James Warley Miles papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-0178

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of literary papers (1847-1895) of the Southern clergyman and author, James Warley Miles. Included are holographic essays, poems, and clippings of his published items from Southern literary magazines. Most of the items are attatched in a loosely bound journal. The writings are mostly on religious or philosophical themes. The journal also contains the beginnings of the philogical dictionary most likely derived from Miles' study of languages during his missionary work in what was then the Ottoman Empire. A letter of Sarah Thurston dated 1895 includes a prayer written by James Warley Miles.

Dates

Creation: 1847-1895

Creator

Miles, James Warley, 1818-1875 (Person)

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

James Warley Miles was an American clergyman and author. He was born in Charleston, SC in 1818 and educated at South Carolina College. Miles took orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church and in 1843 went as a missionry to what was then the Ottoman Empire. He returned to Charleston in 1849 and served both as an assistant rector of St. Michael's Church and professor of Greek and history in Charleston College. When his health failed he left to study philosophy and philology in Europe. When he again returned to Charleston, he was appointed librarian at Charleston College. Miles published essays and poetry in the "Southern Review" and and the "Southern Literary Gazette" and was the author of "Philosophic Theology" in 1849. James Warley Miles died in Charleston in 1875.

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was given to the University by Katherine Stockton Miles, whose husband was L.W. Miles.

Processing Information

This is no known processing information for this collection.

This finding aid is currently being updated to align with Johns Hopkins guidelines for inclusive and conscientious description (2023). In particular, we will address James Warley Miles' white supremacist ideas and defense of slavery - see Patrick Wohlscheid's article "The Use and Abuse of Philosophy in History: James Warley Miles and the Dangers of Racist Dehistoricization" for a discussion of this (https://www.apollonejournal.org/apollon-journal/the-use-and-abuse-of-philosophy-in-history-james-warley-miles-and-the-dangers-of-racist-dehistoricization). Contact Special Collections for additional information.