Manuscripts

Correspondence

Description

Series includes correspondence of Isaiah Chapman from 1829 regarding the family's settlement in Illinois (three letters), and William Wesley Chapman's 1893 letter to his granddaughter Lillian Chapman which details his journey across Nicaragua in 1850.

Also present is Russel L. Tracy's 1936 letter which details his memories of Camp Carlin, Wyoming in the 1880s. Filed with Tracy's letter are photographic copies that appear to be taken by Mark A. Chapman of original photographs of Camp Carlin taken approximately 1877 to 1885; the original photos had been shared by Tracy and were presumably returned to him. Photocopies and clippings with descriptions of Camp Carlin and Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming are filed with Tracy's letter.

Type

Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)

Date

1829-1936

Call number

mssChapmanf

Creator

Chapman (Family)(Opens in new tab)

Diaries and notebooks

Manuscripts

Series includes William Wesley Chapman's diary of an overland journey to California in 1849; the brief entries cover March 12 to July 25 from St. Louis, Missouri, to Idaho and Hudspeth's Cutoff and primarily mention landscape, waterways, animals and game sighted and killed. There are occasional mentions of deaths of migrants from cholera and of Native Americans sighted, but no details are provided. The volume also has notes and expenses kept in California, October to December, with a short English/Spanish dictionary. Also present are multiple copies of William Wesley Chapman's printed funeral notice that had been filed with the diary. In addition, this series includes Chapman's notebook and account book with brief entries kept in California from March to September 1849 as well as undated bound facsimiles of both volumes, which includes a tipped in letter from Belle Chapman to her daughter Lillian Chapman Merrill, 1924 February 4 with biographic information about William Wesley Chapman. Series also includes Anna Clarkson Chapman's diary and childhood reminiscences, written from 1885 to 1891; primarily memories of growing up in Illinois in the 1820 and 1830s and a contemporary diary, which includes lists with birth and death dates of family members, also family travels and visits. Also present is a receipt for Anna Clarkson Chapman's burial expenses dated 1908 December 16.

mssChapmanf

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Isaiah Chapman correspondence

Manuscripts

Collection consists of diaries and notebooks, correspondence, and legal and administrative records of the Chapman family from 1769 to 1936, especially William Wesley Chapman. Much of the material documents the family's history in Illinois in the mid-19th century. Several William Wesley Chapman items detail his travels to and from California on the overland Oregon Trail in 1849 and by sea from San Francisco via Nicaragua in 1850. Also present is an 1852 deed for land in Edwardsville, Illinois, with the secretarial signature of President Millard Fillmore.

HM 49262, HM 49268-49269

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W. Albert Chapman letter

Manuscripts

In W. Albert Chapman's letter to Harvey Farrington, Jr., he describes his travels through Colorado, specifically Leadville, Cottonwood Springs, and Silver Cliff. Chapman goes into details of the silver mining in Leadville and the discovery of silver in Silver Cliff

mssHM 64147

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Chapman family papers

Manuscripts

Collection consists of diaries and notebooks, correspondence, and legal and administrative records of the Chapman family from 1769 to 1936, especially William Wesley Chapman. Much of the material documents the family's history in Illinois in the mid-nineteenth century. Several William Wesley Chapman items detail his travels to and from California on the overland Oregon Trail in 1849 and by sea from San Francisco via Nicaragua in 1850. Also present is an 1852 deed for land in Edwardsville, Illinois, with the secretarial signature of President Millard Fillmore.

mssChapmanf

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C.R. Chapman letters to Turbesé Lummis Fiske

Manuscripts

Two of the letters by Chapman to Fiske were written from his ranch near Mount Baldy. The other letter was written from the Lucky Seven Ranch, owned by F. D. McCulloch, and located outside of McDermitt, Nevada. In all three of the letters, Chapman discusses life on a ranch and gives details regarding dealing with cattle; he also gives descriptions of the staff of the Lucky Seven Ranch, and the town of McDermitt, Nevada.

mssHM 68148-68150

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A. B. Chapman letter to "my dear wife,"

Manuscripts

Letter written by A.B. Chapman to his wife shortly after his arrival in Coronado, California. Chapman writes of the favorable comparison between rail and buggy travel, of his journey down the coast, and of his impressions of the Hotel del Coronado.

mssHM 73659

Correspondence

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Diaries and notebooks

Isaiah Chapman correspondence

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Chapman family papers

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A. B. Chapman letter to "my dear wife,"