Thomas F. Furman (1807-1866) was a brother to James Clement Furman (1809-1891), first president of Furman University; both sons of the university’s namesake, Richard Furman (1755-1825). Thomas attended the Medical College of South Carolina at Charleston and graduated there shortly before his marriage to Ann “Nancy” McLees Armstrong (ca. 1812-1867).

Eliza (Kincaid) Armstrong, mother of Ann “Nancy” (Armstrong) Furman, was the sister of Rebecca Kincaid, wife of Rev. Jonathan Davis. The Davis’ were parents of the sisters (Harriet and Mary) who both married James C. Furman.

James Kincaid Vance, son of Ann “Nancy” (Armstrong) Furman and her second husband, Samuel Vance, was the father of the donor’s paternal great-grandmother, Bigie Lou (Vance) Dobbs, whose son married Mary Butt Griffith (1890-1970), the granddaughter of William M. Butt.

William M. Butt (1831-1862), son of William Moore Butt and Mary E. Butt, was born in Georgia. He married Sarah Lucinda Beavers (1839–1904) and they had two children, Mary Burke Butt (1857-1928) and Fannie Willie Butt (1861-1889). Butt joined the Confederacy in June 1861, and became Captain of Company A, 21st Regiment, Georgia Volunteers. Butt died on September 1, 1862 in Chantilly, Va.