Sallie
Phillips Keller, daughter of David B. and Ann Phillips of Jefferson
County, Kentucky, was born in August, 1831. In 1852, she married Dr.
James M. Keller (1832-1914), a native of Tuscumbia, Alabama, and a
recent graduate of the University of Kentucky at Louisville. They had
two children: Murray P. and James Irvin. They moved to Memphis,
Tennessee, in 1857, where they resided until after the Civil War. While
Dr. Keller was away during the war, serving first as a surgeon in the
Confederate Army and then as the Medical Director of the
Trans-Mississippi Department, Sallie stayed behind and established a
hospital for the Confederate soldiers wounded during the war. When
Memphis fell to the Federal troops, she was quite vocal of her dislike
for them. They eventually exiled her and her two sons by transporting
them outside the city and dumping them in a swamp along the Mississippi
River. One of her slaves stayed with her and managed to take her and the
two boys to her parent's home in Louisville, Kentucky, where she stayed
for the remainder of the war.
After the Civil War ended, they returned to Memphis, where their home had been destroyed during Federal occupation. Dr. Keller served as Director of City Hospitals from 1865 to 1868. In 1868, they moved to Louisville, where Dr. Keller served as Professor of Surgery at the Kentucky School of Medicine and Louisvile Medical College. In 1877, they moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Keller began a private practice. Sallie became involved in the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and helped to establish a chapter in Hot Springs. She served as Vice President of the Arkansas Division of the UDC and was honorary president of the national organization when she died April 8, 1906. A J.M. Keller chapter was established in Hot Springs as a memorial to both her and her husband's dedication to the Confederate cause.
After the Civil War ended, they returned to Memphis, where their home had been destroyed during Federal occupation. Dr. Keller served as Director of City Hospitals from 1865 to 1868. In 1868, they moved to Louisville, where Dr. Keller served as Professor of Surgery at the Kentucky School of Medicine and Louisvile Medical College. In 1877, they moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Keller began a private practice. Sallie became involved in the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and helped to establish a chapter in Hot Springs. She served as Vice President of the Arkansas Division of the UDC and was honorary president of the national organization when she died April 8, 1906. A J.M. Keller chapter was established in Hot Springs as a memorial to both her and her husband's dedication to the Confederate cause.
This
collection contains personal correspondence written to Sallie Phillips
Keller, including a letter written by her niece, Helen Keller. The
collection also includes correspondence, speeches, applications by
Confederate veterans for the Cross of Honor, and other miscellaneous
materials related to the Hot Springs chapter of the United Daughters of
the Confederacy.
- Correspondence (Reel MG00204)
- 1833 November 24: David Keller, Belle Grove, to Alexander M. Keller, Lexington, Kentucky
- 1860 September 5: Annie Chamby Ketchum, Memphis, Tennessee, to Reverend Lancaster
- 1861 June 3: Andrew J. Keller, Fort Knight, Randolph, Tennessee, to Mrs. J.M. Keller
- 1861 July 29: Andrew J. Keller, Fort Pillow, to Sarah P. Keller
- 1861 December 20: Andrew [J. Keller], Columbus, Kentucky, to "Cousin Sallie"
- 1862 April 14: Andrew [J. Keller], Camp near Corinth, Mississippi, to "Cousin"
- 1862 April 25: Andrew [J. Keller], Camp near Corinth, Mississippi, to Dr. J.M. Keller
- 1862 August 20: Mary Van Horn, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mrs. Sallie P. Keller, Memphis, Tennessee
- 1863 January 4: Maggie Chambers Keller, to "Cousin Sallie"
- 1864 May 25: Andrew J. Keller, Grenada, Mississippi, to Sallie P. Keller, Memphis, Tennessee
- 1865 August 13: Andrew J. Keller, Raleigh, Tennessee, to Sallie P. Keller, Memphis, Tennessee
- 1866 May 20: Maggie C. Keller, to "Cousin"
- 1866 October 21: Thornton and Coleman, to Dr. James Keller
- 1868 September 29: J.M. Keller, Memphis, Tennessee, to "My Darling"
- 1879 April 30: Edwin Bentley, Little Rock, Arkansas, to J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1884 December 24: John H. Rogers, Washington, District of Columbia, to Dr. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1885 January 9: John H. Rogers, Washington, District of Columbia, to Dr. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1885 February 19: John H. Rogers, Washington, District of Columbia, to Dr. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1886 June 1: James K. Jones, Washington, District of Columbia, to Dr. J.M. Keller
- 1894 May 17: Helen Keller, Tuscumbia, Alabama, to "My dear Aunt Sallie"
- 1895 May 18: C.W. Fry, Albert Pike Camp, United Confederate Veterans (UCV), Hot Springs, Arkansas, to certify J.M. Keller
- 1896 November 8: C.A. Forney, Hope, Arkansas, to Mrs. Keller
- 1896 June 28: Sister Seraphia, Nazareth Academy, Kentucky, to Mrs. Keller
- 1898 March 17: Annie Bancroft, Washington, District of Columbia, to Mrs. J.M. Keller
- 1898 July 10: C.P. Meriweather, Camp Thomas, Georgia, to Dr. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1898 September 1: Katie Cabell Currie, Dallas, Texas, to Mrs. Keller
- 1898 September 9: Ellen A. Richardson, Boston, Massachusetts, to Dr. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1898 October 25: Sally P. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Mrs. Currie
- 1898 October 25: J.C. Minor, Fort Logan Roots, to the Surgeon General of Arkansas
- 1898 November 29: Mary F. Meares, Wilmington, North Carolina, to Mrs. Keller
- 1899 January 3: Kate L. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee, to Mrs. Keller
- 1899 January 21: Cora P. Mallory, Brooklyn, New York, to Mrs. Keller
- 1899 February 10: Susanna Phelps Gage, Ithaca, New York, to [Mrs. Keller]
- 1899 May 15: Colonel John Harrell, to Mrs. S.P. Keller
- 1901 May 2: Kate L. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee, to Mrs. J.M. Keller
- 1901 September 16: Corresponding Secretary, Arkansas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Dardanelle, Arkansas, to Secretary, United Daughters of the Confederacy
- 1901 October 4: Mrs. James M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Mrs. Beuachamp
- 1902 March 17: Mrs. James M. Keller, [Hot Springs], to Adelia Dunovant
- 1902 March 20: Cora G. Williams, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Mrs. William M. Neal, Helena, Arkansas
- 1902 May 12: Mrs. James M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Mary Fairfax Chilers
- 1902 June 3: George G. and S.S. Vest, to Dr. and Mrs. J.M. Keller
- 1902 July 11: Mrs. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Mrs. S. Thomas McCullough
- 1902 July 17: Mrs. S. Thomas McCullough, Staunton, Virginia, to Mrs. Keller
- 1902 October 4: Ed Porter Thompson, Frankfort, Kentucky, to Mrs. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1902 December 27: Mrs. B.E. Benton, Pine Bluff, to [Mrs. J.M. Keller]
- 1903 April 5: Mrs. Genevieve F. Langtree Wilson, Little Rock, Arkansas, to Mrs. J.M. Keller
- 1903 October 22: Kate L. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee, to Mrs. Keller
- 1904 January 28: Mary C. Darris, Nashville, Tennessee, to Mrs. Keller
- 1904 May 9: Mrs. W.B. Van Horn, et al, to the Robert E. Lee Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy
- 1904 June 13: J.H. Reynolds, Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Mrs. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- 1904 October 24: Katie Daffan, Ennis, Texas, to Mrs. Keller
- 1904 November 19: Katie L. Hickman, Nashville, Tennessee, to Mrs. Keller
- 1905 February 20: Mrs. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to General B.W. Green
- 1905 February 28: L.E. Gabbett, Atlanta, Georgia, to Mrs. Keller
- 1905 May 1: Mollie R. Macgill Rosenberg, Galveston, Texas, to Mrs. Keller
- 1905 June 23: Horace Campbell, Edinberg, Virginia, to Mrs. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Undated: Louisa McCord Smythe, Charleston, South Carolina, to Mrs. Keller
- Undated: [?] to Dr. Keller
- Undated: B.T. Hart, Spring Hill, to Mrs. Keller
- Undated: J.M. Keller, Little Rock, to Mrs. J.M. Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Undated: [fragment]
- Undated: [?], Mobile, Alabama, to [?]
- Undated: Sue H. Walker, Fayetteville, Arkansas, to the Club Women of the State
- Undated: Mrs. J.M. Keller, to United Daughters of the Confederacy
- Speeches
- Nathaniel Hawthorn
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- John Greenleaf Whittier
- Applications for Cross of Honor
- B.F. Ballard
- William H. Barry
- W.H. Cockes
- S. Disheroon
- Nicholas Etchram
- C.W. Fry
- John H. Gaines
- John Gocio
- John W. Hall
- John M. Harrell
- G.W. Henry
- George Kemp
- R.C. Martin
- Watts Martin
- J.T. Morris
- Charles Peyton
- D.S. Ryan
- Conley Sullivan
- W.S. Williams
- Miscellaneous
- 1861 February 9: Broadside, presentation of sword to Captain James Totten, for his handling of the Little Rock Arsenal crisis
- 1878 September 3: Petition requesting Dr. Keller come to Memphis during the yellow fever epidemic
- 1898 February 14: Stock certificate, State Confederate Soldiers' Monument, Mrs. J.M. Keller
- 1898 June 25: Circular, George Washington Memorial Association
- 1898 September 30: Report of J.O. Minor, Fort Logan Roots, Arkansas, to the Surgeon General, U.S. Army, Washington, District of Columbia, on Chicamauga National Park
- 1901 December 20: Certificate of membership, Supreme Lodge Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy, Mary Armour
- 1901 December 20: Certificate of membership, Supreme Lodge Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy, Dr. J.M. Keller
- 1902 February 20: Ed Porter Thompson, Adjutant General's Office, State of Kentucky, to the Daughters of the Confederacy
- Undated: Certificate of membership, Kentucky State Medical Society, J. Keller
- Undated: Confederate soldier information blanks
- Undated: Envelope addressed to Mrs. J.M. Keller with note written on outside to "My dear Mrs. Wassell"
