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

In August 1861, Frank Shepard enlisted in the 1st Michigan Cavalry. His papers consist of 8 letters written to his wife, Amanda, during the early months of the Civil War.

The collection consists of 8 letters written by Frank Shepard to his wife, Amanda, during the early months of the war. Frank's letters are thoughtful, highly literate and display a deep affection for his wife and a devotion to duty. Shepard anticipated that if received a commission, he would bring his wife to the "seat of the war" to be near him, but under any circumstances, she was a great comfort to him, even if she were not the most faithful of correspondents. "If I am away from you, perhaps not see you for some time I have the consolation of knowing," he wrote, "that although I am absent I am not forgotten, neither shall I be while life lasts, and reason holds her throne" (1861 November 29).

Noteworthy in this small collection are letters in which Shepard ascribes the backward appearance of southern cities (Washington, D.C.) to the degrading influence of slavery, and in which he writes of a soldier's desire for action, rather than the dry routine of camp life. "What Patriotic American would not rather die upon the battle field, or in the camp, than in the Palace, or Mansion." His description of Camp Brodhead, Md., and of the daily routine of soldiers is also excellent.

This volume contains C. G. Bush's manuscript musical score for his two-act opera "Miles Standish," composed in 1865 and 1866, and adapted from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem of the same name. The score was written in ink but includes additional notes and corrections in pencil. The volume includes the libretto, act and scene titles, lyrics, and musical notations.

This volume contains C. G. Bush's manuscript music score for his two-act opera "Miles Standish," composed in 1865 and 1866 and adapted from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem of the same name. The score was written in ink but includes additional notes and corrections in pencil. The volume includes the libretto, act and scene titles, lyrics, and musical notations. A manuscript note at the bottom of page 109 reads "Jan. 9th, 1866."

The complete title for this work is "Miles Standish. Opera in Two Acts 1865. Words By H. W. Longfellow. Music By C. G. Bush." It was written for four solo characters: Miles Standish, Bass; John Alden, Tenor; Priscilla, Soprano; and Messenger, Bass. An additional chorus of "Sailors, Villagers &c &c" is also included.

The front cover bears a gold embossed leather nameplate that reads, "MILES STANDISH. COMPOSED BY C.G.B."

This account book, probably kept by a physician in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, contains entries relating to medical and physical care, and others relating to clothing, foodstuffs, fabric, and services rendered. The entries were dated between 1807 and 1849 (bulk 1807-1814) and many refer to members of the Chaffee family. The accounts include dressing wounds, making visits to patients, and dispensing medicine, with the names of patrons, medicines, and costs.

This account book, probably kept by a physician in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, contains entries relating to medical and physical care, and others relating to clothing, foodstuffs, fabric, and services rendered. The entries were dated between 1807 and 1849 (bulk 1807-1814) and many refer to members of the Chaffee family. The accounts include dressing wounds, making visits to patients, and dispensing medicine, with the names of patrons, medicines, and costs. One entry appears to have been added later, dated 1849.

Laid into the volume are a recipe for syrup and copies of various documents, including one settling the estate of Jonathan Chaffee in 1819.

This volume consists of orders purchased by Jonesville, Michigan, merchants Champlin & Co. between 1846 and 1849. Entries note the date, the firm they were dealing with, items purchased, shipping information, and more.

It appears that Champlin & Co. were purchasing from dealers in New York, Cleveland, and various Michigan sites. Their principal supplies were Matthew V. B. Fowler, Pratt Woodford & Co., Ralph Mead & Co., and others. They were acquiring medicines and medical equipment, a large number of books and publications, foodstuffs, staples, stationery, and much more. A list of merchandise from March 1848 may be an inventory of the store's goods.

The rear of the volume consists of a 15-page section, possibly recording consignments, principally of patent medicines and items such as medical materials, garden seeds, and Bibles.

The Chapman family papers consist primarily of letters between John W. Chapman of Brooklyn, New York, and his immediate family, written around the turn of the 20th century. Most of the letters relate to his daughter, Sarah Dimon Chapman ("Sallie"), including a series of letters written to her by her mother, Mary C. Chapman, with advice for Sallie's European travels, as well as later letters to John and Mary from Sallie's husband, Lewis Witherbee Francis.

The Chapman family papers contain about 98 items, of which 85 are letters exchanged by members of the Chapman family around the turn of the 20th century. John W. Chapman and his wife, Mary Dimon Chapman, received incoming letters from numerous family members and other acquaintances, such as Mary's father, Charles Dimon. Of the 85 letters, 42 pertain to their daughter Sallie and her husband, Lewis Witherbee Francis. In 1896, Mary Chapman wrote 12 letters to Sallie in which she offered her opinions about several European countries while Sallie was traveling abroad. Her letters occasionally enclose newspaper clippings. Sallie also received letters from her father, grandparents, and other relatives and acquaintances throughout the late 1800s. She and her husband occasionally wrote to her parents, reporting on their health and news from New York City. In one letter, Lewis commented on the stock market and the assassination of President William McKinley (September 15, 1901). A woman who signed herself "Aunt Cordelia" also wrote to John and Mary Chapman on the same subject, sharing her feelings about the shooting and about anarchists (September 8, 1901). Many of these letters are written on stationery with printed letterheads from hotels and businesses, including two of John W. Chapman's professional letterheads.

The collection also contains receipts from Sallie Chapman's purchases in France in July 1896, calling cards, a printed report on the expenses of the Union Pacific System (July 30, 1901), some cat fur kept as a souvenir, and an illustrated newspaper clipping on the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.

The Charity Hospital (New Orleans, La.) Lunatic Asylum admission book contains admittance records compiled from July 1841-December 1848. The patients, who included men, women, and children from multiple states and countries, were admitted for mental health issues and contagious diseases.

The Charity Hospital (New Orleans, La.) "Admission Book" contains around 208 pages of admittance records for the New Orleans Charity Hospital's lunatic asylum, compiled from July 31, 1841-December 16, 1848. Each entry spans 2 pages and contains the patient's name, place of nativity and most recent residence, length of residence in New Orleans, age, and marital status, as well as information about their illness and the date of their death, discharge, or abscondence; some patients were transferred from the Lunatic Asylum to the Charity Hospital. Many patients originated from other countries, often in Europe, and some are identified as slaves. Frequent ailments included delirium tremens, general insanity, and epilepsy. Some records contain a proposed cause of the patient's disease, such as "liquor." In 1847, the hospital admitted a large number of children with infectious diseases; some of the children's mothers occupied the hospital's numbered wards. Clerks recorded monthly and yearly reports regarding the numbers of patients the hospital had admitted, the number who had been discharged, and the number who had died.

The Charles and Ida Humphreys diary (140 pages) chronicles the newlywed couple's vacation along the Mississippi River between March and June 1874. The diary, which contains entries composed by both Humphreys, contains commentary on life in the South during Reconstruction.

The Charles and Ida Humphreys diary (140 pages) chronicles the newlywed couple's vacation along the Mississippi River between March and June 1874. The diary, which contains entries composed by both Humphreys, contains commentary on life in the South during Reconstruction. While traveling onboard the steamer Glencoe, Charles and Ida Humphrey recorded their observations about the landscape and about the people they encountered, including black plantation workers. They also noted the region's declining economy. The Mississippi River region faced substantial flooding, and, as a consequence, the Humphreys were forced to remain in Greenville, Mississippi, for much of their trip.

This collection is made up of correspondence between Charles Ellery Washburn and his wife, Mariana Reed Washburn, as well as a small number of letters that they received from acquaintances and family members. Mariana Washburn provided news of their daughter Lucy, and Charles occasionally referred to his medical career.

This collection (76 items) is made up of correspondence between Charles Ellery Washburn and his wife, Mariana Reed Washburn, as well as a small number of letters that they received from acquaintances and family members. Charles and Mariana Washburn wrote around 70 letters to one another between June 1847 and July 1855; much of the collection consists of undated letters written around the same period. Mariana provided news about their daughter Lucy, including her frustration with "Lulu's" constant crying as a young baby and Lucy's illnesses and other health issues as she aged. Charles wrote to Mariana while practicing medicine in Binghamton and Fredonia, New York, occasionally referring to his patients and to his travel plans. Both Charles and Mariana Washburn commented on their separation, and their letters consistently affirm their commitment to and love for one another.

The Washburns also received letters from family members, including their daughter Lucy, who wrote to her father about visits with an aunt and uncle, In one letter, Whiting Griswold, who had attended college with Charles Washburn, discussed his busy teaching career and his resulting inability to contribute articles to a publication (October 5, 1831). The final item is a will written by Charles Washburn on December 9, 1852. Washburn wished for Mariana and Lucy to inherit his belongings but stated his desire that his inheritance be transferred entirely to Lucy should Mariana remarry.

This collection consists of two matching scrapbooks produced between 1885 and 1893 relating to the trick-cycling career of The Alden Brothers, a two-man team and vaudeville act. Items include contracts, playbills, photographs, clippings, menus, printed cards and invitations, programs (including some printed on silk), business cards, membership certificates, broadsides, and other memorabilia.

This collection consists of two matching scrapbooks produced between 1885 and 1893, relating to the trick-cycling career of The Alden Brothers, a two-man team and vaudeville act. Items include contracts, playbills, photographs, clippings, menus, printed cards and invitations, programs (including some printed on silk), business cards, membership certificates, broadsides, and other memorabilia.

Also present in the collection are letterpress broadsides which feature images of the Aldens performing a cycling trick and a letter from ascensionist Achille Philion.

The Charles and Silas Crowell papers consist primarily of Civil War-era letters addressed to and composed by Silas Crowell during his service with the 93rd Ohio Infantry Regiment. The collection also contains post-war correspondence from members of the Crowell family.

The Charles and Silas Crowell papers consist primarily of Civil War-era letters addressed to and composed by Silas Crowell during his service with the 93rd Ohio Infantry Regiment. The collection also contains post-war correspondence from members of the Crowell family.

The majority of the material dates from the final two years of the war, when Silas Crowell served in Tennessee. In his letters to his uncle, Silas M. B. Simpson, he recounted his experiences, which included his convalescence from a severe leg wound. In additional letters from November and December 1864, Crowell discussed a pair of custom-made crutches and a skirmish near the Smoky Mountains. During the war, Charles Crowell described his life and work at the Eastern Engine House in Dayton, Ohio. He also shared news of his daughters Clare and Katie and, in one letter, commented on Abraham Lincoln's re-election (November 10, 1864).

Postwar material relates to the Crowell and Simpson families. Ira A. Stout wrote Silas M. B. Simpson about farming in McLean County, Illinois, and took note of the large numbers of people leaving for Kansas and the West (July 26, 1866). Also included are letters between two sisters, such as a letter to "Carrie" about life in Los Angeles, California. An undated patriotic poem is entitled "Uncle Sam."