Floyd Dessery Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Jessica Kim, April 5, 2010.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2010
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Overview of the Collection

Title: Floyd Dessery Papers
Dates (inclusive): Approximately 1860-1917
Collection Number: mssHM 72946-72969
Creator: Dessery, Floyd
Extent: 40 items in 1 box
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection consists primarily of letters written by Floyd Dessery (1879-1927) of Los Angeles, California, to his family, during his deployment to the Philippines in the Spanish-American War, as well as a diary from his time in the Philippines (1898-1899). His letters and diary reflect the daily experiences of a foot soldier.
Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Floyd Dessery Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of Marilyn Ehlig, August 14, 2006.

Biographical Note

The Desserys were a Los Angeles family who lived in the city at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century. Their son, Floyd Dessery, joined the United States Army just after the destruction of the USS Maine in the Havana harbor, which launched the Spanish-American War in 1898. He was deployed from Los Angeles and left to fight in the Philippines in June of 1898. He was stationed there until 1899.

Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of letters written by Floyd Dessery (1879-1927) to his family, during his deployment in the Philippines, including his mother, Mrs. A. B. Dessery, and his sisters, Hazel and Theodosia Dessery. The collection also includes Floyd's diary from his time in the Philippines. His letters and diary reflect the daily experiences of a foot soldier during the Spanish-American War. Also included are a few family photos, and some ephemera, including clippings, notes, and trade cards.

Arrangement

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Dessery, Floyd.
Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Personal narratives, American.
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Philippines.

Forms/Genres

Diaries Philippines -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) Philippines -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.
Photographs -- United States.


Box 1

mssHM 72946-72969

 

Dessery, Floyd. Diary (1898-1899). 1 item. HM 72946

 

“Baby Dessery.” 1 letter ([1917], Jan. 28) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72947

 

“Baby Dessery.” 1 letter (1917, Nov. 4) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72948

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1899, June 29) to Fannie N. Jones. HM 72949

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1898, Nov. 15) to Hazel Dessery. HM 72950

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1899, Feb. 3) to Hazel Dessery. HM 72951

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter ([1899], Apr. 9) to “Mother and Father and Sisters.” HM 72952

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1897, Aug. 10) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72953

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1898, June 29) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72954

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1898, Aug. 23) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72955

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1898, Sept. 30) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72956

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1899, Sept. 13) to Mrs. A. B. Dessery. HM 72957

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1897, July 8) to “My Dear Sisters.” HM 72958

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1898, July 19) to Theodosia Dessery. HM 72959

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1898, Nov. 16) to Theodosia Dessery. HM 72960

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1899, Jan. 28) to Theodosia Dessery. HM 72961

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1899, Apr. 6) to Theodosia Dessery. HM 72962

 

Dessery, Floyd. 1 letter (1899, June 20) to Theodosia Dessery. HM 72963

 

Dessery, Mrs. A. B. 1 letter (1898, Nov. 2) to Floyd Dessery. HM 72964

 

Dessery, Mrs. A. B. 1 letter (1898, Dec. 1) to Floyd Dessery. HM 72965

 

Gomlinson, J. M. 1 letter (1898, Aug. 29) to “Dear Boy Beryl.” HM 72966

 

Gomlinson, J. M. 1 letter (1898, Dec. 12) to “Dear Beryl.” HM 72967

 

Quinlan, D. P. 1 letter (1899, Jan. 4) to Theodosia Dessery. HM 72968

 

Ueberhagen, Edward C. 1 letter (1898, Oct. 25) to “Friend Burt.” HM 72969

 

Ephemera: Clippings (1904-1918). 2 items.

 

Ephemera: Envelopes (1918, Dec. 24). 1 item.

 

Ephemera: Notes [undated]. 2 items.

 

Ephemera: Trade Cards [undated]. 3 items.

 

Notebook. [undated]. 1 item.

 

Photographs. ([1860s]-1917). 7 items.