Manuscript Library

Welcome to the Booth Library manuscript index.

The manuscript index contains links to finding aids for the collections of the Booth Library. Each finding aid has a description of that collection along with a listing of the items within that collection. The Booth Library staff and volunteers are updating the index daily in order to make your research experience more productive.

The Manuscript Index is arranged alphabetically by collection name. To access a finding aid, please click on its name.

To search the Manuscript Index for a specific research topic, please enter the term into the Search Library Box below.

Please keep in mind that many collections have not been inventoried while others are currently in progress. If you have any questions regarding the Finding Aids or the Index, please contact the archivist at archivist@chemungvalleymuseum.org

Collection Title MC 02 Civil War Collection Creator Booth Library
Processed By Kimberly Richards, Calvin Brewer
Date Completed: Spring 2006
Provenance: The Civil War Collection was donated to the Booth Library by various donors, including Historians George Farr, Michael Horigan and Carl Morell, as well as purchases made by George Farr on behalf of the Chemung County Historical Society.
Terms:

Historical: Elmira, New York played a very important role during the Civil War. In 1861 Gov. Edwin B. Morgan designated Elmira as a Military Depot and in 1863 the US Government named Elmira as a Draft Rendezvous. Officers and enlisted men totaling 20, 796 were sent south from Elmira, who served in some of the most prestigious regiments including the 107th New York Volunteers and the 50th New York Engineers. Elmira first served as a place for mustering troops, some of the more famous being the 107th New York Volunteers and the 50th New York Engineers. In 1864 commanders at Elmira received word that they would also serve as a place for Prisoners of War. The Elmira Prison Camp existed for a year and four days, from June 6, 1864 to July 10, 1865. During that time over 12,000 confederates at one time or another were stationed in Elmira. Due to miscommunication, personality conflicts and malnutrition, 2963 men died over the period of that year. These men were buried by John W. Jones, an ex-slave, who became a prominent citizen within the Black Community. The Confederate War Dead are in Woodlawn National Cemetery, accessible by the Davis Street Entrance.
Scope: The largest series in this collection are boxes j-o. These boxes contain all the research information Michael Horigan put together for his book Elmira: Death Camp of the North, published in 2001. The Chemung County Historical Society is still actively collecting documents for this collection and it will continue to grow.
Notes:

Extent 4.5 linear feet
Date Span 1860-Present
Abstract The Civil War collection contains originals and copies of letters, diaries and documents produced during the Civil War, 1861-1865, including the Elmira Prison Camp, 1864-1865, as well as recent articles and research.

Filter by:
Title Document Box Number Folder Number Location
An excerpt from "The Privations of a Private" by Marcus B. Toney regarding his time at Elmira Prison Camp and newspaper articles. Documents N 03
Letters, notes, newspaper articles and an article from the Confederate Veteran regarding Benjamin F. Tracy. From the National Archives Record Group 94 Box #361, Office of the Adjunct General Volunteer Service Branch and the National Archives Compiled Service Record Group 94, T408. Documents N 04
Newspaper articles and Chapter XII from Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick's "A History of Agriculture in the State of New York" regarding Railroads. Documents N 05
Handwritten notes regarding the Welthea H. Turner paper from the Chemung County Historical Society file 500-340. Documents N 06
The Chemung Historical Journal Vol. 6 No.4 June 1961, hand written notes and newspaper articles regarding the Underground Railroad and Abolition. Documents N 07
Drawings, letters, handwritten notes, articles, a paper by Carl Morrell entitled "The Elmira Rendezvous" and an article from the Chemung Historical Journal entitled "Sketches of Elmira's 107th Infantry Regiment. Documents N 08
Articles from local newspapers regarding the weather in Elmira. Documents N 09
Letters, official documents and a copy of Chapter XIII from "Recollections of a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac" by Frank Wilkeson. Documents N 10
Copies of articles published in the Elmira Advertiser from February 1855 to July 1855. Article N 11
Copies of articles from the Elmira Weekly Advertiser and Chemung County Republican for the year 1861 Article N 12
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of July 1864. Article N 13
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of August 1864. Article N 14
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of September 1864. Article N 15
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of October 1864. Included is the October 19th Fitch Letter. Article N 16
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of November 1864. Article N 17
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of December 1864. Article N 18
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of January 1865. Article N 19
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of February 1865. Article N 20
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of March 1865. Article N 21
The Southern Historical Collection, Supplementary Guide to Manuscripts, 1970-1975/ by Everard H. Smith, III. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1976. Booklet O 31
The Southern Historical Collection, A Guide to Manuscripts/ by Susan Sokol Blosser and Clyde Norman Wilson, Jr. The University of North Carolina Library at Chapel Hill, 1970. Booklet O 32
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertisers for the month of April 1865. Article O 01
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertisers for the month of May 1865. Article O 02
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Daily Advertiser for June and July 1865. Article O 03
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Daily Advertiser for the year 1876. Highlighted articles include: Amnesty Debate, Feb. 7; Andersonville Experiences, Feb 2, 16, 18; Letter from Washington, Jan 22; "The Prison Camp", Jan 19; Charles Walker's Defense of Elmira, Jan 19; Tracy's Telegram, Jan 17; Hill's Speech, Jan 14; Letter urging Elmirians to Respond to Hill, Jan 14; Letter from Washington, Jan 13; Hill's Claim of a Surgeon's Letter, Jan 12; and Blaine's Assessment of Andersonville, Jan 11. Article O 04
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Collection Title	MC 02 Civil War Collection	Creator	Booth Library
Processed By	Kimberly Richards, Calvin Brewer
Date Completed:	Spring 2006
Provenance:	The Civil War Collection was donated to the Booth Library by various donors, including Historians George Farr, Michael Horigan and Carl Morell, as well as purchases made by George Farr on behalf of the Chemung County Historical Society.
Terms:
Historical:	Elmira, New York played a very important role during the Civil War. In 1861 Gov. Edwin B. Morgan designated Elmira as a Military Depot and in 1863 the US Government named Elmira as a Draft Rendezvous. Officers and enlisted men totaling 20, 796 were sent south from Elmira, who served in some of the most prestigious regiments including the 107th New York Volunteers and the 50th New York Engineers. Elmira first served as a place for mustering troops, some of the more famous being the 107th New York Volunteers and the 50th New York Engineers. In 1864 commanders at Elmira received word that they would also serve as a place for Prisoners of War. The Elmira Prison Camp existed for a year and four days, from June 6, 1864 to July 10, 1865. During that time over 12,000 confederates at one time or another were stationed in Elmira. Due to miscommunication, personality conflicts and malnutrition, 2963 men died over the period of that year. These men were buried by John W. Jones, an ex-slave, who became a prominent citizen within the Black Community. The Confederate War Dead are in Woodlawn National Cemetery, accessible by the Davis Street Entrance.
Scope:	The largest series in this collection are boxes j-o. These boxes contain all the research information Michael Horigan put together for his book Elmira: Death Camp of the North, published in 2001. The Chemung County Historical Society is still actively collecting documents for this collection and it will continue to grow.
Notes:
Extent	4.5 linear feet
Date Span	1860-Present
Abstract	The Civil War collection contains originals and copies of letters, diaries and documents produced during the Civil War, 1861-1865, including the Elmira Prison Camp, 1864-1865, as well as recent articles and research.

Title	Document	Box Number	Folder Number	Location
An excerpt from "The Privations of a Private" by Marcus B. Toney regarding his time at Elmira Prison Camp and newspaper articles.	Documents	N	03
Letters, notes, newspaper articles and an article from the Confederate Veteran regarding Benjamin F. Tracy. From the National Archives Record Group 94 Box #361, Office of the Adjunct General Volunteer Service Branch and the National Archives Compiled Service Record Group 94, T408.	Documents	N	04
Newspaper articles and Chapter XII from Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick's "A History of Agriculture in the State of New York" regarding Railroads.	Documents	N	05
Handwritten notes regarding the Welthea H. Turner paper from the Chemung County Historical Society file 500-340.	Documents	N	06
The Chemung Historical Journal Vol. 6 No.4 June 1961, hand written notes and newspaper articles regarding the Underground Railroad and Abolition.	Documents	N	07
Drawings, letters, handwritten notes, articles, a paper by Carl Morrell entitled "The Elmira Rendezvous" and an article from the Chemung Historical Journal entitled "Sketches of Elmira's 107th Infantry Regiment.	Documents	N	08
Articles from local newspapers regarding the weather in Elmira.	Documents	N	09
Letters, official documents and a copy of Chapter XIII from "Recollections of a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac" by Frank Wilkeson.	Documents	N	10
Copies of articles published in the Elmira Advertiser from February 1855 to July 1855.	Article	N	11
Copies of articles from the Elmira Weekly Advertiser and Chemung County Republican for the year 1861	Article	N	12
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of July 1864.	Article	N	13
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of August 1864.	Article	N	14
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of September 1864.	Article	N	15
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of October 1864. Included is the October 19th Fitch Letter.	Article	N	16
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of November 1864.	Article	N	17
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of December 1864.	Article	N	18
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of January 1865.	Article	N	19
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of February 1865.	Article	N	20
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertiser for the month of March 1865.	Article	N	21
The Southern Historical Collection, Supplementary Guide to Manuscripts, 1970-1975/ by Everard H. Smith, III. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1976.	Booklet	O		31
The Southern Historical Collection, A Guide to Manuscripts/ by Susan Sokol Blosser and Clyde Norman Wilson, Jr. The University of North Carolina Library at Chapel Hill, 1970.	Booklet	O		32
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertisers for the month of April 1865.	Article	O	01
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Advertisers for the month of May 1865.	Article	O	02
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Daily Advertiser for June and July 1865.	Article	O	03
Copies of newspaper articles from the Elmira Daily Advertiser for the year 1876. Highlighted articles include: Amnesty Debate, Feb. 7; Andersonville Experiences, Feb 2, 16, 18; Letter from Washington, Jan 22; "The Prison Camp", Jan 19; Charles Walker's Defense of Elmira, Jan 19; Tracy's Telegram, Jan 17; Hill's Speech, Jan 14; Letter urging Elmirians to Respond to Hill, Jan 14; Letter from Washington, Jan 13; Hill's Claim of a Surgeon's Letter, Jan 12; and Blaine's Assessment of Andersonville, Jan 11.	Article	O	04
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