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Collection

Alfred Noble Papers, 1863-1922

2 linear feet (partially microfilmed) — 1 oversize folder

Soldier in the 24th Michigan Infantry during Civil War, later civil engineer concerned largely with construction of bridges and canals, especially improvements of St. Mary's Falls Canal, and consultant engineer to Panama Canal project. Correspondence, Civil War diaries, essays on proposed Nicaraguan Canal, printed materials, maps, and other miscellanea; also photographs.

The Alfred Noble Papers collection consists of several letters and diaries documenting his service with the 24th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War and correspondence, construction documents and other material relating to his work as a civil engineer on a number of major projects including the St. Mary's Canal, the Harlem Tunnel in New York, Panama Canal, Alton Bridge on the Mississippi and a proposed Nicaraguan Canal. The collection is organized in two series, Papers and Printed Works, 1853-1906. The Papers series is available on microfilm.

File

Civil War Materials

Within Civil War Materials, there is one folder of Letters, 1863-1864, consisting of three letters. The first, written in September 1863, was written to Mr. and Mrs. George Ryder, relating Noble's thoughts about his childhood friend and tentmate, John E. Ryder, who was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. The second letter was written to Noble's mother in early January 1864, and relates problems in assisting with "Mr. Ryder's paperwork," as well as general camp information. The third letter was written by Henry C. McFarlan in May 1864 from Camp Draft in Jackson, Michigan to his Uncle Charles; it relates his failed attempt to join the Navy, and his subsequent muster into the 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery for one year.

File

Diaries

The Diaries, 1863-July 1865, include brief and impersonal entries regarding his daily infantry activities. There are two New Testament Bibles which Noble carried during the war, and a Miscellanea folder, mostly of official documents.