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Slack Family collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0323

Scope and Contents

The papers in the Slack Family Collection have been artificially arranged and consist largely of correspondence collected by Susan Brune Randall and her daughter, Elizabeth Randall, to form an autograph collection spanning 1853-1928. The collection does not include any significant information regarding family or business interests. The letters are addressed to family members, primarily Blanchard Randall, but other recipients are included as well. Several letters are addressed to John M. Glenn, director of the Sage Foundation and to University president, Daniel Coit Gilman. Some of the letters were most likely donated to the Randalls to be included in a collection of autographs of prominent people of the period. In a letter dated November 7 (no year), Daniel Coit Gilman wrote that he was sending to Susan Randall a number of letters for her "people's collection." The letters are arranged loosely in chronological order where possible. Not all the letters are dated. One grouping, 1896-1907, is mostly letters of government officials; another grouping, 1902-1923, is letters of university administrators. Also of interest in the collection is a letter of President Woodrow Wilson to the senior Dr. Henry R. Slack (October 1, 1915) in which he mentions their school days at Hopkins and sends congratulations as the younger Dr. Henry Richmond Slack begins his medical career. Other items include a typescript of Blanchard Randall's "Reminiscences of Presidents," a published history entitled The '91 Club, and previously-published prints of George Peabody. A final item is a reprint of William Wirt's address to the Peithessophian Society, Rutgers College, in 1830. William Wirt (1772-1834) was a constitutional lawyer and the grandfather of Blanchard Randall.

Dates

  • Creation: 1853-1928

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

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

The Slack Family, Randall Family, and Brune Family were related through marriages, and several family members had connections with The Johns Hopkins University through study and service.

Henry Richmond Slack studied at The Johns Hopkins University, 1883- 1885, and received his M.D. from Emory University in 1891. His son, Henry Richmond Slack, Jr. (1889-1957) received his M.D. from Hopkins in 1912. After a year of service at the Peking Union Medical College, China, 1922-1923, Dr. Slack (Jr.) established a surgical practice in Baltimore. The younger Slack married Elizabeth Blanchard Randall (born 1892). Mrs. Elizabeth Randall Slack was also enrolled at the University as a graduate student in psychology (1914-1915) and in the College for Teachers (1916-1918). Mrs. Slack was the daughter of Blanchard Randall (1856-1942), a trustee of the University, 1901-1941. Blanchard Randall was married to Susan Brune Randall (1860-1937).

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet (.5 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The papers in the Slack Family Collection have been artificially arranged and consist largely of correspondence collected by Susan Brune Randall and her daughter, Elizabeth Randall, to form an autograph collection spanning 1853-1928. The collection does not include any significant information regarding family or business interests.

Provenance

The collection was given to the University by W. Cameron Slack, December 1991.

Related Materials

The bulk of family papers related to the Slack, Randall, and Brune Families can be found at the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, MD.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Joan Grattan in April 1992.

Title
Slack Family collection
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

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA