Manuscripts
Records of a Barataria Bay sugar plantation, 1842-1846
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Robert Bristow plantation ledger, 1660-1707 (bulk 1677-1707)
Manuscripts
An account book and ledger from British merchant Robert Bristow's plantation, house, and stores in Lancaster and Gloucester Counties in Virginia. The ledger was used by Bristow to document inventories of home goods, Bristow's personal library, debts, copies of land patents and other legal documents, and lists of indentured and enslaved laborers; also included in the ledger are lists of his shares in Royal African Company ships. The volume is written in several hands, including Bristow's. The binding is not original but was rebound in full panelled calf from the bindery of restoration bookbinder Bernard Middleton; the volume is signed with Middleton's cypher and has his book label and a brief typed description pasted on the inside front cover.
mssHM 84402
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James Clyman papers, (bulk 1827-1846)
Manuscripts
The collection contains 52 items and includes letters and receipts about Clyman's service in the Black Hawk War (1832-1835), receipts and promissory notes from the business operations of Clyman and Arnett in Danville, Illinois (1832-1840). The collection also includes nine volumes of diaries describing Clyman's travels to, life in, and return from Oregon and California (1844-1846) and an 1871 diary kept in Napa, California. Also included is one letter from Henry Dodge (1832) and another letter from Stephen Watts Kearny (1834).
mssHM 3900-3951
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Journal of a Cruise onboard the United States Frigate Raritan bearing the broad Pendant of Commodore Dan'l Turner, Francis H. Gregory Esq., Captain. Leonard Henry Lyne, United States Frigate Raritan August 22nd 1844
Manuscripts
The journal kept by Leonard Henry Lyne, also signed by Capt. Francis Hoyt Gregory. Detailed daily entries record daily events, orders, events on board, rations, enforcing the naval blockade, prizes captures, encounters with foreign vessels, etc. The journal covers the Raritan's South America cruise ( from August 22, 1844 to March 1846) and its subsequent service in the Mexican War as part of the Home Squadron's blockade of the east coast of Mexico and then, jointly with the U.S.S. Potomac, reinforcing the military depot at Point Isabel from May to September 1846.
mssHM 69951
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Fanny Kemble Papers
Manuscripts
The collection consists of manuscript poems, documents, and correspondence by and related to English actor and author Fanny Kemble. Correspondents include: Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, Charles John Kean, John Mitchell Kemble, John Poole, Adelaide Kemble Sartoris, and Charles Mayne Young. Manuscript include: Kemble, Frances Anne - poems: Autumn - written after a ride by the Schuylkill (HM 45058) "Silence - instead of thy sweet song my Bird" (HM 45059) Lines Written by the Sea Side (HM 45060) Morning by the Sea (HM 45060) To Shakespeare (HM 45060) Written at Trenton (last ten lines only, HM 45061) Documents include: Kemble, Frances Anne: Ticket of admission for Readings from Shakespeare for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, [1849] (HM 45062) Correspondence (notable persons and those represented by 3 or more pieces): Coutts, Angela Georgina (Baroness Burdett-Coutts): 3 pieces, 1858-1872, to Mary Harness; 1 piece, 1867, Mar. 26, to William Harness Kean, Charles John: 3 pieces, 1842-1857, to William Harness Kean, Ellen (Tree): 1 piece, 1866, June 5, to William Harness Kean, Mary (Chambers): 1 piece, 1840, Dec. 9, to Mary Harness Kemble, Frances Anne 6 pieces, 1858-before 1893, to [Unidentified] 1 piece, 1858, Dec. 25, to Bellows 2 pieces, 1869-1877, to Ellen M. Camac 1 piece, 1884, Mar. 3, to Frances Power Cobbe 1 piece, 1853, July 28, to Anna (Shaw) Curtis 3 pieces, 1857-1858, to George William Curtis 15 pieces, 1877-1889, to Blanche Donne 2 pieces, 1877, to Valentia Donne 2 pieces, 1858-1862, to William Bodham Donne 1 piece, 1853, Dec. 25, to Mrs. Filsbee 1 piece, 1844, Apr. 27, to James H. Hackett 5 pieces, 1841-1879, to Mary Harness 25 pieces, 1863-1892, to Polly Hogge 1 piece, 1876, June 20, to William Dean Howells 1 piece, 1865, to Miss Mitchell 1 piece, 1869, to T. B. Pugh 4 pieces, 1862, to Dora Sedgwick 1 piece, 1849, Feb. 8, to George H. Whitney Kemble, Harry: 1 piece, 1859, Jan. 31, to Mary Harness Kemble, John Mitchell: 1 piece, 1840, to William Harness Poole, John: 1 piece, 1856, Apr. 18, to William Harness Sartoris, Adelaide (Kemble): 3 pieces, 1873->1879, to Mary Harness Sartoris, Edward John: 2 pieces, 1873->1879, to Mary Harness Young, Charles Mayne: 1 piece, 1824, Dec. 23, to Charles Kemble
mssHM 45049-45144
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James S. McMurphy letters to his family
Manuscripts
This is a series of six letters written by James S. McMurphy to his family documenting his journey from New England via Panama to California to seek his fortune as part of the Gold Rush of 1849-1850. The first letter in the series (HM 52732, dated before 1849, April 8) is the last page only, and written from Panama. McMurphy writes that he has been in Panama for a good time, and is thinking of working on a railroad while hoping for passage to California. He is discouraged by the dishonesty, and wishes he had chosen to travel around Cape Horn. HM 52733 is written between April 8-25, 1849, and is addressed "To the household of Robt. McMurphy." There is a marginal note which reads "Father in this letter you will find five watermelon seeds I want you to plant." James McMurphy is still in Panama. Many of his company are sick, but he has not yet fallen ill himself. He describes a native religious ceremony in which an elaborately decorated statue of the Virgin Mary was paraded through a village. This may have been in observation of Easter. He has found passage on a ship bound for San Francisco, and writes that his next letter will come from California, so if anyone plans to send him a letter, it should be addressed there. He estimates there are currently three thousand Americans in Panama, but that number will soon drop by half as they board ships for California. James' next letter, dated 1849, December 9 (HM 52734), is written from California, and addressed to "Capt. Robert McMurphy." He has purchased provisions, including potatoes to ward off scurvy. The weather has been very rainy. HM 52735, written 1850, March 15, is also incomplete, as it contains only the final page of the letter. He has been searching for gold, and discusses his supplies. HM 52736 (1850, April 3), finds James still working in California, retaining good health despite the poor weather, which has caused an interruption in his work. He considers scurvy to be the most dangerous disease in his environment, but unlike others, he has kept himself mostly free by eating potatoes daily. The warm weather has caused snow to melt, and the rise in water levels has impacted the progress of their drilling and blasting. He has heard that the government is planning a new route in Panama to help make the journey to California easier. He writes that there all types of miners from all over the country, and that many find gold, but "where you show me one man who saves his gold I will show you ten that squanders away his time and money at the Rum Shop & the Gambling Table." He has not, he writes, succumbed to such temptations. The last letter is this series is HM 52737, and dated 1850, May 11; one year to the day since James left Panama. The water level of the Sacramento River is still high from the melting snow. He is tiring of the disposition of the region, and looks forward to leaving. He writes of California becoming part of the United States, and of various details regarding other miners.
mssHM 52732-52737
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Frank West Papers
Manuscripts
This collection consists of five volumes of reports, accounts, notes, and logs, two unbound texts, and eighty-seven photographs associated with United States Army Colonel Frank West (1850-1923), chiefly during his service during the American Indian Wars in the 1870s, including in Texas and Arizona. HM 81548: The first volume, written in ink, consists of miscellaneous reports prepared by Frank West. The volume begins with a report about a transportation march from Camp Supply, Indian Territory to Fort Clark, Texas in 1873. West meticulously details the journey of the cavalry including length of travel, rivers crossed, and personal remarks. "Our wagon was [?] in the quick sand at the crossing of the Red River men were disseminated and applied to ropes attached to the wagon and it was drawn out" (p. 2). The total distance of their march was 1,371 miles, which took 74 days. The next two reports are about the murder of Jacob Dilsey in 1873. Other reports include number of utility poles erected in Arizona and confidential statements and endorsements about various Army personnel. Also included are briefs from Fort Niobrara, Nebraska and Fort Myer, Virginia. The last portion of the volume appears to be excerpts from a history book concerning Europe, Asia, and the Middle East during the 19th century. The endpapers have miscellaneous notes and account information written on them. HM 81549: The second volume, written in pencil, begins on October 31, 1875, at Camp Verde, Arizona. West logs his journey to various camps in Arizona including Fort Apache, Camp Grant, Fort Bowie and back to Camp Verde. West's brief entries present his observations of his surroundings including condition of the trail, type of woods, weather, and availability of water. In addition to recording the length of distance marched, West also creates a map of the route for almost every entry. Some of the maps drawn include the Mazatzal Mountains, Apache Mountains, Chiricahua Mounatins, and Verde River. There is a list at the back of the volume, which includes the date, location, and possibly the number of miles traveled by West. The endpapers have miscellaneous notes and account information written on them. HM 81550: The third volume, written in pencil, begins in 1877. The first part of the volume is an account book. He records clothing, food, and supplies expended and accounted. The second part of the volume is a notebook, which begins on October 31, 1878 at Camp Verde, Arizona and ends in June 1879. Similar to HM 81549, West's records his route along with maps. Here is an example of a typical entry: "Nov. 3rd 1878. 3 mi. to old ruin 7 mi. to Boy Creek 14 mi. to Big Cottonwood 3 mi. to settlement 1 mi. to camp 18 miles." One of the final pages of the volume is a list of invoices received from various Army officers. Also, similar to HM 81549, there is a list with dates, locations, and number of miles traveled by West at the back of the volume. The endpapers have miscellaneous notes and account information written on them. HM 81551: The fourth volume, written in pencil, begins in 1877. The first part of the volume appears to be an account book with a list of Indian words and definitions. The next section of the volume begins on June 3, 1881, where West is leaving Camp Verde, Arizona. The brief entries in this notebook include more details about the events of his journey. Concerning the assassination of President James Garfield, West simply writes "News came that President Garfield was killed" (July 3, 1881). He also mentions repairing roads, building bridges, and going fishing. After another section with account information, West's entries pick up in March 1883 at Fort McDowell, Arizona. In addition to the usual marching logs, West details the "1883 Mexican Campaign." He writes about scouting missions, squalling children, incidents with chicanas, and the capture of Mexicans. The endpapers have miscellaneous notes and account information written on them. HM 81552: The fifth volume, written in pencil and ink, begins sometime around 1893. This notebook consists of miscellaneous entries such as account information, diary of events, military drills, and what appears to be a list of military personnel. Near the beginning of the volume, there is a list of mostly drunk incidents. "Murray. March 4, 94. Became helplessly drunk on Mtd pass-knocked off his horse...Corp. Brown, Drunk and disorderly cursing loud..." There is section entitled "Memorandum of Spanish War 1898." In this section, he recollects an event that killed 23 and wounded 104 officers. "...was shelled for an hour or more during which-Private Ross was killed, Private Earle shot in side, badly-Corp. Myers, badly wounded thigh-Pander in the fingers." The diary of events begins on March 6, 1900 near Three Rivers, California. He writes about transporting cattle, a visit to Sequoia National Park, and an incident with a sheep herd. Next, there is a section about various accounts and directions around Sequoia National Park. The last section of the volume consists of a list of names (approximately 200), along with information about the individual's family, address, occupation, and education. HM 81553-81554: There are also two extracts in this collection. The first extract is about Lieutenant General Adna Romanza Chaffee (1842-1914) and his role during the American Indian Wars. The second extract is entitled "Diary of F. West 2nd Lt. 6 'Cavalry on Indian Territory Expedition, 1874." West begins his thirty-mile expedition to Red River, Texas on August 30, 1874. During his lengthy march, he talks about undrinkable salty water, lack of food, and his instinctive horse. The second part of this extract begins on September 5, 1874. West writes about an intense battle against 400 Indians. According to West, the actual loss of lives was never ascertained. In another expedition, on the night of June 26, 1874, West writes, "There were 28 men and 1 woman at the adobe walls in the Panhandle, when the ranch was attacked by about 700 Indians-Cheyenne, Comanches, and Kiowas. The fight lasted all day, resulting in a loss of 3 killed of White man" (p. 9). The photographs are arranged alphabetically by the caption, if provided. Images include the 6th Cavalry and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army during the Indian Wars. Campaign photographs include the Wounded Knee Massacre and General George Crook's campaign against the Apaches in 1883. There are also photographs of various military forts including Fort Wingate, New Mexico, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and Fort Niobrara, Nebraska. There are also personal photographs, mainly of Arthur K. West, (possibly Frank West's son) and photographs taken in the Philippines.
mssHM 81548-81554