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

This collection consists of 7 letters and 1 financial account addressed to John L. Hinkle of Hanover, Pennsylvania, between 1818 and 1843. Writing from Baltimore, Maryland, his correspondents addressed topics such as the ownership and sale of land bequeathed in a will and Hinkle's purchases of hardware and related items.

This collection consists of 7 letters and 1 financial account addressed to John L. Hinkle, Esq., of Hanover, Pennsylvania, between 1818 and 1843. Writing from Baltimore, Maryland, his correspondents addressed topics such as the ownership and sale of land bequeathed in a will and Hinkle's purchases of hardware and related items.

Baltimore lawyer Henry [K]apnall wrote John L. Hinkle twice concerning Hinkle's claim on land owned by a man named Michael Fisher, recently deceased (July 10, 1818, and February 29, 1819), and discussed the legal procedures necessary to file a claim on land that had already been sold. The remaining letters also concern Hinkle's financial affairs, and 5 of the remaining 6 letters include financial accounts for goods Hinkle purchased, such as springs, wire, metal bands, and other hardware. One letter concerns Hinkle's involvement in the financial affairs of George Beck (August 16, 1841).

This collection is comprised of 104 items related to Private First Class John Marshal Holcombe III's service in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Holcombe sent about 90 letters and other items to his parents and siblings in Farmington, Connecticut, while in training in Florida, South Dakota, and Utah in 1942 and 1943, and while serving in Africa between 1943 and 1945. He commented on various aspects of his training, the war, his health, and military life. The collection also contains 4 documents, 2 newspaper clippings, and 6 loose photographs related to Holcombe's military service.

This collection is comprised of 104 items related to Private First Class John Marshal Holcombe III's service in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Holcombe sent about 90 letters and other items to his parents and siblings in Farmington, Connecticut, while in training in Florida, South Dakota, and Utah in 1942 and 1943, and while serving in Africa between 1943 and 1945. He commented on various aspects of his training, the war, his health, and military life. The collection also contains 4 documents, 2 newspaper clippings, and 6 loose photographs related to Holcombe's military service.

The Correspondence series consists primarily of letters that John Holcombe III wrote to his parents, John Holcombe, Jr., and Marguerite Holcombe, and to his siblings, especially his sisters Ada ("Adie") and Gloria. Of the collection's 72 dated letters and other items, Holcombe composed 7 letters from the training center at Miami Beach, Florida, (June 1942-July 1942); 20 letters from the training center at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, (July 1942-December 1942); 4 letters from Kearns, Utah (December 1942-January 1943); and 35 letters from North and Central Africa between (February 1943-May 1945). Other items are a telegram, 3 letters from other soldiers to the Holcombe family, a blank record sheet for "Bombing Practise" [sic], and a speech that Holcombe composed in honor of his parents' 25th anniversary. Of the 20 undated items, 19 are letters from John Holcombe III to his family; the final item is a typed copy of his poem "Tropic Fever."

Holcombe's letters relate to many aspects of his life as a soldier, both in training and on active duty. An asthmatic, he frequently commented on his health; for example, his letters from late 1943 mention his stay in a hospital after he contracted malaria. Other letters describe the scenery in the United States and in Africa, as well as African cultures. Holcombe frequently referred to his experiences in training, which included drilling and attending technical classes, and he sometimes reported news of the war, such as Italy's surrender. He requested news from Connecticut and often wrote personal asides for his sister Ada. His later letters often concern his relationship with other soldiers, and increasingly provide more detailed information about his duties.

• July 6, 1942: Hand-drawn diagram of Holcombe's quarters, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• August 20, 1942: Printed chart for weather reports, filled out in pencil
• September 14, 1942: Photograph of an unidentified soldier sitting on a bunk
• October 14, 1942: Photographs of a soldier punting a football and a soldier next to technical equipment and a chalkboard
• January 12, 1943: Printed cartoon of a soldier washing dishes
• March 19, 1943: 8 photographs of Africans
• June 14, 1943: Poem dedicated to Ada Holcombe on her 19th birthday
• April 7, 1944: Unidentified plant leaf
• July 17, 1944: Enclosed poem dated July 11, 1944
• January 25, 1945: Small drawing of a stickwoman
• Undated: Printed cartoon of a soldier writing

Additionally, several letters dated after October 1944 have a wax seal, often labeled "The Seal of the Clan & Huck Finn."

• United States Army Air Forces Technical School diploma for John Holcombe III's completion of a radio mechanics course (November 27, 1942)
• Travel orders for John Holcombe III and other soldiers, United States Army Headquarters, West African Service Command (March 20, 1945)
• "Salvati Africa" ticket stub (undated)
• Humorous certificate for John Holcombe III's membership in the Marching and Mayhem Club, illustrated with cartoons depicting Japanese and German soldiers being wounded (undated)

The two Newspaper Clippings are a copy of The Spectator Daily (March 22, 1945), and a copy of a John D. Rockefeller, Jr., radio broadcast entitled "I Believe" (undated).

Six black-and-white Photographs illustrate scenes from Asmara, Eritrea, such as a market, a horse-drawn carriage, and buildings.

This collection consists of the official and private correspondence of John Holker, merchant, speculator, and French consul general to the United States during the American Revolution. The collection also contains items related to Holker's wife, Nancy Davis Stackpole Holker, who managed his estate after his death.

This collection consists of the official and private correspondence of John Holker, merchant, speculator, and French consul general to the United States during the American Revolution. Included are 301 letters and 35 financial records. The documents from 1825 to 1872 concern Holker's third wife Nancy Davis Holker and her business with her husband's estate after his death.

The Correspondence and Documents series contains approximately 85 items relating to Holker's official consular duties and his efforts to supply the French fleet in American waters from 1778-1781. These items, which include both letters addressed to Holker in Philadelphia and copies of letters he wrote to France, offer information on the contracts and accounts of the French Royal Marines.

The bulk of the collection, however, concerns Holker's private business interests, primarily his partnership with Turnbull in supplying the Continental Army. Also notable are letters between Holker and his associate John Barclay, 1807-1816, that address national politics and foreign affairs as well as business interests such as the building of a distillery in Poughkeepsie, New York; his import business in Virginia; and land speculation in Illinois and Indiana. Other items document various lawsuits pertaining to Holker's business ventures, especially with Daniel Parker and William Duer. Many of the documents are in French, including all dated before 1779.

The papers from 1825 to 1872 concern Nancy Davis Holker and relate to the management of Holker's Virginia farm after his death and to the settlement of his estate. One "Article of Agreement" from March 1, 1832, details the renting out of the Springbury estate for agricultural use. The lease includes the farm, tools, buildings, and at least 13 slaves (all named). The document specified that at the end of a 3-year lease all of the property had to be returned, including the slaves who should be "clothed in the manner that the custom of the country requires[.] hired slaves to be returned clothed." This portion of the collection also contains 12 personal letters to Nancy from her daughter Anna Maria Adelaide which discuss family and personal matters. One particularly interesting letter from Anna Maria Adelaide contains a defense of slavery in the South (February 1, 1839). She argued that her father bought and sold slaves and suggested that her mother was only uncomfortable with the practice because she disliked Anna's husband, Hugh Nelson. "[G]et over this prejudice and not allow those around you to influence you." While she acknowledged that slavery was a regrettable practice, to her it seemed "impossible to live above the world."

The Documents and Financial Records series (35 items) consists of two Revolutionary war era receipts for flour and beef, and later receipts from farmers, merchants, and baker's (with many items from Peter Royston) for food stuffs, cloth, and other goods (1812-1822). Of note are two receipts for slaves (1818). Later items include Nancy Holker's annual food and supply receipts from 1848 and 1857.

This manuscript is a 42-page copy of a letter that John Hooker wrote to Mrs. J. T. Howard on August 26, 1874, with addendums written in January 1875 (20 pages). Hooker wrote extensively about allegations against his wife, Isabella Beecher Hooker, related to the Beecher-Tilton scandal. His writings include remarks about suffragists such as Victoria Woodhull and Susan B. Anthony, and otherwise refer to the women's suffrage movement.

This manuscript is a 42-page copy of a letter that John Hooker wrote to Mrs. J. T. Howard on August 26, 1874, with addendums written in January 1875 (20 pages). Hooker wrote extensively about allegations against his wife, Isabella Beecher Hooker, related to the Beecher-Tilton scandal.

In his letter, Hooker responded to a "Statement by the Friends of Mr. Beecher" that had been published in several New York newspapers on August 8, 1874, and defended his wife against various allegations made in the article. Many of the accusations against Isabella Beecher Hooker revolved around her friendship with Victoria Woodhull, whose own writings had brought the scandal into the public sphere. Hooker vehemently refuted claims that his wife's opinions on the matter relied solely on information provided by Woodhull and discussed aspects of her involvement with the women's suffrage movement. He closed his letter with a request that Howard prompt the unknown author(s) of the article to publish a retraction. The original letter included a postscript with further clarifications and a brief discussion of his wife's views about marriage and the law (September 6, 1874).

The final 20 pages are comprised of addendums that Hooker composed on January 23 and 24, 1875. He discussed the history of his letter, which had also been forwarded to his sister-in-law, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and his attempts to discover the identity of the inflammatory article's author(s). He claimed that his wife read and confirmed the contents of his letter and he copied a letter that Henry Ward Beecher had sent to Isabella as news of his alleged affair broke in April 1872. In the quoted letter, Beecher did not directly address the accusations against him but instead encouraged Isabella to remain silent about the matter.

This collection is made up of 6 letters that John Howard Payne wrote in 1832 (1 item) and 1850 (5 items), including a letter of introduction and letters to English actress "M. A. Tyrrell." In 5 letters to Tyrrell, Payne discussed his desire to make her acquaintance; her recent financial difficulties in Buffalo, New York; and his possible reappointment as consul to Tunis.

This collection is made up of 6 letters that John Howard Payne wrote in 1832 (1 item) and 1850 (5 items). The first item introduces Maryland native Richard Lloyd to Colonel George P. Morris at West Point, New York ([1832]). Payne opened his correspondence with actress M. A. Tyrrell (alternately spelled "Tyrell" and "Tyrrel") with 2 unsigned letters, in which he discussed his admiration of her and his desire to make her acquaintance. He requested that she indicate her desire to meet him with a small gesture during her next public outing (January 12, 1850, and January 17, 1850). His following 3 letters, written from May 2, 1850-September 5, 1850, pertain to Washington, D.C., social affairs; the city's Adelphi Theatre; Payne's acquaintance with a woman named Rosa Jacques; a salary dispute regarding Tyrrell's time in Buffalo; and Payne's possible reappointment as consul to Tunis. His letter of July 29, 1850, refers to the Adelphi Theatre's "engagement of Jim Crow." Payne composed the text of a public acknowledgement of thanks from Tyrrell to those who had supported her during her difficulties in Buffalo (September 5, 1850).

This journal contains a narrative account of John H. Parsell's journey from New York to California, via Panama and Mexico, in late 1875, including a description of San Francisco, California. Parsell wrote the account for his "Uncle Peter" in August 1876.

This journal (57 pages) contains a narrative account of John H. Parsell's journey from New York to California, via Panama and Mexico, in late 1875, including a description of San Francisco, California. He wrote the manuscript on pages numbered 33-89; the remaining pages have been torn out of the volume.

The first section (pages 33-61) is comprised of Parsell's travel recollections, which he composed for his uncle beginning on August 19, 1876. On November 30, 1875, Parsell boarded the steamer Colon, bound for Panama. After reaching Panama on December 10, 1875, he took a train across the isthmus to Panama City, where he boarded the steamer Grenada, bound for Mexico and California. On December 24, 1875, he arrived in San Francisco. Parsell commented on ocean travel and life at sea, such as the religious thoughts that ocean travel inspired in him, the racial composition of the ships' crews, the night sky and navigation, and the flora and fauna of the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. He remarked on scenery along the coasts of the United States, Bahamas, Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico, and described the following cities where his ships docked: Aspinwall (now Colón) and Panama City, Panama; and Acapulco, Manzanillo, and Mazatlan, Mexico. In Acapulco, he mentioned the merchants who sailed alongside departing ships selling goods to passengers (p. 54), and he later shared his distaste for Catholic priests and countries that embraced Catholicism (p. 57).

On pages 61-89, Parsell described life in San Francisco, discussing the prevalence of divorce, popular leisure activities, restaurants and saloons, the city's public squares and churches, and the cable cars. He provided a description Chinatown and the city's Chinese population, commenting on relationships between Chinese immigrants and other segments of the population, religious customs in Chinatown, and ethnic theater performances. The final pages concern Parsell's visit to a friend in Santa Rosa, California.

The John H. Stillions collection is made up of one photograph and six letters written between June 1918 and November 1918, while Private Stillions was stationed at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The letters, written to and from future wife Mamie Catherine Smith, Alverta E. Remsberg, and various family members, discussed life at home and family visits. They include love letters and also pencil illustrations of John and Mamie by a child, Samuel E. Smith. A tintype photograph of a man in uniform accompanies the letters.

The John Hughes and Sussex County Jury papers are made up of legal documents pertaining to the 1875 trial of John Hughes for the murder of his wife Catharine, as well as lists of jury members in Sussex County, New Jersey, in 1875 and 1876. Two jury lists concern the trial of Robert Kimble for manslaughter.

The John Hughes and Sussex County Jury papers are made up of 8 legal documents and testimonies pertaining to the 1875 trial of John Hughes for the murder of his wife Catharine, 1 jury list for the Sussex County, New Jersey, Court of Oyer and Terminer for the April 1875 term, and 2 jury lists concerning the 1876 manslaughter trial of Robert Kimble.

John Hughes, an Irish immigrant, was accused of murdering his wife Catharine (or Catherine) with an axe on January 7, 1875. Legal records include a recapitulation of the case's proceedings (April 3, 1875), an affidavit with a sworn statement by Thomas A. Rogers (January 7, 1875), and a writ for the arrest of John Hughes (January 7, 1875). A bound group of documents (around 50 pages) contains testimonies and other documents from an inquisition related to the Hughes case. The collection also contains lists of potential jurors and witnesses. Newspaper clippings with printed testimonies or witness statements regarding the murder are affixed to 3 additional sheets of paper.

The remaining items are a list of grand jurors for the court's April 1875 term and 2 documents with lists of possible jurors for the manslaughter trial of Robert Kimble in the Sussex County Court of Oyer and Terminer in September 1876.

This volume contains letters that John Hughes of Frederick County, Maryland, wrote to his brother James and to other correspondents about his personal and financial affairs between 1826 and 1830. He primarily discussed his father's estate, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, property ownership and management, and national politics. Hughes occasionally described recurring "imaginations," which included visions of his brother James becoming a personal enemy.

This volume (138 pages) contains letters that John Hughes of Frederick County, Maryland, wrote to his brother James and to other correspondents about his personal and financial affairs between February 20, 1826, and May 13, 1830. Most of the correspondence concerns financial and business affairs, often related to real property that Hughes owned in several locations; some entries include lists of properties and their value, and his letter of January 4, 1829, includes a property map of parts of Frederick County, Maryland. Hughes also discussed the administration of his father's estate and the affairs of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, commenting on the benefits and drawbacks of proposed routes, funding, and continued development. Some of the letters pertain to personal news and political issues, such as the 1828 presidential campaign and the early years of the Jackson administration. Hughes occasionally referred to a woman named Mary Ann and her daughters, and his final letter reports the end of his relationship with a woman who became pregnant by his gardener. In some of the later letters to his brother James, Hughes described the effects of repeated "imaginations," which included visions of figures intent on destroying him and voices warning of the imminent end of the world. His experiences led him to embrace temperance by the time of his final letter.

This collection is made up of 46 business letters and financial records, which primarily relate to commerce in and between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the Caribbean, 1795-1801. Early manuscripts primarily relate to fabrics, buttons, and similar materials traded by Philadelphia merchant John Imlay. Later business letters are addressed to his son, John Imlay, who lived in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and also participated in West Indian commerce.

This collection is made up of 46 business letters and financial records, which primarily relate to commerce in and between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the Caribbean, 1795-1801. Early manuscripts primarily relate to fabrics, buttons, and similar materials traded by Philadelphia merchant John Imlay. Later business letters are addressed to his son, John Imlay, who lived in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and also participated in West Indian commerce.

The Imlay collection includes financial documents, such as receipts and accounts, related to the Imlays' shipping interests and to their involvement in the clothing trade between 1795 and 1796. Among other items, they dealt in ribbon, linen, and buttons. Later business correspondence (1795-1801) comprises the bulk of the collection, and is addressed to the elder John Imlay or to his son. Correspondents from locations such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Tortola, St. Thomas, and other Caribbean locations discussed the shipments of rum, sugar, and other goods. Some letters relate to the capture of merchant ships by privateers or allude to conflicts with France (May 22, 1799, and January 14, 1800, for example). Though most letters are purely financial in nature, correspondents occasionally provided local news. Some letters are addressed to other merchants operating in similar industries and regions. Post-1801 items include a financial document regarding the estate of Thomas Leavett, settled in 1817, and a 2-page manuscript of one-line notes about planting crops on an unidentified farm between May and October 1824.