Chapman Family Papers: Finding Aid mssChapmanf
Melissa Haley
The Huntington Library
February 2023
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Chapman family papers
Creator:
Chapman (Family)
Identifier/Call Number: mssChapmanf
Physical Description:
0.21 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1769-1936
Date (bulk): 1849-1893
Abstract: Collection contains diaries, correspondence, and legal and administrative records of the Chapman family from 1769 to 1936,
especially William Wesley Chapman (1823-1906).
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
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]. Chapman family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mark A. Chapman, May and June 1948.
Biographical / Historical
William Wesley Chapman (1823-1906) was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and practiced law in Winchester, Illinois, from 1848
to 1888 and was also a farmer. In April 1854, he married Anna Clarkson (1821-1908) who was born in Clinton, Tennessee, and
raised in Illinois; the couple had three children who survived to adulthood: Eva Chapman Graves (1855-1911), Albert L. Chapman
(1857-1938), and Celinda Jo "Gypsy" Chapman Clardy (1863-1929). William Wesley Chapman traveled to California in search of
gold in 1849, returning to Illinois in 1850. In 1888, William Wesley and Anna Chapman moved to Wichita, Kansas, then later
to Holdenville, Oklahoma, where they both died.
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of diaries and notebooks, correspondence, and legal and administrative records of the Chapman family from
1769 to 1936, especially William Wesley Chapman. Much of the material documents the family's history in Illinois in the mid-nineteenth
century. Several William Wesley Chapman items detail his travels to and from California on the overland Oregon Trail in 1849
and by sea from San Francisco via Nicaragua in 1850. Also present is an 1852 deed for land in Edwardsville, Illinois, with
the secretarial signature of President Millard Fillmore.
Processing Information
The Chapman family papers were processed in 2023 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project. The
items had been assembled physically and arranged by former Huntington Library staff; material was rehoused during processing.
Arrangement
Arranged into the following series: 1. Diaries and notebooks; 2. Correspondence; 3. Legal and administrative documents.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Illinois -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Oregon National Historic Trail
Nicaragua -- Description and travel
United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Wyoming -- History -- 19th century
Deeds -- United States -- 19th century
Diaries -- United States -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Chapman, Anna Clarkson, 1821-1908
Chapman, William Wesley, 1823-1906
Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874
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
