]> ms.19 Freeman (Douglas Southall) 1886-1953 Papers 1902-1911 Ms. 19 Special Collections, The Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 USA Phone: (410) 516-8323
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Diwakar Bhandari Finding aid written in English Freeman (Douglas Southall) 1886-1953 Papers 1902-1911 Ms. 19 Special CollectionsThe Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University Contact Information Special Collections The Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University 3400 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 516-8323 Diwakar Bhandari

©2003 The Johns Hopkins University

 Descriptive Summary Ms. 19 Freeman (Douglas Southall) 1886-1953 Papers 1902-1911 Freeman (Douglas Southall) 1886-1953 Johns Hopkins University. Special Collections 3 document boxes (1.25 linear ft.) English The collection spans the years 1902-1911, and consists primarily of correspondence between Freeman and his parents. The collections consists of approximately 600 letters and 2 manuscripts in typescript. The bulk of the correspondence is dated 1904-1908 when Freeman was a student at Johns Hopkins University. The letters describe in detail student life at that time. In addition to the correspondence between Freeman and his parents, there are approximately 50 other letters to and from various correspondents; and there are also 2 manuscripts in typescript entitled "The Term Benefice in Feudal Law and Usage," and "Rabby," both of which are undated. Administrative Information Provenance

The papers of Douglas Southall Freeman were presented to the Johns Hopkins University Library by his widow in 1955.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from this collection must be requested in writing from the Manuscripts Librarian, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218.

 Preferred Citation

Douglas Southall Freeman Ms. 19

Special Collections

Milton S. Eisenhower Library

The Johns Hopkins University

 Biographical Note

Douglas Southall Freeman was born at Lynchburg, Virginia on May 16, 1886, the son of Bettie Allen and Walker Burford Freeman. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 1904, after which he went to Johns Hopkins University to earn his Ph.D. in History in 1908. A year later he entered the newspaper field as editorial writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In 1910 he took a post on the State Tax Commission where he served two years, returning to the Times-Dispatch in 1913. In 1915 he switched to the afternoon daily News Leader as Editor. in 1925 he became one of the first radio news commentators. He edited the News Leader through two World Wars, finally retiring on June 30, 1949.

Freeman's 4-volume biography of Robert E. Lee made use of every possible source of material on Lee. For this work he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1934. Later he produced a 4- volume edition of "Lee's Lieutenants," and therefore he was known as a foremost authority on Confederate military history. His knowledge of the Civil War and of other military matters won him an assignment as lecturer at the National War College. At various times he served as guest professor or lecturer at Columbia University, Dartmouth, and the College of William and Mary. In 1945 he served briefly as advisor to John J. McCoy, Assistant Secretary of State. Freeman received honorary degrees from a number of American Universities including Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, and Dartmouth.

From 1949 on he devoted full time to his biography of George Washington, the most comprehensive biography of Washington ever undertaken. This was to be a massive 8-volume work of which he had completed 5 volumes when he dies of a heart attack aged 67 years on June 13, 1953.

Douglas Southall Freeman married in 1914 and had three children.

Description of Series/Container List Correspondence Series Correspondence Series

Correspondence between Freeman and his parents is arranged chronologically.