Guide to the Patricia J. Van Every collection Wyles Mss 216
Finding aid prepared by Wyatt Young and Zachary Liebhaber, 2016.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
special@library.ucsb.edu
2016 August 3
Title: Patricia J. Van Every collection
Identifier/Call Number: Wyles Mss 216
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5.26 linear feet
(2 document boxes, 2 half-size document boxes, 2 flat boxes, 1 flat oversize box)
Creator:
Van Every, Patricia J.
Date (inclusive): early 19th century-mid 20th century
Date (bulk): 1860-1900
Abstract: This collection consists of a mixture of letters, legal documents (deeds, guardianship transfers, quit claims, etc.,) newspaper
clippings, and keepsakes pertaining to the Bean and McMaster families from various locations within the United States. The
bulk of the collection dates from early 19th century to early 20th century. Also contained within the collection are photographs
in a variety of formats including tintypes, gelatin prints, cabinet cards, ambrotypes, and daguerrotypes of family members
during this period. The Van Every Collection also contains various artifacts from the period including medical and field tools
utilized during the American Civil War, leather wallets, a decorated coin from 1826, and a family bible that dates back to
1859.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Patricia J. Van Every, 2016.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Patricia Van Every collection, Wyles Mss 216. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa
Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Scope and Content
The Patricia J. Van Every Collection consists of a mixture of letters, photographs, papers, and artifacts collected by the
Bean and McMaster families from various locations within the United States. Comprised of materials that range from the early
19th century to mid-20th century, this collection is unique in its offering of insight into the daily life of a typical middle
class American family of the Civil War and Reconstruction eras.
Containing over 90 legal documents, the collection includes sick and wounded reports during the war, last wills and testaments,
quit-claims, deeds, transfers of parental and legal guardianship, collection and seizure notices, account balances acquired
through local vendors and businesses, estate and inheritance inventories, as well as bills and receipts. Also included in
the collection is a large series of over 100 personal correspondence letters between the Beans, McMasters, and acquaintances.
These letters can be considered primary sources demonstrating contemporary prices of goods, rent, legal fees, as well as cultural
practices and social behaviors during Reconstruction in the United States. Since the scope of the collection ranges from pre
to post Civil War, the content of these papers sometimes includes the buying, selling, and freeing, of slaves. The points
of origin of most of the letters include the states of Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.
These documents and papers have been organized and catalogued by date.
In addition to these papers and letters, the collection also includes photographic prints tintypes, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes,
cabinet cards, and clippings collected by these families during the pre- and post-Civil War eras. Artifacts included consist
of pocket knives and multi-tools possible used by soldiers during the Civil War, a Civil War era bloodletting kit, a family
Bible, leather wallets, and leather-framed photographs.
Arrangement
Series 1.Correspondence. This series of letters documents the daily lives of many of the Bean and McMaster family members. Featured heavily are the
letters of Irving, Hattie, Addie, William H., and Stephen Bean, Millicent B. and Gertrude Heath, Caroline and Irving McMaster,
and others. The majority of the letters are postmarked either to or from the town of South Royalton, Vermont, where the family
had its roots. The letters were composed on various forms of stationary from hotels, businesses, railways, newspapers, playbills,
and lined paper stock. The range of these letters date from 1840 to 1922.
Series 2. Family Documents. This series contains the legal documents consisting of last will and testaments, quit-claims, deeds, transfers of parental
and legal guardianship, collection and seizure notices, account balances acquired through local vendors and businesses, estate
and inheritance inventories, as well as bills and receipts. Also included in the collection are miscellaneous clippings, advertisements,
and postcards. The bulk of this collection dates from 1819 to the 1920's. These documents are arranged by date.
Series 3.Photographs. This series is a small assortment of approximately 30 photographs, the subjects of which are portraits of the Bean and McMaster
families. The collection is comprised of daguerrotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, cabinet cards, and black and white prints. Family
members known to be represented here are Irving, Gertrude and Helen McMaster as well as Caroline Bean. Also included is a
photograph of the Bean Family estate in South Royalton, Vermont. The range of these photographs range from the late 19th century
to the early 20th century, and are arranged by the subject in the method of acquirement.
Series 4. Artifacts. This series of artifacts includes a report of sick and wounded during the Civil War for the month of February in 1864 (Fourth
Regiment, Sixth Company), a visitor's registry for an orphan's home, a family Bible dated in 1859, leather wallets used for
carrying letters, money, and important documents, an ivory handled multi-tool with a silver name plate with retractable dining
utensils, a bloodletting tool with case, a pocket knife with a carved wooden handle, and a United States coin ceremoniously
defaced and decorated, minted in 1826. The scope of this series ranges from 1826 to early 20th century.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Artifacts (object genre)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Legal documents
Letters (correspondence)
Photographs
Postcards
Bean family -- Archives
McMaster family -- Archives
Series 1.
Correspondence
Arrangement
Correspondence has been arranged chronologically.
Box 1
Unidentified author (Lexington, KY)
1840 June 29
Box 1
H.F. Grifford (Rochester, NY) to Caroline Bean (South Strafford, VT)
1844 December 8
Box 1
Unidentified author
1847 July 11
Box 1
Stephen Bean to Chad Burnett
1852 March
Box 1
G.W. Walker to unidentified recipient
1852 May 1
Other Descriptive Information
Letter composed in Missouri, mentions the purchase of 3 slaves.
Box 1
William H. Bean to Miss G. McMaster, Millicent Bean to unidentified recipient
1868 May 20, 1869 October 16
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1868 September 26
Other Descriptive Information
3 letters contained in one envelope.
Box 1
William H. Bean [?] to mother [?]
1868 December
Box 1
William H. Bean (Rock Island, IL) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1868 December 23
Box 1
Millicent B. Heath [?] to Addie Bean [?]
1869 January 8
Box 1
"Brother Laurell" to "Sister"
1869 January 9
Other Descriptive Information
Moville, IA and Millicent B. Heath mentioned in letter, no envelope.
Box 1
R.C. Anderson (Barbourville, KY) to unidentified recipient
1869 April 4
Box 1
[?] Hackett to Caroline Bean
1869 May 10
Other Descriptive Information
About purchase of a picket fence.
Box 1
Millicent [?] to Addie Bean
1869 July 28
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Miss G. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1869 August 10, 1869 November 21
Box 1
Millicent B. Heath (Clinton, VA) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1870 January 7
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Irving McMaster
1870 March 20
Box 1
P. Chamberlin (Milford, NH) to Hattie Bean (South Royalton VT )
1870 April 2
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1870 May 15
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kanas City, MO) to brother (not named)
1870 June 8
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Irving McMaster
1870 September 22
Box 1
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1870 July 26,1870 August 11, 1870 October 28
Box 1
Six letters from W.H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. McMaster (South Royalton,VT), one letter from Millicent B. Heath
1871 January 8, 1871 February 28, 1871 May 27, June 11, 1871 August 8, 1871 September 10, 1871 November 26
Other Descriptive Information
Seven letters, one envelope, includes contemporary media clippings.
Box 1
William H. Bean to Miss G. McMaster
1871 March 6
Box 1
Millicent Heath (Mechanicsville, VA) to unamed recipient
1872 January 11
Other Descriptive Information
Includes sample of green fabric and note that rent is $100 a year.
Box 1
P. Chamberlin (Milford, NH) to Hattie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1872 January 27
Box 1
William H. Bean to Mrs. McMaster
1873 February 12
Box 1
Millicent B. Heath (Mechanicsville, VA) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1873 March 2
Box 1
P. Chamberlin (Milford, NH) to Addie and Haddie Bean (South Royalton VT )
1873 May 16
Other Descriptive Information
Envelope postmarked 1874 May 18.
Box 1
Millicent B. Heath (Mechanicsville, VA) to Hattie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1873 August 21
Box 1
William H. Bean to Irving Bean
1873 October 9
Box 1
Millicent B. Heath (Mechanicsville, VA) to Hattie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1874 January 1
Box 1
Irving B. McMaster (San Antonio, TX) to H.H. Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1874 January 30
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on stationary from Menger Hotel, Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX.
Box 1
Irving B. McMaster to unidentified recipient
1874 October 27, 1875 January 20
Box 1
Hattie Bean (Franklin, MA) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1874 October 29
Box 2
Two letters from Millicent B. Heath, two letters from Irving B. McMaster
1873 November 6, 1875 April 15, 24, May 18
Other Descriptive Information
Four letters, message on back of envelope discussing trip to Gulf of Mexico.
Box 2
Five letters from Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1874 November 22, 1874 December 31, 1875 February 8, 1875 June 8, 1875 June 15
Other Descriptive Information
Five letters. One envelope originating from San Antonio, TX. Stationary from CG Manlove, 912 Main St. Kansas City, MO.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1874 December 6
Box 2
Millicent Heath to Hattie Bean [?]
1874 December 15
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster to Family
1874 December 19
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Miss H.H. Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 January 6
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Austin,TX) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 January 14, 1875 January 15
Other Descriptive Information
Stationary from Crystalake Mills.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (San Antonio, TX) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1875 January 25
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on stationary from Menger Hotel, Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Galveston, TX) to Miss H.H. Bean
1875 April 1
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on two forms of stationary, one from Southern Hotel, Galveston, TX. One composed on playbill from Tremont Opera House,
Galveston, TX.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1875 April 2
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster to unidentified recipient
1875 April 6
Box 2
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to H.H. Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 May 2
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 May 2
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster [?] to mother
1875 June 18
Other Descriptive Information
Request for loan of $75.00.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster to unidentified recipient
1875 August 28
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1875 August 28
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster [?] to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 September 7
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Kansas City, MO) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 September 11
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster [?] to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
1875 September 22
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on stationary from Sherman House Depot, Indianapolis, IN.
Box 2
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
1876 July 19
Box 2
Unidentified author (Denver, CO) to unidentified recipient
1879 July 31
Other Descriptive Information
Proof of employment for Irving B. McMaster at Denver & Rio Grande Railway Co.
Box 2
Unidentified author (Ferrisburg, VT) to Addie Bean (South Royalton VT)
1879 March 22
Box 2
Gertrude Heath (Minneapolis, MN) to Irving B. McMaster
1902 June 2
Box 2
Unidentified author (Oakland, CA) to "Friend McMaster"
1906 August 12
Box 2
Unidentified author (Oakland, CA) to "Friend McMaster"
1906 November 11
Other Descriptive Information
Includes hand drawn map of Oakland Market.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to Mr. K.C. Bean (Franklin, NH)
1912 January 5
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster to unidentified recipient
1912 October 6
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on stationary from Michigan Central Railroad Company, Detroit, MI.
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to Mr. K.C. Bean (Franklin, NH)
1913 January 18
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to Mr. K.C. Bean (Franklin, NH)
1913 June 19
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to Mr. K.C. Bean (Franklin, NH)
1913 July 9
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on stationary from Ann's Furs, and includes business card for HH Thill of Ann's Furs.
Box 2
Unidentified author to R.E. Bean (Franklin, NH)
1913 November 20
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to Minnie Bean (Franklin, NH)
1915 April 15
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to Minnie Bean (Franklin, NH)
1915 April 17
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI) to R.E. Bean (Franklin, NH)
1915 June 22
Box 2
Irving B. McMaster to unidentified recipient
1917
Other Descriptive Information
Discusses World War I. Composed on stationary from Michigan Central Railroad Company, Detroit, MI.
Box 2
H.P. Smith (Melrose, MA) to Irving B. McMaster (Detroit, MI)
1918 June 4
Box 2
Lisa P. (Manchester, MA) to Mrs. R.E. Bean (Franklin, MA)
1922 November 9
Box 2
"LBP" [?] to R.E. Bean (Franklin, MA)
1922 November 14
Box 2
Unidentified author (Townsend, VT) to unidentified recipient
undated
Other Descriptive Information
Envelope postmarked as December 3.
Box 2
Aunt M. (Moville, IA) to Addie Bean
undated
Box 2
Willliam H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to Mrs. C. McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
undated
Box 2
Millicent B. Heath (Clinton, IA) to Addie Bean (South Royalton, VT)
undated
Box 2
Millicent B. Heath (Mechanicsville, VA) to Caroline McMaster (South Royalton, VT)
undated
Box 2
Millicent B. Heath to Mrs. Carrie McMaster
undated
Box 2
William H. Bean (Kansas City, MO) to unidentified recipient
undated
Box 2
Unidentified author to unidentified recipient
circa 1830-1860
Box 2
Irving McMaster [?] to unidentified recipient
undated
Other Descriptive Information
Composed on stationary from Wholsale Wooden and Willow Ware, Kansas City, MO.
Box 2
Millicent B. Heath to unidentified recipient
undated
Box 2
William H. Bean to unidentified recipient
undated
Box 2
Empty envelopes (postmarked)
undated
Box 2
R.C. Anderson to sister, Jefferson City, Missouri
1864 March 3
Box 2
McNair and Taylor, Arkansas, unknown recipient
1849 December 9
Box 2
W.H. Bean, in Kansas City, MO
1884 August 7
Series 2.
Family Documents
Box 3
Deed, William Root (Orange County, VT)
1819 January 1
Box 3
Copy of will, John Taylor [?]
1834
Box 3
Morris, Esau D. and Sealy-Land deed, State of Illinois, Clarke County- "$350.00 Paid"
1834 June 6
Box 3
Court order for estate seizure, William Preston (Windsor, VT)
1835 April 4
Box 3
Inventory of Taylor estate (Fayette County, KY)
1835 June 6
Other Descriptive Information
"13 negroes freed and valued at nothing" is included in the inventory.
Box 3
Land deed indenture, Frederic and Rebecca Shoot (Shelby County, MO)
1836 May 31
Box 3
Deed, Elmore Dyer, Asa Ritby (Windsor, VT)
1837 April 3
Box 3
Dry goods bill, Angeline Potter (Lexington KY)
1838 April 5
Box 3
Quit claim (NH)-$700
1839 November 11
Box 3
Will, John Taylor (Washington County, Arkansas)
1840 March 16
Box 3
Land title transfer, Stephen Bean, Chester Barten (Windsor, VT)
1846 October 17
Box 3
Copy of deed inquiry, J.H. Shoot, Hugh Simpson
1847 September 17
Box 3
Account statement, J.M. Shoot (St. Louis, MO)
1848 May 3
Box 3
Land title transfer, Stephen Bean (Windsor, VT)
1850 March 29
Box 3
Guardianship transfer to Caroline Bean
1851 April 6
Other Descriptive Information
For guardianship of Elmore, William, Adelaide, and Harriet Bean.
Box 3
Caroline Bean, estate inheritance inventory from Stephen Bean (VT) (husband)
1852 February 17
Box 3
Collection notice (Windsor, VT)
1852 December 14
Box 3
Mortgage, Thomas Hackett (Northfield, VT)
1854 July 8
Box 3
Warranty deed (Northfield,VT)
1855 July 25
Box 3
Deed, real estate (Shelby County, MO)
1856 February 7
Box 3
Land title, T.S Hackett to B. Ballard (Northfield, VT), Charles A. Joyce, notary
1856 March 7
Box 3
Estate deed, James Shoot (Grundy County, MO)
1856 August 29
Box 3
Deed, James Shoot (Grundy County, MO)
1858 July 5
Box 3
Duplicate estate title, signed by Caroline Bean
1859 March 24
Box 3
National Land Company, James Shoot (Pettis County, MO)
1860 April 15
Box 3
National Land Company, James Shoot (Pettis County, MO)
1860 April 20
Box 3
Deed George R. Smith, Sarah Utley (Pettis County, MO)
1864 September 14
Box 3
Bond for R.M. Benson and Lorenzo Honey (Royalton, VT)
1866 July 9
Box 3
Deed of mortgage, James H. Shoot (Pettis County, MO)
1867 February 4
Box 3
Warranty deed for Sarah Utley (Pettis County, MO)
1867 April 16
Box 3
Inventory of R.N. Benson Estate
1868 February 25
Box 3
Inventory and divisions
1868 April 28
Box 3
Quit claim, Sarah Utley (Pettis County, MO)
1868 June 7
Box 3
National Land Company (Topeka, KS)
1869 April 26
Box 3
Caroline McMaster taxes, receipts
1870 February 5
Box 3
Quit claim for Samuel Keith and Millicent B. Keith (Hartford, VT)
1870 October 11
Box 3
Hattie Ida Anderson [14 years] guardianship documents (Bourbon County, KS)
1870 November 22
Box 3
Deed transfer from Rufus M. Benson to Colleen Hearsen
1871 April 1
Box 3
Hattie Ida Anderson guardianship documents, probate court records (Bourbon County, KS)
1871 August 29
Box 3
Account statement, M.S. Adams
1873 December 11
Box 3
Title transfer, James Shoot, Sarah Utley (Bourbon, KS)
1874 March 20
Box 3
Registry of visitors to orphans home
1875 September 15
Box 3
Town and state taxes paid by C.J. McMaster
1890 October 30
Box 3
Clippings on how to treat typhoid for "Pop"
1898 December 28
Box 3
Misc. receipts and documents
undated
Box 3
Misc. postcards, clippings, and advertisements
circa 1920s-1930s
Flat-oversize 7
Report of Sick and Wounded, Fourth Regiment, Sixth Company, Commander J.H. Shoot
1864 February
Box 3
United States Paymaster General's Office, records for J.H. Shoot Union Army pay
1865 June 24
Box 3
Family Birth Registry for "Milky" and her children
1790-1830
Box 4
Caroline Bean, R.M. Benson, Irving McMaster [tintype, carte de visite]
circa 1860s
Box 4
R.E. and Minnie Bean [scanned from original cyantotype]
late 19th century
Box 4
Rufus Elmore Bean, Kenrick Clark, Minnie, Isabel [gelatin print]
1906
Box 4
Bean Benson Family Portraits [16 photographs: tintype, carte de visite, cabinet cards, gelatin prints and one sterecopic photograph]
circa 1860s-1915
Box 4
Charles and Jeremiah Davis, Gertrude Keith [carte de visite]
1860s
Box 4
William T. Davis (Thetford, VT) [tintype and gelatin print]
mid 19th century, circa 1905
Box 4
George Williams Mayo (Franklin NH) [albumen print]
1896
Box 4
Helen McMaster ("7 months. For Uncle Elmore") [cabinet card]
1880-1900
Box 4
Probably Irving McMaster and Daughter
late 19th century
Box 4
Irving McMaster and Daughter[ [2 prints]
circa 1900-1915
Box 4
Unknown mother daughter "McMaster" portraits
circa 1900-1910
Box 4
Young man [carte de visite] and young woman [gelatin print]
circa 1860s-1910
Flat-box 6
Aunt and sister [ambrotype]
Flat-box 6
Elderly gentleman [ambrotype]
Flat-box 6
Grandmother Benson [daguerrotype]
Flat-box 6
Rufus Elmore Bean [daguerrotype]
Flat-box 6
Dr. Samuel Keith and unidentified female [ambrotype]
Box 8
Soldier's aunt and sister, [tintype]
1860s
Box 8
Two unknown men [tintype]
1860s
Box 8
"Last Supper In Camp- Father and William"
1864
Three business cards for WH Bean Furniture in Kansas City [Genre Illustrations]
undated
Flat-box 5
Leather pouch with brass clasp
undated
Flat-box 5
Ivory army multi-tool with silver name plate
undated
Flat-box 5
Bloodletting tool (fleam) with case
undated
Flat-box 5
Pocket knife with carved wooden handle
undated
Box 8
Pen knife, ebony handle with brass fittings and clip
undated