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

The Childe family papers contain correspondence and documents primarily related to Zachariah Child of West Boylston, Massachusetts, and his son John; John later used the surname "Childe." Early documents relate to the family's land ownership in Shrewsbury and Boylston, Massachusetts, and later correspondence reflects John's career as a railroad engineer, as well as his second wife's efforts to compile his biography.

The Childe family papers contain correspondence and documents primarily related to Zachariah Child of West Boylston, Massachusetts, and his son John; John later used the surname "Childe." Until 1844, most items relate to landholdings belonging to Zachariah and David Child in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, including three manuscript maps of tracts in Shrewsbury and Boylston, several official indentures, and two unofficial indentures made in 1822 between Zachariah Child and Dorothy Thurston, a widow. The collection also holds correspondence addressed to John Childe (formerly Child) in Troy, New York; West Boylston, Massachusetts; and Springfield, Massachusetts, in the mid-19th century. His brother Marcus, who lived in Stanstead, Quebec, discussed the family's farm in West Boylston, as well as other legal matters, and officially designated John Childe his attorney at law (April 25, 1844).

Later letters primarily concern John Childe's engineering career, including congratulations from William B. Trotter after a recent legal triumph (February 20, 1857) and a letter from Childe to Mobile & Ohio Railroad President Judge Hopkins about the effects of financial regulations on railroad construction in the West and Southwest (March 17, 1856). His second wife, Ellen Healy Childe, received several letters following his death, documenting biographical details of his life, for use in a biographical sketch. These cover his early life and time in the military and include a contribution from his brother, David Lee Child (July 22, 1859). John Healy Childe also received a letter from Henry Clark, who agreed that his daughter Jessie could marry Childe (August 5, 1889). An undated "Family Record" gives birth and death dates for the family of Zachariah and Lydia Bigelow Child, and a brief biographical sketch of John Healy Childe.

This journal is Edward Nicholas Heygate's illustrated, narrative account of his travels in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean from May 1853 to February 1855. Heygate, an Englishman, described the stops on his itinerary as well as his modes of transportation, life in the Bahamas, and return to London. An Index of Illustrations contains additional information on visual works within the Heygate journal.

This volume (approximately 80 pages) contains Edward Nicholas Heygate's narrative account of his travels around Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean from May 1853-February 1855. Ink drawings appear throughout the journal.

Edward Heygate composed his narrative based on a diary he kept while traveling from England to North America, living in the Bahamas, and returning to Liverpool. The first section, entitled "Notes and Illustrations on America" (pp. 99-145), covers April 28, 1853, to July 17, 1853. During that time, Heygate recorded his experiences on his journey from Liverpool to the Bahamas. Following his arrival in Canada in mid-May, he visited Boston, New York City, Niagara Falls, Charleston, Montreal, and other locations. Heygate recorded his impressions of the major cities and attractions, giving particular attention to his modes of transportation, which included steamboats, railroads, and carriages. He also noted his general impressions about Americans and local culture. Among other leisure activities, Heygate attended several chariot races and a lecture by Lucy Stone on women's rights (June 18, 1853). The account ends upon Heygate's arrival in Nassau, Bahamas, in July 1853.

The second section of the journal, "Notes on the Island of Nassau. Bahamas. 1853" (pp. 149-169), recounts Heygate's life in the Caribbean, including his description of Nassau and a recapitulation of his visit to Havana, Cuba. These passages are dated from July 18, 1853-February 1855, and conclude with his arrival in Liverpool, England. This portion of the volume begins with regular diary entries, though Heygate wrote less frequently as time went on.

Heygate interspersed ink drawings throughout his account, and captured images of many of the sights he witnessed during his travels. He also composed ink and watercolor maps of North America and the Caribbean, which he annotated to show his traveling routes (pp. 6-7), and of New Providence, Bahamas (p. 13). Two items are laid into the journal: a pencil sketch and notes on Heygate's modes of transportation.

An Index of Illustrations (.pdf) contains additional information on visual works within the Heygate journal.

This collection contains correspondence, documents, financial records, reports, and other items pertaining to Gilbert L. Thompson. The material relates to Thompson's work as the United States Navy's chief engineer from 1842-1844, and his involvement in the coal and transportation industries in the mid- to late 19th century.

This collection (1 linear foot) contains correspondence, documents, financial records, reports, and other items pertaining to Gilbert L. Thompson. The material relates to Thompson's work as the United States Navy's chief engineer from 1842-1844, and his involvement in the coal and transportation industries.

The Correspondence series (155 items) is mostly made up of incoming business letters to Gilbert L. Thompson; outgoing drafts by Thompson and business letters between other persons are also present. The first group of items concern Thompson's service as the United States Navy's chief engineer from 1842-1844, addressing many topics related to naval engineering and United States Navy vessels. The remaining correspondence, dated 1850-1861 and 1865-1872, largely pertains to Thompson's business interests and his stake in various ventures. Thompson wrote and received letters about coal and oil industries, railroads, domestic commerce, and attempts to establish regular steamship trade between the United States and Europe after the Civil War. Many of the latter items pertain to the Norfolk and St. Nazaire Steam Navigation Company and to commerce in the South during the early years of Reconstruction. Thompson's prominent correspondents included Secretary of the Treasury Walter Forward, Secretary of the Navy Abel Parker Upshur, and Virginia governor Francis Harrison Pierpont.

The Documents series is divided into two subseries. The Legal Documents (34 items), which include copies of legislation, by-laws, indentures, and other items, pertain to naval engineering, transatlantic trade between the United States and Europe, and Gilbert L. Thompson's business affairs. Several items relate to the Norfolk and St. Nazaire Steam Navigation Company and to the American Iron Shipbuilding, Mining, and Manufacturing Company. One indenture relates to land that Thompson and his wife owned in Fairfax County, Virginia, and includes a manuscript map of the property (December 13, 1844). Financial Documents (14 items) are made up of accounts and other items pertaining to the Western Virginia Coal Company, the Coal Oil and Paraffin Company of Baltimore, steamship construction and operation, the USS Missouri, and other subjects.

Reports and Drafts (53 items) pertain to the Norfolk and St. Nazaire Steam Navigation Company, steam boiler explosions, coal lands in Pennsylvania and Virginia, the United States Navy, and transportation. Some memorials addressed to the United States Congress mention relevant legislation.

The Notes and Drawings series (90 items) contains technical drawings, manuscript maps, and notes about steam engines, mining and drilling equipment and practices, and other subjects.

Three Newspaper Clippings from the early 1870s concern the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a property dispute involving General Bradley T. Johnson, steamships, and the sale of an iron furnace.