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Eldridge (James William) Collection
mssEG  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Processing Information
  • Arrangement

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: James William Eldridge collection
    Creator: Eldridge, James W. (James William), 1841-1909
    Identifier/Call Number: mssEG
    Physical Description: 104.16 Linear Feet (82 boxes, 2 envelopes)
    Date (inclusive): 1797-1902
    Date (bulk): 1861-1865
    Abstract: James William Eldridge served in 127th New York Infantry, Company A and 23rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. This collection consists of Eldridge letters, manuscripts, documents, printed military forms, autographs, ephemera, and photographs from 1797-1902.
    Language of Material: Materials are in English.

    Conditions Governing Access

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

    Conditions Governing Use

    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]. James William Eldridge collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Purchased from William H. Murray, 1916.

    Biographical / Historical

    James William Eldridge served in 127th New York Infantry Regiment, Company A during the American Civil War from 1862-1864. In September 1864 he joined the 23rd United States Colored Troops with the rank of Second Lieutenant and was promoted to First Lieutenant in March 1865. After the war he began an extensive collection of letters, manuscripts, books, photographs, and other materials relating to the major military and civilian figures of the war years.

    Scope and Contents

    The James William Eldridge collection consists of letters, manuscripts, documents, printed military forms, autographs, ephemera, and approximately 4000 portraits and contemporary photographs from 1797-1902. The collection documents military history of the Civil War, from both the Union and Confederate sides, concentrating on commanding officers, military and naval operations and administration, the armed forces of South Carolina and Virginia, and the everyday life of the common soldiers (including prisons and medical care). Also included are materials on civilian administration and politics during the war years, concentrating on governors, mayors, and congressmen.
    The bulk of the collection deals with the American Civil War, although there is some material on the antebellum and post-war politics and military history, including the raid on Harpers Ferry and the post-war Navy.
    The collection contains materials from US presidents James A. Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, and Rutherford B. Hayes; see container list for item details.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa mid-20th century. In 2020, Gina C Giang created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report and Maggie Hughes added the box list. In 2022, Melissa Haley enhanced description of the presidential material present in the collection as part of the American Presidential Papers Project.

    Arrangement

    Organized in two series:
    • Correspondence and documents
    • Miscelleaneous materials

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Manuscripts, American -- Collectors and collecting
    Confederate States of America -- History -- Sources
    Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) -- History -- John Brown's Raid, 1859 -- Sources
    South Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
    United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
    United States -- History, Military -- To 1900 -- Sources
    United States -- History, Naval -- To 1900 -- Sources
    United States -- Politics and Government -- 19th century -- Sources
    Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
    Collections (object groupings) -- United States -- 19th century
    Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
    Manuscripts -- United States -- 19th century
    Military records -- Confederate States of America
    Military records -- United States -- 19th century
    Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881
    Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
    Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901
    Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893
    Confederate States of America. Army -- Military life
    United States. Army -- Military life -- Civil War, 1861-1865