Manuscripts

George W. Woodward letters and poem

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Description: Letters by George W. Woodward to family from 1861 to 1865. There is also a poem he wrote about his experience in the war, entitled "Something Awful." All materials are typescripts.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1851-after 1865.
Call number: mssHM 49530-49538
Creator: Woodward, George W (1843-1929)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Gift of Clifford Colyer, August 1968.
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
Rights: The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining permission rests with the researcher.

George W. Woodward correspondence

Manuscripts

The George W. Woodward correspondence consists of 47 letters between Woodward and Emma Ward from 1865 through 1867; 13 letters between Woodward and Ida C. Ladd; and 7 miscellaneous family letters. The exchanges with his two wives offer insight into the norms and rituals of mid-nineteenth century epistolary courtship. They explore the dynamics of gender relations in the wake of the social disruptions brought about by the Civil War and by the large-scale population movement into the West. Woodward's letters to Ward discuss the development of eastern Kansas, near the capital city of Topeka, referenced the Indian Wars of Kansas and 1867 Kansas suffrage referendum. In a letter dated 1867 July 7, he assured Ward, "I am happy to inform you that the Indians have not as yet taken my scalp, and that in this part of the state we do not apprehend any danger from them." On 1867 October 13, Woodward asked Ward for her opinion regarding: "the 'Impartial Suffrage Question' The question is submitted to the people at our next election and I want to know how to vote...There is a great division of feeling upon the subject, and I expect they will give it a big old discussion." In a letter dated 1867 November 17, he reported the measure was defeated by at least seven thousand votes. There are 7 letters from various Ladd, Ward, and Woodward family members written from 1867 through 1881. Also included is 1 cabinet card photograph of either Emma Ward or Ida C. Ladd, with a smaller torn photograph of Woodward on the back.

mssWoodward

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Robert Blinn Woodward letter to Samuel Arnold Pearson

Manuscripts

Writing to his friend and business colleague Samuel Pearson in California, Woodward describes his travels to Edinburgh and Scotland. He plans to send home, from "the Giants Causeway," three pieces of stone "about 1 ft each." Woodward and Pearson appear to operate several public attractions, including a museum and garden, for which they charge admission. Woodward describes some similar ventures in Edinburgh, including "6 or 8 ropes hung to a shrivell on the top of a pole to swing round the pole by hanging on to the rings."The letter is dated 1867, June 24 and 25.

mssHM 19307

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Speech of George W. Woodward : at the Great Union Meeting, held December 13, 1860, in Independence Square, Philadelphia

Rare Books

64419

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John Burroughs letter to "Miss White" and poem

Manuscripts

John Burroughs wrote this letter to "Miss White" from his home in West Park, New York, talking about his poem "Waiting" (written in 1862). He explains that the poem reflected his future philosophy of life. Accompanying the letter is a handwritten copy of the poem in Burroughs' hand. Both items are glued on album pages.

mssHM 82430

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George W. Andrews correspondence and diary, (bulk 1865)

Manuscripts

A small group of letters from George W. Andrews to his family and a pocket diary written in 1865 January to November. Also included are Andrews' post-Civil War photograph, a broadside of Havana Royal lottery (Kentucky, 1866), and a copy of The soldier's armor of strength; a brief course of non-sectarian devotional exercises, applied scripture quotations, proverbs, and aphorisms, extracts, poetical contributions, and hymns; specially adapted to the present calamitous times of rebellion and Civil War, by Pilgrim John. [4th ed.] (Brooklyn, D.S. Holmes, 1865).

mssHM 43242-43247

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Letter and poem by Dunstan Thompson

Manuscripts

The poem, by Dunstan Thompson, is entitled "The cities by the sea," (HM 74386); and the letter is from Thompson to Maurice Goodner, Nov. 16, 1947 (HM 74387).

mssHM 74386-74387

George W. Woodward letters and poem

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George W. Woodward correspondence

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John Burroughs letter to "Miss White" and poem

George W. Andrews correspondence and diary, (bulk 1865)

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