Steele Family Correspondence: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Alex Young, August 31, 2010.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2016
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Steele Family Correspondence
Dates (inclusive): 1853-1903
Dates (inclusive): 1866-1876
Collection Number: mssHM 73830-73862
Creator:
Steele family
Extent: 33 items in 1 box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection includes thirty letters chiefly from the Steele family of Ann Arbor, Michigan, between 1856 and the 1870s,
to Ellen
Steele Sturges (1837-1930). The letters primarily discuss family news and health, as
well as occasional references to cultural and religious life in Ann Arbor.
Notably, one letter discusses President Ulysses S. Grant’s unsuccessful bid for a third term.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
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]. Steele Family Correspondence, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Mrs. Joanna P. Leonard, January 16, 1948.
Biographical Note
The family of minister Ebenezer Steele (October 18, 1808-1900) and Phebe Steele (1819-1910)
lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their daughter Julia lived in their household in Ann
Arbor until her death on November 11, 1866, of an unknown tuberculosis-like
illness. Their son, Valentine, lived in Ann Arbor until the time of his death of an
unknown tuberculosis-like illness on June 12, 1874. Another daughter, Ellen (1837-1930), who worked as a school teacher in
Michigan, married
David B. Sturges, and immigrated with him to Montana Territory sometime
between 1856-1866, where they lived in Helena, Virginia City, and Gallatin. Ellen
Sturges eventually settled in San Bernardino, California, between 1876 and 1902. The
Steeles of Ann Arbor were active in the First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor,
and ran a boarding house for students at the University of Michigan, where they
often attended events.
Scope and Content
The collection contains thirty letters chiefly from the Steele family of Ann Arbor, Michigan, between 1856 and the 1870s,
to Ellen
Steele Sturges (1837-1930). All but one of which are addressed to Ellen
(or Ellen and David) Sturges from her immediate family (and one friend, identified
only as "Rebecca"). The aberrant letter was written in 1856 to David B.
Sturges from Ellen (it is unclear if they were already married at this point). The
correspondence contains detailed descriptions of the failing health and treatment of
Julia and Valentine Steele in the months leading up to their deaths. There are
occasional references to cultural and religious life in Ann Arbor in the letters of
the 1866-1876 period, especially regarding the growth of the Methodist Church and
the public speeches of Erastus Otis Haven (1863-1869), the second president of the
University of Michigan and pastor of the First United Methodist Church. Though
politics and national affairs are rarely discussed, HM 73855 includes Phebe Steele's
thoughts on President Ulysses S. Grant's unsuccessful bid for a third term. Ebenezer
and Phebe Steele express deep anxiety throughout the 1866 correspondence as to their
daughter's safety from Indians in Montana, though no specific events are referenced.
In addition to the correspondence, there is a family record, believed to be in the
hand of Phebe Steele, detailing the birth and death dates of the siblings and
parents of Ebenezer Steele, as well as a folder containing seven empty envelopes.
Related Materials
Arrangement
Items arranged chronologically.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Grant, Ulysses S.
(Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885.
Steele family.
Medicine -- Michigan -- 19th
century.
Methodists -- Michigan -- 19th
century.
Respiratory organs --
Diseases.
Tuberculosis.
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) Michigan --
19th century.
1856, April 25.
Sturges, Ellen. Letter to David B. Sturges. HM 73830
1866, May 9-May 13.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73831
1866, May 14.
Steele, Valentine. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73832
1866, May 21.
Steele, Julia. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73833
1866, June 24.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73834
1866, June 28.
Steele, Ebenezer. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73835
1866, July 22.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73836
1866, August 19.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73837
1866, September8-November 11.
“Rebecca.” Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73838
1866, [September 8?].
Steele, Julia. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73839
1866, September23.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73840
1866, September25.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73841
1866, September30.
Steele, Julia. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73842
1866, [October 21?].
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73843
1866, November 11.
Steele, Ebenezer. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73844
1866, November 11.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73845
1869, February 10.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73846
1870, July 3.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73847
1873, March 31.
Steele, Valentine. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73848
[1873 or 1874], June 19.
Steele, Valentine. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73849
1873, October 19-October 21.
Steele, Ebenezer. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73850
1874, March 14.
Steele, Valentine. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73851
1874, June 9.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73852
1874, June 15.
Steele, Ebenezer. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73853
1875, January 17.
Steele, Ebenezer. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73854
1876, January 23.
Steele, Ebenezer. Letter to David and Ellen Sturges. HM 73855
1876, January 23.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73856
1902, May 15.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73857
1902, May 21.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73858
[Approximately 1902].
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73859
1903, May 1.
Steele, Phebe. Letter to Ellen Sturges. HM 73860
[After 1897]
Steele, Phebe. Family Record. HM 73861
1866-[1873?].
Empty envelopes. 7 items. HM 73862
