The Manuscripts Division has published one final batch of finding aids for 2025! These materials span a variety of subjects including the Civil War and military history, automobiles, crime, tailoring, and newspaper advertising. As always, these collections are available for anyone to research!
Page from Vernon C. Bridges’ 1893 diary, featuring a clipping discussing his musical abilities.
Vernon C. and Myrtle Bridges diaries, 1888-1896
Vernon C. Bridges maintained three pre-printed pocket diaries during 1888, 1892, and 1893, and his wife Myrtle Bridges kept one in 1895. They include details about their work as itinerant musicians, working closely with Vernon’s brother Frank and his wife Edith, travelling through the South and Mid-West to give vocal and guitar lessons, hold music classes, and perform concerts. In 1888, Vernon and Frank Bridges toured as a duo before joining the lecture circuit of evangelist Mason Long, “The Converted Gambler.”
East Wellesley (Mass.) Motorist’s Automobile Travel Log, 1905-1926
The East Wellesley (Mass.) Motorist’s Automobile Travel Log is a pre-printed volume in which the owner recorded over 20 years of automobile excursions in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The printed portion of the volume is Log of the Automobile : Records and Observations by the Owner (Boston: The Bookcraft Company, 1902). Each leaf has a printed form to record “Run Number,” beginning and ending location, time of departure and arrival, distance traveled, number of stops, actual running time, the weather, and a space for autographs of the guests who made the trip with the motorist. The compiler preferred Cadillacs, traveled frequently with his wife Bessie/Bettie, stayed at hotels, visited restaurants, enjoyed scenery, and took golf trips.
Hugh Henderson papers, 1777-1811 (majority within 1779-1794)
The Henderson papers contain correspondence and documents centered around Scotland-born, New York and New Hampshire merchant Hugh Henderson and members of the Henderson family during and after the American Revolution. The heart of the collection is a letter book containing 438 outgoing letters of Hugh Henderson from New York (1779-1791) and Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1792-1794). The papers also include 35 letters and documents (1777-1811), largely between his wife Hannah Henderson née Sheafe; his brothers James and Alexander Henderson; his daughter Mary “Polly”; and his daughter and son-in-law Hannah and John Turnbull.
J. H. McKnight & Co. collection, 1878-1888
This collection is made up of 30 financial and military documents of J. H. McKnight & Co., Post Traders and Dealers in General Merchandise at Fort Shaw, Montana Territory, between 1878 and 1888. The primary client represented in these orders, bills, vouchers, receipts, checks, and tax statements is the Post Treasurer of the Third Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. Among the goods represented are candles, flour, bread, cheese, berries, corn meal, stationery, ink, paper bags, beer, whiskey, shoe polish, ice, and other goods. One order for candles was written on the verso of half of a torn printed program for a minstrel show held at the Bijou Theatre, Fort Shaw.
John R. Livingston & Co. inventory, 1784
This volume contains an inventory of “Sundry Merchandize belonging to sundry Invoices Remaining on hand” with the Boston mercantile firm of John R. Livingston & Co., dated November 17, 1784. The goods had been seized to satisfy a lawsuit brought by Perez Morton for unpaid debt; the legal agreement consenting to the transfer is included.
Henry F. Jones collection, 1891-1893
Henry F. Jones received the nine letters and documents in this collection after he took a job as storekeeper at the Burnham Industrial Farm, a reformatory and educational community for boys at Canaan Four Corners, Columbia County, New York. Between 1891 and 1893, Resident Director William F. Round provided Jones with instructions, explained philosophical grounds for rules, emphasized discipline for the boys as well as employees, and discussed wages.
LaShelle family scrapbook, 1888-1895
This scrapbook was created by Kirke and Mazie LaShelle of New Rochelle, New York, around 1888 to 1895 to compile incoming correspondence and illustrations. The bulk of the volume is dedicated to illustrated letters and pen-and-ink drawings produced by Chicago artist and advertising executive Arthur Raymond (“Ray”) Brown. The materials reflect on the friendship between Brown and Kirke LaShelle, the newspaper industry, LaShelle’s theatrical work, and more. Additional content relates to Kirke LaShelle’s writing of poetry and dramas and his relationships with people involved in late-19th century theatrical productions.
George W. Partridge collection, 1838-1896
Gift of Ole W. Lyngklip III, in memory of Alice Reinstedler Lyngklip, 2025.
The George W. Partridge Collection is made up of eight letters and documents pertinent to Mormon missionary Edward Partridge’s arrival and first year in Hawaii, 1854-1856; the service of G.W. Partridge in the Commissary Department during the Civil War; and George’s support for William McKinley during his 1896 Presidential campaign.
Humorous sketches from the LaShelle Family scrapbook.
Sketch of bounty jumpers being transported by train, from the H. Curtis Rowley papers.
H. Curtis Rowley papers, 1863-1881
This collection relates to the Civil War service of Hiram Curtis Rowley, a member of the 54th New York National Guards, including documents, correspondence, diaries and memoirs, a photograph of Rowley, and nine original drawings. The drawings feature scenes of soldiers in battle and at rest, Elmira Prison, bounty jumpers being transported on a train, Fort Mitchell, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, and more.
Alice H. Slawson diary, 1863
Alice H. Slawson kept this diary in 1863 when she was sixteen years old and her wealthy family was living in New Orleans, Louisiana. She documented her family’s Confederate politics and beliefs, her reactions to Civil War events, life in Union-occupied New Orleans and women’s oppositional behaviors, as well as her family’s departure and residence in Cuba and Europe.
Southwestern Kentucky court docket and execution books, 1854-1892
These two docket and execution books contain a record of court cases held in Southwestern Kentucky between 1854 and 1892. Many of the cases appear to be related to financial disputes and debt. Entries provide information about how court judgements were executed, how debts were paid (cash, with crops, in parts, etc.), and how frequently there was insufficient property to cover debts. Some cases reflect racial elements of the region, with at least two involving enslaved people.
William Steinruck account books and patterns, 1831-1905 (majority within 1831-1880)
William Steinruck, a tailor from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, kept these two account books from 1831 to 1835 and 1866 to 1880 to record financial transactions relating to his production and sale of various clothing items and customers’ payments on their accounts by cash or barter. The collection also includes a number of printed patterns, a fashion publication (1905), and a tailor’s protractor.
William Steinruck’s tailor’s protractor and patterns.
Examples of fine penmanship and calligraphy from J. S. Stevens’ Scrapbook.
J. S. Stevens scrapbook, 1883-1890
J. S. Stevens of Atlanta, Georgia, kept this scrapbook between 1883 and 1890 to collect examples of fine penmanship and calligraphy, many from those associated with business colleges. Items include signatures on calling cards, letters responding to requests for samples or information about penmanship courses, standalone sheets of penmanship practice or calligraphic drawings, finely written envelopes, pen-and-ink drawings of women and birds, and more. Printed items are also pasted or laid in, such as printed specimens of penmanship, alphabets, and advertising circulars. It appears that several of Stevens’ colleagues contributed heavily to the volume, including J. M. Harkins of Calhoun, Georgia, and M. J. Goldsmith of Atlanta, Georgia.
O. L. Stevens scrapbook, 1900-1902
O. L. Stevens compiled this scrapbook of clippings and other ephemera relating to automobiles in the Northeastern United States. It primarily consists of newspaper articles about automobiles, cities’ infrastructure relating to their adoption and use, road construction, tours and races, car shows and clubs, automobile manufacture and sale, legal challenges such as speeding and licensing, accidents, and public opinions on the issues.
Thiel Detective Service Company collection, 1902-1907
This collection consists of eight letters or bills from the Thiel Detective Service Company of New York, New York, produced between 1902 and 1907 while performing work for the Metropolitan Street Railway and the New York City Railway. The contents pertain to amounts owed for days worked, travel fares and incidentals, meals taken, and other expenses incurred by operatives.
News clipping regarding the transition from horse to automobile, from O. L. Stevens’ scrapbook.
Imagery relating to the American Civil War from Charles S. Swain, Jr’s scrapbook.
Charles S. Swain, Jr. scrapbook, 1861-1918
Charles S. Swain, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, compiled clippings and images relating to military engagements and history. The bulk of the volume consists of material dating from or reflecting on the American Civil War, but later sections include content on the Spanish-American War and World War I, with content ranging in dates from 1861 to 1918.
J. L. Wells scrapbooks, 1861-1895 (majority within 1861-1865)
J. L. Wells repurposed Bank of the Commonwealth of New York checkbooks to compile newspaper clippings, images, and other material relating to the United States Navy’s Blockading Squadron between 1861 and 1865. He was aboard the Steamboat Marion, but it is unclear if he was a member of the United States Navy or serving in some other capacity. The main topics he documented include naval engagements at Port Royal, South Carolina, and along the Gulf Coast with a focus on New Orleans. However, accounts of naval operations in Virginia, Georgia, Florida, along the Mississippi River, and elsewhere are also present.
Winona (Minn.) Turner Band scrapbook, 1888-1899
An unidentified member of “Turner Band” (musicians of Winona, Minnesota) kept this scrapbook between 1888 and 1899. A portion of the contents relates to operations of the band, such as financial accounts, typed meeting minutes, and lists of events. The bulk of the volume consists of pasted-in newspaper articles relating to the Minnesota German community and its members, musical events (such as the Philharmonic Society’s Annual Masquerade), or occasions when the band played. Other materials include invitations, notices, broadsides, and programs, with a number of references to the Odd Fellows, the Elks, bowling leagues, and other groups and societies. Comical or satirical images are also included, with a number relating to musicians.