TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary of the Collection
Biography of Oliver Perry Newberry
Scope and Content of the Collection
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Inventory of the Oliver Perry Newberry Papers, 1860-1895
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Lisa Janssen, 2004. ©2004. |
Descriptive Summary of the Collection |
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| Creator | Newberry, O. P. (Oliver Perry), 1831-1874 |
| Title | Oliver Perry Newberry Papers |
| Dates | 1860-1895 |
| Extent | 0.4 linear feet (1 box) |
| Abstract | Mainly correspondence of Cameron, Missouri resident Oliver Perry Newberry, 1860-1867, primarily relating to his Civil War service in the Union army; and cabinet, carte-de-visite and a few tintype photographs of Newberry family and friends dating primarily from the 1880's. |
| Language | Materials are in English. |
| Repository | Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections |
| Collection Call Number | Midwest MS Newberry |
| Collection Stack Location | 3a 41 3 |
Administrative Information
Cite As
Oliver Perry Newberry Papers, The Newberry Library, Chicago.
Provenance
Purchased from Mitchell J. Strucinski, Mar. 21, 1973.
Processed by
Martha Briggs, 2002
Access
The Oliver Perry Newberry Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 5 folders at a time maximum, and items in each folder will be counted before and after delivery to the patron (Priority I).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Oliver Perry Newberry Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.
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Biography of Oliver Perry Newberry
Cameron, Missouri, resident and Civil War soldier.
Known as O. P. or Perry, Oliver Perry Newberry was born in Sangerfield, Oneida County, N.Y., in 1831. The son of Amasa Stoughton Newberry and Cornelia Perry (Pangborn) Newberry, O. P. Newberry's brother was Walter Cass Newberry and his uncle was Walter Loomis Newberry, the founder of the Newberry Library. According to a printed Newberry family genealogy, O. P. Newberry spent three years (1849-1852) in California prospecting for gold and then served as a captain in Gen. Walker's filibustering expedition (1852-1853) against Sonora, Mexico. He was wounded and left for dead on the field, but later managed to find his way back to the U.S. In 1855, Newberry settled in Cameron, Missouri, where he worked as an engineer on the construction of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad and farmed lands inherited by his wife, Lydia Elizabeth (McCorkle) Newberry, to whom he was married in 1858. They had three children, Walter Franklin (b. 1860), Ella Perry (b. 1862), and Amasa Samuel (b. 1867).
During the Civil War, Oliver Perry Newberry served as a first lieutenant of Company I in the 13th Missouri Regiment of Volunteers, as captain of Company I in the 25th Missouri Regiment of Volunteers, and as major in the 5th Missouri State Militia (2nd org.). Newberry returned after the war to his family in Cameron, where according to his wife's letters, he was unable to adjust to civilian life, drinking too much and working too little. In his own correspondence Newberry reported he was in a confused state. He died in 1874.
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Scope and Content of the Collection
Mainly correspondence of Oliver Perry Newberry, 1860-1867, primarily relating to his Civil War activities, and cabinet, carte-de-visite and a few tintype photographs of Newberry family and friends dating primarily from the 1880's.
Correspondence consists mainly of letters from Oliver Perry Newberry to his mother, brother Walter Cass Newberry, and wife. There are also several letters written to him by his mother and wife. These letters concern Newberry's wartime service and give news of family. There is one pre-war letter regarding business matters and several post-war letters regarding Oliver Perry's problems settling in to civilian routines. In addition there are two 1890's letters from a former Norwegian servant addressed to Walter Franklin Newberry in Chicago.
There are forty photographs, mostly unidentified, mainly taken by studio photographers in Cameron, Mo., Illinois, Michigan, and Colorado. One immediate family member, daughter Ella Perry Newberry, is identified.
Narrative descriptions of the subject matter, types of material, and arrangement of each series are available through the Organization section of the finding aid.
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Organization
Papers are organized in the following series:
- Series 1: Correspondence, 1860-1895. Box(es) 1
- Series 2: Photographs, ca. 1860-ca. 1890. Box(es) 1
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Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Newberry Library's public catalog. Researchers desiring additional materials on a particular topic should search the catalog using these headings.
Names
- United States. Army. Missouri State Militia Regiment, 5th (1861-1865)
- Newberry, Cornelia Perry
- Newberry, Lydia Elizabeth
- Newberry, O. P. (Oliver Perry), 1831-1874 -- Correspondence
- Newberry, Walter Cass, 1835-1912
- Newberry, Walter Franklin -- Employees
- Newbuy family -- Portraits
- United States. Army. Missouri Infantry Regiment, 13th (1861)
- United States. Army. Missouri Infantry Regiment, 25th (1861-1865)
Subjects
- Cabinet photographs
- Cartes-de-visite
- Corinth, Battle of, Tenn., 1862 -- Personal narratives
- Correspondence -- Mississippi -- 1851-1900
- Correspondence -- Tennessee -- 1851-1900
- Correspondence -- Missouri -- 1851-1900
- Household employees -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Husband and wife -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Manuscripts, American
- Mississippi -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
- Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
- Patriotic envelopes
- Photographs -- 1851-1900
- Shiloh, Battle of, Tenn., 1862 -- Personal narratives
- Soldiers -- Mississippi -- Correspondence
- Soldiers -- Missouri -- Correspondence
- Soldiers -- Tennessee -- Correspondence
- Soldiers' writings, American
- Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
- Tintypes
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Military life
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
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Container List
Series 1: Correspondence, 1860-1895 |
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| Correspondence of Oliver Perry Newberry with his wife, Lydia Elizabeth McCorkle Newberry (Lizzie), his mother, Cornelia Perry Pangborn Newberry, and brother, Walter Cass Newberry, mainly pertaining to Newberry's Civil War military service in Missouri, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Tennessee; his activities immediately preceding and following the war; and children and other family matters. Newberry's Civil War letters express surprise at abolitionist sentiment in the North; talk about his desire to prove himself in battle and worthy of promotion; request epaulets, sashes, swords, and other trappings of an officer's rank; and express patriotic sentiments. The letters discuss conflicts between secessionists and unionists in Missouri; the aftermath of the Battle of Shiloh, and skirmishing during the siege at Corinth. Two letters have accompanying envelopes with patriotic vignettes. After the war in two letters to Walter Cass Newberry, Newberry's wife Lizzie graphically describe his inability to adapt to civilian life, citing ill temper, constant use of profanity, excessive drinking, and unwillingness to work. There are also two 1890's letters from former Norwegian servant Hannah Mathison to son Walter Franklin Newberry that concern her return to Chicago. | |||||||||||
| Arranged chronologically. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry, (brother), Cameron, MO (business, family), Nov. 8. 1860 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry (brother), Cameron, MO (military bill, secessionists, the Union Party, Union/Secessionist tension, refusal to take oath, railroads, business), June 4, 1861 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry (brother), Camero, MO (election to first lieutenant of Home Guards), June 12, 1861 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry (brother), Cameron, MO (Union occupation, secessionist prisoners, the oath, Home Guard, flight of Governor, railroads, secessionist drills and supplies), Envelope with patriotic vignette, June 17, 1861 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry (brother), Camp Lander, St. Joseph, MO (first lieutenant, officers, promotion), Envelope with patriotic vignette, Aug. 16, 1861 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry (brother), St. Louis, MO (abolitionists, Battle of Lexington, dead and wounded, officers), Envelope, Newspaper clipping detailing battle with reward for runaway slave on back, Oct. 9. 1861 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Letter, Newberry, Cornelia Perry (mother) to Oliver Perry Newberry, Waterville, NY (congratulations at birth of child, Walter sent to war, orders to act honorably and live, Revolutionary war, family), Mar. 23, 1862 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Cornelia Perry Newberry (mother), Pittsburg, TN (dead officers, Battle of Shiloh, honor, dead and wounded, possible promotions, deserters, family), Apr. 13, 1862 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Cornelia Perry Newberry (mother), Corinth, MS (constant skirmishes, hopes for victory, quarter-master), Envelope, May 22, 1862 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Cornelia Perry Newberry (mother), Benton Barracks, St. Louis, MO (orders to fight, Union sentiment, dying in war, ambition, family), Envelope, Mar. 23, 1863 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Miss. F. L. Edgerton (Cousin Fanny), St. Louis, MO (acquaintances, promotion), May 22, 1863 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Walter C. Newberry (brother), St. Louis, MO (visiting family, recruiting, loss of ambition, longing for peace), Dec. 30, 1864 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Letter, Newberry, Lydia Elizabeth McCorkle (Lizzie) to Walter C. Newberry (brother), Cameron, MO (death of mother, will, alcoholism, difficulty readjusting to family and society), Envelope, Jan. 25, 1866 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Letter, Newberry, Lydia Elizabeth McCorkle (Lizzie) to Walter C. Newberry (brother), Cameron, MO (marriage, children, alcoholism, failure to provide for self and family), Envelope, Aug. 5, 1867 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Letter, Newberry, Oliver Perry to Miss F. L. Edgerton (Cousin Fanny), Cameron, MO (confusion of mind, family), Sept. 16, 1867 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Letter, Mathison, Hannah to Walter Franklin Newberry, Trondheim, Norway (death of Hannah's mother and daughter, emigration, farm, chances of returning, domestic help, family), June 18, 1893 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Letter, Mathison, Hannah to Walter Franklin Newberry, Lerfossen, Norway (gratitude, employment), Aug. 8, 1895 | |||||||||
Series 2: Photographs, ca. 1860-ca. 1890 |
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| Forty photographs of Newberry family members and friends, mostly unidentified, including cartes-de-visite, cabinet photographs, and three tintypes. Identified relatives include Ella Perry Newberry. There are also two photographs of dogs (a pug with a baby and St. Bernard puppies). Photographs were taken at studios in San Diego, Calif.; Boulder, Central City, and Denver, Colo.; Ogden, Iowa; Chicago, Ill.; Lincoln, Me., Bay City, East Saginaw, Jackson, Mt. Pleasant, and St. John, Mich.; Cameron and Kansas City, Mo.; Pottsville, Pa.; and Green Bay, Wisc. There are also photographs from an undetermined location taken by "Hemingway - Photo". | |||||||||||
| Arranged by state and town of photographer, followed by those of an undetermined location (including tintypes).. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | California - San Diego (1 photo) Hollington, Mary Aileen, 1889 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Colorado (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 20 | Colorado - Boulder (2 photos) Paynter, E. D. | |||||||||
| 1 | 21 | Colorado - Central City (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 22 | Colorado - Denver (5 photos) Amsden, Dan; Mr. Howell; Miss Haskin; Minnie | |||||||||
| 1 | 23 | Illinois - Chicago (3 photos) | |||||||||
| 1 | 24 | Iowa - Ogden (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 25 | Maine - Lincoln (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 26 | Michigan - Bay City (3 photos) McCormick, Frankie | |||||||||
| 1 | 27 | Michigan - East Saginaw (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 28 | Michigan - Jackson (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 29 | Michigan - Mt. Pleasant (4 photos) | |||||||||
| 1 | 30 | Michigan - St. John (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 31 | Missouri - Cameron (4 photos) Newberry, Ella Perry; Schmidt, Sophie W.; St. Bernard puppies | |||||||||
| 1 | 32 | Missouri - Kansas City (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 33 | Pennsylvania - Pottsville (1 photo) | |||||||||
| 1 | 34 | Wisconsin - Green Bay (1 photo) Vallier, Maggie, 1887 | |||||||||
| 1 | 35 | Unidentified Location (2 photos) | |||||||||
| 1 | 36 | Unidentified Location - "Hemingway - Photo" (3 photos) | |||||||||
| 1 | 37 | Unidentified Location - Tintypes (3 photos) | |||||||||