Sidney Lanier, Charles Dickens, Richard Henry Lee, and the Battle of Gettysburg. A brief history of the estate at Arlington, Virginia is included here, beginning with Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington (1618-1685).
The third and last scrapbook is entitled "Edgar Allan Poe's Influence over Jules Verne's Pen - Aviation & Submarines." There is no dated material. Included are incomplete reprints of articles, clippings and holographic notes, with some association to Edgar Allan Poe. An article removed from an unidentified source relates to the title of the scrapbook, but most of the items do not substantiate Poe's influence on Jules Verne. Miss Moncure Lyne does establish connections between the families and Poe. John Moncure Daniels was an editor of The Southern Literary Messenger which published Poe's stories. The firm of Moncure, Robinson, & Pleasant sold the personal property of the John Allans when they departed for England taking the young Poe with them. A candlestand, once owned by Poe, was later in the possession of Miss Moncure Lyne. (It is now in the Poe Room at the Enoch Pratt Library). Other clippings touch briefly on aspects of Poe's life at West Point, the University of Virginia, in Baltimore and Richmond. Mentioned also are Hugh T. Young, Charles Dickens, the Cabell family, and a final anecdote explaining Poe's use of "never more, never more" in The Raven.
Dates
- 1897-1943
Creator
- Lyne family (Family)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.
This collection is open for use.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.
Biographical Note
Members of the Moncure and Lyne families were early settlers in America, and their descendants were witnesses to significant, historical events. The Moncures were Hugnenots from Anvergne, France. John Moncure emigrated and settled in Stafford, Virginia in 1754. Thomas Lyne came to Virginia from England in 1632 and received a land grant in Surry County, Virginia, 1646. Both families became prominent in Virginia's social and political affairs, and succeeding generations were related to the Lee, Washington, Baylor, Gascoigne, and Conway families of Virginia. Marriage united the Moncure and Lyne families in 1868 when Cassandra O. Moncure (1845-1934), the daughter of state senator William A. Moncure (1803-1862), married Dr. William Lyne (1843- 1886), son of physician, William Lyne. The marriage took place shortly after the end of the Civil War. William Lyne served with the Richmond Horwitzers, 1861-1865. The Moncure home, "Ellerslie," near Fredricksburg had been a battle location and later, a shelter for refugees from the war.
Cassandra and William Lyne were the parents of two children, a daughter named for her mother, Cassandra Moncure Lyne (1875- ) and a son, William Lyne (1873-1905), who like his grandfather, became a physician. Each of the women was often known as "Cassie."
In 1866, Mrs. Moncure Lyne became one of the founders in Virginia of Decoration Day. She was also consulted when Congress passed an act to restore Arlington National Cemetery. Later in her life, she wrote an article entitled "The Culture of the Old South." published in The Confederate Veteran, V. 36, 1928.
Miss Moncure Lyne was a catalog librarian for Herbert Hoover, and served on the library staff of the U.S. War Department by request of U. S. Chief Justice Taft.
Mrs. Moncure Lyne and Miss Moncure Lyne documented their family history as it related to events surrounding the Civil War and its aftermath. Mrs. Moncure Lyne died in 1934.
Extent
0.47 Cubic Feet (1 legal size document box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection (1897-1943) consists of three scrapbooks, the subjects of which are the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and Edgar Allan Poe. The scrapbooks were compiled by Miss Cassandra Moncure Lyne (born 1875) in collaboration with her mother, Mrs. Cassandra Moncure Lyne (1845-1934).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was given as a gift to The Johns Hopkins University in 1944 by Miss Cassandra (Cassie) Moncure Lyne.
Processing Information
Finding aid prepared by Joan Grattan in June 1990.
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- Anecdotes
- Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial (Va.)
- Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Va.)
- Arlington, Henry Bennet, Earl of, 1618-1685
- Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893
- Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889
- Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
- Genealogy
- Gettysburg, Battle of (Pennsylvania : 1863)
- Houston, Sam, 1793-1863
- Lee family
- Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
- Librarians
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
- Lyne, Cassandra Moncure, 1845-1934
- Lyne, Cassandra Moncure, 1875-
- Lyne, William, 1873-1905
- Lynn family
- Moncure family
- Moncure, William A., 1803-1862
- Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849
- United States
- Virginia
- Women
- clippings (information artifacts)
- scrapbooks
Creator
- Lyne family (Family)
- Moncure family (Family)
- Title
- Moncure-Lyne Family scrapbooks
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu