- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"8 linear ft. (6 boxes, 54 volumes)"}
- unitdate
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{"value"=>"1833-1884", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1833/1884"}
- date_inclusive_start
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1833
- date_inclusive_end
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1884
- keydate
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1833
- unittitle
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{"value"=>"John Wolcott Phelps papers"}
- repository
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{"value"=>"The <span class=\"corpname\">New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, New York 10018-2788</span></div>"}
- abstract
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{"value"=>"John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885) was a graduate of West Point, Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, and the presidential candidate of the anti-Masonic American Party in 1880. The collection consists of his correspondence, writings on politics and anti-Masonry, diaries recording his experiences in the Seminole War, Mexican War, the expedition against the Mormons in Utah, and the Civil War, and commonplace books recording his views on slavery, emancipation, presidential elections and other political matters of the day."}
- prefercite
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{"value"=>"<p>John Wolcott Phelps Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.</p>"}
- origination
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{"value"=>"Phelps, J. W. (John Wolcott), 1813-1885", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
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{"value"=>"<p>John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885), Brigadier General in the U.S. Army was a native of Vermont. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, served in the Mexican War, was made captain in 1850, and resigned in 1859. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Phelps returned to the military as Colonel of the First Regiment of Vermont Volunteers. In 1861 he was made Brigadier General of Volunteers. He assisted Farragut in the campaign to capture New Orleans and organized the first body of African-American troops in the U.S. Army. When General Benjamin Butler assigned these troops to a work detail rather than military duties, Phelps tendered his resignation. Phelps retired to his home in Vermont where he wrote several books and numerous articles on public affairs. In 1880 Phelps ran for president on the anti-Masonic American Party ticket. He received 700 votes.</p>"}
- scopecontent
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{"value"=>"<p>Collection consists of Phelps's correspondence, writings and printed matter. Correspondence with friends and family members begins when he was a cadet at West Point and continues into his adult life. Writings include five book-length manuscripts; numerous articles on politics and anti-masonry; and commonplace books from the period of his retirement from active military service which cover his views on national politics, the Civil War, masonry, Indian troubles, legal affairs, and other topics. Of special interest are Phelps's diaries, 1838-1871, recording his experiences in the Seminole War, garrison life in the West during the time of Canadian border troubles, his service in the Mexican War, the expedition to Utah to suppress the Mormons, Civil War service, life in retirement at Brattleboro, Vermont, and his interest in meteorology.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The John Wolcott Phelps papers are arranged in six series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2399#c182464'>Series I. Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1833-1884; undated.</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series I. consists mainly of Phelps' correspondence with his personal friends and relations. Present are numerous letters from him to his sister, Helen Phelps. Beginning at the time when he was a cadet at West Point and continuing into his adult life, these letters describe his experiences in considerable detail and are a useful adjunct to the diaries.</p> <p>Present also are numerous letters to Phelps from his brother-in-law, Fayette B. Tower who married Elizabeth Phelps (d. 1841). Two lengthy letters (1842 July 8 and Aug. 4) from Fayette who was employed for a time by New York City in developing its water supply system describe the operation and opening of the Croton Reservoir and Aqueduct. There are also numerous letters from Phelps' nephew, Lawrence Tower describing his efforts at getting started in business in New York after the Civil War. Of letters from Phelps' friends the largest group represented are from John Watts DePeyster (1821-1907), author and soldier of Tivoli, Dutchess County, New York. There are also numerous letters to Phelps from various DePeyster family members. There are a few letters, 1836-1837 from Samuel Forry, an army surgeon who served with Phelps during the Seminole War. Scattered here and there are letters to Helen Phelps from various persons, especially Fayette Tower and Henry P. Hatfield.</p> <p>The letters received from prominent persons have either not survived or have been dispersed. Some of the letters relating to African Americans and the Civil War can be found in the Henry P. Slaughter Collection of the Trevor Arnett Library, Atlanta University.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2399#c182510'>Series II. Letterbooks</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1856-1872</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>4 volumes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The letterbooks contain copies of Phelps' outgoing letters mostly to friends and relations. However, for the later period there are numerous letters to Charles Sumner and to officials of the American Colonization Society regarding emancipated slaves and the problems of Reconstruction.</p> <p>At the beginning of his diary for 1868-1871 is the continuation of an 1852 letterbook consisting of copies of Phelps' letters while at Ft. Brown, Texas.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2399#c182515'>Series III. Diaries</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1838-1871</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The diaries record Phelps' experiences in the Seminole war; garrison life in the West during the time of the Canadian border troubles at Ft. Makinac and Ft. Brady; his service in the Mexican War and afterwards at Ft. Brown, Texas during the era of the filibusterers; the expedition to Utah to suppress the Mormons; his Civil War service; and his life in retirement at Brattleboro and Guilford, Vermont. His interest in meteorology is reflected in numerous observations on the weather, winds, cloud formations, and temperature and humidity readings.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2399#c182546'>Series IV. Commonplace books</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1840; 1862 - 1881</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2399#c182575'>Series V. Writings by Phelps</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2399#c182667'>Series VI. Personal Miscellany</a></div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Purchased from Charles E. Tuttle, 1932</p>"}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"MssCol 2399", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"2399", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- altformavail
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{"value"=>"<p>Selected materials available on microfilm; New York Public Library</p>"}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- processinfo
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{"value"=>"<p>John D. Stinson.</p>"}
- date_start
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1833
- date_end
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1884