Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Daniel Webster Andrews letters and family papers
mssAndrews  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Daniel Webster Andrews letters and family papers
    Inclusive Dates: 1792-1990
    Bulk Dates: 1810-1870
    Collection Number: mssAndrews
    Extent: 503 items in 3 boxes (1.2 linear feet)
    Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
    The Huntington Library
    1151 Oxford Road
    San Marino, California 91108
    Phone: (626) 405-2191
    Fax: (626) 449-3477
    Email: reference@huntington.org
    URL: http://www.huntington.org
    Abstract: Letters of Union naval officer Daniel Webster Andrews, with related family papers.
    Language of Material: The material is predominantly in English, however there are a few items in German, French and Italian.

    Administrative Information

    Access

    Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.

    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 permission rests with the researcher.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of Item], Daniel Webster Andrews letters and family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Acquisition Information

    Purchased by William Reese Company on behalf of The Huntington at Swann Galleries auction, Sale 2455, Lot 91, September 28, 2017. Material formerly part of the estate of Elizabeth Blaisdell Andrews (1911-2004), granddaughter of Charles J. Andrews, brother of Daniel Webster Andrews.

    Biography

    Daniel Webster Andrews of Boston joined the Navy as an acting ensign aboard the USS Ino in 1863, moved to the USS Orvetta in late 1864, and after the Civil War served on the USS Don. He was the son of Boston merchant John Andrews (1790-1872) and Susan Masson Andrews (1795-1876). His siblings were Peter Andrews (b. 1819), Sarah Andrews Turner (b. 1821), and Charles J. Andrews (1830-1905).

    Scope and Content

    The first series includes correspondence and documents belonging to Daniel Webster Andrews and his family, chiefly his father John Andrews and his mother Susan Masson Andrews. The material is organized alphabetically by family member. In the letters by John Andrews to his brother William Andrews (who apparently was killed on August 23, 1814 in the explosion of Gunboat #146), he talks about the frigates Constitution and Independence, other ships in the Navy Yard in Charleston, and news of battles between the US troops and the British including the Battle of York (April 1813). In the letters of Daniel Webster Andrews, he talks about his experiences as a naval officer on the ship Ino. He also talks about Fort Monroe, Virginia (one of his letters is written on a pictorial lettersheet of "Fortress Monroe") and witnessing the USS Minnesota almost get hit by a torpedo as well as the sinking of the USS Patapsco. Also included is a letter from Frank Hull to Lizzie Blood describing a trip to Central City, Colorado in August 1863 as well as an 1817 commission to George Manners signed by George IV. There are also two letters by Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting, wife of William Bayard Cutting of New York, to her niece Jane Murray; one of her letters states "I feel sure that Professor [Max] Farrand will do everything possible in showing you the treasures of the Huntington Museum." Max Farrand was the Huntington Library's first director.
    The second series contains miscellaneous items related to the genealogy of several families including: Andrews, Blaisdell (Blasdale), Blood, Howland, St. Medard, Masson (Mason), Stimpson, and Farrington. The material includes research material, family trees, notes, photographs, autograph albums and ephemera.

    Arrangement

    Organized in the following series: Correspondence and documents (Boxes 1-2) and Genealogy and miscellaneous material (Box 3).

    Indexing Terms

    Personal Names

    Andrews, Daniel Webster, 1835-1894
    Andrews, John, 1790-1872
    Andrews, Susan Masson, 1795-1876
    Farrand, Max, 1869-1945

    Corporate Names

    Constitution (Frigate)
    Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery
    Independence (Ship : 1814-1913)
    Ino (Ship)
    Minnesota (Steam frigate)
    United States. Navy -- Officers -- Correspondence

    Subjects

    Married women -- New England -- Correspondence
    York, Battle of, Toronto, Ont., 1813

    Geographic Areas

    Norwich (Conn.) -- History -- Sources
    United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations
    United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Naval operations

    Genres

    family papers
    genealogies (histories)
    legal documents
    letters (correspondence)
    Pictorial lettersheets