Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

0770: Carrie Eldridge Collection, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Carrie Eldridge is a genealogical researcher in Chesapeake, Ohio. This collection contains photocopies of many county record books of the Appalachian areas of West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky, ranging from the American Revolution until the end of the Civil War. The collection also contains high quality photographs of one room school houses of Cabell County, West Virginia, an audio cassette oral history, books, and pen nibs.

To view materials from this collection that are digitized and available online, search the Carrie Eldridge Collection here.

0752: Charles Edward Viers Collection, 1889-2004, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection consists of personal papers and materials related to Mr. Charles Edward Viers. The collection is divided into three series: Series 1: Papers, Series 2: Photographs, and Series 3: Items. Series 1 primarily covers legal documents relating to deeds and oil and gas contracts (found in the lockbox in Series 3), clippings related to Viers receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal in 1996, teaching documents such as contracts and two report cards, Viers’ Marshall transcripts, Viers’ military papers and a small amount of correspondence from 1945 and 1995-1996, and Civil War discharge papers and an arrest of …

0715: Zophar Dean Ramsdell Papers, 1861-1865, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection consists of copies of quartermaster reports for the 5th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry, including monthly property accounts, clothing, stationery, hospital supplies, ordnance materials, animal return and acquisitions, food and fuel receipts, issued supply registers, and correspondence. Due to the nature of copied materials, the legibility and completeness of materials can vary, but is overall high.

0703: Rosanna A. Blake Collection, 1818-2000, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection consists of manuscript and other paper items collected by Rosanna A. Blake. Included are letters, diaries, correspondence, unit rosters, Confederate imprint forms and currency, 1860-1865. Also included are 3D items including firearms, edged weapons, tin soldiers, original Civil War art work, the Volck shield, and Southern periodicals relating to the Civil War. Notably, the collection includes 3 original Robert E. Lee letters, 1 Jefferson Davis letter, and 2 general orders dictated by Lee. The O'Brien sub-collection contains Civil War pamphlets and booklets, over 300 monographs and books, photos, CDV's, original Civil War art work, the Volck shield, ambrotypes …

0697: Archibald Debow Norris Diaries, 1861-1863, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection consists of copies and transcriptions of three diaries, spanning January 1861- April 1863, of Private, later Captain, Archibald D. Norris of the 7th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, Co. K during the Civil War, ending with the Fredericksburg campaign. The diaries are extensive, and cover details about the war and specific battles as well as camp life. There are also entries about Norris’ evolving feelings about the state of the union. According to a note in the collection, there are a significant proportion of West Virginia related content in the diaries.

0678: Karen N. Cartwright Nance Collection, 1865, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection consists of a scanned copy of the diary of C. F. Ropes, a Union soldier with the Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and a copy of a publication titled “Civil War Diary of C. F. Ropes, 38th/34th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. “H”, 1865” compiled, annotated, and edited by Karen N. Cartwright Nance. The diary covers the period from January to September 1865, and takes place mostly in the Gulf area between Galveston, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida. The publication, in addition to a transcription, includes a schedule and map of C. F. Ropes movements, as well as an index of subjects …

0661: Elizabeth Cometti Collection, 1861-1869, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection consists of a microfilm copy of items selected by Elizabeth Cometti about West Virginia taken from the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, specifically materials taken from the W. R. Redding Papers, 1861-1865 and the William Thomas Sutherlin Papers, 1842-1892. The Redding materials are from 1861 while Redding was stationed in Virginia, to his wife, Elizabeth M. Redding, in Randolph County, Ga.. He discusses camp life, troop movements and skirmishes, and conditions at home. Sutherlin materials date from 1868 to 1869 and may include correspondence and other papers relate to the varied business …

0613: Paul D. Stewart Papers, 1862-1864, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection contains documents and correspondence by John Seeley of New Jersey, and Jonathan Taylor of the 24th Ohio Infantry, Co. D. Jonathan Taylor materials include discharge papers from June 1864 and a letter to his sisters and brother in Chattanooga, Tennessee from March 1864 discussing camp life. John Seeley materials include an envelope to Mrs. Charles Seeley (his mother) in Bridgeton, New Jersey, as well as two letters, both to his mother. The letters, from March 1862 and December 23rd of an unknown year, cover camp life, including Christmas, religion, and daily events among other topics.

0526: Constance Pendleton Letter, 1960, Marshall University Special Collections

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Holograph letter to Mr. Robins about her book, "Confederate Memories: Early Life and Family of William Frederick Pendleton" published in 1958.

0345: John F. Holohan Diary, 1861-1865, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection is a copy of a manuscript of “Civil War Diary of John Frederic Holahan: April 19, 1861-April 9, 1865” published in 1972 by John Frederic Holahan and Ann Mary Holahan Roach Anderson and Ruth Ann Meadows. This collection contains the transcribed diary alongside notes from the authors as well as transcribed entries from the diary.

The original diary is held in the collection of Shorter College, per the Georgia Civil War Manuscript Collections: An Annotated Bibliography by David H. Slay. The stub description they have for the diary is as follows: “This diary, April 19, 1861 – April …

0301: Samuel Rothgeb Papers, 1862-1864, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection consists of copies of Civil War orders written to Captain Samuel Rothgeb sending supplies and orders for troop movements. Also included is a copy of an 1862 letter to “Friend Rothgeb” from R. L. Stewart regarding a steamboat shipment. Also included are copies of envelopes, a pay stub/check, an Army 50 cent note, and promotion form for Thomas A. Mau(l?)sly to the rank of Colonel in the 18th Regiment of West Virginia Militia.

Given that all collection items are copies, legibility can be limited but is overall high.

0321: Enos Amos Oath, 1864, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection consists of an oath of allegiance for Enos Amos’ election to the office of second lieutenant, 17th Regiment, 3d Brigade, 1st Division, West Virginia Militia, Marion County, West Virginia on August 22, 1864. It is also signed by John B. Crane, recorder.

0248: James N. Potts Papers, 1861-1906, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection predominately consists of a Civil War diary by James Potts. Legibility of the copy of the diary is limited given that it is a xeroxed black and white copy.

The cover of the diary says, “Romance of the War by James N. Potts [illegible] Commissary [illegible] Book Commencing Dec. 12th, 1861 Hunter’sville, Va, Pocahontas Co., Virginia”. The first thirty-one pages consist of a ledger tracking provisions for 1861-1862. In order, the contents after are as follows: recipes, ciphers or “enigmas”, journal entries from 1861 to 1867, an 1869 letter to the editor of the “Herald” from Williamsville, VA, …

0224: Milton Newman Discharge Paper, 1865, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection contains the discharge paper for Milton Newman from Company C, 3rd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers.

0203: Soldiers' Relief Record, 1888-1894, Marshall University Special Collections

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The record book is a printed form book entitled, “Barrett’s Form of Soldiers’ Relief Record, Being a Record of Resident Indigent Union Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, and Wives, Widows and Minor Children of Same, Entitled to Relief under an Act passed March 16th, 1887.” Twelve pages record payments to `resident indigent Union soldiers, sailors and marines, and wives, widows and minor children of same. . .' The pages of the last half of the book have been torn out. Beyond the book’s original life as a record of payments, two further additions were made by unknown individuals. One addition is …

0208: Thomas H. Barton Biography, 1977, Marshall University Special Collections

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This collection is composed of a typescript copy of a portion (pages 74-87) of “Autobiography of Dr. Thomas H. Barton, the self-made physician of Syracuse, Ohio, including a history of the Fourth Regt. West Va. Vol. Inf’y, with an account of Col. Lightburn’s Retreat” published by Charleston, West Virginia Printing Company in 1890. The document does not cover Barton’s personal life, and only discusses his time as a doctor for his regiment in the Civil War. The autobiography discusses military matters primarily but does go into details as to a physician’s life in the camps and treatment of wounds sustained …

0206: Logan Co. Virginia Infantry Records, 1830-1900, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection is composed of a xerox copy of an account book and a copy of a circa 1900 photograph of Logan County Civil War veterans with twenty-four individuals identified. The account book says on the cover, “John Garrett, His Book, 1830”. Inside is financial information whose context is difficult to ascertain due to the low quality of the scans. The original accession record states that the book is the account book of the unit.

0076: Confederate States Of America, Army, Medical Department, 1862-1864, Marshall University Special Collections

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Register/copybook of letters and orders of Hospital number four, Army of the New River, medical director Dr. John A. Hunter, with hospitals in Pearisburg, VA., Dublin Depot, VA., Montgomery White Sulphur Springs, Va, Red Sulpur Springs and Union, (West), Va. as well as the copybook of Will Jennings, medical director of the Department of Southwestern Virginia. Volumes contain copies of letters and orders sent and received. The register for Hospital number four also contains lists of patients.