John Wassell came to America from England in 1829, at the age of sixteen. He became a carpenter, settling in Arkansas in 1836, and winning the contract to do the carpentry in the new state capitol building. Not long after finishing his work on the state capitol, John gave up carpentry to become a lawyer, eventually serving as a judge. He was also the military appointed mayor of Little Rock in 1868. He married Margaret Spotts of Kentucky around 1836, and eight children were born to the marriage, including Samuel Spotts.
Samuel Spotts Wassell was born May 2, 1854. He attended Cornell University and then studied law in Memphis. He married Elizabeth (Bettie) McConaughey April 8, 1878. The two had four children, including Samuel McConaughey Wassell, who was mayor of Little Rock, 1947-1952. Bettie McConaughey was born October 18, 1858, to James W. and Albina McConaughey. Bettie's father, James W. McConaughey, was also a lawyer and early settler of Arkansas, settling in Searcy. James became good friends with a fellow lawyer in Searcy, Dandridge McRae, and eventually married his sister, Albina McRae. During the Civil War, James served under Dandridge as Captain Assistant Adjutant General in the Confederate Army, until poor health forced his resignation in 1863. James and Albina both died young, leaving their only surviving daughter, Bettie, in the care of her uncle, Dandridge McRae, and his family. Bettie was active in the women's suffrage movement, becoming the first woman juror in Arkansas. She also organized the J.M. Keller Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, was honorary state president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, served on the committee that erected the David O. Dodd monument, was the president of the Nicholas Headington Chapter of the Daughters of 1812, state regent from 1913-1915 for the Daughters of the American Revolution, a charter member of the Arkansas Pioneers Association, and supported efforts to preserve the Old State House. She died November 28, 1923.
This collection contains papers belonging to the Wassell family of Little Rock, Civil War physician John C. Lee, and Confederate generals Thomas C. Hindman, Dandridge McRae, and Albert Pike. Items include personal correspondence, narratives, speeches, women's suffrage correspondence, papers for the United Daughters of the Confederacy, United Sons of Confederate Veterans, United States Daughters of 1812, newsclippings, and other miscellaneous material. The majority of the material pertains to the Civil War and Bettie McConaughey's involvement in Confederate organizations in the early 1900s.
- Samuel Wassell family correspondence (Box 1)
- 1892: Wedding invitation from Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Dowdy, Memphis
- 1902 November 2: J.F. Dowdy, Memphis, to S.S. Wassell, Little Rock (telegram)
- 1903 January 28: "Carrie," Chicago, to Mrs. Sam Wassell, Little Rock
- 1903 February 24: Albert Wassell, El Paso, Texas, to "My dear wife"
- 1904 December 25: Mrs. M.L. McAlmont to Mrs. Sam Wassell, Little Rock
- 1904 December 30: H.N. Hutton, Marianna, Arkansas, to Sam Wassell, Little Rock
- 1904: Bessie K. Wallace to Mrs. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1905 April 7: Pettit and Sanders, Little Rock, to Mrs. Sam Wassell, Little Rock
- Undated: "Sister Becca" to Sam
- Undated: "Aunt A. Jones" to unknown
- Undated: Calling card, Mrs. John David Crockett
- Legal papers
- Petition to the court, Admission to the Bar, Sam M. Wassell, Marianna, Arkansas
- Petition to the court, A. Wassell, Petitioner in Pulaski Chancery Court
- Fincancial papers
- 1900-1902
- 1903
- 1904 January-August
- 1904 September-December
- 1905
- 1906-1912, and undated
- Sam M. Wassell narratives and material on Mexico
- 1903 February 20: Mexico lottery tickets
- 1903: Interview with "Captain Mullin," by Sam M. Wassell
- 1903: "Bullfighting"
- "Aztec and Toltec Civilization"
- 1903: "Railroads"
- Dandridge McRae family correspondence
- 1850 January 12: William E. Stockdell, Lunenburg Court House, Virginia, to George F. Burks
- 1853 July 13: J.W. McConaughey, D. McCreery, and K.T., Little Rock, to Dandridge McRae
- 1854 April 15: James Martin, Keysville, to Angie Lewis, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1854 May 1: James to Angie Lewis, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1854 May 4: "Cousin Bettie" to Angie, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1855 October 15: Harriet B. Burks, Shelby County, Tennessee, to Angie and Dandridge McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1861 April 25: Dandridge McRae, Little Rock, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1861 May 6: Dandridge McRae, Camp Rector, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1861 May 10: Dandridge McRae, Camp Rector, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1861 May 17: Resolution, 1st Regiment of the Arkansas Army, Camp Rector
- 1861 July 24: Dandridge McRae, "Headquarters of McRae," Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1861: Envelope to Angie McRae
- 1862 January 6: Dandridge McRae to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 March 22: Dandridge McRae, Van Buren, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 April 7: Dandridge McRae, Des Arc, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 April 17: Dandridge McRae, Rienzi, Mississippi, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 April 22: Dandridge McRae, Rienzi, Mississippi, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 May 10: J.R. Upshaw, Searcy, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Sugar Loaf, Arkansas
- 1862 July 11: Dandridge McRae, Brownsville, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 October 17: Dandridge McRae, Clarksville, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 October 30: Dandridge McRae to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 November 3: Dandridge McRae, "Camp on Mulberry," Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 November 16: Dandridge McRae, "Camp near Fort Smith," Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1862 December 25: Dandridge McRae, "Camp Shoup near Fort Smith," Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 February 13: Dandridge McRae, Little Rock, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 February 24: Dandridge McRae, Little Rock, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 May 1: Dandridge McRae, Little Rock, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 May 7: Dandridge McRae, "Camp on North Side of Arkansas River," Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 May 20: Dandridge McRae, Camp Anderson, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 June 22: J.W. McConaughey, Jacksonport, Arkansas, to Mrs. McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 July 3: Dandridge McRae, Camp Near Helena, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 July 5: Dandridge McRae, Phillips County, Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1863 September 18: Dandridge McRae, "Camp at Arkadelphia," Arkansas, to Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1870 November 23: William D. Jameson, Hillsboro, Arkansas, to Dandridge McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- 1875 September 8: S.S. Wassell, Little Rock, to Mrs. McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- Circa 1860: "Cousin Bettie" to "Angelina" (Angie Lewis McRae), Searcy, Arkansas
- Circa 1862: Receipt, F.M. Seawell, to Mrs. McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- Circa 1862: Envelope, Mrs. Angie McRae, Searcy, Arkansas
- Circa 1862 April 18: Envelope to Mrs. Angie McRae, Little Rock
- Undated: J.W. to "Miss Bettie"
- Dandridge McRae narratives
- 1883: "[Elector] of Searcy Enterprise," by Dandridge McRae of Little Rock
- 1883: "Correspondence to George Lewis, Esquire," by Dandridge McRae
- Circa 1883: "The Foundation of the Kingdom of Righteousness," by Dandridge McRae
- Dandridge McRae family miscellaneous
- 1883: Legal note, "Proclamation of Records Issued in 1883"
- 1884-1895: Admission ticket, World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, issued to General Dandridge McRae
- 1898 March 8: Pamplet, "Speeches of Hon. Thos. C. McRae"
- Undated: Schoolwork, unidentified
- Undated: Family history, fragment
- General Thomas C. Hindman correspondence
- 1865 May 19: J. Barkley, Cotton Gin, Texas, to Major General T.C. Hindman, San Antonio, Texas
- 1865 July 8: T.C. Hindman, Monterey, Mexico, to Doctor J.C. Lee, San Antonio, Texas
- 1865 August 21: Unknown, Montelise, to "My very dear friend"
- John C. Lee family correspondence
- [1864] August 10: Unknown to "My dear Sister"
- 1865 August 1: Mary E.L. Hayman, Montelise, to Mrs. Lee
- 1907 November 7: Mrs. J.C. Lee, Montgomery, Alabama, to William D. Jelks, Governor of Alabama
- Undated: Mattie Graves to Cousin Mary
- Undated: W.F. Douglass, 6th Arkansas Infantry, Wartrace, Tennessee, to Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Lee
- John C. Lee family papers
- 1862 November 10: Travel pass for Doctor John C. Lee of Lafayette County, Arkansas
- 1864 December 29: Exchange certificate, George M. Palmer to John C. Lee, San Antonio, Texas
- Undated: Historical explanation of John C. Lee's exchange certificate
- Undated: Petition
- Albert Pike general correspondence
- 1879 March 10: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1879 July 20: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1880 October 24: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1882 December 21: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1882 December 21: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1880 February 25: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to unknown
- 1885 October 20: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1886 December 27: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1887 February 5: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to unknown
- 1888 October 7: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear S"
- 1890 April 15: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1890 April 15: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to unknown
- Undated: Albert Pike biographical sketch
- Undated: Reminiscenses
- 1877 September 5: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to unknown
- 1879 March 10: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to unknown
- 1880 October 24: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1880 October 20: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to "Dear Friend"
- 1887 February 5: Albert Pike, Washington, District of Columbia, to unknown
- Undated: Brief sketch of Albert Pike
- Undated: "An Anciente Fytte," poem by Albert Pike
- Bettie McConaughey Wassell's women's suffrage correspondence (Box 2)
- 1899 March 29: E.C. Browning, Little Rock, to Senator Butler
- 1918 February 25: Turner Butler, Hamburg, Arkansas, to Mrs. Sam S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1918 March 12: Dallas Herndon, Arkansas History Commission, Little Rock, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1918 March 12: Mrs. Ohmer C. Burnside, Lake Village, Arkansas, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1918 March 21: Monroe Smith, Arkansas Tax Commission, Little Rock, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1918 November 1: John W. Wade, Little Rock, to Mrs. Wassell, Little Rock
- Unknown: Speech, "Equal Suffrage in Arkansas," by Bettie Wassell
- United Daughters of the Confederacy correspondence
- 1902 March 8: Mrs. B.E. Benton, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Mrs. Sam S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1902 September 30: Mrs. B.E. Benton, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Mrs. Sam S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1902 November 3: Kate L. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee, to Mrs. Sam S. Wassell, Little Rock (postcard)
- 1903 June 1: Ethel Clarrdy, Atlanta, Georgia, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1903 June 12: Mary Himlir Hall, Brinkley, Arkansas, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1903 July 29: Kate W. Partee, Little Rock, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1904 January 27: Kate W. Partee, Little Rock, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1910 April 17: J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1911 October 17: Matthew Page Andrews, Baltimore, Maryland, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- Undated: Envelope, S.S. Wassell, Little Rock, to Mrs. Virginia F. McSherry, Martinsburg, West Virginia
- United Daughters of the Confederacy papers
- Circa 1902: Travel certificate
- Circa 1902: Program fragment, "Errata"
- Circa 1902: Speech, Mrs. Sam S. Wassell
- Circa 1902: Memorial message upon the death of Mrs. J.M. Keller of Hot Springs
- Undated: Note card, Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- United Sons of Confederate Veterans papers
- 1910 April 8: W.P. Martin, Weatherford, Texas, to Mrs. Wassell
- 1910 April 9: W.L. Cabell, Dallas, Texas, to Colonel Sam S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1911 May 4: W.S. Hutton, Little Rock, to Mrs. S.S. Wassell, Little Rock
- Little Rock Street Railroad Company
- 1869 April 12: Articles of Association, signed by W.E. Wright
- 1869 April 18: Waiver of Public Notice for first stockholders meeting
- 1870 June 17: Minutes of meeting, Weldon Wright, President
- 1872 June 13: Certificate of stock, Weldon Wright
- Newsclippings
- 1861 July 23: "Glorious Victory," in "Georgia Citizen"
- Circa 1871: "The Welcome Home," in "Arkansas Gazette"
- Circa 1886: Unidentified fragments
- Circa 1910: "For Benefit Monument Fund" and "State Regent of Arkansas D.A.R.," in "The Arkansas Democrat" (includes picture of Bettie Wassell)
- Circa 1910: "Lewis Family History-One a 'Signer' and Many Were Distinguished"
- Civil War miscellaneous
- 1861 February: A.L. Stuart, New Orleans, to Mr. W.E. Wright, Little Rock
- 1862 April 3: Descriptive list of pay and clothing while in Confederate service, Private William E. Besson
- 1862 April 11: Arkansas ten dollar treasury warrant
- 1863 April 6: Fifty cents, Confederate currency
- 1863 May 12: Arkansas ten dollar treasury warrant
- 1863 June 12: Arkansas ten dollar treasury warrant
- 1864 February 17: Twenty dollars, Confederate currency
- Circa 1864: War record, Colonel T.T. Ward
- Undated: Political speech about the expansion of slavery and state's rights
- Circa 1910: Pamphlet, "Finds Brother After Forty-seven Years"
- Miscellaneous
- 1857 July 1: Land patent, Patrick O'Cain of Pulaski County
- 1863 January 20: Receipt, J.W. McConaughey to C.J. Hanks, Little Rock
- 1871 April 28: Tax receipt, Collector's Office, White County, Arkansas, to James F. Burks
- 1883-1884: Railroad property values
- 1884 April 7: Program, Eclectic Society of Little Rock, Anniversary Exercises
- 1884 April 13: Program, Lenten Services, Christ Church, Little Rock
- 1905 March 8: A.F. Devereux, Little Rock, to unknown
- 1906 March 12: Certificate, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Little Rock, to S.B. Baird
- 1907 October 20: Poem, "Our Flag Floats O'er Confederate Home," by Josie Frazee Cappleman
- 1912: Receipt card, Mimosa Lodge, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Little Rock, to M.M. Hankins
- Circa 1912: Receipt card, Mimosa Lodge, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Little Rock
- Undated: Instructions, rheumatism medicine
- Undated: List, Arkansas men
- Undated: Broadside, "These Prescriptions are the Result of Twenty-Three Years of Scientific Study"
- Undated: Bill, "An Act Providing for a Settlement with the Outgoing Lessee of the Penitentiary"
- United States Daughters of 1812 papers
- 1910 October 11: Thomas M. Owen, Montgomery, Alabama, to Mrs. Sam S. Wassell, Little Rock
- 1910-1911: "Suggestive Study Outline, 1910-1911 for the United States Daughters of 1812"
- Undated: Envelope, Mrs. Dallas T. Herndon, Little Rock
