letters

Family (1865-1868)

As so many families were separated by the long-term effects of slavery and the slave trade, the Bureau office in Staunton was actively engaged in locating family members and reuniting them. These efforts often required aid from the Bureau in order for individuals to provide for traveling expenses. This category also contains letters regarding personal relations between family members, including their desire to help less fortunate ones, issues of marriage and other personal relationships or conflicts.