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Dusenbury Family Collection
MSS-2014-08-19  
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SERIES I: Personal Letters 1840-1912 Bulk 1846-1854

Physical Description: 1/2 Box

Scope and Contents

Series I consists of handwritten correspondence between members of the Bishop, Conde, and Warriner families from 1940 – 1912, with the majority of the letters composed in the period between 1846 and 1854. Most of the letters are addressed to Celestia Bishop Deuel, although correspondence addressed to other family members and/or composed by non-family members are also present. Subject matter generally concerns everyday life in the mid-19th century, with a strong focus on health and farm related issues. Reference to events such as the California Gold Rush and the Civil War can be found in a few letters (1849 and 1863-1864, respectively).
A small portion of the letters, (1848-1854) either discuss or are written in a form of shorthand described by the writers as “fonography.” The shorthand resembles Pitman Shorthand, which was introduced by Isaac Pitman in the mid-1850’s (Pitman, 1915).

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by sender and then recipient followed by a chronological arrangement. If the surname of a sender/recipient changed due to marriage, her letters continue to be arranged by her maiden name. Correspondents in this group include Celestia Deuel (nee Bishop), Louisa Castle (nee Bishop), Mary Crumb (nee Bishop), and Elizabeth Jane Heath (nee Ross). Use of the stationary either by the same or a second sender to correspond with a second person is indicated by parenthesis below the information pertaining to the primary letter.
 

Bartlet, N.G. to Deuel, Theodore 1892-March-06

 

Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Celestia (Conde, Sarah to Bishop, Celestia) 1846-February-28

 

Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Celestia 1846-October-10

 

Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Merritt) 1848-May-07

 

Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Louisa 1851-May-11

 

Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Louisa) 1845-October-14

 

Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Charles) 1847(?)-June-20

 

Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Solomon) 1849-November-04

 

Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Solomon) 1850-September-29

 

Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Celestia (B. A. to Bishop sisters) 1851-June-29

 

Bishop, Conde to Deuel, Theodore and Celestia 1857-October-04

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, William to Bishop, Celestia) 1846-July-26 and 1846-August-06

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, Conde to Bishop, Celestia) (Conde, James to Bishop, Merritt) 1846-August-31

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia 1847-May-18

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia (Bishop, (?) to Bishop, Merritt) 1847-December-22

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia 1848-April-25

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia 1848-September

 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia 1849-March-20

Scope and Contents

Contains key to shorthand key and mention of language reform.
 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia 1849-April-24

Scope and Contents

Contains mention of language reform and “fonografic sorthand.”
 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Celestia 1851(?)-May-02

 

Bishop, L. to Deuel, Celestia 1852

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

Bishop, L. to Bishop, Merritt (Bishop, L. to Celestia Bishop) 1847-June-02

 

Castle, Louisa to Deuel, Celestia 1858(?)-August-22

 

Bishop, L. to Deul, Celestia and Theodore 1859-Feburary-06

 

Castle, Louisa to Deuel, Celestia 1868-March-12

 

Castle, Louisa to Deuel, Celestia 1868-April-07

 

Castle, Louisa to Deuel, Celestia 1868-April-25

 

Bishop, M. to Deuel, Celestia 1859-November-24

 

Bishop, Ma to Deuel, Celestia 1868-April-23

 

Bishop, Mary to Deuel, Celestia 1854-July-01

 

Crumb, Mary to Deuel, Celestia 1859-December-25

 

Bishop, Mary to Deuel, Celestia 1854-September-26

 

Crumb, Mary to Deuel, Celestia 1903-May-01

 

Bishop, Merritt to Bishop, Celestia 1846-December-10

 

Bishop, Solomon to Deuel, Theodore and Celestia 1868-February-02

 

Bishop, Solomon to Warriner, Elizabeth 1840-April-28

 

Bishop, William to Bishop, Celestia 1849-December-02

 

Bishop, William to Deuel, Theodore 1863-January-11

Scope and Contents

William Bishop describes the occupation of his neighborhood by Confederate forces and discusses his concern regarding the government’s ability to quell the rebellion
 

Bishop, (illegible) to Bishop, Celestia 1852(?)-April-07

 

Conde, Adam to Warriner, Elle 1840-March-19

 

Conde, James to Bishop, Celestia, Louisa, and Mary undated

 

Conde, Perthena and Sarah to Bishop, Celestia 1847-April-06

 

Conde, Perthena to Bishop, Celestia (Conde Bishop to Charles Bishop) 1847-December-06 and 1847-December-08

 

Conde, Perthena and Sarah to Celestia Bishop 1848-March-12

 

Conde, Perthena to Bishop, Celestia 1849-March-20

Scope and Contents

Mention of California and the “yellow fever” that will only be cured by gold dust. Mention of “fonography” and language reform are also found in this letter.
 

Conde, Perthena to Bishop, Celestia 1849-November-12

 

Conde, Perthena to Bishop, Celestia 1851-September-16

 

Conde, Perthena to Bishop, Celestia 1864-January-20

Scope and Contents

Comment that a cousin is on leave from his regiment.
 

Deuel, Betsy to Burlingame, Alfred undated

 

Deuel, Betsy to Deuel, Theodore 1853-January-30

 

Deuel, Devere to Deuel, Hygiana 1876-April-02

 

Deuel, N.S. to Deuel, Theodore 1850-November-19

Scope and Contents

Miss Deuel discusses her desire to continue her education and knowledge of being dependent on her brother for tuition and expenses.
 

Kymble, Sarah and Sue to Emerick, Angelia 1912-June-08

 

Peck, Burzilla to Bishop, Celestia (Peck, Wilfred to Bishop, Celestia) (Bishop, Charles to Bishop, Celestia) 1848-January-30 and 1848-February-05

 

Ross, Elizabeth J. to Bishop, Celestia (Ross, Elizabeth J. to Bishop, Louisa) (Ross, Jane to Bishop, Mary) 1847(?)-December-12

 

Ross, Elizabeth J. to Bishop, Celestia 1850-September-12

 

Ross, Jane to Bishop, Celestia (Ross, Jane to Bishop, Louisa) 1845-July-27

 

Smith, John to Bishop, Celestia 1851-July-18

 

Smith, John to Bishop, Celestia 1852-January-22

 

Sprackling, George to Bishop, Celestia 1851-December-30

 

Teetshorn, Lewis to Bishop, Celestia undated

 

Warriner, E. to Deuel, Celestia 1851-August-08

 

Warriner, E. to Deuel, Celestia 1858-April-19

 

Warriner, E. to Deuel, Celestia 1861-February-12

 

Warriner, Elizabeth to Deuel, Celestia 1863-November-28

 

Warriner, Emily to Bishop, Celestia 1848-February-02

 

Warriner, Emily to Bishop, Celestia 1848-March-05

 

Warriner, Emily to Bishop, Celestia 1850-June-30

 

Warriner, Emily to Bishop, Celestia 1851-February-09

 

Warriner, Emily to Bishop, Celestia 1851-December-01

 

Warriner, Mary Ann to Bishop, Celestia 1847-February-26

 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1848-February-10

Scope and Contents

Discussion of “fonographi” and how to read/write shorthand.
 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1850

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1850

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1850(?)-June-23

 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1851

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1851

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to Bishop, Celestia 1859-November-13

 

(?) to Deuel, Theodore 1850

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to Deuel, Theodore 1851

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to Deuel, Theodore 1851

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

(?) to (?) 1892-March-06

 

(?) to (?) undated

 

(?) to (?) undated

Scope and Contents

Postcard on verso of Teacher’s Monthly Report.
 

(?) to Deuel, Theodore 1851-July-03

Scope and Contents

Written in shorthand.
 

SERIES II: Genealogy and Ephemera 1852 - 1991 Bulk 1852 - 1895

Physical Description: 1/4 Box

Scope and Contents

The bulk of Series II consists of a copy of the 1991 "A Dusenbury Genealogy : Being principally a study of the ancestors and descendants of Moses Dusenbury, Jr. (1750-1840) and his sister Elizabeth (Dusenbury) Gager, with notes on the allied families Roberson, Jagger - Jager - Gager, Mudge, Redfield, Winne," by Margaret Robinson Carver. The genealogy traces the Dusenbury family line from the 1600’s through 1990. Included with the genealogy are photocopies of some documentation used to develop the family history.
The ephemera in this series include undated poems, invitations, and other items. Small pieces of hair work were included with two of the poems. Notes on journeys taken by Celestia Deuel are recorded in a small notebook and in the pages of Wakefield’s Almanac. Obituaries clipped from newspapers can also be found between the pages of the almanac.

Arrangement

This series is arranged with the Dusenbury Genealogy placed first followed by an alphabetical by format arrangement of the ephemera.
 

Dusenbury Genealogy 1991

Scope and Contents

Includes photocopies of Dusenbury Family documents.
 

Almanac (Wakefield’s) 1895-1896

Scope and Contents

Served as address book. Includes handwritten notes regarding a trip from Kansas to Indiana taken by Celestia Deuel in 1896. Also contains obituary newspaper clippings.
 

Armstrong, A. R., This Week Magazine (History of the Envelope) 1939-May-21

Scope and Contents

Discussion of the history of the envelope.
 

Booklet: Anne Walsh; a Narrative Founded on Fact. undated

 

Envelopes; empty 1849 - 1859(?)

 

Invitation undated

Scope and Contents

Hemsly, E.M. to Castle, Asher and Bishop, Celestia and Louisa
 

Invitation; wedding 1890-October-09

Scope and Contents

Stewart, Lillie May and Wolfe, John A.
 

Marriage Certificate 1852-February-05

Scope and Contents

Deuel, Theodore P. and Bishop, Celestia M.
 

Mileage Ration 1943-December-11

 

Notebook 1875

Scope and Contents

Account of travel from Kansas to Wisconsin and return.
 

Notes; Miscellaneous undated

 

Poems and Remembrances undated