Charles Bannerman Papers
Scope and Content
This collection mainly includes information about agricultural activities in Leon County, Florida. Most of this information is located in a journal (1846-1851) and a ledger (1837-1861). The ledger also includes details of household accounts and practical information like bed bug tonics, curing techniques, and recipes. Although most of the correspondence (1853-1890) pertains to family matters, there are a few letters about daily life in the service during the Civil War. One letter from April 11, 1869 reveals concerns about the 15th Amendment and racial equality. Bannerman's oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America is included in the miscellaneous folder. The collection also has invoices (1868-1885), genealogy, four photographs of the plantation house, deeds, pension information, and two plats of the area surrounding the plantation.
Dates
- Creation: 1837-1890
Creator
- Bannerman, Charles, 1806-1866. (Person)
Access
The collection is open for research.
Biographical/Historical Note
Text from the State Archives of Florida: "Charles Bannerman, born in North Carolina in 1806, settled in Leon County in 1827. He gradually acquired 1200 acres between the Ochlockonee River and Lake Iamonia to establish a family plantation, known as Iamonia Plantation. Though principally concerned with farming, Bannerman fought the Seminoles and also served a term in the state legislature. When his children reached school age, he moved to nearby Tallahassee, so they could be properly educated. During this time, he maintained control of the management of the plantation, and had an overseer and, later, his son to run the plantation. Not a traditional planter, Bannerman utilized new farming methods as they came along, such as the use of guano fertilizer. Because of the low ground near the watery boundaries on both the east and west of the plantation, only half the land was ever under cultivation. The major crop grown was cotton. However, in some years, tobacco and sugar cane vied with cotton as the major crop. Corn, rice, oats, sweet potatoes, peas, peanuts, turnips, collards, and melons were also grown. Cattle and sheep were also raised."
Source: State Archives of Florida Online Catalog, http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/barm/rediscovery/default.asp?IDCFile=/fsa/detailss.idc,SPECIFIC=2657,DATABASE=SERIES (accessed Feb. 22, 2012)
The Bannerman Plantation House at Iamonia Lake is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Extent
0.4 Linear feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Charles Bannerman owned a plantation near Lake Iamonia in Leon County, Florida. This collection includes a variety of documents and discusses agricultural practices, weather, and family matters before, during, and after the Civil War.
Physical Location
University of Florida Smathers Library Building
Alternate Form of Material
Items in this collection have been digitized and are available via the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC) as part of the Pioneer Days in Florida project, which is generously supported by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Please read the Permissions for Use statement for information on copyright, fair use, and use of UFDC digital objects.
Genre / Form
- Title
- A Guide to the Charles Bannerman Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Caitlin Nelson
- Date
- April 2012
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is written in English.
- Sponsor
- Digitization funded with the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Repository Details
Part of the Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Repository
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755
special@uflib.ufl.edu