Halpine (Charles G.) Papers, 1848-1889

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Summary

Title:
Charles G. Halpine papers
Dates:
1848-1889
Creators:
Halpine, Charles G. (Charles Graham), 1829-1868
Abstract:
Primarily correspondence and writings of Charles G. Halpine, a journalist, poet, and Union soldier, dating from 1848 to 1868.
Extent:
12.5 Linear Feet (9 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 microfilm reel)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Charles G. Halpine papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection primarily consists of correspondence and writings of Charles G. Halpine, dating from 1848 to 1868. Also present are photographs (mostly cartes-de-visite of Civil War soldiers), ephemera, newspaper clippings, an 1864 pocket diary, an incomplete novel draft, and a biographical sketch of Halpine written by his wife, Margaret G. Halpine. Correspondence discusses New York politics and literary life, and Halpine's experience in the U.S. Civil War. Correspondents include Horace Greeley, John Milton Hay, David Hunter, Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers, Benjamin Penhallow Shillaber, Alfred Howe Terry, and Margaret G. Halpine. Some letters written by Halpine and others are photocopies made from microfilm loaned by William Hanchett in 1967.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Graham Halpine (1829-1868) was born Charles Boyton Halpin in Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland, the son of a Church of Ireland clergyman and editor of the Dublin Evening Mail. He studied medicine and law at Trinity College and wrote for various newspapers in Dublin and London. Halpine married Margaret G. Milligan in 1849; he emigrated to the United States in 1850. He became the co-editor of The Carpet-Bag journal, worked for the New York Herald and The New York Times, and in 1857 became the principal editor of The Leader, a newspaper that supported Senator Stephen A. Douglas. In April 1861, Halpine enlisted in Company D of the 69th New York State Militia. During the Civil War, he held various positions with the general volunteers and obtained staff positions with General David Hunter and General John A. Dix; he was twice breveted and ended the war as a brigadier general. Throughout his military service, Halpine continued to write for northern newspapers, often under the guise of Private Miles O'Reilly, a fictional Irish soldier. Following the Civil War, he served as Register of the County of New York, and assumed the editorship of The Citizen, a reform newspaper. In addition to his career in journalism, Halpine also wrote poetry and fiction. He died in New York of a chloroform overdose at age 39.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Charles G. Halpine, 1966.
Processing information:

This finding aid was created in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description of the presidential material present. The items had been assembled physically and arranged by Huntington Library former staff in the mid-20th century.

Arrangement:

Correspondence is arranged chronologically; Halpine's poems are organized alphabetically by title.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Melissa Haley
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-28 16:34:19 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. Charles G. Halpine papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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