在my last post, I said that the Library had just completed a massive cataloguing project of items related to the U.S. Steam BatteryMonitorand the C.S. IroncladVirginia. These items came from 59 different archival and research collections. Among them are extremely rare photographs collected by an earlyMonitor“groupie” in the 1880s by the name of Frank Pierce, letters from sailors aboardMonitorand from witnesses to the Battle of Hampton Roads, both Union and Confederate, unique plans and drawings ofMonitor, and receipts from vendors for materials used in her construction. There are also research notes of people who did important historical work on the two ironclads and genealogical work on their officers and crew. Here, then, is an annotated summary of some of the collections we have catalogued. Enjoy!
Virginia‘s ram
MS0006, Elwin Eldredge Collection on John H. Morrison– Research notes on the development of armored vessels, including great manuscript sketches ofVirginia‘s bow.
MS0008, William de Rohan Papers– Admiral Dahlgren’s wayward brother whose concept drawings of turreted warships were part of the Zeitgeist that createdMonitor.
MS0010, George S. Geer Family Papers– Wonderful letters to his wife Martha fromMonitor, written from the enlisted man’s point of view.
MS0013, Isaac Newton Jr. Family Papers– Ranging collection of materials from the son of the founder of New York City’s Citizen’s Line of steamers, who became first engineer onMonitor.
MS0014, William Monegan Letters– Letters from this soldier of the 10th New York Volunteers who witnessed the Battle of Hampton Roads and other battles of the Peninsular Campaign.
MS0016, John L. Worden Collection– Document collection and stunning photograph album of the officers and crew of bothMonitorandVirginia, put together by Frank Pierce.
William De Rohan ironclad design
MS0080, Samuel Gilbert Webber Letters and Sketch– Letters home to his sweetheart from the surgeon on the steamerRhode Island, the ship that towedMonitoron its last voyage.
MS0334, Arthur B. Upshur Transcript of a John Cary Letter– Transcription of a letter from officer John B. Cary, probably of the 32nd Virginia Infantry, to his sister with details of the Battle of Hampton Roads from the Confederate viewpoint.
MS0335, Battery Associates Records on Monitor Design and Construction– Receipts for materials and payments kept by John Griswold, treasurer of the group of investors that, with John Ericsson, built theMonitor.
MS0363, Jacob Nicklis Family Letters– Small collection of letters to his father from a crewman who died onMonitor.
MS0376, Thomas F. Rowland Collection– Original plans and an original contract from the man whose company, Continental Works, builtMonitor.
MS0385, Willie Anne Wright Photographs– Modern pinhole photography, some of which is abstract, of the Museum’sMonitorevocation and of re-enactors on her deck.
MS0555, Collection of Battle of Hampton Roads Ships Plans– Plans ofMonitor,MerrimackandVirginia, including 3 original John Luke Porter plans of Virginia.
Martha Geer
Thomas Fitch Rowland
Monitor‘s deck, past/present, by Willie Anne Wright
Monitor‘s Propeller
Concept drawing of what will becomeVirginiaby J. L. Porter
2 thoughts on “10,000 Items Catalogued (Cont.)”
Samuel Gilbert was my great, great, great grand cousin and was the son of Samuel Webber President of Harvard University(1806-1810). Was Samuel Gilbert the nephew of my great, great, great grandfather Captain Nathaniel Webber? Thank You in advance for your reply, Sincerely, James D. Webber, Gloucester Point VA.
Mr. Webber, I’m so glad you wrote in! We think Samuel Gilbert Webber was born July 24, 1838 in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Aaron D. and Maria (Gilbert) Webber. His grandfather on his father’s side was John Webber. He graduated from Harvard with a bachelor’s degree in 1860. Harvard awarded Webber his medical degree in 1865, based on his naval experience. He died in 1926. How he may be related to the Rev. Samuel Webber, DD is not known to me, unfortunately. Ancestry.com may!
Samuel Gilbert was my great, great, great grand cousin and was the son of Samuel Webber President of Harvard University(1806-1810). Was Samuel Gilbert the nephew of my great, great, great grandfather Captain Nathaniel Webber?
Thank You in advance for your reply, Sincerely, James D. Webber, Gloucester Point VA.
Mr. Webber, I’m so glad you wrote in! We think Samuel Gilbert Webber was born July 24, 1838 in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Aaron D. and Maria (Gilbert) Webber. His grandfather on his father’s side was John Webber. He graduated from Harvard with a bachelor’s degree in 1860. Harvard awarded Webber his medical degree in 1865, based on his naval experience. He died in 1926. How he may be related to the Rev. Samuel Webber, DD is not known to me, unfortunately. Ancestry.com may!