Collections : [College of William and Mary]

College of William and Mary

Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Primary Collecting Areas:
Williamsburg and surrounding area Virginia; Southern United States; African American life and culture; Hip Hop History; Movies and film studies; Travel, exploration, and adventure; Veterans papers; Distinguished alumni papers; College of William & Mary; Dogs
Description:
The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) houses one of the largest and most significant collections of rare and unique materials of any educational institution of comparable size in the United States. Focused on Virginia history but with nationally and internationally important collections, the Manuscripts Collection includes letters, diaries, journals, scrapbooks, business records, organizational minutes, and other items that provide evidence of events great and small and the daily lives of Americans of all backgrounds. The Rare Books Collection, with volumes dating from the 15th century to the present, is strong in dogs, Virginia-related items, early Virginia family libraries, gardening and natural history, religion, book arts, printing history, travel, science, and medicine. The University Archives documents the history of William & Mary from 1693 to the present, including a wide range of materials from administrative records, student organization records, and alumni papers to photographs, audio-visual materials, and artifacts.
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Start Over Repository College of William and Mary Collection Richard S. and Celia Morgan Papers, 1860/1867, bulk 1862/1865

Correspondence between Richard S. Morgan  and Celia Frary, 1862/1864 Box 1, Folder 1

The following, selective listing was provided by the seller: Hand drawn sketch by Richard, "Good Night", appx. 6.5" x 7", pencil, showing the courting couple out in front of Celia's home in Morris. Included with l862 letter. CDV of young woman, with caption, "A 'Copperhead' friend of mine...", included with 1864 letter by Richard (while estranged) 1862 letter, Sheperdsville, KY, surgeon David Leroy, 91st IL 1862 letter, Trenton, TN, Andrew J Haynes, IL 4th Cavalry, etc." The following excerpts have been provided by the seller: "Richard, Camp Douglas, 1862 - "After refreshing the inner man I took the State St cars to Camp Douglas...Oh Ye Gods and little fishes what a sight, 9000 ragged dirty slovenly -bevermined Secesh in abundance - and lots of Uncle Sam's boys. Butternut and blue are the cardinal colors here."; "Woke in the morning...by the booming of a big brass cannon about 20 yards from Head Quarters..."; "I finally saw Dr McVickars - he gave me a situation as Assistant Post Apothecary...$3.50 is for clothing which I will get and it is a splendid uniform crimson trimmed and a gold lace shoulder strap with a green velvet ground and Excula pius (the god of Medicine) sign thus on arm [small drawing.]; "...half an hour ago there were a lot of guerillas brought in from Colorado - the roughest toughest men this side Pandemonium I ever gazed on..." Richard, Camp Douglas, 1862 - [courtship] "...I could not begin to count how many times I have pulled off my boots, and like a 'guilty thing' sought my lonely chamber...I have paid you visits on evenings when I ought to have sent you straight off to bed...but instead have kept you up..."; "I must; will see you and Morris...or I will go and fill my pockets with 2 dollars worth of change all in coppers, jump into the lake...and become a thunderation wet, moist, damp, unpleasant mortal Body." Richard, circa Sept 27, Oct. 11, 1864, Chicago - "This has been an exciting day in Chicago - Gold has fallen and the Draft has commenced...I stand a pretty good chance of drawing a prize - and receiving my death warrant."; "I have spent nearly all the time since I saw you last in trying to escape the Draft and last night was in the 6th Ward. They have enough money to buy substitutes but can't get them for they were 100 days men at St. Louis & are sent to the front. I have to report...tomorrow..."

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Richard S. and Celia Morgan Papers, 1860/1867, bulk 1862/1865
  3. Series 1: Correspondence, 1861/1867

Correspondence between Richard S. Morgan  and Celia Frary, 1864/1867 Box 1, Folder 2

The following excerpts have been provided by the seller: Richard, Mar. 18, 1865 - "I am now Post Apothecary at Camp Butler...I am teaching some colored soldiers to read - how are you abolitionist?; next Sunday if I have time I am going to preach to them in their barracks." Richard, March 20, 1865 [last letter, Camp Butler, Apothecary, enlisted in 91st IL] "My regt is in New Orleans. I look well in uniform. I am altering my privates coat into officer putting staff buttons on it; tearing of[f] the cord and putting a stripe on my pants. I have two contrabands to wait on me. They clean my boots etc...I do nothing but fill ward prescriptions; examine the sick. I have touched more small pox; measles today than you can shake a stick at...I have charge of all the Porter Ale Wine; Whiskey medicine; keep the key in my pocket. What a jolly temptation is it not?"; "Geo Hand had his brother here. He has just gone home with him a corpse. I am used to this however." Celia, April 3, 9, 1865 - "RICHMOND is Taken! Taken at last almost beyond doubt! So Father Abraham say...to days paper says Grant has been fighting for three days and has taken twelve thousand prisoners and fifty pieces of artillery. I am so rejoiced I can scarcely write."; "This present battle will fill the hospitals again. Our brave soldiers may God bless them in this world and the next."; "Dear Richard if you will be a good boy and can show me that you do not drink at all I will try and make you a visit sometime this summer..."

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Richard S. and Celia Morgan Papers, 1860/1867, bulk 1862/1865
  3. Series 1: Correspondence, 1861/1867

Correspondence from Family, Friends, and Acquaintances, 1861/1865 Box 1, Folder 3

The following excerpts have been provided by the seller: David Leroy, Surgeon, 91st IL, Sheperdsville, KY, Dec. 1862 - "We are...located at present in this little town of Shepperssville to guard the bridge over Salt River on the Louisville; Nashville R.R. The bridge has been destroyed by the Rebels 3 times in the last six months, been two fights or rather skirmished." [Lists promotions of various 91st soldiers.] Mary E. Robinson, Akron, OH, Oct. 27, 1861 - "We have war news every day. They are doing considerable for the Soldiers here. They have started a dime society for their benefit. They have received $35.00 and the ODD fellows presented them with fifty more and they meet once a week to sew for them." J. Macalister, M.D., Chicago, Aug. 31, 1865 [to Celia] - "...the cause of your sorrow is no more. Alas! that one so young; & who might have been so respected should have thus died - "

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Richard S. and Celia Morgan Papers, 1860/1867, bulk 1862/1865
  3. Series 1: Correspondence, 1861/1867

Richard S. and Celia Morgan Papers, 1860/1867, bulk 1862/1865 0.17 Linear Feet

Morgan, Richard S., d. 1865

This collection, 1860-1867, consists mainly of letters between Richard S. Morgan, a Chicago apothecary and Celia Frary, a Morris, Illinois schoolteacher, who married in Grundy County, Illinois in 1863. The correspondence begins in the Fall of 1862 when Richard was an Assistant Apothecary at the Federal Drug Store, Camp Douglas, IllinoisL. In addition, there is correspondence with parents, other family members and friends, three photographs, and teachers' certificates.

  1. College of William and Mary

Series 1: Correspondence, 1861/1867

This series contains correspondence between Richard S. Morgan and Celia Frary, as well as correspondence from friends, family members, and acquaintances from 1862 to 1867. Topics of letters include Richard's work as an apothecary at various military camps and shops, the couple's courtship and subsequent marriage, the couple's marital issues, Richard's alcoholism, and the couple's separation. Topics of letters between Celia and others include Topics of letters include Celia's work as a schoolteacher, mail order purchases, advertisements, family news, and updates from friends.

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Richard S. and Celia Morgan Papers, 1860/1867, bulk 1862/1865

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