Alexander A. Arthur Family Papers
Collection Information
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Title |
Alexander A. Arthur Family Papers |
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Call Number |
MSS.040 |
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Dates |
ca. 1880s |
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Extent |
3.6 linear feet, 9 Hollinger boxes |
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Synopsis |
Alexander Arthur was a key figure in the founding of Harrogate, TN; Middlesboro, KY; and ultimately Lincoln Memorial University. As President and General Manager of the American Association, Ltd. and the Middlesboro Town and Land Company (1887–1892), he led a British-financed effort to develop the region, highlighted by the creation of the lavish Four Seasons Hotel and Sanitarium. Opened in 1892 with a grand celebration attended by elite guests including the Astors, Vanderbilts, and Roosevelts, the resort quickly fell into decline following the Panic of 1893 and the collapse of the Baring Brothers bank. Arthur was dismissed, and the resort was dismantled by 1895. Though the venture failed, it laid the foundation for the creation of Lincoln Memorial University, preserving Arthur’s legacy in the region. |
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Provenance |
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Biographical Note |
Alexander Arthur was instrumental to the founding of Harrogate TN, Middlesboro KY, The Four Seasons Hotel and Sanitarium, and ultimately the founding of Lincoln Memorial University. Alexander Arthur was President and general manager of the two principal companies, the American Association, Ltd., and the Middlesboro Town and Land Company, 1887-1892. A well-financed British company called the “American Association, Ltd” developed a vacation resort at Middlesboro and Harrogate. At the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel and Sanitarium honored guests included Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mr. and Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, and members of the Roosevelt family. As well as several distinguished British visitors from Washington arrived by train for the champagne celebration. On April 12, 1892 the 700-room Four Seasons Hotel and the 200-bedroom Sanatorium were opened with a formal ball and banquet. The social elite of America were well represented at the event. However, in less than one year the Four Seasons went from being a shining jewel of the social set to a deserted building. In 1893, Arthur received a cable from London that the bank of the Baring Brothers had closed; frightened bondholders panicked when their stocks tumbled. The panic of 1893 in the United States also brought worry about the ambitious venture. Arthur was discharged and the enterprises were liquidated. Following the bankruptcy of the British investment corporation, the health and vacation resort at Harrogate was destined to be sold for salvage or demolished (only the sanatorium was left standing on the deserted grounds, which later became Grant-Lee Hall) in 1895. The Four Season Hotel building itself was demolished in 1895, with only the foundation and the stonework of the wall remaining. |
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Location |
C.1.4.4 - C.1.5.6 |
| Citation Information |
[Identification of Item], Alexander A. Arthur, Archives and Special Collections, Lincoln Memorial University, TN, USA. |
Collection Contents
Box 1 Contents:
- Alexander A. Arthur Family - Guides
- Biographical / Family History
- Biographical / Family History
- Biographical / Family History
- Family History and Excerpts from Letters
- Alexander Arthur (1779 -1829)
- Alexander A. Arthur, Sr.: Passport,1875
- Alexander A. Arthur, Sr.: (Daughter of), 1876
- Alexander A. Arthur, Sr: Caldonian Lacrosse Club,1876
- Alexander A. Arthur,: 1888
- Alexander A. Arthur: Correspondence Transcripts, 1902-1909
- Alexander A. Arthur: Correspondence, 1903
- Alexander A. Arthur: Correspondence, 1904
- Statement of Business Interests: 1904, 1908
- Alexander A. Arthur: Correspondence, 1907
- Alexander A. Arthur: Correspondence, 1911 (Copy)
- Resolutions, Residents of Cumberland Gap Area
- Alexander A. Arthur: Marriage Certificate, 1882
- Hudson Counties Company of New York, 1909
- Alexander A. Arthur: Plaque
- Extract from Journal Desdebate: November 25, 1890
- Alexander A. Arthur: Master of the 32nd Degree, 1891
- "The Southern Immigration, Land and Title Company"
- "The Watauga Company"
- Certificate of Shares, Hudson Counties Company, 1908
- "A Year's Sojourn in Gothenburg", 1879
- Information on and copies of "A Year's Sojourn in Gothenburg"
- "Six Weeks Admist the Thousand Islands", 1882 (Copy)
- Passenger Lists, 1888-1891
- New Rochelle Kennel Club Ribbon, 1903
Box 2 Contents:
- Nellie Maud Goodman Arthur: High School Diploma, 1879
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence with O.O. Howard, 1908 (Copy)
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1911
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1919
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1920
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1926
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1927
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1928
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1929
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1930
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1938
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1939
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1940
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1943
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1940
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1945
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1946
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1947
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1948
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1950
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1950 (Copies)
- Nellie Maud Arthur: Correspondence, 1950 (Photocopies)
- William Arthur and Velma Arthur: Baby Book
- Homestead Documents: George Macaulay and William Arthur, 1886-1888 (Copies)
- William Arthur Memoirs, ca. 1932
- William Arthur Correspondence, 1940 (Copies)
- Percy Macaulay Arthur and Catherine Arthur Marriage Certificate, 1924
- Percy Macaulay Arthur Birth Certificate, 1883
- Macaulay Arthur and May Sykes Marriage Certificate, 1879
- Percy Macaulay Correspondence, 1910-1916
- May Arthur Correspondence, 1882 (Copies)
- Marion Arthur Correspondence, 1943
- Marion Arthur Correspondence, 1956
- Marion Arthur Correspondence, 1957
- Marion Arthur Correspondence, 1962
- Marion Arthur Correspondence, 1963
- Marion Arthur Diaries, 1904-1909 (Photocopies)
- Macaulay Arthur Correspondence, 1910
- Alan Arthur Wedding Announcement, 1896
- Jean Taylor Correspondence, 1965-1978
- Gwen Tiller Correspondence, 1964-1971
- Military Map of France, 1918
- Cathie Arthur: Report Card, Harrow School, 1896 (Copy)
- Percy Macaulay Arthur: Lock of Hair, 1893
- Resolution of The Board of Directors of Century Building Company on the Death of George W. Arthur
- Sarah Beatrice Arthur Tucker: Correspondence, 1969
- Margaret Arthur Pickett: Correspondence, 1992
- Cathie Arthur: "Camp Laughalot", [1908]
- James Alan Arthur: Correspondence, 1912 (Copies)
- Catherine Welding Arthur: Correspondence, 1842
- Catherine Welding Arthur: Correspondence, 1847
- Alexander A. Arthur III: 1967-1992
- Mary Arthur Stonecipher: Correspondence, 1996-2004
- Miscellaneous
- W. M. Arthur
- Harry A. Arthur, 1966-1969
- Col. A. A. Arthur, ca. 1968
- Isabella Tyson Gilpin, ca. 1968
- Winifred Nelson Baker, 1966-1971
Box 3 Contents:
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Biographical, Publicity
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Father-In-Law's Grave, 1884
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, 1898
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, 1899
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, 1905
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, 1909
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, 1910
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, 1914
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, undated
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence, photocopies
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Writings as "John Pendergast"
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Miniatures
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Correspondence regarding miniatures, 1956
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Photo of Miniature
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Photo of Miniature of Julia Opp
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Photo of Miniature of Amy Townsend
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Photo of Miniature on Ivory of Princess Louisa, Daughter of George V
- Kathleen Arthur Behenna: Newspaper Clipping, Queen Mary
Box 4 Contents:
- Photographs: The Face of Cumberland Gap, 1889
- Photographs: Powell Valley, Va. fom Cumberland Gap, 1889
- Photographs: Four Seasons Hotel Souvenir Photo Album
- Photographs: Guides
- Photographs: Family Members
- Photographs: Alexander Arthur
- Photographs: Alexander A. Arthur
- Photographs: Alexander A. Arthur in British Columbia (?)
- Photographs: Marion Arthur
- Photographs: Harold Macaulay Arthur
- Photographs: Hamilton Family Tombstones
- Photographs: Iron Furnance, Cumberland Gap
- Photographs: Nellie Goodwin Arthur
- Photographs: John R. and Ruth H. Sevier Tombstones
- Photographs: Alexander A. Arthur, ca. 1887
- Photographs: Clara Peters?
- Photographs: Lt. Col. Alexander Alan Arthur, 1945
- Photographs: Camp Laughalot, 1908
- Photographs: Esther Virginia Conklin, 1945
- Photographs: Arthur Family ca. 1910-1911
- Photographs: Craig Neuk, 1891
- Photographs: Lottie Forrest Towill, 1947
- Photographs: Unknown
- Photographs: Watt's Hotel Cumberland Gap, 1889
- Photographs: Dr. Macaulay Arthur
- Photographs: Meary Elizabeth (May) Sykes (1st Wife of Dr. Macaulay Arthur)
- Photographs: Bob and Judy Santini Family
- Photographs: P. M. Arthur
- Photographs: George Arthur
- Photographs: Margaret Macaulay Arthur and Alexander A. Arthur II, ca. 1921
- Photographs: Rhoda Goodwin and Kitty Elizabeth Arthur, 1916-1917
- Photographs: Unknown
- Photographs: James Mann House (Bothwell, England), 1967
- Photographs: Alexander Alan Arthur II, 1980
- Photographs: Winfred May Arthur, Percy Macaulay Arthur, Marion Arthur, ca. 1890
- Photographs: William and Catherine Arthur, ca. 1877
- Photographs: P. M. and Catherine Arthur Family, 1945
- Photographs: Nellie Maud Arthur, 1928 and Craig Neuk, 1891
- Photographs: Craig Neuk, 1889
- Photographs: Arthur family at Craig Neuk
- Photographs: Family at Macaulay Arthur Home,
- Photographs: Arthur Family at Craig Neuk, ca. 1905
- Photographs: Alexander Alan Arthur II, 1980 and Catherine Arthur
- Photographs: Train Accident between Knoxville and Cumberland Gap, 1889
- Photographs: P.M. Arthur and Catherine Arthur
- Photographs: Marion Arthur, 1966 and Rhoda Goodwin, 1887
- Photographs: Sarah Beatrice Arthur Tucker, 1949
- Photographs: Victor William Santini
- Photographs: James Alan Arthur and Family, 1890-1891
- Photographs: American Association Building, 2000
- Photographs: Postcard, Craig Neuk
- Photographs: Photocopies
Box 5 Contents:
- Clippings, 1889
- Clippings, 1890
- Clippings, 1891
- Clippings, 1892
- Clippings, 1893
- Clippings, 1894
- Clippings, 1895
- Clippings, 1987
- Clippings, 1900
- Clippings, 1904
- Clippings, 1908
Note on Boxes 6-9:
Materials currently restricted due to preservation concerns.
- Box 6: Ephemeral objects
- Box 7: Family crest dinner plates
- Box 8: Ephemera
- Box 9: Ephemera
Collection Highlights
Example 1
Example 2
