Virginia Memory, Library of Virginia
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING

THIS DAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY

Click image for larger view.

June 11, 1856

Bryan Family Papers, 1679–1943, Box 4, Accession 24882, Personal Papers Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Joseph Bryan Wrote to His Brothers

Ten-year-old Joe Bryan penned this letter to his brothers "Pat" (presumably his next-older brother, St. George Tucker Coalter Bryan, generally called Saint) and "Ran" (Saint's next-older brother, John Randolph Bryan) from the family's property in Gloucester County. Joseph Bryan (1845–1908) became a newspaper publisher in Richmond after the Civil War. Owner at various times of the Richmond Times, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the Richmond News-Leader, he was a prominent businessman and southern industrialist. In 1910 his family donated land to the city of Richmond to create Joseph Bryan Park.