Search

This collection contains Civil War era letters between John and Alice Hecker, written during the years of John's military service from 1861 to 1864. The letters provide valuable insight into the life of a rural farmer's wife on the New Hampshire homefront during the war.

The John and Alice Hecker papers is comprised of letters between John and Alice Hecker, written during the years of John's military service in the Civil War, from 1861 to 1864. The collection consists of 56 letters from John Hecker to his wife Alice and 25 from Alice to John. John did not write most of his letters; he was born in Baden, Germany, and was not proficient in English. A friend, Ezekiel Haskell, wrote some of the correspondence for him. In later letters, especially in 1864, John wrote to Alice himself, using a mixture of German and English.

These letters provide information about the backgrounds of the couple, and reveal how they dealt with divisions of labor during the war. They discussed the business of their household and farm, for which Alice was responsible in John’s absence. John’s letters mainly contain directions for Alice: "I want you [to]… get a receipt for all the money you pay… you must get along as well as you can. You must get someone to help about haying" (June 8, 1862). They also frequently discussed their finances. John often sent Alice money, and instructed her to make payments on the farm and other bills. In her letters, Alice reported on her management of their farm and finances. She often asked for his direction, and rarely made decisions without his counsel: "You must tell me what is the best to do with the farm in the Spring" (December 4, 1863). Her financial situation was occasionally dire, however, and she was forced to make decisions without John’s consent. In one such instance Alice sold a colt for $50.00, which angered John, who thought the colt was worth $70.00: "I ham sorrey that you ar so mad to wards me for saling the colt[.] you no that I did the bast that I no of…I ham sorrey that I shod have given you so much trouble…there is no one to do haney thing for me" (May 1, 1864).

Alice also had to deal with a troublesome ex-farmhand named "Old Smith," who claimed that John owed him money, which, allegedly, was not true. Old Smith seemed to take advantage of Alice, while John was away: "he thinck he cud friten me but it will take a batter man than old Smith" (February 12, 1864). The Hecker papers provide valuable insight into life for the wife of a rural farmer on the New Hampshire home front during the Civil War.

Two letters in the collections include illustrations: The April 4, 1864 item features a stamp with red ink that depicts a dove carrying a letter with the following statement to its right: "The U.S. Commission sends this sheet as a messenger between the soldier and his home. Let it hasten to those who wait for tidings." The item dated June 14, 1864 has a patriotic letterhead, showing George Washington in blue ink holding an American flag while seated on a red horse rearing up on a blue platform inscribed with the word "Union."

Organizational records include: annual president and chairperson reports, treasurer reports, meeting minutes, officer guidelines, photographs (black and white and color), scrapbooks and correspondence documenting the Division's activities, history, Annual International Tea and national and council meetings.

The collection, 1926-2014, and undated, approximately 12 cubic feet (in 21 boxes, 1 legal-size folder, 4 Oversized Volumes) documents the organizational records and history of the Michigan Division of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association (WNFGA). Organizational records include: annual president and chairperson reports, treasurer reports, meeting minutes, and officer guidelines. Photographs (black and white and color), scrapbooks and correspondence illuminate the Division's activities and provide additional insight into its history. Photographs provide images of Annual International Tea and national and council meetings.

Included in the collection are Cranbrook Branch of WNFGA scrapbooks, 1963-1968 and 1983-1988 (Box 6 and Oversized scrapbooks). The scrapbooks and related newsletters and miscellaneous were created by Barbara Van Buren. The Cranbrook Branch no longer exists.

The Annual International Tea records, 1996-2008, were originally composed annually in binders. Due to materials becoming loose, the contents were transferred into archival folders. However, their original order was maintained. These reports include correspondence, photographs and newspaper clippings.

The organizational records generated during the tenures of two presidents, Louise Shoksnyder (Boxes 18-19 and Oversized scrapbook, 2007-2008) and Ila Leonard Wermuth (Box 21), were separately identified as such, and this original order was maintained during processing.

Several fairly complete newsletters and historical publications were separately cataloged during processing.

The collection is in good physical condition and is organized by size and alphabetically by series. The Cranbrook Scrapbooks have weak or damaged binding. Scotch tape was also found in scrapbooks and the Annual International Tea folders. In both cases, materials in these series may become loose over time. Acidic materials have been replaced with copies. All of the boxes are .5 cubic foot boxes except Box 21, which is .25 cubic foot.

Researchers may also be interested in the collection of Mrs. (Francis) Louisa King, 1902-2000, and other Woman’s garden club collections which are also housed at the Clarke.

Processing Notes: During processing .75 cubic foot of material, consisting of duplicates, miscellaneous financial records, and generic correspondence, were removed from the collection.