 Some of the most significant and
historical valuable material located in the Texas A&M
University Archives exists in the form of personal correspondence.
Within these brittle yellowed documents are the observations and innermost
thoughts of those that played pivotal roles in this history of
Texas A&M. An example is the priceless letter from
Lawrence Sullivan Ross written on his first day in office as
President of the tiny Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Texas. The letter is to his close friend and political
confidant, Major H. M. Holmes. During the Civil War, Holmes
served as Ross' private secretary.
In the letter, Ross relates the actions of his
wife Elizabeth and children Harvey, Florine, Frank and Neville
(four of the surviving six) when shown their quarters on the
campus. The new President's home would not be completed until
December of 1891 (It burned January 26, 1963, see the Texas
Aggie, December 1997).
The last part of the letter concerns Ross' keen
continuing interest in Texas politics. For a detailed description
of Ross and his times please see Sul Ross, Soldier, Statesman,
Educator by Judith Ann Benner, Texas A&M University Press,
1983.
|
|
