Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

The William Rawle letter book contains copies of letters that Rawle, a Loyalist, wrote to his sisters, mother, and stepfather from New York; Cork, Ireland; London, England; and Boulogne, France, between 1778 and 1782. Rawle commented on the progress of the war, local customs and politics, and his travels, among other subjects.

The William Rawle letter book (162 pages) contains copies of letters that Rawle wrote to his family from New York and Europe between 1778 and 1782. He most frequently addressed his letters to his sisters P. R. ("Adelaide") and A. R. ("Anna" or "Fanny"). Rawle occasionally wrote to his stepfather, former Philadelphia Loyalist mayor Samuel Shoemaker, with whom he had fled to New York, and to his mother, who had joined him in New York the following year. The letters sometimes appear out of chronological order, and the first 2 pages are missing. Rawle often signed his letters "Horatio."

Rawle's earliest letters to his sisters, dated around 1778, describe his journey from Philadelphia to New York on the sloop Harlem in mid-June 1778, a journey of nearly 2 weeks. After his arrival, he mentioned Long Island residents' preoccupation with politics and his own confidence in British success against the French fleet in the Caribbean. He commented most frequently on his social life, his concern for family members in Philadelphia, and news of acquaintances. In 1781, he began to discuss his desire to leave for England. He sailed on June 13, 1781, and arrived in Cork, Ireland, on July 15, 1781, where he wrote 2 letters to his mother, providing his impressions of the country. He also noted Irish support for the American Revolution, and expressed surprise at the freedom with which the Irish voiced their opinions. By October 1781, he had arrived in London, where he wrote about his activities, including his studies at the Middle Temple. Rawle also noted some differences between life in England and North America, and developed a desire a return to Pennsylvania, despite his Loyalism. His final letters pertain to his decision to go to France in 1782 and note his arrival in Boulogne that summer. Rawle's letters are followed by a page of brief biographical notes and a 2-page poem entitled "On the Death of a young Lady."

The William Roberts letterbooks contains letters sent by a gold rush miner during his trip to and while working in California to his family back east. The letters comment on gold mining and other jobs available in California, prices for items, descriptions of the area, and religious sentiments.

William Roberts' letterbook contains his retained copies of 29 letters written to his wife, sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law between the time of his departure from Boston and his establishing camp along the Merced River. His early letters are filled with fine descriptions of the sea voyage and the ports of call in the Azores and Chile. They reflect his close family relationships and his growing sense of religious fervor. Roberts is at his best as a writer, though, when describing the economic instability and amorality of Gold Rush San Francisco. But, interestingly, as he spends more time in California, and begins to salt away money through mining, the religious sentiments decrease, and he begins to express the benefits of gold mining as an occupation. In the end, Roberts writes that he is planning to delay his return to Rhode Island, ostensibly to make even more money for his family, but indicating that the free life of the gold mines, even with its amoral aspects, is better than life back east.

The William Rohrer papers contain letters that friends and family members sent to Rohrer while he served in the United States Army during World War II. Rohrer's correspondents discussed family and social news and commented on topics such as rationing, the military, and a Philadelphia transportation strike.

The William Rohrer papers (59 items) contain 45 letters that friends and family members sent to Rohrer while he served in the United States Army during World War II. Other items include a postcard, 7 pamphlets, and a news article.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of Rohrer's incoming correspondence from acquaintances and family members such as his wife, a sister, and a niece. His wife Florrie wrote about their daughter Eileen and about her social life in Westmont, New Jersey. On one occasion, she mentioned an African American woman she had hired to do some work (August 9, 1944). She occasionally interacted with Florence Madjeska, the Rohrers' acquaintance, and both women commented on the health of Florence's husband, Joe Masjeska, a member of the United States Navy. Joan Withers, the Rohrers' niece, wrote letters to her uncle about her daily life; she jokingly indicated that the envelopes she sent contained love letters or "sweetheart" letters. On June 14, 1945, Eileen Rohrer (through her mother) sent her father an unsigned Father's Day card. Hazel C. Southwick, an occasional correspondent, wrote to Rohrer about their mutual interest in collecting military patches, and others shared religious or philosophical reflections. Many wrote about Rohrer's military service, rating, and possible furloughs.

A few letters pertain to current events, such as the Philadelphia transportation strike of August 1944. In separate letters dated August 2, 1944, James A. Perdikis and Bernadette Cleary mentioned fighting between African Americans and whites, damage to buildings in African American neighborhoods, white workers' refusal to work alongside African Americans, the declaration of martial law, and the possibility of military intervention. Cleary also discussed the black market for gasoline (August 23, 1944), and Betty Sherrane described cigarette rationing policies (April 6, 1945). Later correspondents included discharged servicemen who had served with Rohrer. The postcard has a painting of a bridge over a canal in Venice, Italy.

Other items include a humorous mock army memorandum with advice for soldiers adapting to civilian life in the United States after serving in Europe and copies of 3 religious pamphlets by Daniel A. Lord (5 items). The pamphlets, published by The Queen's Work, encourage Catholics to abstain from alcohol and "dirty stories." Two additional pamphlets intended for soldiers pertain to fatigue and sexual health. The collection also has an undated article about the use of an Austrian factory to winterize American vehicles and 4 wartime ration books issued to members of the Woudenberg family of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The William Rolfe collection is made up of letters that Rolfe received from college friends and other personal acquaintances from 1845-1850. His correspondents mostly wrote about their social activities and studies at Dartmouth College and Amherst College.

The William Rolfe collection is made up of 9 letters that Rolfe received from college friends and other personal acquaintances from May 22, 1845-January 7, 1850. In 4 letters, William G. Hammond, Jr., a classmate from Amherst College, reported on his social activities, studies, and vacation activities. He also provided advice and shared news of recent fraternity elections. Rolfe's other correspondents were Roger M. Sargent, who commented on life at Dartmouth College, college friends who signed themselves "W" and "Buck," and two women, M. H. Edwards of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Louisa L. Sweeney of New Orleans, Louisiana. These letters concern college life, local travel, religion, and other topics. Sargent gave Rolfe advice on his teaching career and mentioned a recent incident in which a group of students raided a brothel.

The Vandergrift papers contain eight manuscripts related to William R. Vandergrift's building projects around Philadelphia, Pa., 1855-1857, and six Civil War-related items retained by Mr. Vandergrift, 1862-1863.

The Vandergrift papers contain eight manuscripts related to William R. Vandergrift's building projects around Philadelphia, Pa., 1855-1857, and six Civil War-related items retained by Mr. Vandergrift, 1862-1863.

Two letters, two documents, two construction diagrams, one memorandum, and one financial account reflect William Vandergrift's work on various types of building projects, including the manufacture of custom shelves to the construction of a schoolhouse in Newportville, Pennsylvania. The two construction diagrams, a floorplan and an outdoor elevation, pertain to the Newportville schoolhouse project.

Three Civil War-related items concern Vandergrift's status with his local draft board, including notification of his eligibility for the draft, notification that he had been drafted, and a certificate that he had purchased a substitute.

Soldiers authored three letters in the collection. Two of these letters are from William's brother, Lewis R. Vandergrift, serving in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry, and provide an ironic (though surely unintended) commentary on the troubles with draft substitutes in the ranks. The other letter, from his cousin Joseph Hill Sharp, a member of Company B, 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, contains an excellent first-person account of the battle of Fair Oaks and the carnage and pillage that followed.

The William S. Allen letters contain three letters written by Allen, a resident of Key West, Florida, describing the visit of his daughter, Sarah A. Allen, during the first months of 1869.

The William S. Allen letters contain three letters written by Allen, a resident of Key West, Florida, describing the visit of his daughter, Sarah A. Allen, during the first months of 1869. Allen addressed the letters to Fannie Olmstead, who lived with Sarah in Warehouse Point, Connecticut, and often greeted her with warm affection. Allen filled his letters with glowing descriptions of his daughter, a popular young woman of 20, and of the social events she attended during their time together. Allen paid particular attention to one "masquerade hop," and alluded to Sarah's popularity with Spanish men (March 16, 1869). Though his correspondence primarily focused on his daughter and on his vivid accounts of Key West social life, Allen did mention his own appointment as a clerk for the Circuit Court of Monroe County, and briefly mentioned the type of work this entailed.

Volume 54 of William Sargeant's Collectanea consists of manuscript transcriptions of travel accounts and geographical and historical data about a number of foreign countries. These transcriptions are extracts of published materials from the 1780s and 1790s.

William Sargeant's Collectanea: Voyages and Travels, vol. 54 is a paper-bound notebook of 400 pages with a 7-page index of locations and sources. The volume is a commonplace book of Sargeant's manuscript transcriptions of passages from a number of published travel accounts and historical and geographical works, dated from the 1780s to the 1790s. The original authors of Sargeant’s transcriptions include men of renown, such as George Vancouver, Jean François Galaup de la Pérouse, and Thomas Pennant (see Controlled Access Terms for a detailed list of locations represented and the names of the authors from whom he copied).

Approximately a third of the notebook is a copy of parts of the "Voyages of La Pérouse." Jean François de Galaup, Comte de la Pérouse (1741-1788) led expeditions of scientists and geographers to locate the Northwest Passage from the Pacific. These three expeditions were described in the four volumes in French of "Voyages...", which was translated into English and published in 1788.

The volume does not include any indication of why Sargeant transcribed some passages versus others, or why he wrote them in this particular order. The passages discuss a variety of topics: vegetation, geological features, natural resources, climate, sea travel, and overland travel. He also transcribed material on the inhabitants' physical features, clothing, culture, agriculture, industry, and home construction.

A few of Sargeant’s transcriptions describe North America and North American people. Among them are details about the people of Port Mulgrave and "Port des Francais," Alaska (from Dixon and La Pérouse, respectively) and Monterey Bay, California (also from La Pérouse).

The William S. Burns papers consist of correspondence and a scrapbook that document Burns' time as a well-connected Union officer during the Civil War.

The collection includes a series of 57 letters and documents written by Burns to his brother, Charles, plus a scrapbook assembled for his son, Ned, in December, 1886. The scrapbook includes a mounted albumen photographic portrait of Burns, and consists of a series of articles written by Burns for a newspaper. These articles include excerpts of his war-time letters (some included in the collection), but are more fleshed out, including more anecdotes and information than the surviving correspondence. They appear to be very faithful accounts of his experiences, based on first-hand notes. Among the better accounts in the scrapbook are lengthy descriptions of the Battles of Pea Ridge and Pleasant Hill, a good narrative of the Meridian and Red River Campaigns. For Pleasant Hill and the Red River Campaign in general, Burns comments extensively on the course of the battle and where blame for the defeat should lie, suggesting that despite the best efforts of Smith, Banks lost the day.

Strongly committed to the Union cause, but not an abolitionist, Burns had the unusual benefit of high level connections that allowed him to negotiate fairly effectively for military appointments that suited his tastes and abilities. Burns appears to have been very highly regarded by his superior officers and his subordinates, and maintained very high standards that led him to be a harsh critic of the military inefficiency of several "political generals," particularly Samuel Curtis and Nathaniel Banks. His high standards did not preclude foraging (stealing) food from civilians, though he was repulsed - not to the point of taking disciplinary action - at the summary execution of guerrillas and at being ordered by A.J. Smith to burn the residence of Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior during the Buchanan administration, in retaliation for offences committed by Lee's army in Virginia. Burns was not keen to set fire to Thompson's house, but after allowing the removal of personal and family items, he followed orders.

Burns seems either to have loved or hated his commanding officers, and was as fixated on them as he was critical. He comments extensively on the performance of Union generals under whom he served, reserving his highest praise for A.J. Smith and Sherman, a sort of bemused appreciation of Asboth, and scorn for any who crossed them.

This collection pertains to William Seifermann's work at the Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, from 1942-1943. Seifermann wrote letters to his wife in New York City about his work and daily experiences, and collected newsletters from his dormitory complex, Hudson House. He enclosed newspaper clippings and advertisements in some of his letters.

This collection (32 items) pertains to William Seifermann, who worked at the Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, during World War II. Seifermann wrote 24 letters to his wife from November 7, 1942-[June 14, 1943], commenting on his work, health, and fellow workers. He occasionally discussed Hudson House, the dormitory complex in which he lived, and often complained about the weather. His letter of March 5, 1943, includes remarks about a man who had been jailed for raping a married woman. He enclosed newspaper clippings with humorous cartoons, articles about sporting events, and articles about the military in his letters. He also sent a religious pamphlet and a blank housing questionnaire for war workers. The collection also includes 8 issues of The Hudson News, a publication for dormitory residents (March 12, 1943-May 28, 1943). The serial contains brief articles on social events, local news, and notices for residents; some include photographs.

This collection is made up of correspondence, documents, financial records, and other items related to the family of Augustus D. Williams and Julia Ann Chamberlain and to their daughter Fannie. The Williams family lived in Ohio.

This collection is made up of correspondence, documents, financial records, and other items related to the family of Augustus D. Williams and Julia Ann Chamberlain, including their daughter Fannie. The Williams family lived in Ohio.

The Correspondence series (137 items) consists primarily of incoming personal letters addressed to Julia Ann Williams (née Chamberlain) and to her daughter Frances ("Fannie"). Julia corresponded with her siblings and other family members, who lived in New Hampshire and Ohio in the mid-19th century. Her sister Louisa, who married Samuel Durgin and moved to Gustavus, Ohio, in the mid-1830s, wrote often, sharing news of her social life and requesting news of relatives who remained in New Hampshire. After Julia moved to Maumee, Ohio, around 1835, she received letters from her mother Betsy (who married Joseph Baker after the death of Julia's father) and from various siblings. The Baker family lived in Boscawen, New Hampshire. Julia's stepsister Amanda shared social updates from Loudon, Ohio, and news of family health and of her experiences working in a school. On September 28, 1839, Joseph Baker told Julia of her stepsister Elizabeth's recent illness and death, and E. B. White, a friend of Julia's from Maumee, Ohio, included a drawing of a woman in a cloak in her letter dated October 1840.

After Julia's marriage to Augustus D. Williams in late 1840 or early 1841, the couple received letters from his siblings and extended family, including several from Mortimer H. Williams, who lived in Irwinton, Georgia. Sophia Williams, then Mrs. Henry Clark of Maumee, Ohio, corresponded frequently with Julia and Augustus. Other early material includes a letter regarding the estate of Reverend Nathan Williams of Tolland, Connecticut (May 19, 1830), and additional letters written by Williams siblings in New Hampshire and Ohio throughout the 1830s and 1840s.

During and following the Civil War period, most correspondence is addressed to Frances ("Fannie") Williams, the daughter of Julia and Augustus. Letters written by female cousins during the war include one from Memphis, Tennessee (September 3, 1864) and one from Ellen, who mentioned the recent death of a friend, then fighting in Alabama (October 27, 1864). Many of the postwar letters regard careers in education and social news in Wauseon, Ohio, home of Fannie's cousins Ellen and Libbie. Fannie Williams also received correspondence from friends, including a series of 10 letters and 2 postcards from Clara B. Whitton of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, written between October 22, 1887, and December 22, 1891. Fannie's cousin J. A. B. Parker sent a swatch of fabric on January 12, 1892, and a series of letters commencing on November 19, 1890, contains a lock of hair. In 1895 and 1896, Fannie received several items related to John Alexander Dowie of Chicago, Illinois, a practitioner of "divine healing." One of her cousins sent newspaper clippings related to Dowie's trial (February 5, 1895); the same cousin included a ticket for the Healing Room at Chicago's Zion Tabernacle (April 10, 1895). Margaret Snell Parsons enclosed newspaper clippings and a poem about the healing practice (June 30, 1896). Other later items include letters from Louisa Durgin to Julia Williams, written at her home in Wauseon, Ohio, and a few letters Burt Williams wrote to his sister Fannie in 1896.

The Documents and Financial Records series (109 items) contains accounts, receipts, and legal documents related to members of the Williams family, including many who resided in Tolland, Connecticut, and New York State during the early 19th century. Some of the legal documents pertain to real estate. A license signed by Mayor Cornelius W. Lawrence of New York City authorized David B. Williams to keep a tavern (May 31, 1834). One undated item documents Julia Ann Chamberlain's conversion to Christianity. An account book (91 pages) may have belonged to L. B. Williams of Murray's Commercial School in Maumee, Ohio. The decorated title page includes a drawing of a bird, and a second ink drawing of a bird is laid into the volume.

The Compositions series (102 items) consists primarily of essays by Julia Ann Chamberlain, Fannie Williams, and Mary F. Williams; poems and floral drawings are also present. Most of the essays concern moral topics, history, and religion, including multiple essays on topics such as "hope" and "morning." The series contains compositions about Native Americans, Christopher Columbus, and John Smith.

The Photographs series (16 items) includes cartes-de-visite, other card photographs, and tintypes. Most images are studio portraits of men, women, and children. Two larger tintypes (6" x 8") show the exterior of a home and a garden; one shows a group of people standing behind croquet wickets. One group photograph of school-age boys and girls, taken in May 1890, includes the names of each of the children present.

The bulk of the Newspaper Clippings (39 items) are poems, household hints, and recipes. Other items pertain to weights and measures and to Benjamin Harrison's return to Indianapolis after his presidency.

The Ephemera (45 items) includes invitations, notes, visiting cards, holiday greeting cards, and other items; most are visiting cards for residents of Ohio, some with illustrations. A series of 4 colored prints shows children's leisure activities. The series contains a large colored die-cut advertisement for Jacob Folger of Toledo, Ohio, showing a girl holding flowers.