Nellie F. Stanley Letters to Nathaniel S. Wheeler: Finding Aid
mssStanley
Gayle M. Richardson
The Huntington Library
June 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Nellie F. Stanley letters to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
Creator:
Stanley, Nellie F., 1843-1909
Identifier/Call Number: mssStanley
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1865-1867
Abstract: A series of letters written by Nellie
F. Stanley to her sweetheart, United States soldier, Nathaniel S. Wheeler.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
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Conditions Governing Use
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Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Nellie F. Stanley letters to Nathaniel S. Wheeler, The Huntington
Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Bartleby's Books, July 2021.
Biographical / Historical
Nellie F. Stanley (1843-1909) lived in Enfield, New Hampshire, where she worked as a
seamstress in a shop. She married Nathaniel S. Wheeler in April 1868 in Enfield; by the 1880
Census, the couple had four children.
Biographical / Historical
Nathaniel S. Wheeler (1832-1904) enlisted in the 11th Regiment of New Hampshire Infantry in
1862 and served three years. After the war, Wheeler received a Lieutenant's commission with
the 125th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops and was sent west to fight the Plains
Native Americans; in April 1866, he was promoted to Captain. From 1866 to 1867 he served in
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Fort Craig, Fort Bliss, and Fort Union, New Mexico. Wheeler
mustered out of the service in December 1867, shortly before the regiment was disbanded. He
married Nellie F. Stanley in April 1868, and in the 1870 Census his occupation is listed as
painter.
Scope and Contents
A collection of 31 autograph, signed letters; the majority written from various towns in
New Hampshire. Twenty-seven of the letters were written by Nellie F. Stanley to her
"sweetheart" Nathaniel S. Wheeler; all of the letters have accompanying envelopes. The
letters were written from her home in Enfield, New Hampshire, to Wheeler as he moved between
various army posts over a two-year period. The letters detail her life in New Hampshire,
including her work as a seamstress in a shop, her opinion of colored troops, church, the
local county, town social life, the weather, news of relatives and friends. She also
expresses discouragement about their separation and offers to end their courtship if that is
what would make him happy. The collection also includes four additional letters: one each
from Wheeler's sister, Susan, his cousin Emily, Amos K. Kepner, and a friend who signs his
letter "A. F. S."
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Gayle M. Richardson in June 2022.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Related Materials
The Huntington also holds two collections that contain letters from Nellie F. Stanley:
Nathaniel Wheeler correspondence (mssHM 81470-81546) and Nathaniel Wheeler papers (mssHM
81576-81597).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Courtship -- New Hampshire -- 19th century
Love-letters -- New Hampshire -- 19th century
New Hampshire -- Social life and customs
United States -- History, Military -- 19th century
West (U.S.) -- History, Military
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Kepner, Amos K.
Wheeler, Susan
Box 1, Folder 1
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1865 September 24
Box 1, Folder 2
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1865 October 10
Box 1, Folder 3
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1865 October 24
Box 1, Folder 4
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1865 November 26
Box 1, Folder 5
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1865 December 29
Box 1, Folder 6
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 February 4
Box 1, Folder 7
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 February 25
Box 1, Folder 8
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 March 2
Box 1, Folder 9
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 March 9
Box 1, Folder 10
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 March 16
Box 1, Folder 11
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 March 23
Box 1, Folder 12
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 March 29
Box 1, Folder 13
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 April 2
Box 1, Folder 14
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 April 18
Box 1, Folder 15
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 April 26
Box 1, Folder 16
Susan Wheeler letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 April 29
Scope and Contents
Letter and envelope fire-damaged, some loss of text.
Box 1, Folder 17
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 August 8-9
Box 1, Folder 18
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 August 12
Box 1, Folder 19
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 August 22-23
Box 1, Folder 20
Emily ----- letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 September 2
Box 1, Folder 21
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 September 2-3
Box 1, Folder 22
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 October 2
Box 1, Folder 23
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 November 29
Box 1, Folder 24
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 December 11
Box 1, Folder 25
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1866 December 20
Box 1, Folder 26
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1867 March 3
Box 1, Folder 27
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1867 March 15
Box 1, Folder 28
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1867 March 17
Box 1, Folder 29
A. F. S. letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1867 May 5
Box 1, Folder 30
Amos K. Kepner letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1867 May 9
Box 1, Folder 31
Nellie F. Stanley letter to Nathaniel S. Wheeler
1867 August 5
