Columbia Manuscript Collections

Annotated bibliography on Missouri place names.

A brief history of newspapers in Boone County, MO, particularly Columbia, 1830-1930.

Poem relating legend of an Indian princess who fled from an unwelcome marriage and was turned into a tree.

Biographical sketch of a Cherokee Indian educator, physician, Indian expert and clerk at the Book World, a second-hand book store in St. Louis, MO.

Manuscript submitted to MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. A short biography of Atchison, emphasizing his family background, education, law and political career in Kentucky, and service as a U.S. Senator from Missouri. Author unknown.

Manuscript of article, "From Washington's Farewell Address to the Man Without a Country." Spanish overtures to the West (Kentucky and Tennessee) in the 1790s. Copies of three letters to Carlos De Lassus from Baron de Carondelet, 1796-1797.

Notes and manuscript concerning Jesse and Frank James, the Youngers, Charley Pitts, and the attempts to stop their lawlessness in Missouri. T.T. Crittenden, the Pinkertons, and Carl Schurz.

To Wayne Parker, Long Beach, CA, from Springfield, MO, July 10, 1940.

A reply to Parker's editorial column in the LONG BEACH INDEPENDENT, "Round the Town," which criticized Dewey Short and his constituency. Also five newspaper clippings about Parker's editorial.

To Stabler from James L. Minor, R.S. Gilbert, and Thomas M. Allen concerning creation and adoption of the seal of Missouri, the secretary of state's seal, and the seal of the University. Elaborate details of the University and capitol, which were to be represented on the respective seals. Stabler made the seals and presses.

Articles, editorials, and letters to the editor concerning the Great Seal of Missouri and the designer, George Frederick Burckhartt.

Correspondence concerning the Missouri state seal and the designer George Frederick Burckhartt's daughter Bettie C. Burckhartt, Bruce Lemmon, W.C. Knaus, and Mary Miller (Mrs. A. Lee) Smiser.

Reminiscences of Mary Anne Phelps Montgomery, daughter of John Smith Phelps, Missouri congressman and governor. Recorded by her daughter, the reminiscences cover Montgomery's childhood on a plantation near Springfield, MO; her marriage to James Montgomery, a railroad entrepreneur and early Portland, OR, settler; her travels in Europe; and her friendship with Ulysses S. Grant.

Newspaper article in the New York City SUNDAY NEWS, 31 March 1940, reporting then death of Hubert L. Spake, Jr., University of Missouri student.

History of the PROSPECT-NEWS, the Doniphan, MO, weekly newspaper, 1874-1964.

Lester's petition for divorce from Mary J. Lester, and summons for her to appear before Moberly Court of Common Pleas.

Autobiography of the Reverend R.A. Austin, a Missouri Methodist minister and circuit rider. The Austin family's migration from Kentucky to Missouri, education, conversion, Civil War, Indians, trip West from Chillicothe, MO, to Montana, activities of Montana circuit ministers. Seven letters from Austin to his wife, 1859-1866.

The papers contain Truman's regrets that he cannot attend the State Historical Society's annual meetings.

To John C. Payne, Esq., Haskinsville, Green County, KY, from Wash., July 12, 1846. Cutt's house guest, Anna Payne, was seriously ill and he informed her father that all possible medical treatment and care were being provided, but her condition was not improving.

Certificates for three $50 shares issued to George W. Moberly, and transfer of one share to James Burrows.

Copy of an article in the FRONTIER TIMES, Summer 1959.

Settlement of Lincoln Township, growth of Hatfield, settlers, property owners, outstanding citizens, educational facilities, businesses, churches. Sketches of Hatfield in 1894, 1910, and 1962.

The collection contains a typed copy of the will of Lorimier of the District and Town of Cape Girardeau, Louisiana Territory. Lorimier named as his executor and heir the Shawnee woman with whom he lived, Pemanpich. The will lists names and ages of their six children.

The collection contains mimeographed excerpts from a brochure, giving short biographies of Orson Pratt, Steven Kearny, John C. Fremont, J.N. Nicollet, and Silvestre Escalante.

The collection contains annotated bibliographies of published materials available in the New York Public Library on Missouri and the Civil War.

The Leimkuehler Papers consist of photocopies of the records of the Pin Oak Creek Baptist Church, Mount Sterling, Missouri, 1849-1858, typescripts of those records, and articles by Leimkuehler about early German Baptists in Missouri.

The collection contains two histories by Willa Mermoud on the 4-H and women's clubs in Barry County, Missouri. The first is titled, "History of Barry County's Home Economics Clubs," and includes information on the organization, services rendered, and a list of extension service officers, 1928-1958. The second publication is titled, "Barry County Extension Homemakers Clubs History, 1919-1969," and describes 50 years of club work in Barry County.

The collection contains a brief history of Anniston, MO, describing its founding, name changes from Shellys Ridge to Hainleys Switch to Anniston, businesses, schools, students, teachers, churches, roads, recreation, and occupations of residents. Also included are lyrics of the Anniston PTA song, Anniston school songs, and cheers.

The collection contains a description of the history and importance of the Old Springfield Road in southwest Missouri.

The collection contains a history of teachers institutes, normal schools, and summer schools in Barry County, MO, 1870-1910, and a list of administrators and teachers who attended the sessions.

The collection contains a biography of Carter (1843-1930) and history of the Confederate cemetery and monument at Springfield, MO.

The collection contains a speech about John Newman Edwards (1839-1889). Edwards was a Missouri Confederate, newspaper editor, author, and friend of Joseph Shelby, Quantrill, and the James Brothers. Saults discusses Edwards' friendship with Shelby, their Civil War experiences, the fiasco in Mexico after the war, and Edwards' newspaper career and drinking problems.

Description of an unidentified light in southwest Missouri which residents call the "Missouri Spook Light."

Account of photographing "The Light at Hornet," an unidentified light in Newton County, MO, August 11, 1950.

Muster role of Captain Cole's vigilante company that patrolled Hickory and St. Clair Counties during the Civil War. The company was composed of St. Clair County citizens.

Report by Cole to the commander at Warrensburg about the Citizen Guards and their efforts to combat bushwhackers.

Ralph Gregory's translation from German of excerpts from the HISTORICAL SOUVENIR of the 17th State Convention of the Catholic Union of Missouri. Arrival and names of the first German Catholics in Washington, MO, 1833. The church, mission and school of St. Francis Borgia Parish.

Minutes of the state meeting of the Missouri Churches of Jesus Christ held in Columbia, October 17 and 18, 1845. List of the ministers present, the congregations represented, and those represented in 1844 but not in 1845.

The Feaster Family papers contain two letters to William H. Feaster, Palmyra, Marion County, MO, from his brothers, Daniel F. and Jonathan and sister Ann L., Jefferson, Frederick County, MD. The letter from 1852 announces the death of sister Martha in childbirth. Both letters contain news of family members, weather, and crop prices in Maryland.

Broadside advertising a $1000 Saddle Ring at an unknown location in Missouri. All nine horses entered are sired by Rex McDonald, a famous Missouri stallion. The broadside includes the horses' names, owners, and the owners' places of residence.

To George M. Rollins, Columbia, MO, from Richmond, KY, Oct. 8, 1908. Burnam wrote his nephew that he had shipped "the portraits of Mr. Bingham," express charges paid. He called Bingham "Missouri's distinguished Artist and Statesman."

Pickard, chairman of the Missouri Capitol Interior Decoration Commission and professor of art and archaeology at the University of Missouri, evaluated George Caleb Bingham's "General Order No. 11," a work of art worth $20,000 for insurance purposes.

Description of Sterling Price's engagement at Boonville, MO, October 6-7, 1864. Price's retreat from Missouri, Oct. 1864. Army camps in Arkansas, the Federals, horror and grandeur of war, news of friends. Thurmond's wounds and his position teaching school on a Choctaw Indian reservation since November 28, 1864.

Eight land deeds (3 to land in St. Louis, 1815-1820; 5 to land in Clark County, 1856-1866). Power of attorney and land purchase receipt, 1844. Daybook of McCoy's business transactions in Waterloo, MO, 1841-1842.

Weather records, personal diaries, accounts, and medical hints of a Miami, Missouri, physician.

Photograph and biography of Burtnett, 1861 Union Army discharge, 1855 Sons of Temperance membership, 1856 record book fly leaf, and two 1862 letters to his wife and children. Burtnett wrote about the war, McClellan and Pope outside Richmond, army marches, communications, and his duties as acting clerk for his commander, Captain McDonald.

Two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings about World War I. Aehle was an aviator from St. Louis, MO.

Records of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Columbia, formerly the Broadway Methodist Church.

Book contains notes from medical lectures at Transylvania College, Lexington, KY, November 1822-January 1823; constitution, minutes, and membership list of the Richmond [Kentucky] Philosophical Society. October 1820-January 1821; and medical accounts, records of house calls and prescriptions in Columbia and Boone County area, July 1823-December 1825.

Rollins, a Boone County, MO, lawyer, businessman, and politician, was influential in securing the location of the University of Missouri at Columbia. Record book contains personal and business accounts.

Papers relating to Donnelly's two terms as Democratic governor of Missouri.

The collection contains an account book of a general storekeeper in the Fulton, MO, area.

Newspaper clippings, short stories, poetry, travel accounts, letters, and news items. Most are undated.

The papers of Carla Weitzel, a sociology graduate student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, consist of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, correspondence, posters, pamphlets, photographs, and miscellaneous materials. The materials document civil rights issues, particularly the anti-apartheid and divestment movement that occurred on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus during the mid-1980s.

Legal papers of J.E. Richards of Moscow Mills, MO, his immediate family, contemporaries, and descendants. Stock certificates, leases, deeds, insurance policy, and bills.

The papers of John Ralls contain typed copies of correspondence between John Ralls and his immediate family: wife, daughter Mary, brothers William and Nathaniel. One letter is written from Santa Fe about the Mexican War. Ralls genealogical data is also included.

Irene B. Taeuber, a research demographer, was best known for her work on the population of Asia, especially Japan and China. Collection includes correspondence with leading demographers, sociologists, and Asian specialists; publications and manuscripts; research notes and data; bibliographic card files; and photographs and slides of her travels.

The papers of Eva Johnston contain lectures on Latin and Greek dramatists and literature, Luxembourg Gardens, women's education, women's wages, and popular superstitions, and translation and interpretation of Terence's HECYRA.

The collection contains newspaper clippings from American newspapers and reprints from British and Canadian newspapers relating to the War of 1812. A group photograph of a woman with three little girls, c. 1910, was included inside the back cover.

The papers of Benjamin Cullen Adams contain correspondence with his mother, 1906-1914, about Adams' work for Ellis & Company of London in Brazil; biographical material on his father, Congressman Henry Cullen Adams; and material on Gas Service Company Group, Kansas City, of which Adams was president and general manager.

The records of The Tuesday Club of Columbia, Missouri, contain newspaper articles, minute books, reports and scrapbooks of a women's social club founded in 1899. The records detail the history of the club, including meetings, activities, membership, finances, and projects sponsored.

The papers of John Edward Richards contain two account books relating primarily to personal, household, and farm expenditures and to the wages and maintenance of manual labor, 1888-1929. The collection includes miscellaneous legal papers, including deeds, personal bills, and canceled checks.

The collection contains a souvenir copy of the final issue, July 2, 1863. Articles concern Confederate and Union military news, and the fall of Vicksburg. Printed on wallpaper.

The collection contains a report issued by the sixteenth session, St. Louis Annual Conference of the Methodist Church.

The collection contains cash accounts of the Marshall General Merchandise Store. The location of store is unknown.

The papers of Channing Richards contain correspondence between Channing Richards and his wife Lydia Williamson Richards, 1835-1842. The letters discuss social and family activities in New Jersey and Ohio; business as a grain merchant; transportation; and weather. Also included is a letter from Channing Richards, Jr., Union soldier, 1863.

The collection contains the journal of E. Lansing Ray, editor and publisher of the St. Louis GLOBE DEMOCRAT. Ray was a member of a delegation of American newspapermen invited to visit the Allied Western Front, September-November 1918. The journal includes a record of events and observations of conditions in England, Ireland, Scotland and France, and describes tours, social and political events, and attitudes of the people.

The collection contains a document describing inhabitants of the Missouri Ozarks, their opinions about slavery, secession, and the Civil War. Guerrilla warfare, confiscation of salt by Major General Samuel R. Curtis as economic warfare, and experiences of the Perry Upton-Elizabeth Simmons Lee family during the Civil War are discussed.

The collection contains a poetic tribute to mother.

The papers of William H. Evens contain biographical sketches of the Todd family and the Quantrill raider, George Todd, as well as notes on early Missouri industries.

The collection contains biographical sketches of John Boyd Caldwell and family, describing their trip from Kentucky to Callaway County, MO, in 1826, establishment of the first pottery business in Missouri, and pioneer life.

The collection contains a history of changes in the counties' boundary line.

The papers of I.G. Morrison contain the paper "Thomas Hart Benton Murals, Missouri State Capitol: An Interpretative Lecture," 2 September 1940, and a positive photostat of letter to I.G. Morrison from Thomas Hart Benton, Chilmark, MA, 14 September 1940. Morrison presented description, history and symbolism of the murals. Benton defined the purpose of art and expressed approval of Morrison's paper.

The collection contains six letters to Eleanor Beatrice Smith, Savannah, Missouri, and one letter to Abbie Foster, Fillmore, Missouri, from Tacoma, Washington. The letters discuss Nodaway and Andrew Counties and genealogy. Maps are included.

History, leaders, and facilities of the Bonnots Mill Methodist Church, covering 1902 to 1963.

History and purpose of the JOURNAL OF OSTEOPATHY.

History of Missouri Baptist and early newspapers. Short biographies of Joseph Charless, Joshua Norvell, Duff Green, and Nathaniel Patten, Jr. Bibliography of Missouri Baptist imprints.

Diary of a soldier with the 18th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Company C, in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolina campaigns. Weather information, and location and dates of camps and battles.

History of the Abernathy Settlement and the Old York Chapel, second oldest Methodist organization in the Louisiana Purchase, Perry County and Cape Girardeau County, MO.

To his wife from Nevada City, CA, Nov. 30, 1850. Description of a trip to California during the Gold Rush. Explanation of the process of "washing out" gold. Health, weather, and living conditions.

Clipping and miscellany about Governor Lon Vest Stephens.

To [Lynn] Samuels, [Sugar Tree, Carroll County, MO], from Beauvoir, MS, Apr. 10, 1889.

Answers Samuel's inquiries about why he opposed a Confederate pursuit at the Battle of Bull Run and why he was not tried for treason. Also typed copy in collection 995, Vol. XXVI, 711.

History of Montauk Springs and the Current River by the former caretakers of the Montauk State Park.

Description of nineteenth-century salt-making processes and the Boone's Lick Salt Works.

A history of KLIK radio station in Jefferson City, Missouri, by the station's news director.

Historical sketch of Masonic organizations in Osceola.

History and description of Duley's Mill on Big Cedar Creek, Callaway County, MO. Biographical information on the Duley family.

Reminiscences of a wagon train trip from Missouri to California in 1849. The route, weather, and a cholera epidemic.

History of education and the Edson School, Harrison County, MO. Genealogy of Edson and Needham families.

The papers of A.L. Brock contain personal reminiscences of A.L. Brock; Wyoming Masonic history; Brock family genealogy; a history of Wyoming, 1868-1933; and cattle, sheep, and horse herding history.

The collection contains a notebook compiled by the citizenship classes of Mrs. Ruby Akers Gerrard and William Chrisman, Division II, Independence, MO, on Civil War history of Independence and Jackson County, MO.

The collection contains photocopied documentation of land deeded by the State of Missouri in Greene County.

The collection contains Chouteau's commission as major of the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, Missouri Territory Militia.

The collection contains alumni paper of the Bellevue Collegiate Institute, Caledonia, MO, including a history of the school, alumni news, and treasurer's report, October 1953.

The collection contains a love letter to M.L. Riddle, Feb. 22, 1864.

The collection contains positive photostats of Special Orders No. 144 to investigate complaints of Dresden, Pettis County, MO, citizens against Captain Devohue and the Pettis County Volunteers Militia for alleged interference with citizens (rebels who had taken the oath) and their property.

The collection contains a letter to the Officers and Soldiers of the 15th Army Corps congratulating them on the close of the successful march to the sea during the Civil War. The letter discusses the battles at Resaca, Atlanta, Marietta, Nickajack Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, and Jonesboro.

The collection contains a letter to Colie, Charlie, and children, from Bettie Helm at Moorehead, Sept. 2, 1913. The letter discusses family, weather, and the garden.

The collection contains a letter to John McClure, Greenville, Augusta C[oun]ty, VA, from William Meeter, Callaway County, MO, Dec. 20, 1827. The letter includes a description of a trip from Virginia to Missouri titled "A Virginia Youth's Impressions of Missouri," discussing the appearance of the country, people, water, industry, prices, and marriageable women.

To Thomas C. Reynolds, from Quitman, TX, Apr. 2, 1865.

Discussion of a possible Confederate rally around General Rains north of the Arkansas River, comments about Jeff Thompson's promotion, Confederate recruiting policies, and weather.

To [Orlando Brown], from St. Louis, MO, Mar. 10, 1850. Brown informs his uncle of the death of Weissinger and discusses his own success in the law profession, his personal goals, and friends. Also typed copy.