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

This collection is made up six volumes pertinent to the Civil War service of Captain later Major Alonzo M. Keeler of the 22nd Michigan Infantry. They include an autograph album kept by Captain Keeler while a Confederate prisoner at Libby Prison in Richmond and at Roper Hospital prison in Charleston between May 1864 and February 1865. Also present is the Book of Common Prayer carried by Keeler during his time as prisoner of war, including marginalia related to Sunday services. The remainder of the collection is a block of wood in a custom case purported to be from the original flooring of Libby Prison, Keeler's copy of Silas Casey's Infantry Tactics (3 vols., 1862-1863), and five South Carolina newspapers from 1864.

This collection is made up six volumes pertinent to the Civil War service of Captain later Major Alonzo M. Keeler of the 22nd Michigan Infantry. They include an autograph album kept by Captain Keeler while a Confederate prisoner at Libby Prison in Richmond and at Roper Hospital prison in Charleston between May 1864 and February 1865. Also present is the Book of Common Prayer carried by Keeler during his time as prisoner of war, including marginalia related to Sunday services. The remainder of the collection is a block of wood in custom case purported to be from the original flooring of Libby Prison, Keeler's copy of Silas Casey's Infantry Tactics (3 vols., 1862-1863), and five South Carolina newspapers from 1864.

Alonzo Keeler kept an autograph album of prisoner of war officers over the course of his imprisonment at Libby Prison, the Charleston Jail Yard, Roper Hospital Prison in Charleston, and the "Asylum Camp" in Columbia. The volume has an illustrated title page bearing multiple forms for calligraphic lettering, and a watercolor illustration of the Libby Prison building with two crossed, furled American flags. The full title is "AUTOGRAPHS. US OFFICERS Prisoners of war" and below, "Libby Prison Richmond Va Capt A M. Keeler." Most pages include 4-5 autographs, and the signatures are variously accompanied by the signer's rank, military unit, and home city or state. The contributors to the album were almost entirely infantrymen, though at least two Navy officers, one Veteran Cavalry officer, and one chaplain signed. Their home States included Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Rhode Island, Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee, and Vermont. Michigan soldiers in Libby Prison were from Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Jackson, Coldwater, Chelsea, and Mount Clemens; Michigan soldiers in the Roper Prison were from Battle Creek, Marshall, Mount Clemens, Lapeer, Saginaw City, and Adrian.

• Pages 1-73: Contains 343 numbered autographs of prisoners.
• Pages 74-75: A brief history of the movement of 600 officers from Macon, Georgia, July 28; to Charleston City Jail Yard July 29; on August 10, the placement of 177 in prison for "confining convict laborers and runaway neg[ros]"; and movement to Roper Hospital building on August 13, 1864. This is followed by a history of the Roper Hospital copied from a piece of marble at the head of the stairs over the library, on the second story.
• Pages 76-86: Contains prisoner autographs numbered 344-390.
• Pages 81-82: Between autograph entries 368 and 369 is a gap containing tabular election returns headed "Official returns of the Presidential Election held in the U.S. Military Prison near Columbia S.C. among the Federal prisoners, Oct 17th. 1864." The columns are States, Lincoln, Johnson, McClellan, Pendleton, Total for President, L. Maj.; total votes cast are present.
• Unnumbered pages: Twenty-four pages intended to be an index of the autograph album, but not completed. Each page has a state name at the top, but only Connecticut has any index information present.
• Laid into the volume is: A. Martin Keeler ALS to "grand father" with appended L. A. Knight ANS, June 9, [?]; Utica. Respecting the sickness/fever of A. Martin Keeler's father; Dr. Knight described the treatments given, effect, and remarks on family.
• Also laid into the volume is a periodical clipping showing an oval portrait of Major and Mrs. A. M. Keeler; and a The Detroit Journal clipping about the Keelers' 58th wedding anniversary and the 35th year of their wedding tradition of a New Years' Eve family party (January 2, 1908).

The collection includes Alonzo M. Keeler's copy of The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments; and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church . . . Together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David. Philadelphia: King & Baird, 9 Sansom Street, [ca. 1852-1856]. It contains an inscription, "A.M. Keeler Libby Prison Richmond Va, 1864." On many Sundays, Keeler wrote the date or other notes in the margins beside the scripture(s) of the day. For, example, he noted that he was in Macon Prison beside various passages on May 22, June 12, 19, 26, and July 3, 10, 17, and 24, 1864. On pages 294-303, beside Articles of Religion, he wrote "Must buy a Bible containing these" next to list of canonical biblical books; then after the 39th article, "In prison at Macon Ga July 10 1864 – Sunday – How different from home – But since its all for the best it is tolerable." Beside Selections from the Psalms of David (page 58-59) he wrote "A good hymn" (Hymn 10. C.M.) and "I subscribe this" (Hymn 11. III.1).

On July 31 and August 7, he made annotations from the Charleston City Jail Yard. On August 7, 1864, he noted, "Shells flying over," and, marking Selection 55 C.M. "approves my heart" (Selections from the Psalms of David, page 18). By the following Sunday, he attended service in the Roper Hospital Prison, Charleston, and again on August 21, 28, and into September. After his move to Columbia, he wrote from the Asylum Prison (February 12, 1865), "A beautiful day – One wishes to join his congregation in public praise at home – How long shall this separation from home & friends last?" (Selections from the Psalms of David, page 43).

On February 26, 1865, Alonzo Keeler reflected on his impending release from Camp Holmes, Raleigh, North Carolina. "A beautiful sabbath day A prisoner still but on parole for exchange Over anxious to be at home yet trusting fully that He who has kept me so carefully these 17 months while in the hands of my enemies, will soon restore to home & friends" (Selections from the Psalms of David, page 5). The same day, "The mind in high expectation of being released from imprisonment by an unfriendly power is quite illustrative of the soul in anxious hope of final deliverance from the power of Satan – too buoyant to entertain deep study & meditation – too joyful to be dismayed from fear – the future is all powerful to charm, the present is powerless to torture or annoy – All packed up waiting for transportation – paroled ready to pass through the lines – All supplied & stored with Christian graces, waiting to be borne away, name in the book of life" (Selections from the Psalms of David, page 104).

The Keeler collection also includes 5.6 x 6.2 x 1.2 cm block of wood in a modern custom traycase. Pasted onto the wood is an eight-edged printed label with a red border: "This piece of wood is a part of the original floor of Libby Prison Building. Jno. L. Ransom, Manager." Also present is Silas Casey's 3-volume Infantry Tactics, for the Instruction, Exercise, and Manœuvres of the Soldier, a Company, Line of Skirmishers, Battalion, Brigade, or Corps d'Armée. New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1862-63. Each of the volumes has a stenciled owner inscription in the front endpapers, "Alonzo M. Keeler, Capt. Co. B. 22nd. M.I."

• The Charleston Mercury, v. 85, no. 12,150. Charleston, South Carolina. Saturday, August 27, 1864.
• Charleston Daily Courier, v. 63, no. 19,857. Charleston, South Carolina. Thursday Morning, September 1, 1864.
• The Charleston Mercury, v. 85, no. 12,160. Charleston, South Carolina. Friday, September 9, 1864.
• Charleston Daily Courier, v. 63, no. 19,875. Charleston, South Carolina. Thursday Morning, September 22, 1864.
• The Daily South Carolinian, v. 15, no. 250. F. G. DeFontaine & Co., Columbia, South Carolina. Tuesday Morning, October 18, 1864.

This collection is made up of 5 diaries that Frederick Lafferty composed while serving with the United States Army during World War II. Lafferty, who worked in a communications unit, described his experiences at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts; Victoria, Australia; New Caledonia; and Guadalcanal.

This collection is made up of 5 diaries that Frederick Lafferty composed while serving with the United States Army during World War II. Lafferty, who worked in a communications unit, described his experiences at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts; Victoria, Australia; New Caledonia; and Guadalcanal. The volumes cover March 24, 1941, and November 17, 1942, with detailed entries for January 20, 1942-August 11, 1942, and October 1, 1942-November 17, 1942.

Lafferty began his first diary with his enlistment and early training in the United States, and started keeping regular entries in late January 1942, after his deployment overseas. In a note to Helen dated August 15, 1942 (pp. 27-29), Lafferty indicated his desire for her to read his diary. He anticipated an upcoming assignment, and shared his belief in military service as a duty to one's country.

Lafferty wrote about his experiences onboard the transport ship Santa Elena while traveling from the United States to Australia via the Panama Canal; his stay in Ballarat and Melbourne, Australia; and his journey to New Caledonia, where he remained for several months. As a member of a communications unit, he often worked in a "message room" and reported rumors of upcoming maneuvers and news of recent battles; his unit worked in cooperation with French radio operators. He heard, and related, stories of Marines who had participated in combat against Japanese forces.

Lafferty's diaries primarily reflect aspects of soldiers' daily lives, such as meals and the poor quality of the food, mail, inspections, leisure activities, and religious habits. A Catholic, he often reported his discussions with priests, attended mass, and prayed the rosary. He also occasionally discussed air raids and training exercises.

Lafferty's final diary almost exclusively concerns his active participation during the Guadalcanal campaign. This diary also has a list of items the soldiers carried (pages 34-35).

Non-textual matter includes a picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill posed next to the Statue of Liberty and the flags of the United States and Britain (cover of the 3rd diary). Also, an entry is written on the inside of a Philip Morris cigarette package (laid into the 5th diary).

Two of the diaries contain enclosures:

• Volume 1
  • Printed maps of Ballarat, Australia [ca. 1942]
  • La France Australe, New Caledonia newspaper (August 13, 1942)
• Volume 5
  • Recipe for developing film (undated)
  • United States Army bulletin regarding military information and artillery practices, "Sterling Brand" Grape Juice, and battle precautions (August 9, 1942)
  • Real photograph postcard from Fred to Mrs. Eliza Lafferty, Boston, Massachusetts (September 4, 1906)
  • New Caledonia stamp [ca. 1942]

The collection holds two loose items. The first is a letter from Frederick Lafferty to his sister Helen about his intention to send her his diaries after the conclusion of the war. The other is a printed program for a memorial service held by the Elks of Boston, Lodge No. 10. Frederick Lafferty is recognized in a list of "Deceased Brothers," 1945-1946.

The Roland F. Kerner papers contain correspondence, documents, printed items, and ephemera pertaining to Kerner's service in the United States Marine Corps and Seabees during World War II. He wrote letters to his mother and received letters from his fiancée while he was serving in the Pacific. The additional items concern various aspects of his military service.

The Roland F. Kerner papers are made up of correspondence, documents, printed items, and ephemera pertaining to Kerner's service in the United States Marine Corps and Seabees during World War II. The Correspondence series (256 items), which includes manuscript and typed letters, V-mail, telegrams, and postcards, contains Kerner's incoming and outgoing correspondence with his mother and his fiancée. From November 1942-May 1945, Kerner wrote to his widowed mother about his travels, training schedule, leisure activities, and military duties in the United States and the Pacific Theater. He also commented on her work and encouraged her not to overexert herself. Occasionally, Kerner mentioned developments in the war, such as the D-Day invasions. In a letter of September 7, 1943, he discussed island residents' desire to marry off their daughters to American soldiers, and his letter of April 1, 1945, reports his courtship with and engagement to Louise Stevens. Kerner wrote infrequently after May 1945, when he again went overseas; his later letters concern his travels in the Pacific and, in one case, a conflict with his brother-in-law, Paul Dieter (October 1, 1945).

From May 1945-October 1945, most items are love letters from Louise Stevens to Roland F. Kerner. She wrote about her daily life and social activities in Wheaton, Illinois, and shared her joy after hearing about the end of the war. Her letter of September 29, 1945, is written on illustrated stationery celebrating the Allied victory, and at least two of her letters enclose photographs. Far less frequently, Kerner received letters from his mother and sister, who wrote about housework and family life. Ray [Bilter], another soldier, wrote a letter about his experiences in Germany near the end of the war and shared his negative opinion of Germans after seeing concentration camps (April 29, 1945).

The Documents and Reports series (24 items) is made up of receipts, military records, and other items pertaining to Roland F. Kerner, such as a receipt for work on his car (June 2, 1942), a document about Kerner's approved leave of absence from the navy (May 17, 1945), documents about his eligibility for postwar education benefits (April 23, 1946), and 5 lists of naval personnel. An undated form about Kerner's military service encloses photographs of him in uniform.

The Printed Items series (21 items) mostly contains newspapers and clippings, often about the Pacific Theater of the war. Issues of Yank, the West Chicago Press, and servicemen's informal newsletters are included. Other items are two books with religious devotions and a map of the Pacific Ocean. The Ephemera series (15 items) consists of 4 wage slips, a letter fragment, photographs, 5 photographic postcards of scenes from Melbourne, Australia, and other items.