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Bright (George Adams) Papers
mssHM 54997-55576
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: George Adams Bright papers
Creator:
Bright, George Adams, 1837-1905
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 54997-55576
Physical Description:
16.5 Linear Feet
(11 boxes, 3 oversized folders)
Date (inclusive): 1860-1932
Date (bulk): 1861-1903
Abstract: George Adams Bright (1837-1905) briefly practiced medicine in Concord, N.H. and served on the House Staff of Massachusetts
General Hospital. In May 1861, he joined the Navy. During the Civil War, Bright served as a surgeon off the coasts of Texas,
Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas with the Gulf, South Atlantic, and North Blockading Squadron. From 1869 to 1873 he served
in the Mediterranean, onboard of the Plymouth (formerly Kenosha) and Brooklyn. In 1878 he took part in the voyage of the Tuscarora
assigned to oceanic survey work off the western coasts of Central and South America. In 1883, he took part in the cruise of
Galena to Panama, and from 1891 to 1894 served as a relief surgeon on the protected cruiser Newark. Between cruises he served
on shore duty at the Naval Academy (1873-1876), Mare Island (1880-1883), and Brooklyn Navy Yard. In 1895 he was put in charge
of the Naval Hospital in Washington, and in 1897, appointed Medical Director of the Navy.The collection includes letters from
George Adams Bright to his family describing his medical practice, Civil War experience, travels, and family affairs. The
collection also includes journals that Bright kept during all of his sea voyages.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
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information.
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.
[Identification of item]. George Adams Bright papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Dorothy Bright Davis, August 1991.
George Adams Bright (1837-1905) Naval surgeon. A native of Bangor, Maine and a graduate of Harvard, he briefly practiced medicine
in Concord, New Hampshire and served on the House Staff of Massachusetts General Hospital. In May 1861, he joined the Navy.
During the Civil War, Bright served as a surgeon off the coasts of Texas, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas with the Gulf,
South Atlantic, and North Blockading Squadron, first on the steamer South Carolina and then the ironclad New Ironsides. After
the Civil War, he served on the Marion and the Marblehead, the practice ships of the Naval Academy. In November 1866 Bright
was ordered to the frigate Susquehanna, the flagship of the fleet that carried Lewis Davis Campbell, the American minister
to Mexico, accompanied by William Tecumseh Sherman. From 1869 to 1873 served in the Mediterranean, onboard of the Plymouth
(formerly Kenosha) and Brooklyn. In 1878 he took part in the voyage of the Tuscarora assigned to oceanic survey work off the
western coasts of Central and South America. In 1883, he took part in the cruise of Galena to Panama, and from 1891 to 1894
he served as a relief surgeon on the protected cruiser Newark. Between the cruises, he served on shore duty at the Naval Academy,
1873 to 1876, Mare Island, 1880 to 1883, and Brooklyn Navy Yard. In 1895 he was put in charge of the Naval Hospital in Washington,
and in 1897, appointed Medical Director of the Navy. Bright retired in 1899 with the rank of Rear Admiral.
Letters from George Adams Bright to his family, describing his medical practice, Civil War experience, travels, and family
affairs. The collection also includes journals that Bright kept during all of his sea voyages. The letters and journals provide
detailed accounts of his Civil War experience, including the siege of Galveston, the blockade and blockade-runners, assault
on Fort Fisher, and the post-war career, including details of the 1866 mission to Mexico, news of the Santa-Anna's return
to Vera Cruz, June 1867, operations of the Navy in the Mediterranean, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, his work
at the Naval Academy, Mare Island, and naval hospitals. Also included are Bright's commissions, certificates, and other documents,
a photograph, and some genealogical material. Also included is a journal kept by Bright's younger brother William Mason Bright
(born 1848), a sailor onboard of the brig Executive that sailed from Bangor to Azores in July of 1864. The journal gives a
detailed account of the voyage, including the information on the crew and the passengers, descriptions of the ports, etc.
The diary also contains an account of the meeting with the American consul in St. Thomas and discussions of the war news.
Processed by library staff in June 1992. Finding aid encoded by Charla M. DelaCuadra in August 2020.
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Galveston, Battle of, Galveston, Tex., 1863 -- Personal narratives
Merchant mariners -- New England -- Diaries
Physicians -- New England -- Archives
Caribbean Area -- Description and travel.
Central America -- Description and travel
Florida -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Fort Fisher (N.C. : Fort) -- Siege, 1864-1865 -- Personal narratives
Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Mediterranean Region -- Description and travel
Mexico -- History -- 1867-1910 -- Sources
North Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
South Carolina -- Description and travel
South Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Texas -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Blockades -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Journals (accounts) -- United States -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Personal papers -- United States -- 19th century
Bright, George Adams, 1837-1905 -- Archives
Bright, William Mason, 1848- -- Diaries
Campbell, Lewis D. (Lewis Davis), 1811-1882
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794-1876
Executive (Brig)
Galena (Steamer)
Marblehead (Ship)
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Marion (Screw sloop)
New Ironsides (Ironclad)
New York Naval Shipyard
Newark (Protected cruiser)
Plymouth (Screw sloop)
South Carolina (Steamer)
Tuscarora (Steamboat)
United States Naval Academy -- History -- Sources
United States. Navy -- Hospitals
United States. Navy -- Surgeons -- Archives
United States. Navy -- 19th century -- Sources