Box

Correspondence and Financial

7 folders

9/8: Background Information on Little Eva Plantation, 1864
U.S. Civil War era background materials and maps; transcripts of Civil War letters, dated from 18 April 1864-6 April 1965, and communications apparently from in and around the area of Natchitoches and Alexandria, La., and the Little Eva Plantation. [ITEM SEPARATED, held in flat files] maps of Cane River Crossing, dated April 1864, and Monett's Ferry, dated 1864

9/9 - 9/13: Correspondence, 1955-1977
Correspondence, clippings, and a photograph collected by Evans when contemplating the purchase of the Little Eva Plantation. Included are dossiers from the Central Louisiana Claim Service, a firm of private investigators hired by Evans. Some correspondence pertains to the possible reprinting of Daniel E. Corley's book, A Visit to Uncle Tom's Cabin, as well as attempts to gather biographical information on Robert B. Corley and Robert McAlpin, the latter plantation owner supposedly represented in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, as Simon Legree. Biographical information is present on both Daniel E. Corley and Robert McAlpin, along with a photograph of Corley; also, newspaper clippings concerning Little Eva Plantation, as well as the Corley book. Other correspondence pertains to land acquisitions and title disputes, photographs and magazine stories on the plantation. Considerable correspondence on Evans' idea that corporations might want to contract to buy pecans for candy-making. One letter from Denton A. Cooley, M.D. concerning a heart exam of an individual. Some correspondence with St. Simon Baptist Church and Springhill Baptist Church concerning the removal of the church on the plantation and Evans' financial assistance; correspondence with Mildred McCoy, owner of the Bayou Folk Museum housed in the former home of author, Kate Chopin. Numerous discussions concerning land, pecan crop, and hired help; correspondence concerning possible sale of plantation, pecan crop information, vendors of supplies and machinery, and, of note, a letter and brochure stating that a location in Dresden Ontario, Canada is the original inspiration for Uncle Tom's Cabin; correspondence chiefly concerning the last efforts to sell the plantation and advice of its sell. Numerous clippings are also included. Death of Gus Wortham mentioned in a 1976 letter.

9/14: Financial statements and accounts, 1955-1977 (1 of 2)
Drafts of land and lumber contracts income and expense reports, annual and monthly financial reports and contracts and correspondence regarding the sale of Liggle Eva to Herald Hill and renting of Little Eva Plantation pastures to Carlos del Valle. Rough figures, finished financials, and correspondence concerning miscellaneous financial aspects of the plantation operations; also Expense Account #21 for 1973. Oil, gas, and mineral leases correspondence with Shell Oil Company; lumber purchase contracts