Chapman Family Papers

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Chapman Family Papers

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Table of contents

Diaries and notebooks 1849-1924

Scope and Contents

Series includes William Wesley Chapman's diary of an overland journey to California in 1849; the brief entries cover March 12 to July 25 from St. Louis, Missouri, to Idaho and Hudspeth's Cutoff and primarily mention landscape, waterways, animals and game sighted and killed. There are occasional mentions of deaths of migrants from cholera and of Native Americans sighted, but no details are provided. The volume also has notes and expenses kept in California, October to December, with a short English/Spanish dictionary. Also present are multiple copies of William Wesley Chapman's printed funeral notice that had been filed with the diary. In addition, this series includes Chapman's notebook and account book with brief entries kept in California from March to September 1849 as well as undated bound facsimiles of both volumes, which includes a tipped in letter from Belle Chapman to her daughter Lillian Chapman Merrill, 1924 February 4 with biographic information about William Wesley Chapman.

Series also includes Anna Clarkson Chapman's diary and childhood reminiscences, written from 1885 to 1891; primarily memories of growing up in Illinois in the 1820 and 1830s and a contemporary diary, which includes lists with birth and death dates of family members, also family travels and visits. Also present is a receipt for Anna Clarkson Chapman's burial expenses dated 1908 December 16.

Box 1, Folder 1

William Wesley Chapman diary of journey to California HM 49263 1849

Box 1, Folder 2

William Wesley Chapman notebook and account book HM 49264 1850

Box 1, Folder 3

Anna Clarkson Chapman diary HM 49267 1885-1891, 1908

Box 1, Folder 4

William Wesley Chapman volumes - facsimiles HM 49263 (FAC), HM 49264 (FAC) 1924, undated

Correspondence 1829-1936

Scope and Contents

Series includes correspondence of Isaiah Chapman from 1829 regarding the family's settlement in Illinois (three letters), and William Wesley Chapman's 1893 letter to his granddaughter Lillian Chapman which details his journey across Nicaragua in 1850.

Also present is Russel L. Tracy's 1936 letter which details his memories of Camp Carlin, Wyoming in the 1880s. Filed with Tracy's letter are photographic copies that appear to be taken by Mark A. Chapman of original photographs of Camp Carlin taken approximately 1877 to 1885; the original photos had been shared by Tracy and were presumably returned to him. Photocopies and clippings with descriptions of Camp Carlin and Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming are filed with Tracy's letter.

Box 1, Folder 5

Isaiah Chapman correspondence HM 49262, HM 49268-49269 1829

Box 1, Folder 6

William Wesley Chapman letter to Lillian Merrill HM 49266 1893 March 4

Box 1, Folder 7

Russel L. Tracy letter to Mark A. Chapman HM 49274 1936 October 5

Legal and administrative documents 1769-1866

Scope and Contents

Series includes a 1769 copy of Abraham Chapman's 1752 will; an appointment of Thomas Chapman to office of Register for Knox County, Tennessee, 1792 June 16; and a 1797 copy made by Thomas Chapman of a 1794 deed for land in Tennessee to James Richardson. Also present is an 1852 deed for land in Edwardsville, Illinois, with the secretarial signature of President Millard Fillmore.

Series also includes several William Wesley Chapman items: a receipt for passage on ship J.M Ryerson from San Francisco to Realejo, Nicaragua, and Panama, 1850 September 12; an appointment of Chapman to the office of County Surveyor for Scott County, Illinois, 1855 November 13; and an indenture agreement with the Chicago Home for the Friendless to house and educate Tell Cloud, a three-year-old boy, 1866 October 22.

Box 1, Folder 8

Chapman family documents HM 49260-49261, HM 49271 1769-1797

Box 1, Folder 9

Land deed to Jacob Holbrooks HM 49270 1852 June 1

Box 1, Folder 10

William Wesley Chapman documents HM 49265, HM 49272-49273 1850-1866

Collection Contents

Diaries and notebooks

Correspondence

Legal and administrative documents