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Collection

Samuel Correy journal, 1776-1777

1 volume

Samuel Correy kept this journal while serving with the Continental Army in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from December 1776-January 1777. He discussed military actions, including the crossing of the Delaware River and the Battle of Princeton; disciplinary measures and regulations; troop movements; and other aspects of military life.

Samuel Correy wrote 67 pages of daily journal entries in this volume from December 14, 1776-January 27, 1777, pertaining to his service with a Philadelphia militia regiment in southeast Pennsylvania and central New Jersey. The volume begins in the middle of an undated entry; several early pages are absent.

Correy's journal reflects his service experiences, including his participation in the ferrying of troops across the Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776, and in the Battle of Princeton (described in an entry dated January 2-4). He described marches through Pennsylvania and New Jersey and occasionally reported news of prisoners, engagements, and movements of the Continental Army, British Army, and Hessian troops; some of his entries mention reports from spies. A few entries from January 1777 concern troop discipline, particularly with regard to soldiers looting local homes, impressing horses and wagons without the permission of superior officers, and distributing goods seized from the enemy. On December 31, 1776, Correy led a foraging party; his entry from that date describes an interaction with a local woman. Correy's journal entries mention many Continental Army officers, including George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Thomas Mifflin, Charles Lee, John Cadwalader, Israel Putnam, and Joseph Moulder.

Collection

Samuel C. Taylor journal, 1863; 1890

295 pages

From about 1860 through at least the end of the Civil War, Samuel C. Taylor worked as a salesman for the Philadelphia clothing firm of Charles Stokes & Co. The 1863 portion of his journal contains almost daily entries between February and May, vividly describing his travels from Philadelphia to Memphis and social life in Memphis during the Civil War. The 1890 portion of the journal consists of seven humorous essays, which are highly stereotypical, possibly semi-fictional, depictions of life in the south.

The Taylor journal is a single, 3/4 leather-bound volume in two sequential parts, the first dated 1863, the second, 1890. The journal is probably a transcript made in 1890 or 1891 from the original, based on the style of binding and paper, and the continuity in handwriting and pen between the two dated parts. The 1863 portion, 260 pages long, takes the form of almost daily journal entries from the time of Taylor's departure from Philadelphia on February 16th, through his stay in Memphis, until his return to Philadelphia on May 16th, and is uniformly well written and interesting. It is a far more polished piece of writing than many journals, and may have been corrected or embellished at the time of its transcription. At its best, Taylor's prose has the feeling of Mark Twain's exuberant descriptions of life on the Mississippi, leavened with the cynical undercurrents of Melville's Confidence Man., and though it is brief, covering only a four months' residence, the journal is a valuable social record of life in wartime Memphis as seen by a person come to take advantage of the quick money to be made. Taylor has a preference for the "colorful" aspects of life in Memphis, and includes vivid descriptions of the shoddy accommodations, the venality and corruption, rampant violence and crime, and of soldiers, prostitutes, rebels, drunks and rowdies. Throughout, he displays an eye for the telling detail, a good sense of humor, and an unerring flair for making a good story out of difficult circumstances.

Among the several highlights in the journal is an excellent description of the steamboat trip to Memphis, during which a "Jewish" swindler/gambler managed to con his way out of several tight spots by his using his wits and his finesse with cards. Once in Memphis, Taylor provides memorable descriptions of the city in all its war-time depravity, and vivid accounts of long lines of ragged, worn-out soldiers marching in to town, of murder, robbery and charlatanism, of prostitutes and drunks shouting and shooting in the streets, and of the characters, like himself, who have descended on the city to turn a quick profit, legally or illegally. Taylor was somewhat less accomplished in his poetry, though his poem about life in Memphis during the war is an amusing, sarcastic look at the closet secessionists of the city, Memphis' cheerless, malattired women, crime, and the amusement he occasionally found, including listening to the "darkies" singing. One quatrain summarizes his attitudes well: "What an awfull place to live in / Now I'll stop or freighten you (sic) / Yet upon my word of honor / What I've written you is true" (p. 106).

Taylor's attitude toward Jews, synonymous with swindling merchants in his mind, and African-Americans is highly stereotyped. He is, however, somewhat sympathetic toward slaves and freedmen even as he is willing to have a laugh at their expense. In Memphis, he attended a religious service for freedmen delivered by a mulatto preacher named Revels. Taylor was genuinely moved by the sermon, and seems to have agreed with its message. He is also somewhat sympathetic with the "contrabands" he sees being trampled by Union soldiers, or boating up river, half-dressed and hungry to a mission in Missouri. In general, though, Taylor is inclined toward a cynical view of strangers, and is always on his guard for the cons and crooks that were abundant in Memphis.

The 1890 portion of the Taylor journal consists of seven humorous essays, which are highly stereotypical, possibly semi-fictional, depictions of life in the south. They include:

  1. "Sketches from the South," (Chattanooga, April 3, 1890: p. 263-268)
  2. "A Kentucky Wheelman," (Louisville, Ky., April 20, 1890: p. 269-271)
  3. "A Hodoo Doctor" (Birmingham, Ala., April 30, 1890: p. 272-275)
  4. "The Negro Drill Workers" (Memphis, Tenn., May 2, 1890: p. 276-279)
  5. "The Georgia Cracker, The Alabama Razor Back" (Atlanta, Ga., May 10, 1890: p. 280-284)
  6. "New Orleans, La." (May 20, 1890, New Orleans: p. 285-293)
  7. "Pensacola, Florida" (September 20, 1890, Pensacola: p. 293-295)

These essays are the interesting products of a talented writer, who, though sympathetic observer of southern society, is nevertheless mired in the ingrained attitudes and prejudices of his day. In the first essay, Taylor discusses the phenotype of African-Americans and the several "clases or sets" that comprise the African-American community in the South, from the rich, to the merchants, mechanics, drill men, tramps and the "poor old uncle." "The hoodoo doctor" and "The Negro drill workers" are somewhat longer essays along the same lines, and are written as first hand experiences. In "A Kentucky wheelman" and "The Georgia cracker, the Alabama razorback," Taylor turns his eye to the poor white community in the deep South, and paints a dismal view of the state of their culture. Essays 3, 4, and 5 also include crude, pen and ink illustrations of the subjects of the essay.

Collection

Samuel D. Bates family papers, 1841-1910 (majority within 1850-1899)

1.75 linear feet

This collection consists of the correspondence, diaries, writings, documents, sermon notes, and other items produced by or related to Samuel D. Bates, a Free Will Baptist preacher and educator in Ohio in the mid-nineteenth century. The correspondence spans from 1847 to 1892 and includes letters to and from his wife Lodeemy Brockett. Documents in the collection reflect S. D. Bates' engagement with religious groups and schools, featuring teacher's reports, subscription lists, financial records, and more. Several manuscript writings are also present, including essays and two editions of his 1850 manuscript newspaper, "The Human Elevater." Three volumes and 16 fragments of Samuel D. Bates's diaries span from 1850 to 1857, and two volumes of autobiographical writings are also present. Several hundred sermon notes date from 1851 to mid-1870s, with some numbered by Bates and annotated about different locations where they were delivered.

This collection consists of the correspondence, diaries, writings, documents, sermon notes, and other items produced by or related to Samuel D. Bates, a Free Will Baptist preacher and educator in Ohio in the mid-nineteenth century, as well as material relating to his son, Harley A. Bates, and his spouse Harriette (Hattie) E. Rice. The correspondence spans from 1847 to 1899, with the bulk dating from 1849 to 1892 for Samuel D. Bates and from 1889 to 1899 for Harley A. Bates. The personal correspondence reflects family dynamics, courtship, events in Marion and Hillsdale, Ohio, and matters relating to college fraternities due to Hattie Rice's heavy involvement in that field.

Documents in the collection reflect Samuel D. Bates's engagement with religious groups and schools, featuring teacher's reports, subscription lists, financial records, and more. Various financial and estate documents as well as certificates and other items provide additional insight into the family's affairs. Several manuscript writings are also present, including essays and two editions of Samuel D. Bates's 1850 manuscript newspaper, "The Human Elevater." Three volumes and 16 fragments of Samuel D. Bates's diaries span from 1850 to 1857, and two volumes of his autobiographical writings are also present.

Several hundred of Samuel D. Bates's sermon notes date from 1851 to mid-1870s, with some numbered by Bates and annotated about different locations where they were delivered.

Invitations, printed materials, and ephemeral materials further reflect on the family's social and intellectual life. Printed items include items such as funeral notices, the program for Samuel D. Bates's memorial service, newspaper clippings, among others.

Collection

Samuel D. Pepper Papers, 1893-1952

3 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Port Huron, Michigan attorney; officer in the Michigan National Guard beginning in 1905, later Judge Advocate with the U.S. Army during World War I. After the war, Pepper was chief law officer of the MNG where he was advisor during the Flint Sit-Down strike of 1937. Biographical material; correspondence with family and friends concerning in part current events and politics in pre-World War I Canada; correspondence with wife Katherine while serving in France 1918-1919; papers relating to his official responsibilities with the Michigan National Guard, as Judge Advocate, and as member of veterans organizations; include files relating to the Copper Miners' Strike of 1913 and to the Flint Sit-Down strike; also diaries, 1916-1919, of his experiences serving on the Mexican border and in France during the First World War; papers relating to Republican party activities in 1920 and 1924; and photographs.

The Samuel D. Pepper papers cover Pepper's military service and legal career, as well as his relationships with family and friends. The collection provides particularly strong documentation of the impact which Pepper's Michigan National Guard (MNG) service had on personal and professional aspects of his life. The papers are divided into four main series: Personal, Military Activities, Professional and Political Activities, and Photographs.

Collection

Samuel Morris journal, 1758-1763

1 volume

The Samuel Morris journal contains the daily accounts of a Connecticut private and clerk serving under Captain Andrew Dalrymple and Colonel Eleazer Fitch during the French and Indian War. From 1758 to 1759, Morris' regiment was stationed at Fort Edward, Crown Point, and nearby camps around Lake George. On July 26, 1759, Morris witnessed the Battle of Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon) lead by Jeffery Amherst.

The Samuel Morris journal (187 pages) contains the daily accounts of a Connecticut private and clerk serving in Captain Andrew Dalrymple’s Massachusetts Regiment and Colonel Eleazer Fitch's 4th Connecticut Regiment during the French and Indian War. From 1758 to 1759, Morris' regiment was stationed at Fort Edward, Crown Point, and nearby camps around Lake George. On July 26, 1759, Morris witnessed the Battle of Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon) lead by Jeffery Amherst.

The journal is divided into three sections:
  • Part I: May 25 to October 16, 1758 (pages 1-43)
  • Part II: April 6-December 14, 1759 (pages 44-117)
  • Part III: Accounts and memoranda (pages 118-187)

The first section (pages 1-43) records the activities of a Massachusetts regiment commanded by Captain Andrew Dalrymple during their march from Woodstock to Fort Edward in May 1758, and the British military encampment near Lake George (June to November 1758). Described are the march north, camp and weather conditions, various small expeditions around Lake George, news of skirmishes with the enemy, and details on deaths and burials.

Of note:
  • Page 10: A report of a soldier accidentally getting shot by a fellow soldier
  • Pages 13, 23, 31, 32: Remarks about Major Robert Rogers and his skirmishes with the Indians
  • Page 34: Colonel John Bradstreet's success in the taking of "Cattorogway"

The second section (pages 44-117) details Morris' experiences as a sergeant under David Holmes in the 4th Connecticut Regiment, stationed near Lake George. He described the journey to Albany with stops in Massachusetts and Fort Miller Falls, New York, and the activities of the British/colonial army preparing for a conflict with the French and their Indian allies. Included is an account of the fall of Fort Ticonderoga (July 26, 1759), and a description of sickness and hardship experienced at Crown Point from August to November 1759. Entries from this section also contain remarks about going to church, hearing sermons, and prayer (or lack thereof) on Sundays.

Of note:
  • Page 50: Morris is married on May 3, 1759
  • Page 67: British are alarmed by French and Indians on Lake George and Major Rogers skirmishes with the enemy
  • Page 77: Colonel Townshend killed by a cannon ball
  • Page 78: British troops are in position outside Fort Ticonderoga
  • Page 82: Generals James Wolfe and Jeffery Amherst issue construction and wood chopping instructions
  • Page 85: Punishments issued for two men in Thomas Gage's light infantry
  • Page 102: Quebec taken by the British
  • Page 117: After his army service, Morris begins teaching at a school in Sturbridge, Massachusetts

The remainder of the volume is comprised of accounts and memoranda primarily written from Dudley, Massachusetts (pages 118-187). Included is an entry stating that Morris had moved his family to Sturbridge, Massachusetts (April 6, 1760). Morris also documented accounts from 1761-1762 for food, goods, and services, including paying workers for construction, fieldwork, chopping wood, transporting goods to a mill, and charges for the use of his oxen and horse. Page 132 contains a receipt for goods bought and sold in Boston, and page 142 briefly documents Henry Morris's three-month travels to Lake Erie and back. Also of note is a list of sergeants for the 2nd guard (page 162), a list of men serving under Andrew Dalrymple (pages 180-183), and an account of the dying words of Captain Bartman at Albany, age 27, in 1758 (page 179).

Collection

Samuel Philbrick journal, 1857-1859

1 volume

Samuel Philbrick of Brookline, Massachusetts, kept this diary (53 pages) between January 10, 1857, and September 12, 1859, one week prior to his death. He wrote of the weather, his agricultural pursuits, and news of friends, family, and the local community. His entries reflect an interest in political and international affairs, touching on such topics as slavery and abolition, the Panic of 1857, the transatlantic telegraph, and more. Several entries regard his religious faith, and the concluding pages document his final illness and awareness of his impending death. Four loose manuscripts are laid into the volume, including condolence letters from Theodore Dwight Weld, Angelina Emily Grimké Weld, Sarah Moore Grimké, and Maria Weston Chapman, and a handwritten copy of a letter, possibly written by Samuel Philbrick, regards his youth growing up in New Hampshire.

Samuel Philbrick of Brookline, Massachusetts, kept this diary (53 pages) between January 10, 1857, and September 12, 1859, one week prior to his death. Philbrick wrote in great detail about the weather, making comparisons to former years, noting its impact on his agricultural pursuits and the local vegetation, and commenting on larger weather events like the disruptive blizzard and extreme weather in early 1857 (pages 1-6). He wrote about news of friends and family, including descriptions of his children's activities like the construction of William’s house and its associated costs (page 13), Edward’s marriage (page 16), and William’s business practices (page 24). He noted social visits, including one trip where he stopped at the Eagleswood School run by his friends Theodore Dwight Weld, Angelina Emily Grimké Weld, and Sarah Moore Grimké (page 49). Their son Charles Stuart Weld later visited the Philbrick family while traveling to Cambridge for entrance exams (page 53).

In addition to commentary on household activities and maintenance, farming, and local affairs, Philbrick remarked on notable events of the day, like the Panic of 1857 and its impact on currency, banking, and speculation (pages 18-25); the completion of the first transatlantic telegraph (pages 34-40, 43); Donati's Comet (page 41); and the Treaty of Tianjin (pages 40, 43-44).

Philbrick wrote several times about matters relating to slavery and abolition. He followed the disputed 1857 Kansas election regarding the inclusion of slavery in its constitution, noting with dismay, "It now seems probable that Congress, which is strongly democratic, which party goes all lengths in support of slavery, will accept Kanzas as a state with this vile Constitution, which will require all the United States Troops to enforce. And for this purpose a bill is now before Congress providing for a large increase of our standing Army that freedom & liberty may be subject to despotism" (pages 1 and 27). He noted his pessimism about how the growing demand for cotton, sugar, rice, and tobacco was fueling slavery (page 25). He recorded his attendance at a lecture by Wendell Phillips (page 10) and visits with William Lloyd Garrison (pages 41, 51, 52).

Several entries relate to his religious faith. He wrote of a visit to Seabrook, New Hampshire, pointing out changes in the community since he lived there and his first time attending a public Quaker Meeting since his departure from the Society of Friends (pages 14-15). In a later entry, he recorded being awoken in the night "with a clear and strong impression of these words from the Prophet Isaiah . . . and must have been presented by some guardian Angel for my benefit" (page 39). He also documented his birthday, and in 1859 attributed his prosperity to "constant attention and strict regard to the known Laws of Divine Providence" (page 46). Philbrick described his illness in the months preceding his death, those who visited him, and (in his final entry) his decline, mental state, and awareness of his impending death. "I am now approaching a change, the greatest of all others to which life is subjected..." (pages 51-53). Beneath the final entry, a note written in a different hand reads: "died Sep 19th about 9 A.M."

Three newspaper clippings are pasted onto page 54 of the volume, one regarding Samuel Philbrick's resignation from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and two relating to his death.

Four loose manuscripts are laid into the volume:
  • 1859 August 10. Rob[er]t F. Wallcut, AMsS; [Boston, Massachusetts]. 2 pages. Extract from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society minutes regarding their acceptance of Samuel Philbrick's resignation as treasurer and gratitude for his service.
  • [1859] September 22. Angelina [Grimké Weld], S[arah] M. G[rimké], and Theodore D. Weld ALS to Eliza [Philbrick] and Edward [Philbrick]; s.l. 4 pages. Condolences upon Samuel Philbrick's death. Remarks on his character, faith, and consolation of having family nearby. One-page transcript of Theodore Weld's message included.
  • [1859] September 23. Maria Weston Chapman ALS to [Edward] Philbrick; Weymouth, [Massachusetts]. 7 pages. Attended Samuel Philbrick's funeral. Reflections on how his encouragement in the anti-slavery cause influenced her and her husband. Notes on bereavement.
  • [Undated]. Letter Copy to C. H. Shipman; s.l., 4 pages. A handwritten copy of a letter, possibly written by Samuel Philbrick, to Shipman with comments on the education of children and abiding by the Divine Laws. Gives an account of his youth growing up in New Hampshire exposed to "vulgar & corrupted classes of workmen" and alcohol. Describes his turn to temperance and education. Religious reflections and beliefs.
Collection

Samuel Ranger diary, 1830-1831

5 items

Samuel Ranger's diary consists of five separate sections, the first three apparently being rough drafts or notes, and the final two being completed journals. Ranger's daily recordings from October 18, 1830, to March 28, 1831, document a journey with his brother, Ezra, from Glens Falls, New York, to Cincinnati, Ohio, via stagecoach and packet boat, as well as their experiences wintering in Cincinnati. He included descriptions of landscapes, agriculture, architecture, the weather, his health, and frequent bouts of homesickness. He noted travel-related mileage and expenses, and discussed an attempted robbery while in transit. During his time in Cincinnati, Ranger recorded observations on women, the disabled, small pox, and fires in the city.

Samuel Ranger's diary consists of five separate sections, the first three apparently being rough drafts or notes, and the final two being completed journals. Ranger's daily recordings from October 18, 1830, to March 28, 1831, document a journey with his brother, Ezra, from Glens Falls, New York, to Cincinnati, Ohio, via stagecoach and packet boat, as well as their experiences wintering in Cincinnati. He included descriptions of landscapes, agriculture, architecture, the weather, his health, and frequent bouts of homesickness. He noted travel-related mileage and expenses, and discussed an attempted robbery while in transit. During his time in Cincinnati, Ranger recorded observations on women, the disabled, small pox, and fires in the city.

A sketched map of Cincinnati appears in the third section, and a drawing of a house with a garden appears on the back cover of the fifth section.

Collection

Samuel Young journal, 1846

1 volume

Samuel L. Young of Reading, Pennsylvania, kept this 108-page journal "during a tour through the United States" between June 1, 1846, and October 12, 1846. He traveled by railroad, steamship, and stagecoach, and recorded his impressions of major cities, local scenery, and fellow travelers. Young ventured as far west as St. Louis, Missouri; as far north as Niagara Falls, Canada; and as far south as Lexington, Kentucky.

Samuel L. Young of Reading, Pennsylvania, kept this 108-page journal "during a tour of the United States" between June 1, 1846, and October 12, 1846. He traveled by railroad, steamship, and stagecoach, and recorded his impressions of major cities, local scenery, and fellow travelers. Young ventured as far west as St. Louis, Missouri; as far north as Niagara Falls, Canada; and as far south as Lexington, Kentucky.

Young's journal, which contains descriptions and anecdotes from his travel, begins with an entry expressing his sadness upon leaving his loved ones (p. 1). He departed Reading for New York City, where he remained for 4 days; there, he witnessed a procession by the Sons of Temperance. Young then traveled to Connecticut and Massachusetts, where he commented on Boston's Chinese residents (p. 8). He continued to Niagara Falls, Detroit, and Chicago. In Detroit, he received copper samples from Morgan Bates, a prospector (p. 31); in Chicago he recorded his disappointment with the city and its construction. While in western Illinois and Iowa, Young visited a smelting furnace and mine (pp. 43-44), a "lead cave" and mine (pp. 48-49), and the Mormon temple at Nauvoo, Illinois (pp. 56-58).

When Young reached St. Louis, Missouri, he boarded a riverboat bound for Louisville, Kentucky, though he and three other travelers opted to walk the final stretch of the trip (pp. 70-71). Young recalled a stagecoach conversation about slavery, though he declined to participate (pp. 74-75). Upon his arrival in Lexington, Kentucky, he met with Henry Clay at his Ashland estate (pp. 87-88). Young spent much of September in Cincinnati, Ohio. Between Cincinnati and Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), he met Lewis C. F. Fatio, former captain of the United States revenue cutter Wolcott, who was on his way to contest a charge of disobedience in Washington, D. C. (pp. 101-102). Young began the last leg of his journey on October 10, 1846, heading for Philadelphia and, later, Reading, where he returned on October 12 (p. 108).

Young occasionally encountered dangerous situations, including a narrowly avoided stagecoach accident between Kalamazoo and St. Joseph, Michigan (p. 33), a fire next door to his Chicago hotel (pp. 36-37), and a suspicious stagecoach passenger at Rockford, Illinois (p. 42). He made acquaintance with many fellow travelers, and often joined them for excursions. Young played the accordion, read local newspapers and the works of Friedrich Schiller, occasionally measured the distances he traveled or noted the costs of transportation, and recorded the name of every hotel at which he boarded.

Collection

Sarah and Edward Ogden travel diaries, 1886-1908

9 volumes

The Ogden collection consists of diaries written by Sarah and Edward Ogden detailing trips to places in Europe, Russia, the United States and Mexico from the years 1886 to 1908.

The Sarah and Edward Ogden diaries consist of seven diaries written by Sarah Ogden, one expense book kept by Edward Ogden, and one other diary, possibly written by Edward Ogden. The diaries span the years from 1886 to 1908.

A trip taken from 1886-1887 was to Europe, and the destinations were as follows: England (June 1886); Germany (July 1886); Austria and Switzerland (August 1886); France (September 1886); Spain (October 1886); France (the end of 1886, and early 1887); Italy (March 1887); Denmark (June 1887); St. Petersburg and Moscow (July and August, 1887); England (September and October, 1887); and then back to the United States. The trip taken from 1889-1890 was from New Jersey to Seattle, then south to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and back north again to New Jersey. The trip in 1891 was south to Florida. The final trip in 1908 was also to Europe -- Amsterdam, Coblenz, and Bologne.

Collection

Sarah Caswell Angell papers, 1746-1903 (majority within 1855-1903)

1 linear foot

Wife of University of Michigan President, James B. Angell and member of Collegiate Sorosis. Angell served as the president of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society of Congressional Church. The Daughters of the American Revolution Ann Arbor chapter has been named after Sarah Caswell Angell. Collection includes Sarah Caswell Angell's diaries and letters concerning Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan life, her church activities, social life, the Daughters of the American Revolution activities, family affairs, and travels to Turkey and China.

The Sarah Caswell Angell papers primarily consist of her her diaries and correspondence, as well as records of her father, Alexis Caswell, and other family members. While much or the correspondence is personal in nature (specifically to her friends and family), the collection includes a folder with materials focused on her work with the Chicago World’s Fair as well as the Ann Arbor chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The diaries included within the collection document some of Angell’s daily activities as well as describe her trips to China and Turkey with her husband.