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

Elizabeth White of New York City wrote 3 letters to Jane Curtis, a friend in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1845 and 1847. She discussed courtship and relationships between men and women, social news, upcoming marriages, and other topics.

Elizabeth White of New York City wrote 3 three-page letters to Jane Curtis, a friend in Stratford, Connecticut, on March 17, 1845; November 1, 1845; and November 14, 1847. She often discussed her social activities, including calls made and received, a trip to Long Island with a group of other young adults, and engagements such as balls and parties. In each of her letters, White commented on relationships between men and women, differences between the length and intent of men's and women's social calls, and gender roles before and during the marriage. After hearing that Curtis had found a potential suitor, White encouraged her friend to be cautious, sharing the story of a friend who had married only to discover that her new husband already had a wife who lived nearby. Her final letter, which largely pertains to the women's upcoming weddings, includes a description of her wedding dress.

This collection contains Ella St. John Whallon's personal correspondence, including letters from friends and family members in Michigan and love letters from her husband, James M. Whallon of Dowagiac, Michigan. The collection also has letters to Lizzie Wittle of Columbia, Pennsylvania, from Edward E. Seifred, a member of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment who served in the Philippines during the early twentieth century. Other items include financial documents, tintype photographs, a commemorative ribbon, and a leather postcard.

This collection (63 items) contains Ella St. John Whallon's personal correspondence, including letters from friends and family members in Michigan, as well as love letters from her husband, James M. Whallon of Dowagiac, Michigan. The collection also has letters to Lizzie Wittle of Columbia, Pennsylvania, from Edward E. Seifred, a member of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment who served in the Philippines, and another correspondent, dated between 1903 and 1909. Other items include financial documents, tintype photographs, a commemorative ribbon, and a leather postcard.

The Correspondence series (58 items) contains correspondence related to Ella St. John Whallon and Lizzie Wittle. During the final years of the Civil War, Philena Hood of Saline, Michigan, wrote to Ella St. John about her experiences in school; one of her letters encloses a small piece of fabric (October 16, 1864). Several of Ella's cousins wrote to her during the late 1860s, mostly about family news from Clinton and Lansing, Michigan. One cousin, Wallace J. Hunt, commented on his experiences while serving with the Union Army in Winchester, Virginia; his letter of January 31, 1865, encloses a tintype photograph.

From 1871-1874, James M. Whallon wrote 27 letters and postcards to Ella St. John, pertaining to his life in Dowagiac, Michigan, his feelings for Ella, and their anticipated marriage. After their wedding, he sometimes wrote brief postcards while traveling. In 1872, Ella wrote 1 letter to James and received 2 letters from her mother. In August 1876, a relative wrote to Ella about his experiences at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. She received a postcard from her brother Frank in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1917, and a partial letter from a friend in 1923.

The second group of correspondence is comprised of 5 letters to Lizzie Wittle of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Edward E. Seifred wrote 3 letters while serving with Company I of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment in Manila, Philippines, in 1903 and 1904. He discussed his feelings for Wittle, proposed marriage, and reflected on his life as a soldier. In 1909, she received 2 letters from "Andrew," who explained his decision to delay marriage until achieving financial security and reported on a couple who had eloped in York, Pennsylvania. Undated items include a leather postcard addressed to Lizzie Wittle with an ink drawing of a bulldog on the back.

Five receipts are integrated with the correspondence, including documentation of wages paid to James M. Whallon during his Civil War service (October 24, 1863) and 4 receipts for Samuel St. John's contributions to a church building (1869-1872).

The Photographs series (3 items) contains a tintype portrait of Ella St. John Whallon, a tintype portrait of Samuel St. John, and a carte-de-visite portrait of Ella St. John Whallon.

Ephemera items include a poem that Philena Hood wrote for Ella St. John, with a pencil drawing of a bird on the back, and a ribbon from the 11th Michigan Cavalry Regiment's 1889 reunion in Battle Creek, Michigan.

This collection is made up of letters that Selina Sherwood Funnell ("Lena") received from friends in Binghamton, New York, while attending the State Normal and Training School at Oswego, New York, in the late 1860s.

This collection (23 items) is primarily made up of letters that Selina Sherwood Funnell ("Lena") received from friends in Binghamton, New York, while attending the State Normal and Training School at Oswego, New York, in the late 1860s. A brother and three friends wrote 5 letters from Binghamton, New York, between March 1866 and March 1867. They often discussed topics related to education, such as examinations and local schools, and shared news of mutual acquaintances. William W. Rope wrote 11 letters to Funnell from August 18, 1869, to January 24, 1871, primarily concerning his life in Binghamton and his romantic feelings for Lena. Some of his letters mention aspects of her life as a schoolteacher in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he occasionally commented on his work in the lumber industry. Between January and February 1871, Lena responded to his letters with 4 of her own about her life in Fort Wayne and her upcoming return to New York. Lena also received personal letters from friends named Jennie C. Whitney (ca. 1883) and Julie (undated). The collection also includes 2 name cards addressed to Lena in Oswego, New York.

The Geiger family papers are primarily made up of correspondence written or received by Henry and Mildred Palmer Geiger, who lived in Galena, Illinois, and Sheldon, Iowa, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection includes letters that the couple wrote to each other during their courtship and letters that Henry received from his wife, siblings, parents, and children while he served with the Illinois National Guard during the Spanish-American War and with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

The Geiger family papers are primarily made up of correspondence written or received by Henry and Mildred Palmer Geiger, who lived in Galena, Illinois, and Sheldon, Iowa, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection includes letters that the couple wrote to each other during their courtship and letters that Henry received from his wife, siblings, parents, and children while he served with the Illinois National Guard during the Spanish-American War and with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

The Correspondence series comprises the bulk of the collection. Henry Geiger wrote over 100 letters to Mildred Palmer between 1890 and 1894, during their courtship. Though he lived in Galena, Illinois, he frequently spent time in Chicago and Scales Mound, Illinois, while serving with the 6th Illinois National Guard. His letters, often lighthearted, provide details about their relationship and social lives and, to a lesser extent, describe his military service, which included duty in Chicago during the 1894 Pullman Strike. During the summer of 1893, he discussed his experiences at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. He visited national pavilions, rode the Ferris wheel, and went on other excursions. The collection holds only a few of Mildred's responses before their marriage.

Henry Geiger received around 30 letters while serving in Company M of the 6th Illinois National Guard Regiment during the Spanish-American War. His siblings, parents, and other family members provided news from Galena, Illinois, and occasionally commented on the progress of the conflict. Henry served at Camp Alger and in Puerto Rico in the summer of 1898, and he wrote 1 letter during his service (August 21, 1898). His sister "Eda" enclosed a small woven United States flag in her letter of August 13, 1898. Henry also received around 35 letters from his wife and children when he was serving in various units during World War I; they discussed family news, the war, education, and their separation. Henry's brothers occasionally wrote about their careers.

In addition to Henry and Mildred's family letters, the collection contains 6 letters addressed to Effie Fowler, a schoolteacher who lived in Slater, Missouri, from 1905-1906 , including one letter of recommendation and other personal correspondence.

The Travel Manuscripts series is comprised of two sets of travel notes made while the unidentified authors visited Ceylon, Sumatra, Java, and Japan (6 index cards) and Israel (2 copies, 2 pages each).

The Financial records are receipts, accounts, and a check related to the financial affairs of the Geiger family and to Mrs. Lucy C. Wing of Marshall, Missouri. A small account book holding 2 pages of Wing's partially printed accounts is also included.

The Printed Items series consists of 4 newspaper clippings and an advertisement. Among the clippings are a recipe and an obituary for Mary Katherine Weinsheimer, Henry Geiger's mother. The advertisement in German announces Anna Heise's performance in Die Verfolgte Unschuld on May 3, 1930, in Philadelphia.

This collection is made up of correspondence, speeches, a travel diary, and a published history related to the family of General George S. Patton. The bulk pertains to Patton's parents, George S. Patton, Jr., and Ruth Wilson Patton, and to his sister, Anne W. Patton ("Nita"), though items written by and addressed to General Patton are also present.

This collection (0.75 linear feet) is made up of correspondence, speeches, a travel diary, and a published history related to the family of General George S. Patton.

The largest selection of correspondence pertains to George S. Patton, Jr., and Ruth Wilson Patton. Letters written by Patton to Wilson during their courtship and after their marriage provide news of his life, work, and travels. Some items mention their son Georgie (George S. Patton III). Patton also wrote letters to his family, including five to his mother while participating in the punitive expedition to Mexico in 1916. Letters written by Nita Patton largely concern her experiences while living in London, England, in 1919. Some of her letters refer directly to her acquaintance and relationship with John J. Pershing, whom she met during a visit to New Mexico after the punitive expedition of 1916.

Multiple letters written by George S. Patton, Jr., relate to the future general's admission to and studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in the 1900s. Patton provided his son with personal advice and encouragement, and news from home. The collection includes miscellaneous family letters, addressed to and exchanged between numerous family members between the 1870s and 1890s.

The Patton family papers contain a daily diary of Nelly Davenport and her father's trip to Antigua from December 1789-1790, taken in an attempt to improve Nelly's ailing health. The diary and an accompanying description relate Nelly Davenport's final illness, medical treatments, and death.

A selection of George S. Patton, Jr.'s, speeches is included in the collection. Most were delivered while Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute in the late 1870s, including his valedictorian speech. The speeches concern topics such as the Civil War, the Battle of New Market, and politics. One later item, the text of a speech delivered before the Sunset Club on November 25, 1904, concerns interactions between African Americans and Europeans, particularly with regard to black slavery and suffrage in the United States.

This collection is comprised of 31 letters that Georgiana Hemingway of Fair Haven, Connecticut, received from female friends, her parents, and her siblings between 1858 and 1867. Her acquaintances discussed their social lives, courtship, and the Civil War, and her family members provided news from Fair Haven while Georgiana traveled. The correspondence includes one letter from Hemingway's brother Charles to their mother, Theresa.

This collection is comprised of 31 letters that Georgiana Hemingway of Fair Haven, Connecticut, received from female friends, her parents, and her siblings between 1858 and 1867. Her acquaintances discussed their social lives, courtship, and the Civil War, and her family members provided news from Fair Haven while Georgiana traveled. The correspondence includes one letter from Hemingway's brother Charles to their mother, Theresa.

Between 1858 and 1865, Georgiana Hemingway primarily resided with her family at Fair Haven, Connecticut (in modern New Haven), though she spent time in Suffield, Connecticut; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York City. Georgiana's friend Lizzie Cutts sent 4 letters from New Hampshire and Massachusetts between 1858 and 1861, commenting candidly on courtship and describing two incidents of unwanted advances made by male acquaintances. Hemingway also received 3 letters from a friend at the Sayre Female Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, who reported on her social life at the school and on mutual acquaintances (1863-1864). In one particularly descriptive letter, she told Georgiana about her travel from Lexington to Madison, Wisconsin, for Christmastime (January 8, 1863). Hemingway also received letters from her brothers Charles, Willis, and Frederick, who provided updates on marriages, deaths, and other local news from Fair Haven while Georgiana was away.

Though the letters focus primarily on the activities of friends and family members, some writers mentioned news and effects of the Civil War, such as optimism following the Union victory at Vicksburg (July 11, 1863) and the upcoming hanging of the Lincoln conspirators (July 6, 1865).

The Helen Buchanan papers contain incoming correspondence, financial records, ephemera, and photographs related to the life of Helen Buchanan (later Jones) in the early 20th century. Much of the correspondence is from her friend Juliana Conover, who discussed women's issues and her life in Princeton, New Jersey, during World War I, and from Buchanan's suitor and eventual husband, Walter McKnown Jones, who wrote about medical treatments he experienced and life on his coffee plantation in Puerto Rico.

The Helen Buchanan papers contain 5 linear feet of incoming correspondence, financial records, photographs, printed items, ephemera, and writings pertaining to the life of Helen Buchanan (later Jones) in the early 20th century. Much of the correspondence is from her friend Juliana Conover, who discussed women's issues and her life in Princeton, New Jersey, during World War I, and from Buchanan's suitor and eventual husband, Walter McKnown Jones, who wrote about medical treatments he experienced and life on his coffee plantation in Puerto Rico.

The Correspondence series comprises the bulk of the collection and contains incoming letters and postcards addressed to Buchanan between 1906 and 1919, while she lived at Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia; Washington, D. C.; Rome, Italy; and Hacienda Limon (near Villalba, Puerto Rico).

Helen's friend Juliana Conover wrote 258 letters advising her much younger friend on love and courtship, providing updates on her life in Princeton, New Jersey, and commenting on current events. In one early letter, she shared her horror at the recent Titanic tragedy (April 16, 1912). Much of Conover's correspondence concerns Helen's courtship with and engagement to Walter McKnown Jones; she often reported on his health, and she supported the relationship despite misgivings on the part of Helen's father. Conover dispensed candid advice on a variety of topics, including intimacy and birth control (April 12, 1916). Along with sending personal updates and news of friends in Princeton, she sometimes mentioned the war and the families whose sons served in the military (May 14, 1917). After the war, she worked with the American Library Association's Library War Service at Camp Dix, New Jersey.

Walter McKnown Jones, Helen's friend, fiancé, and (later) husband, wrote approximately 200 letters to her between 1914 and 1919, largely concerning their courtship and engagement. Early in their acquaintance, he spent considerable time attending to his ill health and undergoing medical treatments. After recovering in the United States, he returned to his coffee plantation in Puerto Rico, where he described his work and efforts to sell coffee; these included trips to New York City and other destinations throughout the late 1910s. Many of his later communications with Helen are telegrams reporting his current location and attempting to make plans to meet his wife.

The Family Correspondence subseries holds letters from many different writers, including several regular correspondents. James A. Buchanan, Helen's father, wrote 45 letters between 1906 and 1919, often regarding her financial situation and family news. He described his European travels, which included witnessing a review of German military troops in Berlin (September 2, 1908) and visiting a military cemetery in Brest, France, where war casualties and influenza epidemic victims were buried (March 4, 1919). John and Francis Buchanan, Helen's brothers, shared stories of their academic and athletic experiences. John wrote about Yale's stringent entry requirements and his preparation for entrance exams (August 14, 1911). Other family correspondence includes letters from aunts, cousins, and extended family members, who told Helen about their lives in various New York cities and in Ilchester, Maryland.

Much of the Friends Correspondence subseries consists of letters by Etta Dunham de Viti de Marco and her daughter Etta, with whom Helen lived while studying in Rome, Italy. The elder Etta frequently discussed her work with Italy's Montessori movement, and her daughter provided Helen with updates on her life at school in Ascot, England. Etta Dunham di Viti de Marco shared her opinions of the war and expressed her desire for U.S. intervention (July 4, 1915). Nora Davis Farrar, the wife of Frederick Percival Farrar, an English chaplain to King George V, wrote 44 letters between 1908 and 1914, describing her life in Pennsylvania and British Columbia. A variety of other correspondents related news of their lives in various European countries and in the United States. Several postcards depict black-and-white views of "Il Cerro" in Italy.

The Financial Records series (140 items) consists of bank receipts, notifications of charitable donations, and additional receipts for clothing, books, and household items, dated from 1908-1918.

The Photographs and Negatives series includes approximately 50 individual portraits of Helen Buchanan's friends, family members, homes, and properties. One photograph album contains 375 pictures taken between 1928 and 1935, depicting scenes from family vacations in Canada and people, dogs, and horses. Many photographs show men and women in equestrian competitions, and some later images depict Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia.

A "Theatre Record" chronicles Helen's theatrical excursions in Washington, D.C., between December 25, 1907, and December 25, 1908. She recorded her opinions of productions and players. Programs are pasted and laid into the volume.

The Printed Items and Ephemera series consists of calling cards, picture postcards, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and other items. Ephemera includes pamphlets and printed letters related to the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Drama League of America; postcards and programs related to the Societa Romana della Caccia alla Volpe; and other materials. Twenty-nine picture postcards from Italy and Puerto Rico are present.

The collection contains approximately 15 Writings and Fragments. These are poems, a manuscript speech on the play Candida, an inventory of articles owned by Helen, and other items.

The Helen C. Hough and Charles Stevens family collection contains correspondence related to several families in northern New York, particularly to the relatives of William J. Hough. The collection includes letters to Clarinda Hough, William's wife, as well as letters exchanged by their daughter, Helen Clarinda Hough, and her future husband, Charles E. Stevens of Flint, Michigan.

The Helen C. Hough and Charles Stevens family collection (0.5 linear feet) contains correspondence related to several families in northern New York, particularly to the relatives of William J. Hough. The collection includes letters to Clarinda Hough, William's wife, as well as letters exchanged by their daughter, Helen Clarinda Hough, and her future husband, Charles E. Stevens of Flint, Michigan.

The Correspondence series (172 items) includes several groups of letters between members of the Breese and Hough families of northern New York, and the Stevens family of Flint, Michigan. Clarinda Carpenter Hough received around 20 letters from Catharine F. Barrows in Utica and Cooperstown, New York, who wrote of her husband's religious work, local religious life, and family news. Helen Hough, Clarinda's daughter, wrote letters to her family, mainly her mother, while attending Mount Holly Female Seminary (also known as Chisman Hall and the Mount Holly Institute for Young Ladies) in the early 1850s. After 1856, she corresponded with Charles E. Stevens ("Charlie") of Flint, Michigan, whom she married in 1858. Stevens wrote the bulk of the letters that the couple exchanged, commenting on aspects of his life in Flint, including his admittance to the bar (October 5, 1857), and on his travels between New York and Michigan. The series also has letters between members of the McClelland family of northern New York.

The Helen C. Hough Reports series consists of 3 printed reports on Hough's academic progress at the Mount Holy Female Seminary. The reports are signed by two teachers and by the school's principals, Timothy Chisman and Catherine C. Chisman.

The Documents series includes 4 items pertaining to John McClellan of Utica, New York: a copy of his will, a surrogate's court document, a check signed by S. McClellan, and a receipt.

This collection contains 14 letters and partial letters from James B. Green of Des Moines, Iowa, to Cora Earley, a female friend in Prattsburgh, New York, between July 1892 and April 1893. His casual, flirtatious, and occasionally crude letters include remarks on social news about mutual friends in Prattsburgh, relationships between men and women, and his life in Des Moines.

This collection contains 14 letters and partial letters by James B. Green of Des Moines, Iowa, to Cora Earley, a female friend in Prattsburgh, New York, between July 1892 and April 1893. His casual, flirtatious, and occasionally crude letters include remarks on social news about mutual friends in Prattsburgh, relationships between men and women, and his life in Des Moines.

Green wrote these 2- to 4-page letters on stationery from the S. Green & Sons Iron Foundry and Stove Works, where he worked with his father and brother, Samuel and Frank Green. Though he occasionally mentioned the local furnace industry and the price of goods in Des Moines, most of his letters focus on mutual acquaintances and social news from Prattsburgh. Green reminisced about playing ball with his friends. He often commented on aspects of relationships between men and women, such as a broken engagement and his own dating life. Some letters discuss the possibility of Green's return to Prattsburgh, as well as his feelings about the town and its people.

Green often addressed his correspondent as "you little sinner." The following excerpt from Green's letter of November 13, 1892, is typical of his colloquial writing style and content. It also contains a reference to Grover Cleveland's second election.

"Well you little sinner How are you coming? 'Regular and 4 in a hill' I suppose. 'Hurrah for Cleavland' He is the man I would have voted for. Well Cora how is every thing down to Uncle Joe Briggs? You bet I remember the night you and the rest of the gang was down. What kind of a girl is that Mabel Rose? I have heard a good deal about her? Would like to get out with her some night and find out for myself. No Cora I will never forget that night down to Martha's. more sport than a wash tub full of monkies. Would like to have to go through it again to night. You can bet Cora I would keep you awake."

This collection contains letters that James Edwin Lough and his wife, Dora A. Bailey, exchanged around the turn of the 20th century. During the year before their marriage, Bailey wrote to Lough about her life in Somerville, Massachusetts; Lough later wrote to Bailey about his life in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he was a college professor.

This collection (0.5 linear feet) contains approximately 340 letters that James Edwin Lough and his wife, Dora A. Bailey, exchanged around the turn of the 20th century. During the year before their marriage, Bailey wrote to Lough about her life in Somerville, Massachusetts; Lough later wrote to Bailey about his life and work in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he was a college professor.

Dorothy Albonetta Bailey ("Dora") wrote around 280 letters to James Edwin Lough ("Ed") between September 1899 and June 1900. She commented on her life and social activities in Somerville, Massachusetts; shared her feelings for Lough; and discussed their upcoming marriage. James Lough also received letters from other correspondents, including cousins and acquaintances; his father wrote him a letter about marriage on June 22, 1900. Most items dated after June 1900 are Lough's letters to his wife from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and New York City, where he was a college professor. Lough discussed travel between Wisconsin and the East Coast, and occasionally referred to his teaching; he sometimes enclosed newspaper clippings. In a series of letters from 1905, Dora Bailey Lough provided news of their young son. Additional items include a carte-de-visite photograph of a child, made by J. W. Black & Co., a metal nameplate for James Edwin Lough, a list of addresses, and a page of the Boston Herald from October 1, 1899.

This collection contains 54 incoming letters that Alice F. Judson, William Judson, and P. P. Judson, of Waterford, Pennsylvania, received throughout the second half of the 19th century. The bulk of the collection consists of 35 letters that Charles Himrod wrote to Alice F. Judson, his future wife, about his life in Missouri between 1867 and 1869. The remaining letters are comprised of business correspondence addressed to William and P. P. Judson between 1851 and 1860, and additional letters received by members of the Judson family.

This collection contains 54 incoming letters that Alice F. Judson, William Judson, and P. P. Judson, of Waterford, Pennsylvania, received throughout the second half of the 19th century. Charles Himrod wrote 35 letters to Alice F. Judson, his future wife, about his life in Missouri between 1867 and 1869. The remaining letters are comprised of business correspondence addressed to William and P. P. Judson between 1851 and 1860, and additional letters received by members of the Judson family.

Charles Himrod wrote to Alice F. Judson while he lived and worked in eastern Missouri between 1867 and 1869. He sent his letters from Moselle, St. James, St. Louis, and Knob View; he later wrote from Osage City and Tuscumbia. Himrod presented detailed descriptions of many aspects of life in Missouri, such as the people, the cities, and his daily experiences and activities. He provided his opinions on romantic relationships and marriage, including his feelings for Alice and about their courtship. On one occasion, inspired by a recent speech that Mark Twain delivered in St. Louis, Himrod shared his opinion on women's rights (March 31, [1867]). Six letters dated after 1873 include incoming items addressed to Alice, her siblings, and Charles Himrod.

William and P. P. Judson, merchants based in Waterford, Pennsylvania, received 9 letters from various professional acquaintances between 1851 and 1860, concerning financial affairs.

The Julia Cook letters form a narrative account of Cook's life in Wiscasset, Maine, and travels to other towns from December 1816-October 1818. She frequently discussed her opinions of marriage and courtship.

The 36 Julia Adelaide Cook letters form a 32-page narrative account of Cook's life in Wiscasset, Maine, and travels to other towns from December 1816-October 27, 1818. She frequently discussed her opinions of marriage and courtship. The letters, addressed to a friend, often concern her opinions on topics such as courtship and married life. On May 27, 1818, she commented on recent difficulties in her cousin John's marriage as a result of his intemperance. Cook voiced her desire to earn an independent living, particularly while her parents were contemplating a move to Missouri or another faraway location. She also provided news of her family and acquaintances throughout Maine, which she obtained during several trips to Saco and Biddeford.

The Lars Gustaf Sellstedt family collection is made up of correspondence, poetry, ephemera, and other materials related to Sellstedt and his descendants, particularly his daughter Eva and her husband, Frank H. Potter. The papers pertain to Sellstedt's religious beliefs, his travels in the Caribbean, his interest in fine art, and his influence and legacy in Buffalo, New York. Other items pertain to Frank Potter's life in Berlin, Germany, in the mid-1880s and to the genealogy of the Younglove family.

The Lars Gustaf Sellstedt family collection (0.75 linear feet) is made up of correspondence, poetry, ephemera, and other material related to Sellstedt and his descendants, particularly his daughter Eva and her husband, Frank H. Potter. The papers pertain to Sellstedt's religious beliefs, his travels in the Caribbean, his interest in fine art, and his influence and legacy in Buffalo, New York. Other items pertain to Frank Potter's life in Berlin, Germany, in the mid-1880s and to the genealogy of the Younglove family.

The Correspondence series (109 items) contains letters related to the Sellstedt, Potter, and Younglove families. In the mid-1840s, Sellstedt exchanged letters with his future wife, Louise Lovejoy; some of his other early correspondence concerns religion, art, and travel to the Caribbean in late 1848 and early 1849. In the early 20th century, he received letters from acquaintances and admirers about his books From Forecastle to Academy and Art in Buffalo.

Many items from the late 19th century pertain to Sellstedt's daughter Eva and her husband, Frank Hamilton Potter, including a series of letters that Potter wrote to his parents about his life in Berlin, Germany, in the mid-1880s. Frank and Eva Potter's son, Lars Sellstedt Potter, occasionally wrote to his mother as a child. The series also contains mid-19th century letters between William K. Scott and his cousin Moses C. Younglove, mid-20th century letters about an art exhibit commemorating Lars G. Sellstedt, and an undated letter from "Santa Claus" to a group of children. The series includes 2 print narratives by Samuel Younglove, entitled "Battle of Oriskany" and "The Battle of Bennington" (June 12, 1897).

The Writings series (113 items) contains 23 essays and 90 poems. Longer essays pertain to "Architecture and Sculpture" (58 pages) and to the history of art in Buffalo, New York (2 items, 99 pages and 47 pages); at least one of the essays about Buffalo was incorporated into Sellstedt's book Art in Buffalo. Other items pertain to the politician James Osborn Putnam, an acquaintance of Sellstedt's. The poetry (90 items), much of which was written by Sellstedt, concerns love, friendship, nature, and religious subjects; at least one poem is a friend's tribute to Sellstedt. The series includes 8 published items, housed together.

The Watercolors and Sketches (5 items), attributed to various persons, depict infant children, a Roman soldier, a woman, and a home. The Photographs (19 items), comprised of card photographs and photographic prints, mostly show members of the Sellstedt family, including Lars G. Sellstedt, Caroline Scott Sellstedt, and Eva Thorén Sellstedt. The pictures are studio portraits, outdoor portraits, and snapshots taken during a fishing trip. The series contains 3 copies of a memorial poem dedicated to William Scott Sellstedt ("Willie"), each illustrated with a photograph of him.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery Exhibit Materials (around 20 unique items) include documents, promotional materials, and captions, which are related to an exhibit and reception held in honor of Lars Sellstedt in September 1972.

Newspaper Clippings (66 items) pertain to the life of Lars G. Sellstedt, including retrospectives about his life and obituaries. Some clippings concern the Albright-Knox Gallery's 1972 Sellstedt exhibit.

The Invitations, Cards, Documents, and Realia series (11 items) includes printed and manuscript invitations, a calling card, an embroidered piece of fabric, and a stock certificate for the Buffalo Cremation Company.

The Genealogy series (9 items) contains histories of the Younglove family, written by and addressed to Moses Younglove, as well as items related to the Gay family and to the life of Lars G. Sellstedt.

This collection contains personal letters between Lavender Ray, his wife Annie, and their daughter Ruby. Most of their correspondence concerns family news and life in Newnan and Americus, Georgia; and at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, and the Lucy Cobb Institute in Athens, Georgia.

This collection (90 items) contains correspondence and other items related to the family of Lavender R. Ray of Newnan and Atlanta, Georgia. The Correspondence series (85 items) contains personal letters between Lavender R. Ray, his wife, Annie Felder, and their daughter, Ruby Ray. From the late 1870s to early 1890s, Lavender Ray corresponded with his wife and daughter about family news, usually during their visits to Americus, Georgia. Ruby Ray wrote a series of letters to her parents about her studies and social life while attending Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, and the Lucy Cobb Institute in Athens, Georgia, from 1889-1890. Ruby also received 7 letters from a suitor, Crawford Wheatley, from 1892-1895. An envelope postmarked November 27, 1892, contains 2 printed advertisements for Georgia O. Teasdale, a gymnastics instructor.

Additional items in the Financial Records series (2 items) and Ephemera series (3 items) include a statement of state and county taxes owed by Lavender Ray (December 23, 1893), a wedding invitation (November 10, 1886), a 15-day admission ticket to the Atlanta Athenaeum (June 1890), and notes about a piece of land (undated).

This collection contains 19 letters between Henry Charles Lea of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his fiancée, Anna Caroline Jaudon of Wilmington, Delaware, and Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as 3 letters from other members of the Lea family. Henry Lea, who wrote most of the correspondence, discussed his social life, his reading habits, and his love for Anna.

This collection (22 items) contains 19 letters between Henry Charles Lea of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his fiancée, Anna Caroline Jaudon of Wilmington, Delaware, and Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as 3 letters from other members of the Lea family. Henry Lea, who wrote most of the correspondence, discussed his social life, his reading habits, and his love for Anna.

Henry C. Lea wrote 19 letters to his future wife between September 11, 1842, and March 17, 1850. Most of his correspondence includes poetry, such as copied poems showing "Gradations of Style" (September 11, 1842), as well as original compositions. Lea often reported family news, including the death of his uncle in June 1845, and commented on the controversy surrounding Elizabeth Lea's marriage to William Woodhouse Bakewell in 1847. He frequently discussed his personal life and hobbies, which included reading and collecting books, and he occasionally commented on political issues, such as a proposal to move the United States capital to Cincinnati (December 7, 1845) and possible European reactions to increased American militarism (May 31, 1846). The correspondence also reflects the couple's relationship and anticipated marriage; in his final letter, Lea discussed his attempts to locate a house (March 17, 1850). One letter contains Lea's drawing of a lamp (December 16, 1849).

Anna C. Jaudon received letters from her future brother-in-law, Matthew Carey Lea (October 19, 1847), and from his uncle, Isaac Lea (November 28, 1847). Matthew Carey Lea commented on Elizabeth Lea's marriage to William Woodhouse Bakewell, and Isaac Lea discussed financial issues. Anna C. Jaudon also wrote one letter to Henry C. Lea from New Orleans, Louisiana, in which she lamented her sister's living situation in New Orleans and expressed her concern about locating a good home in Philadelphia (March 3, 1850). While Jaudon lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, she addressed her letters care of Christian Febiger, a relative.

This collection is made up of letters, documents, genealogical research, and other items pertaining to Leopold Mayer of Chicago, Illinois, and his descendants. The materials concern family news, courtship, and the history of Chicago's Jewish community.

This collection is made up of over 25 items pertaining to Leopold Mayer of Chicago, Illinois, and his descendants. Items in the Correspondence series (17 items) concern Leopold Mayer and his family members, particularly his daughter Amelia and her husband, Jacob Henry Mahler. In a letter dated November 10, 1864, Leopold expressed condolences to Mrs. M. M. Spiegel after learning of the death of her husband, a colonel, during the Civil War. The series also has 2 manuscript letters, 1 manuscript postcard, and 2 typescripts of letters that he wrote to his daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren from 1885-1902. Most of these contain Mayer's moral advice on topics such as marriage (July 10, 1885) and his later reflections on his life and his wife (February 27, 1902; December 24, 1902).

Most of the remaining items in the series pertain to Amelia Mayer and Jacob Mahler. These include 2 personal letters from Mahler to Mayer (July 14, 1885, and August 26, 1896); 2 German-language letters by members of Mahler's family (January 13, 1892, and August 29, 1896); and 2 personal letters to Amelia from "Jennie," a friend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (March 15, 1885), and from Ida, her sister, then traveling in Europe (August 27, 1906). Jacob Mahler received a letter about hotel rates in Wisconsin (May 24, 1896) and a birthday greeting from his son Felix in 1898, and wrote 2 friendly notes to Felix (September 22, 1903, and undated). The final item in the series is a typed letter that Arthur M. Oppenheimer wrote to Leopold Mayer's descendants in 1962, with an excerpt about Mayer from Deborah Pessin's History of the Jews in America.

Leopold Mayer's Journal, "From Land to Land, From Port to Port," concerns his visit to Germany and Switzerland in the summer of 1895. Included are a typed journal transcript (35 pages, June 1, 1895-August 3, 1895) and manuscript journal (29 pages, [August 1, 1895]-August 24, 1895, and 1 page, undated). Mayer and his daughter Flora traveled to various cities and towns, saw several Alpine mountains, and met with acquaintances.

The Speech transcript (5 pages) records Leopold Mayer's address to the Council of Jewish Women in November 1899, marking the 25th anniversary of Chicago's Sinai Congregation. Mayer recounted some of his personal history in Chicago, and remarked on the development of the city's Jewish community and institutions.

Financial and Legal Documents relate to Leopold Mayer's estate and to his son-in-law, Jacob Henry Mahler. Mahler received a bill from a laborer dated July 23, 1901, and completed a partially-printed income tax form for himself and his wife on February 19, 1917. Three printed legal documents (December 28, 1903; June 1, 1909; and [1927]) pertain to the settlement of Leopold Mayer's estate and to legal disputes among his heirs. The latter item includes copies of 2 versions of Mayer's will.

The Poetry, Printed Items, and Genealogy series concerns several generations of the Mayer family. The programs document confirmation services held by the North Chicago Hebrew Congregation on May 26, 1901, and a production of the 3-act play The Mayer Saga, presented in Glencoe, Illinois, on December 31, 1925. The extended Mayer family published a newsletter, Unter Uns, on December 25, 1902, with poetry, news articles, and advice columns by Leopold Mayer's children and their spouses. A small packet of typed poems dedicated to Amelia Mayer Mahler accompanies a printed invitation to Mahler's 90th birthday celebration, hosted by her grandchildren on April 18, 1953. The final 2 items are genealogies and a memorial dedicated to Leopold Mayer and his descendants. The memorial was initially issued on March 3, 1927, with genealogical revisions made in 1941. One copy has manuscript genealogical notes dated as late as 1970.

This collection is made up of 11 love-letters that Leslie E. Sunderland wrote to his fiancée, Anna Julia Stowell, around 1879-1880. He commented primarily on his social activities and business affairs in DeKalb, Illinois.

This collection is made up of 11 love-letters that Leslie E. Sunderland wrote to his fiancée, Anna Julia Stowell, around 1879-1880. He commented primarily on his social activities and business affairs in DeKalb, Illinois. Stowell lived with her family in Cornwall, Vermont, while Sunderland worked in the Illinois coal and lumber industries. He commented on his travel plans, the possibility of visiting Anna, and his business difficulties (which presented obstacles to the couple's marriage). Sunderland shared his feelings for Anna and responded to news of her family, particularly her father. In later letters, he anticipated their marriage and mentioned his intention to mail Anna a ring.

The Marcus Jamieson collection is made up of incoming personal letters to Jamieson from friends and his immediate family, as well as letters that he wrote to his future wife, Emma Crary of Webster City, Iowa. Jamieson received letters from Emma, his father, and numerous friends in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, and other states while living in Grinnell, Iowa, between 1877 and 1883, and he received letters from his mother and brother in Grinnell, Iowa, while living in Warren, Pennsylvania, between 1891 and 1902. The letters pertain to numerous aspects of daily life, such as education, local news, and social activities.

The Marcus Jamieson collection is made up of approximately 90 incoming personal letters to Jamieson from friends and his immediate family, as well as 12 letters that he wrote to his future wife, Emma Crary of Webster City, Iowa. Jamieson received letters from Emma, his father, and numerous friends in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, and other states while living in Grinnell, Iowa, between 1877 and 1883, and he received letters from his mother and brother in Grinnell, Iowa, while living in Warren, Pennsylvania, between 1891 and 1902. The letters pertain to numerous aspects of daily life, such as education, local news, and social activities.

T. W. Gilmore, Jr., and Marcia Gilmore frequently wrote to Jamieson from Ann Arbor, Michigan, between 1877 and 1881. They commented on their social activities, the city, and education. In one letter, T. W. Gilmore, Jr., drew a floor plan of the house in which he lived (November 3, 1878), and in others he mentioned aspects of student life at the high school and at the University of Michigan. Jamieson's father, Hugh A. Jamieson, wrote from Warren, Pennsylvania, and several friends shared news about their lives in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, and the Dakota Territory. Some commented on baseball, and one drew a sketch of a woman (August 22, 1879).

After 1880, Jamieson corresponded with Emily Crary ("Emma") of Webster City, Iowa. The couple's early letters primarily concern everyday news, but later letters reflect their transition into a more formal courtship. One letter has Jamieson's drawing of a picture of a fireman (August 6, 1882).

After a gap between 1884 and 1890, Jamieson's incoming correspondence resumes with letters from his brother Charles and his mother Julia, both of whom lived in Grinnell, Iowa. Charles discussed his educational experiences at Iowa College, and Julia provided news of her social life and of Emma's mother. The final item is a letter from a representative of Iowa College requesting a financial donation.

Additional material includes a wedding notice, a printed program, a flier of facts about Grinnell College, a newspaper clipping, and a photograph of an unidentified infant.

This collection is made up of correspondence, financial records, photographs, and ephemera related to members of the Marsh and Capron families of Rahway, New Jersey, and Walden, New York.

This collection contains correspondence, financial records, photographs, and ephemera related to members of the Marsh and Capron families of Rahway, New Jersey, and Walden, New York.

The Correspondence series (161 items) begins with letters to Caroline Capron ("Carrie") from her future husband, Edward Marsh, and other correspondence. Marsh wrote to H. B. Sears, a mutual friend, while living in Germany in the mid-1860s. Edward Marsh provided news of family members, described his travels, and discussed his studies in chemistry. Members of the Capron family later discussed Carrie's intention to marry Marsh and the couple's proposed move to Germany. Later items include business and personal letters to Rolph Marsh, and correspondence regarding his donation of land to a Rahway church.

The Bills and Receipts series (18 items) pertains to Rolph Marsh's finances. Three carte-de-visite Photographs include 2 studio portraits of unidentified men and a view of unidentified buildings. The collection also contains Calling and Business Cards (13 items) and Printed Items (11 items) pertaining to Catherine Marsh's funeral, religious associations and churches, property assessments, and other subjects.

This collection consists of letters written by Mary S. Clayton to her future husband, James F. Jordan, while she worked as a schoolteacher in Almont, Michigan. She discussed her teaching experiences, life in Almont, and her family in Plymouth, Michigan, whom she occasionally visited.

This collection consists of over 230 items, almost all of which are letters. Mary S. Clayton wrote most of the letters to her future husband, James F. Jordan, while she worked as a schoolteacher in Almont, Michigan. Mary began her correspondence in July 1877, shortly after graduating from the Michigan State Normal School, and regularly wrote flirtatious letters to James, also a teacher. She focused on her teaching career and life in Almont, Michigan, and described incidents from the classroom as well as from her social life. She mentioned the Methodist Church, where she occasionally taught classes, local news, and her thoughts on relationships, particularly on flirtation. She wrote most of the letters prior to her marriage to James in 1881. The rest include letters that James wrote to Mary from Buchanan, Michigan, in 1882, as well as letters from family and friends, who wrote from several Michigan towns and from Chicago. Some later letters relate to the custody of Mary's sister Libbie following the death of her father in the spring of 1882.