Benjamin Franklin Scribner Papers: Finding Aid mssSC
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
October 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Benjamin Franklin Scribner papers
Creator:
Scribner, B. F. (Benjamin
Franklin), 1825-1900
Identifier/Call Number: mssSC
Physical Description:
5.83 Linear Feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1838-1911
Date (bulk): 1861-1865
Abstract: A collection of personal and
professional material related to the life and career of Benjamin Franklin Scribner, American
soldier and businessman.
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]. Benjamin Franklin Scribner papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from John Howell, 1923.
Biographical / Historical
Benjamin Franklin Scribner (1825-1900) was born in New Albany, Indiana. During the
Mexican-American War Scribner served as a private in Company A of the 2nd Indiana Regiment
of Volunteers and took part in the battle of Buena Vista; he published memoirs of his
experiences in 1847 and 1850. During the Civil War he was the founding colonel of the 38th
Indiana Infantry Regiment and fought with the Army of the Cumberland. After the war Scribner
returned to private life and his pharmacy business; from 1868 to 1880 he was an agent and
collector for the U.S. Treasury.
Scope and Contents
A collection of 1,100 items from 1838 to 1911, it consists of documents, letters,
manuscripts, receipts, orders, muster rolls, and a diary. The collection includes documents
detailing general and special field battles such as Buena Vista and Murfreesboro; returns;
final statements of deceased soldiers; personnel records; circulars; duty rosters;
requisitions; and receipts for supplies. The collection includes a diary of Scribner's
activities written during the Mexican War from 1846 to 1847 with some pages which were
edited by another hand for publication. There are also a few documents relating to
Scribner's Treasury work such as indentures and tobacco stamp reports. The collection also
contains an 1838 childhood composition book of essays; letters written to Scribner's family;
personal and business papers. Correspondents include: Absalom Baird, Don Carlos Buell,
William Passmore Carlin, Speed S. Fry, James A. Garfield, Robert S. Granger, Ulysses S.
Grant, Milo S. Hascall, Richard W. Johnson, John H. King, Alexander McDowell McCook, O.M.
Mitchell, J.S. Negley, William S. Rosecrans, L.H. Rousseau, William T. Sherman, William S.
Smith, J.C. Starkweather, and Thomas J. Wood.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1930. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssSC 1-200.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Atlanta Campaign, 1864
Buena Vista, Battle of, Mexico,
1847
Chattanooga, Battle of, Chattanooga,
Tenn., 1863
Chickamauga, Battle of, Ga.,
1863
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Soldiers -- United States -- Correspondence
Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Indiana -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Kentucky -- History -- Civil War,
1861-1865
Mississippi -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Tennessee -- History -- Civil War,
1861-1865
United States -- History -- Civil War,
1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Diaries -- United States
Documents -- United States
Letters (correspondence) -- United States
Memoirs -- United States -- 19th century
Military records -- United States
Receipts -- United States
Baird, Absalom,
1824-1905
Buell, Don Carlos, 1818-1898
Carlin, William Passmore,
1829-1903
Fry, Speed Smith, 1817-1892
Garfield, James A. (James Abram),
1831-1881
Granger, Robert S.
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson),
1822-1885
Hascall, Milo S.
Johnson, Richard W.,
1827-1897
King, John H.
McCook, Alexander McDowell,
1831-1903
Mitchel, O. M. (Ormsby
MacKnight), 1809-1862
Negley, J. S. (James Scott),
1826-1901
Rosecrans, William S. (William Starke),
1819-1898
Rousseau, Lovell Harrison,
1818-1869
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh),
1820-1891
Smith, William S. (William
Stephen), 1917-
Starkweather, J. C. (John C.),
1830-1890
Thomas, Lorenzo,
1804-1875
Wood, Thomas J., 1823-1906
United States. Army of the Cumberland. 14th Army
Corps
United States. Army (Mexican War, 1846-1848)
United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 2nd
United States. Army. Indiana
Infantry Regiment, 38th (1861-1865)
United States. Army. Officers
United States. Department of the Treasury -- Officials
and employees
Box 1
Military papers
1861-1862 June
Box 2
Military papers
1862 July-1863 June
Box 3
Military papers
1863 July-December
Box 4
Military papers ; 38th Volunteer Regiment of Indiana Infantry
records
1861-1864
Box 5
Personal and business papers, composition book, autograph book,
diary
1838-1911
