Series VI. James Devereux Waters (1832-1892) Papers contains his business and personal papers. The bulk of his business papers concern his cotton plantations in Louisiana. James and Gill Klapp leased several plantations, among them Ravenswood, Good Hope, and Tacony. Their records include correspondence between them, bills and receipts for purchase of supplies and sales of goods, labor salaries, and lists of Negro workers. Correspondence with local merchants is located with the business papers of the firm. Additional information concerning the activities of James, his brother Cliff, and Gill while in Louisiana are located in James’ and Cliff’s correspondence with their brothers and their uncle Langdon Williams. Noteworthy in James' personal papers are letters sent to his cousin Joe (Joseph Linton Waters), which give picturesque accounts of the people, conditions, and attitudes of the Civil War South. They detail James' struggle against the elements, the Civil War economy, black workers, and civil authorities. Letters to James from his uncle Langdon Williams discuss James' financial outlook. Langdon would invest profits or raise capital for James as needed.