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.

The Bird family papers are made up of correspondence, documents, ephemera, and other materials related to members of the Bird family of East Smithfield, Pennsylvania.

The Bird family papers are made up of correspondence, documents, ephemera, and other materials related to members of the Bird family of East Smithfield, Pennsylvania. A number of letters written between George Niles Bird and Frances Rowe depict their lengthy, occasionally difficult, courtship in the late 19th century. Letters from other friends and family members are interspersed, including a letter from Hope Rowe recounting the funeral of President James A. Garfield (October 9, 1881).

Nancy N. Bird's correspondence consists primarily of incoming personal letters. Nancy's cousins wrote many of the letters, with the family's religiosity influencing much of their writing. The Bird family papers include many of Nancy N. Bird's speeches, including a series of talks delivered to fellow members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) between 1886 and 1912. She discussed temperance, religion, and topics of local interest, including the history of Smithfield, Pennsylvania. Nancy N. Bird's printed materials consist primarily of ephemera, programs, and newspaper clippings, largely related to her work with the WCTU and to the Bradford Baptist Association. Also present are three items written by Nancy: a short book entitled A History of the Sunday Schools in East Smithfield, PA. Since 1822, and two copies of The History of the Baptist Church of East Smithfield, PA. Other materials related to Nancy include journal pages, a photograph, and Sunday School papers.

Helen Bird's letters, written to her mother, chronicle her year at the West Chester Normal School, 1912-1913, and include frequent complaints about the atmosphere, the people, and the food.

Materials relating to George Bird consist primarily of incoming correspondence from friends and from his cousin Geraldine ("Jerry"). Jerry, who financially supported George during his time at Pennsylvania State University, also offered advice and updates on her academic life at Cornell University, while George's friend Eugene Edgar Doll discussed his experiences at the University of Chicago and his patronage of the arts. The collection also includes reports from George Bird's early studies and from his time at Pennsylvania State.

Personal letters from other members of the Niles and Bird families include early letters from Hannah Niles to her husband Samuel, and letters addressed to George N. Bird, his wife Frances, and their daughter-in-law Carrie. Two printed letters from "Robert and Bernie" in Impur, India, describe the country and their educational and missionary work; on January 7, 1921, they mentioned Gandhi's non-cooperation movement.

The collection contains diaries and journals, account books, and albums. The diaries include an 1844 unsigned journal, Hannah Minor Niles' 1866 diary, Nancy Niles Bird's 1851 diary, and Carrie M. Bird's 1921 diary. An account books tracks John Bird's expenses between 1846 and 1858, and a record book kept by Nancy Niles Bird includes the meeting minutes from the Soldiers Aid Society during the Civil War and household accounts. George Bird's autograph album covers the years 1879-1881 and Nancy Niles Bird's scrapbook, kept between 1850 and 1925, contains newspaper articles about her mother Hannah, members of the Bird family, and acquaintances from Pennsylvania and Kansas.

Other miscellaneous items include a printed map, a document related to the military chapel at Ellington Field, Texas, genealogical items, and manuscript poems.

The Emily A. Bellair autograph album contains signatures and poetry of many of Emily's acquaintances in the early 1860s. Emily Bellair was from Detroit.

The Emily A. Bellair autograph album contains signatures and poetry of many of Emily's acquaintances throughout the early 1860s. She received the book, whose decorative cover bears the title "Wreaths of Friendship," from W. E. Gentle, who inscribed a two-page letter proclaiming the pair's friendship. Family members also contributed autographs and poetry, including several poems dedicated specifically to Emily that explored themes of friendship and parting. Her brother, Albert F. R. Arndt, wrote a poem from Cairo, Illinois, after he had "gone off to the seat of War." (March 16, 1862). The final page contains a copy of "Auld Lang Syne," as well as several shorter poems that are darker in mood than the other verses.

• "Escape of Carrara"
• "Wreaths of Friendship," depicting a ship in a stormy sea
• "The Bird Trap"
• "The Bride"
• "Kishna"
• Unlabeled: A scene with a tree-lined pond

The Clements Library's collection of individual friendship and autograph albums (the ones that are not part of larger bodies of family papers) dates primarily from the second half of the 19th century. The creators of these albums sought out friends, family, schoolmates, public persons, and others to write signatures, sentiments, poetry, extracts from books and serials, personal sentiments, and more. Contributions often emphasize ties of friendship, exhortations to seek love, happiness, or Christian religious salvation. Most of the volumes in this collection were compiled in the Northeast United States and areas in the Midwest, with urban and rural areas represented. The greater number of the albums were kept by young women and the bulk of the signers were also female. Contributors occasionally illustrated pages with calligraphic designs, trompe l'oeil visiting cards, animals, flowers, and themes that had particular significance to their relationship with the keeper of the album. The volumes in this collection are largely decorative blank books adorned with tooled covers, sometimes containing interspersed engravings of religious, literary, historical, and landscape themes. Some include pasted-in photographs, die-cuts, or stickers.

The Clements Library's collection of individual friendship and autograph albums (the ones that are not part of larger bodies of family papers) dates primarily from the second half of the 19th century. The creators of these albums sought out friends, family, schoolmates, public persons, and others to write signatures, sentiments, poetry, extracts from books and serials, personal sentiments, and more. Contributions often emphasize ties of friendship, exhortations to seek love, happiness, or Christian religious salvation. Most of the volumes in this collection were compiled in the Northeast United States and areas in the Midwest, with urban and rural areas represented. The greater number of the albums were kept by young women and the bulk of the signers were also female. At least one volume was kept by an African American man, Lewis G. Mosebay. Contributors occasionally illustrated pages with calligraphic designs, trompe l'oeil visiting cards, animals, flowers, and themes that had particular significance to their relationship with the keeper of the album. The volumes in this collection are largely decorative blank books adorned with tooled covers, sometimes containing interspersed engravings of religious, literary, historical, and landscape themes. Some include pasted-in photographs, die-cuts, or stickers.

The Henry and Ruth Dyer Collection consists of prose, epigrams, and other writings in four volumes. The bulk is attributed to Henry Dyer, including three volumes of lyrical writing, pencil illustrations, and political cartoons on the Civil War and slavery. Henry Dyer cut Union patriotic cartoons from letterheads or envelopes and pasted them into one volume, adding additional illustrations or frames in his own hand. Many of Dyer's wartime poems were printed in the Daily Alta, a California newspaper, as "War Lyrics," under his pseudonym Henry Proverb. Ruth Dyer's "friendship album" contains over 30 entries by Abington, Massachusetts, family and friends on virtue, wisdom, proclamations of love, and friendship.

The Henry and Ruth Dyer Collection consists of prose, epigrams, and other writings in four volumes. The bulk is attributed to Henry Dyer, including three volumes of lyrical writing, pencil illustrations, and political cartoons on the Civil War and slavery. Henry Dyer cut Union patriotic cartoons from letterheads or envelopes and pasted them into one volume, adding additional illustrations or frames in his own hand. Many of Dyer's wartime poems were printed in the Daily Alta , a California newspaper, as "War Lyrics," under his pseudonym Henry Proverb. Ruth Dyer's "friendship album" contains over 30 entries by Abington, Massachusetts, family and friends on virtue, wisdom, proclamations of love, and friendship.

One faded, partly colored photograph of San Francisco in 1860 is affixed to the back pastedown of Henry Dyer's "War Lyrics" volume.

The James Galloway Antioch College photograph album is a memorial book for the Antioch College Class of 1860 containing 37 photographs including views of campus, co-educational classes, and individual portraits of class members.

The James Galloway Antioch College photograph album is a memorial book for the Antioch College Class of 1860 containing 37 photographs including views of campus, co-educational classes, and individual portraits of class members.

The album (28 x 23.5 cm) has moiré fabric covers with "James S. Galloway" stamped on the front. The title page lists the photographer as J. W. Winder. The majority of images are studio portraits of members of the Class of 1860, most of which include the subjects’ signatures and hometowns. Of note is a portrait of suffragist Olympia Brown (1835-1926), the first woman to both graduate from theological school and become a full-time ordained minister. Also present is an image of the Antioch College campus, three photographs of co-educational classes, and a letter from one of Galloway's classmates describing the Class of 1860’s 50th reunion in 1910 which Galloway did not attend.

The John V. Lansing papers document the life of Lansing, particularly his medical education and work in New York State Asylums.

Although a small collection, the Lansing papers contain a varied array of materials: 38 pieces of correspondence between Lansing and various family members, journals of his trips to Europe and to South America, journals of his medical training, assorted poems and Valentine poems by Lansing, his sketchbook and several loose pencil sketches, the text of his graduation speech from Rutgers, a lecture on "thought and thinking" which he delivered in 1848, his estate inventory, a few receipts and business letters, miscellaneous correspondence between other family members, an autograph book and theme book which probably belonged to a niece, 11 unidentified photographs, part of a magazine article depicting the Lansing family homestead, and a few pieces of peripheral miscellany. (The sketch book, autograph book, and European diary have been removed to a separate pamphlet box.) Also included in an introductory folder are obituaries of Lansing, his article on frogs, and published proceedings of the Albany Medical Society which record his participation.

This collection is not as rich in research potential as one would hope, given the subject's varied travels and career changes as documented in the manuscripts. Most of the correspondence and journals are revealing of Lansing's personality, opinions, and philosophy rather than abundant with details on places, people, and activities. One comes to know the man intimately, but not to be able to place him very confidently in a social and professional context.

Probably the greatest value of the papers is in the information which can be gleaned from them on medical education and practice in the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Lansing's medical school journals, especially the section covering his training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City (1853 June 27-December 17), are full of details on medical lectures, learning how to diagnose and treat various diseases and conditions, the performance of autopsies, surgical procedures (especially gynecological operations), and pharmacology. Given Lansing's analytical and opinionated nature, these depictions are often both informative and insightful as to the nature of medical science during this era. He writes on August 2, 1853: "I attended a part of Motts Clinique at the University and saw some noteworthy cases. He ordered a plaster over a sore breast and said when the patient had retired that was always his way when he didn't know what a thing was to cover it up with plaster and spoke of it as a rule to be adopted in life to cover up what we don't understand with plasters. I don't exactly like the principle." Lansing also includes in this journal segment a horrifying description of a woman's death of gangrene of the intestines after surgery for an ovarian tumor -- highly evocative of the primitive nature of surgery and infection prevention in this period.

The European and South American journals also contain some material on hospital conditions and medical training and practice, specifically in Paris, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. There is an interesting account of Lansing's unsuccessful treatment of a tuberculosis patient while ship's physician on the "Seaman," and of the man's subsequent death and burial at sea. The correspondence covering Lansing's years of practice as physician at two insane asylums and at Clinton State Prison are disappointing in their lack of detail on medical practice; only a few general descriptions and anecdotes on patients and incidents are provided. Published accounts of his participation in the Albany County Medical Society, however, are more informative, for they present case studies which illustrate typical diagnoses and treatments of various illnesses.

Interesting minor sidelights of the collection are descriptions of the manufacture of an artificial arm for Lansing's brother-in-law, and some technical details about a candle making process involving lard-oil which, through his studies in chemistry, he was helping a friend to develop. Lansing's poetry also constitutes a minor but entertaining resource, for it exemplifies the sentimental nature of social and literary expression in this era, as well as revealing the author's wit and style.

Laura L. Earl's friendship album includes material dating from 1860 to 1932, documenting her relationships across several geographic regions. Entries include poems, signatures, quotations, brief comments, and drawings of calling cards with signatures added. The volume includes engraved illustrations, several entries that feature artistic elements, and miscellaneous tipped in materials.

Laura L. Earl's friendship album includes material dating from 1860 to 1932, documenting her relationships across several geographic regions. Entries include poems, signatures, quotations, brief comments, and drawings of calling cards with signatures added. Additional visual materials include a negative image of a leaf made by splattering ink, a watercolor painting of flowers, and a calligraphic rendering of Laura Earl's name. Places linked to writers include states such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma. Later entries refer to Laura by her married name, Laura E. Nethers.

Laura L. Earl pasted or tipped in various materials to the volume, including printed poems, calling cards, newspaper clippings, leaves, a scrap of fabric, an advertising blotter, a printed set of four images with Biblical passages, a notice for Mrs. D. E. Denman's funeral services in 1928, and Laura (Earl) Nethers' newspaper obituary from 1932. One calling card is from Laura L. Earl, and includes a photograph of her affixed to it. One clipped newspaper or magazine image shows two white men seated at a table with an African American man serving beverages.

"Pensez A Moi" is printed on the front cover. "Laura L. Earl" is stamped on the front flyleaf, as well as a pencil inscription, "1860. A Christmas Gift from my father, Covington, Ky."

• Modesty and Vanity
• Pensez A Moi
• The Departure
• Fatal Signal
• The Balsille. Eng'd for this Work
• Little Rogues in Trouble

The Lyman Trumbull family papers contain personal correspondence of United States Senator Lyman Trumbull and of the family of his second wife, Mary Ingraham Trumbull. Letters primarily pertain to personal matters and family life during the 19th century, with a focus on Chicago, Illinois, during the Civil War, and Saybrook, Connecticut, home of the Ingraham family. The collection also contains a number of school notebooks, legal and financial documents, two watercolor paintings, photographs, and ephemera.

• Trumbull Family Letters
  • Lyman Trumbull Miscellaneous letters (1838-1895)
  • Lyman Trumbull to Julia Trumbull (1844-1855)
  • Julia Trumbull to Lyman Trumbull (1860-1866)
  • Lyman Trumbull to Mary Ingraham Trumbull (1869-1884)
  • Letters to Mary Ingraham Trumbull (1859-1914)
  • Miscellaneous Trumbull family letters (1850-1903)
• Ingraham-Rankin Family Letters
  • Julia Ingraham and George Rankin letters (1868-1899)
  • Miscellaneous Ingraham family letters (1824-1913)
• Letters to J. F. Uhlhorn (1860-1869)
• Mather Family Letters (1837-1893)
• Miscellaneous Letters (1834-1908)

The Trumbull Family Letters subseries contain the letters of Lyman Trumbull, Julia Trumbull, Mary Ingraham Trumbull, and various other family members.

The Lyman Trumbull Miscellaneous letters (1838-1895) contain personal correspondence, both written and received, by Lyman Trumbull. Among the items written by Trumbull are a letter describing a trip to the Minnesota wilderness, and a draft of a telegram congratulating president-elect Benjamin Harrison. Incoming correspondence includes letters from his siblings and cousins, as well as copies of letters from Abraham Lincoln and J. F. Buchanan. General Nelson Miles sent an invitation to Lyman and Robert Lincoln wrote a lengthy letter regarding the financial history of his late mother, Mary Todd Lincoln.

The Lyman Trumbull to Julia Trumbull letters (1844-1855) contains 12 letters written by Lyman to his first wife. The letters primarily discuss his health and occasionally refer to his social life.

The Julia Trumbull to Lyman Trumbull letters (1860-1866) consist of Civil War-era letters from Julia to her husband regarding her life in Chicago, where she remained while Lyman served in the United States Senate. Most of the letters focus on local social life and on the couple's children. Though some of these letters contain brief remarks on political matters, the focus on family is maintained throughout.

The Lyman Trumbull to Mary Ingraham Trumbull letters (1869-1884) are primarily personal, and include letters written both before and after Lyman's marriage to his cousin, Mary Jane Ingraham. Prior to their courtship and marriage, Lyman's letters show a certain degree of affection, and he often mentioned sending photographs and gave Mary updates about his life in Chicago. Lyman's letters following his wedding recount life in Chicago, while Mary was away visiting her family in Saybrook, Connecticut; he often asked when she planned to return to Illinois. Of particular interest is his letter of February 1, 1881, in which Lyman described the decline and death of "brother John" near Jackson, Michigan.

The Letters to Mary Ingraham Trumbull (1859-1914) comprises the largest unit of correspondence in the collection, containing approximately 290 items. It consists primarily of family letters written to Mary Ingraham (later Trumbull) throughout her life; frequent correspondents included her mother Almira, and sisters Annie and Julia. The center of the Ingraham family was Saybrook, Connecticut, where most of the letters originated. After the 1880s, friends and acquaintances wrote more letters than family members, including a letter of condolence sent on the death of Lyman Trumbull. A letter of May 8, 1910, from Emma Sickles of the Domestic Science Association includes a description and typed copy of a bill to fund educational programs for housewives, a bill the organization attempted to push through the United States Congress. The large volume of letters provides a rich family chronicle.

The Miscellaneous Trumbull family letters (1850-1903) contain correspondence of various Trumbull family members, particularly the children of Lyman Trumbull and Julia Jayne. Several letters are from the couple's sons Perry and Walter, who described various occurrences and interests. Of note are a letter from Julia to her father describing a dinner she had with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, and a lengthy letter regarding economics from W. H. White, who had recently read Coin's Financial School.

The Ingraham-Rankin Family Letters subseries contains the letters of Julia Ingraham, George Rankin, and various other Ingraham family members.

The Julia Ingraham and George Rankin letters (1868-1899) are the correspondence of Lyman Trumbull's cousin and sister-in-law Julia Ingraham and her husband, George Rankin. The majority of letters date from the 1880s or later, and include a letter describing a family visit to the Trumbulls in Chicago in the summer of 1889. Though most of the letters are between Julia and George, the couple's children as well as George's mother and a cousin also corresponded.

The Miscellaneous Ingraham family letters (1824-1913) contains correspondence of the Ingraham family of Saybrook, Connecticut. Two of the Ingraham daughters, Mary (m. Lyman Trumbull) and Julia (m. George Rankin), are represented extensively elsewhere in the collection, and many of these letters relate to their father, John D. Ingraham, and brother, John D. Ingraham, Jr. John D. Ingraham wrote one letter, dated 1856, to Lyman Trumbull, and various nieces and nephews also sent letters. Much of the correspondence relates to family news and social life during the Civil War. Of particular interest is an envelope dated June 27, 1865, which contains "Folwers [sic] bought the day of Annie's funeral."

The Letters to J. F. Uhlhorn subseries (1860-1869) contains letters between James Uhlhorn; Lyman Trumbull's nephew, John Frederick Uhlhorn; and a woman, Maria, addressed as "sister." John's letters date from the early Civil War period and discuss business matters and his frequent related visits to Washington. Maria, writing from New York after 1862, discussed the declining health of their mother and other family-related news.

The Mather Family Letters subseries (1837-1893) consists primarily of letters written and received by Almira Mather Ingraham, wife of John D. Ingraham and mother-in-law of Lyman Trumbull. Her brother, Samuel Rogers Selden Mather, was one correspondent; he provided family and social news from New York. Almira wrote a letter to her brother and sister-in-law that contains a short description of proceedings surrounding a nearby execution (January 10, 1843). One item is a printed advertisement for an upcoming publication of the genealogy of the Mather family.

The Miscellaneous letters subseries (1834-1908) contains letters that are difficult to attribute, and include several unsigned items. The letters of identified authors are from John Bond to his uncle, from Charlie to a grandmother (one mentioning a death within the Ingraham family), and from M. J. Rankin to an "Aunt Mary." The collection also includes a short poem entitled "A Memory."

The Letter Book series consists of four small notebooks containing manuscript copies of official letters written by Lyman Trumbull, and copied by his second wife, Mary Ingraham Trumbull (1837-1903). Each book is only partially filled, and the volumes have additional writing that does not appear to originate with Trumbull. Several brief thoughts and sayings appear in one volume, as well as a small number of personal financial accounts. Childlike pencil drawings of houses with a few correspondence copies and a short poem are in another. The correspondence in these volumes is not duplicated elsewhere in the collection.

• The Annie Ingraham school report book (1860-1864) of various reports from the author's time at school, with a number of personal inscriptions and reminiscences in the back.
• The John D. and Annie Ingraham journal (1853; 1859) is 2 pages of journal writing from John D. Ingraham and one page of journal writing by his daughter Annie.
• The Mrs. John D. Ingraham diary (1900) has entries for the first half of 1900, which focus primarily on family visits and daily life in Saybrook, Connecticut. The diary also includes a page of accounts, several loose pages of additional entries, and letters addressed to the author.
• The Julia Ingraham autograph book (1866-1892) contains autographs from various acquaintances around Saybrook Sound, Connecticut.
• The Julia Ingraham Rankin journal and commonplace book (1883-1890) primarily documents family life in Saybrook, Connecticut, and includes entries on poetry, copied excerpts, and inserted clippings.
• The Mary J. Trumbull diary (1887-1890) documents daily life and has approximately 17 items inserted, including several letters, newspaper clippings, and ephemera.
• The Julia Ingraham Rankin notes on Shakespeare (1892) consists of various personal notes and thoughts compiled from various works of Shakespeare, including some of his most famous plays, such as "Romeo and Juliet."
• The [Julia Rankin] notebook (1911-1914) contents primarily consist of academic essays on a variety of topics, readings, and lectures. Laid in the book were a large number of manuscript poems, many attributed to other authors, and four newspaper clippings. One clipping contains a poem dedicated to "La Grippe," written by John Howard, M. D.

The Documents series (1799-1897) is a selection of items related to the career of Lyman Trumbull, including list of candidate endorsements he made, as well as various certificates. Other documents are powers of attorney, a manuscript copy of "The Whole Finance Bill," and a school report for Julia Ingraham.

The Financial papers series (1838-1913) covers a variety of topics, some of which concern the Ingraham family's involvement in shipping. A handful of documents regard the sloop Connecticut, though the majority consists of various receipts and invoices, many addressed to Mary Ingraham Trumbull after the death of her husband Lyman. Other items of interest are an inventory of Lyman's estate (February 1, 1882) and a cure "For Ivy Poisoning," written on the back of a document dated May 24, 1902.

The collection's Photographs (8 items) include a tintype, a cabinet card, and 5 photographic prints, most of which are informal pictures and studio portraits of unidentified women and children. The cabinet card photograph shows a group of men posing outside of a hardware store.

• Several people in front of Vose & Co. Hardware Store
• A portrait of two girls
• Two small, individual photographs of babies
• Three children waving American flags
• A woman in a garden
• A woman accompanied by a dog
• William W. Patton photograph album

The final item, a carte-de-visite album belonging to William W. Patton, contains 159 captioned photographs and prints, including studio portraits, pictures of Renaissance statues, reproductions of religious paintings, and illustrated views of the Alps and Switzerland; captions are also present for items that are no longer extant. Groups of studio portraits show famous persons such as John Ruskin, Thomas Carlyle, and Charles Dickens; residents of Edinburgh, Constantinople, and Cairo in native dress; and members of Patton's traveling party during an 1866 visit to Palestine. Also present are 3 images of Venetians with vibrant artificial coloring and a picture of a "Chinese Convert, Ah Ting, San Francisco." Pictured works of art include statues and paintings from collections in Venice, Florence, Rome, and the Vatican, including items by Raphael and Michelangelo; one carte-de-visite shows an early version of Thomas Ball's Emancipation Memorial statue, differing slightly from the version erected in Washington, D.C. The remaining items consist of groups of photographs and artificial illustrations of Alpine mountains and Swiss scenery; some of the Swiss scenes are colored. Additional items include a carte-de-visite collage of several landmarks within the Giant's Causeway (Ireland), a photograph of Cairo, photographs of monuments in Alexandria, and a print labeled "Procession over human bodies in Egypt."

The Watercolors series (2 items) is comprised of two paintings of pastoral scenes.

The Ephemera, Cards, and Invitations series (13 items) contains four invitations and wedding announcements (1874, 1893, 1909, and undated), two greeting cards (1900 and undated), a 1912 postcard, five calling cards (1879 and undated), and a cooking pamphlet entitled "One Master Recipe for Ten Delicacies, with many serving suggestions," by "the Lady with an Apron."

The Miscellaneous series consists of printed materials, writings, and billfolds. The printed materials (1858-1924) are newspaper clippings, a printed copy of a petition, four speeches made by Lyman Trumbull, advertisements for the Mediterranean Express Line and "The Ormond," an astrological booklet called "Were You Born in September?" (1909), reports and a constitution of the Washington Union Brotherhood, a recipe book, and a 1924 recipe card with various recipes for gelatin desserts. Several of the writings are related to Lyman Trumbull, the Ingraham family, and housekeeping. Of note are an account of the brief life of Alma Ingraham Trumbull, daughter of Lyman Trumbull and Mary Ingraham; a set of knitting instructions; several poems, including a child's work entitled "The Cake Shop Romance;" and an astrological chart. Also present is a leather Billfold with metal adornments that contains a small newspaper clipping and a calling card for Mrs. Lyman Trumbull.

The Mary J. Simpson autograph album contains signatures and other contributions by Simpson's friends, compiled primarily in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1856-1866. Most entries are poems about morality and friendship, ranging in length from four lines to an entire page.

The Mary J. Simpson autograph album contains signatures and other contributions by Simpson's friends, compiled primarily in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1856-1866. Most entries are poems about morality and friendship, ranging in length from four lines to an entire page.

Simpson received this "Album of Affection" from a friend on January 1, 1856, and invited both male and female friends to write in her book. Many contributors lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though some pages only contain signatures, most of her friends transcribed poems, often dedicated to Simpson. The poems concern many topics, such as friendship and morality, and some are copied from previously published works, including William Cowper's "The Task," C.D. Stuart’s "Three Angel-Spirits," and the anonymous "Good Wishes."

• United States scenery
  • Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia)
  • Mouth of the St. Croix River
  • Kaaterskill Falls (New York)
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Brown's Fall, Minnesota
• Biblical Scenes
  • Jerusalem
  • Mountains of Moab
  • Land of Uz
  • "Moses Found"