Recent Collections

Lawrence Textile Workers Strike handbill, 1912.

Location: Lawrence Public Library (Lawrence, Mass.)

Background: The Lawrence textile workers strike of 1912 began in Lawrence, Mass., Jan. 12 and ended March 14 of the same year. 27,000 workers were affected and the cost was figured at ca. $3,000,000 in lost wages, revenue, extra expense in policing, and harm to the general business community. Five hundred people were arrested and 2 died of injuries incurred during altercations. The result was an increase in wages from 5 to 25%, a modification of the "premium system", and a 25% increase in overtime work. The strike was conducted by the International Workers of the World (IWW) led by Joseph J. Ettor, an Italian organizer, from New York, and by Saturday night 15,000 workers were on strike. On Sunday, the Jan. 14, the strike committee met wih Mayor Michael A. Scanlon and members of the Board of Aldermen. On Monday morning every police officer in the city was on duty and the state militia on the scene which shortly took over, occupying the mills and factory towers. After a month and a half of confrontation and unrest, the strike ended on March 14. The strike of 1912 was a milestone for the city of Lawrence but also for labor history, the textile industry, American immigration, and the development of cities and towns in the northeast.

Contents: Two copies of a handbill reading "A labor man? During the textile strike last January Ald. R.S. Maloney president of the local typo union and former member of the Central Labor union, signed the contract with the Sherman Detective Agency to get evidence against the strikers" John C. O'Brien, 26 Cross St. In black print on yellowed stiff paper.

A celebration of the life of Studs Terkel, [videorecording], 2009 Jan. 30.

Location: Media Burn Independent Video Archive (Chicago, Ill.)

Contents: The videotape recording documents the Celebration of the Life of Studs Terkel held at the Chicago Cultural Center on Jan. 30, 2009. Over four hundred people gathered for the occassion to pay tribute to Terkel's life and work. Studs' close friends, admirers, and colleagues share their stories about the man and the life he lived. Terkel's son, Dan Terkell (correct spelling), also says a few words about his father. Host: Rick Kogan; speakers: Haskell Wexler, Roger and Chaz Ebert, Quentin Young, Timuel Black, Sydney Lewis, Andre Schiffrin, and Garry Wills; performers: Jamie O'Reilly, Michael Smith, Bob Weber, Al Ehrich, Joanita Lattimore, Miguel de la Cerna, Polly Podewell, and Erwin Helfer. Persons and entities represented include: Nelson Algren, Barack Obama, Pete Seeger, Beverly Younger, and the radio station WFMT in Chicago. Topics represented include the history of Chicago, McCarthyism, oral history, and Terkel's television show called Stud's Place.

Isaac Samuel Emmanuel letter, 1963 Sept. 9.

Location: American Jewish Archives (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Background: Born in Salonika, Greece, Isaac Samuel Emmanuel (1899-1972) became a rabbi and author of Jewish histories. He held pulpits in Curaçao, Panama, Rio de Janeiro, and Cincinnati.

Contents: Reply of Dr. Emmanuel to an inquiry made by Dr. Jacob R. Marcus as to whether or not all Sephardic synagogues followed the custom of having sand on the floor. Other topics represented include the Inquisition.

Philander Chase papers, 1808-1876.

Location: Archives of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland (Baltimore)

Background: Philander Chase (1775-1852) was the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio (1819-1831) and later Bishop of Illinois (1835-1852) and Presiding Bishop (1843-1852).

Contents: Correspondence by and about this influential leader of the Low Church party. Early correspondence is primarily with Bishops Thomas John Claggett and James Kemp, of Maryland, and subjects include affairs of Bishop Samuel Seabury; publication of Seabury's sermons; Chase's election as Bishop of Ohio, 1818; and a controversy with Bishop John H. Hobart. Many letters concern Chase's controversial fund-raising visit to England, his dealings with Lord Kenyon, and his success there, 1823-1824. There is much material on the founding and history of Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. Later correspondence is chiefly with Bishop William Rollinson Whittingham of Maryland, and covers a multitude of issues and events. Among these are Chase's transfer to the Diocese of Illinois, 1835; the affairs of that Diocese; Chase's activities as Presiding Bishop, including strong criticism of his use of the powers of that office and his continuing interest in education; there is material about Jubilee College, Illinois, which he founded, and other projects. Much concerns relations with other bishops, especially Benjamin T. Onderdonk, George W. Doane, George Upfold, and Charles P. McIlvaine, as well as many other clergymen. Letters relate to business of the House of Bishops and General Conventions of the Episcopal Church, changes in canon law, innovations in ritual, and similar matters. Chase's worldwide interests are reflected in noteworthy papers regarding the Eastern Orthodox Churches and relations with the Church of England, in which Chase was accused of exceeding his authority. Included are his commission for Bishop Horatio Southgate as emissary to the Orthodox Church in the Ottoman Empire, 1845, and letters about missions in Greece and Turkey. There are also references to establishment of the Episcopal Church in the Republic of Texas, 1843. Several items contain evaluations of the Chase's work and character by others, both before and after his death.

Florence Ebersole Smith Finch oral history interview, 2007-2008.

Location: U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office (Washington, D.C.)

Background: The daughter of an American soldier and a Filipino mother, Florence Ebersole was working for the U.S. Army when the Japanese occupied Manila. Claiming Filipino citizenship, she avoided being imprisoned with other enemy nationals at Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila. Finch joined the underground resistance movement and smuggled food, medicine and other supplies to American captives. Eventually, she was arrested by the Japanese, tortured, and sentenced to three years imprisonment. Finch was liberated by American forces after serving five months of her sentence. She returned to Buffalo, New York, her father's hometown, and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve (SPARS), to "avenge the death of her late husband," a Navy PT boat crewman killed at Corregidor. Seaman First Class Finch was the first Coast Guard SPAR to receive the Asian-Pacific Campaign ribbon in recognition of her service in the Philippines. She was also presented with the U.S. Medal of Freedom.

Contents: Oral history interview of Florence E. Finch, of Ithaca, N.Y., describes her working at Fort Santiago, Manila, Philippines, under Maj. E. Carl Engelhart, U.S. Army Intelligence; assisting Filipino resistance and U.S. and Filipino prisoners of war; capture by Japanese soldiers; interrogations and torture by the Kempei tai (Japanese secret police), and imprisonment at Bilibid and then the women's prison at Mandaluyong; training, activities, and military life during her service in the SPARS; and being presented with the U.S. Medal of Freedom.

N.E. view of the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.

William Pollock letter, 1855 July 9.

Location: Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Background: William Pollock was a blacksmith in Washington, D.C.

Contents: Letter from William Pollock to his brother Charles and sister Margaret, detailing his work on the construction of the iron roofs over the two wings of the U.S. Capitol. The "boss blacksmith" was a member of the Know Nothing (American Party) political party, and Pollock discusses the prominence of the party in Washington, D.C. Capt. Montgomery C. Meigs of the Army Corps of Engineers is mentioned as head of the project. There is a brief addendum by Mary Margaret Pollock, apparently the daughter of William Pollock.

Presidential pardon for Isaac Cadwell, 1819.

Location: Sheldon Museum Research Center (Middlebury, Vt.)

Background: Postmaster, of Bristol, Vt., from 1805-1816. In 1819 he was arrested, tried, and imprisoned for failure to keep proper accounts resulting in debt to the U.S. Government. He was pardoned in Oct., 1819 by President James Monroe.

Contents: Pardon, signed by President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, for Isaac Cadwell, who had been jailed for debt to the U.S. Government.

Logbook of the ship Wellfleet kept by Capt. Henry S. Rich, 1862-1863.

Location: Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport, Me.

Background: Senator Weber was built in Boston in 1853 as the ship Wellfleet. Under captain Henry S. Rich, of Bucksport, Me., she sailed for Enoch Train's Boston Liverpool Line of packets in 1854, then transferred to the Regular Line, sailing in the Boston-New Orleans cotton packet trade. In the summer of 1856, two groups of Mormon immigrants sailed to America aboard the "Wellfleet." The Civil War idled ships like the "Wellfleet" and she was sold to Hamburg, Germany in 1863. There she was renamed "Senator Weber" and flew the flag of Hamburg, which then had its own merchant fleet. In 1866, following Prussia's victory over Austria, Hamburg was incorporated into the North German Confederation and the "Senator Weber" was sold to the Liverpool based Andrew Gibson and Co. During this period, the "Senator Weber" was the first ship on which Edward John Smith, future captain of the "Titanic," served. By 1885, the ship was owned by Axel Petterson and sailing out of Helsingberg, Sweden under the command of Captain J. W. Wenck. In March 1891, the "Senator Weber," still under the command of Captain Wenck, was caught in a heavy gale off the English coast and sank with the loss of fourteen men.

Contents: Logbook (1862-1863) of the Wellfleet kept by American captain, Henry S. Rich, of Bucksport, Me.

Newman Louisiana Aviation Collection, 1916-1945.

Location: University of New Orleans, Earl K. Long Library, La.

Background: Earl Frederick Newman was born on May 5, 1901, in Kanawha, Iowa. A graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia (Bachelor of Journalism, 1924), Newman found employment in newspaper work in Texas and Louisiana. In 1928 he became publicity director for Menefee Airways (New Orleans), at which time he learned to fly under the direction of James Wedell. From May 1928 to about March 21, 1931, he was employed by the Wedell-Williams Air Service, Inc. (New Orleans) as a publicist, flying instructor, and aircraft salesman. From April 1931 until about 1937, he was employed as a salesman by the Aerotopograph Corporation of America (later absorbed by Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Inc.), which trained him in the methods of aerial photogrammetry. During this period he worked on map compilations for the U.S. Geological Survey (December 1, 1933 to July 15, 1934). Newman also worked briefly for Eastern Air Lines during the mid 1930s. His work in aviation ended shortly thereafter when he went to work for the Marchant Calculating Machine Company. He died on Oct. 27, 1966, in Baton Rouge, La. Newman's work for the Wedell-Williams Air Service and the Aerotopograph Corporation of America was centered at New Orleans with some activity in other areas of Louisiana and neighboring states. The collection is especially interesting because of the picture it conveys of commercial aviation in Louisiana during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Contents: Records and memorabilia of aviation in Louisiana, with much material on the Wedell-Williams Air Service, Inc., of Patterson and New Orleans, La. The collection consists mainly of correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, aircraft catalogs, business records, and miscellany.

Robert Roblee collection of William N. Bell family materials, ca. 1850s-1910.

Location: Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library (Seattle, Wash.)

Background: William Nathaniel Bell (1817-1887) and his wife, Sarah Ann (Peter) Bell (1819-1856) arrived at Alki Beach in present-day West Seattle with the Denny party and other pioneers on the schooner Exact in 1851. The Bells, settling north of the future downtown area in what would become known as "Belltown," helped to establish the new "Town of Seattle." Sarah Ann Bell was seriously ill when Indians attacked Seattle on 26 Jan. 1856 in the "Battle of Seattle." Bell decided to move his ailing wife and his children to California. Though Sarah died in California that same year, Bell did not return to Seattle until 1870. He sold some of his now-valuable real estate, built the Bellevue Hotel at the corner of First Avenue and Battery Street, and engaged in other businesses, including developing Belltown.

Contents: Legal and business documents, correspondence, and ephemera related to the Seattle pioneer Bell family, together with photographs of early Seattle. The collection includes photographs of early Seattle; a number of land deeds and plat maps, particularly pertaining to lands owned by the Bell, Denny, and Boren families, including the original plat of Belltown, and the land deed transferring property from Carson Boren to William Bell for the residence on the site of the Hoge Building. The collection also includes tax statements and receipts and other legal documents; ephemera, including a number of calling cards and invitations collected by the Bell family; materials on the Bellevue Hotel (built by William Bell in 1890) and on President Harrison's visit to Seattle in 1891; and a biography of William N. Bell and a family genealogy, written by Bell's daughter Mary Virginia Bell Hall.

Home Sweet Home Mission papers, 1899-2009.

Location: McLean County Museum of History (Bloomington, Ill.)

Background: Candy maker Billy Shelper, 1872-1952, founded the Home Sweet Home City Rescue Mission in 1917 after attending a Billy Sunday revival meeting at the Circuit Court Room in the McLean County Courthouse. The first mission building opened at 233 E. Front St in Bloomington, Ill., coincidentally the site of his birth. The mission buildings were forced to relocate several times during its history; a site on Mission Drive was the victim of an arson fire. The Mission moved and is now located at 303 E. Oakland in Bloomington, Ill., with the name Home Sweet Home Ministries.

Contents: Materials relating to Billy Shelper, such as correspondence, devotional poems, his public presentations, newspaper clippings, and pre-ministry life.