Manuscripts

Donaldson, Alfred E. to Emeline Donaldson Guernsey, b. 1819

Description: The collection contains 1,384 letters, written by 158 different authors, and 33 pieces of ephemera. The collection spans several generations of the Guernsey and Donaldson families. The letters give a detailed account of the lives of farmers, millers, shop keepers, and school teachers in 19th century Midwestern America. The letters cover a wide range of aspects of their lives, such as family events, day-to-day activities, trips to visit family and friends, farming, financial hardships, and business interests. Because the majority of the correspondence was written by women, the letters also give a strong female perspective of life on the frontier. The collection includes over 250 letters of Civil War interest written by Emeline's sons William and Henry. The ephemera consists of biographical information, Confederate currency, printed materials, and three photographs.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1854-1882
Call number: mssGuernsey

Donaldson, Alfred E. to Peter Buell Guernsey and Emeline Donaldson Guernsey, b. 1819

Manuscripts

The collection contains 1,384 letters, written by 158 different authors, and 33 pieces of ephemera. The collection spans several generations of the Guernsey and Donaldson families. The letters give a detailed account of the lives of farmers, millers, shop keepers, and school teachers in 19th century Midwestern America. The letters cover a wide range of aspects of their lives, such as family events, day-to-day activities, trips to visit family and friends, farming, financial hardships, and business interests. Because the majority of the correspondence was written by women, the letters also give a strong female perspective of life on the frontier. The collection includes over 250 letters of Civil War interest written by Emeline's sons William and Henry. The ephemera consists of biographical information, Confederate currency, printed materials, and three photographs.

mssGuernsey

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