Oliver Otis Howard Papers
Scope Note
The Oliver Otis Howard Papers were given to Lincoln Memorial University in
the early 1940's, by General Oliver Otis Howard's son, Captain Harry S. Howard. The
collection measures approximately five cubic feet. Some of the material was donated by
Justin G. Turner, including some of the letters of correspondence written during the
military command period, and several rare, published pamphlets and articles. Turner,
who has published extensively, was an investment company executive and well-known
collector of manuscripts and documents relating to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
Other persons, such as Foreman M. Lebold and Bishop W. P. Thirkield, and Robert J.
Younger are noted throughout the guide, for specific presentations.
The collection contains letters of correspondence from Oliver Otis Howard to his
uncle, John Otis (Representative from Maine to the Thirty-first Congress as a Whig),
written while he was a student at Bowdoin College (1850), and later while he was a cadet
at West Point (1851); as well as correspondence by and with other members of his
family, spanning the years up to October 30, 1909.
There are speeches, manuscripts, engagement books, photographs, a scrapbook,
and a Bible given to Bessie, on her wedding day, from her father, General 0. 0. Howard.
The museum houses some of the personal items that once belonged to General Oliver
Otis Howard, that were donated by his son, Captain Harry S. Howard: a saddle, saddle
bags, leggins, and a desk which he used from 1896 until his death in 1909, while he was
raising funds for Lincoln Memorial University.
Abbreviations used in the guide include the following: A=autograph (written by
hand); L=letter; S=signed; n.d.=not dated (ALS means Handwritten, signed letter).
Reference material that provides additional information on General Howard's life and
military career is available.
Other repositories which house significant Oliver Otis Howard collections are
located at:
Howard University (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center)
Oliver Otis Howard Collection. Measures approximately six (6) linear feet.
Bowdoin College Library (Special Collections and Archives)
Oliver Otis Howard Papers, 1833-1912 (bulk 1846-1908). The extent of the
collection is sixty ( 60) linear feet.
Dates
- 1850-ca. 1925; n.d
- Majority of material found within 1890-1909
Extent
4.7 Cubic Feet (9 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
French
Introduction and Biographical Information
The Oliver Otis Howard Papers were given to Lincoln Memorial University by
two persons: Captain Harry S. Howard, the son, contributed chiefly the personal papers
and memorabilia of General Howard, while Justin G. Turner donated various
correspondence written during Howard's military service years and Freedmen's Bureau
period. Additional material: consisting of several rare pamphlets, were also donated by
Justin G. Turner. Other persons, such as Foreman M. Lebold, Bishop W. P. Thirkield,
and Robert J. Younger are noted throughout the guide, for specific presentations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum gratefully acknowledges the support
of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for providing
funding to identify, process, and create descriptive finding aids and machine-readable
cataloging records for the archival materials in the repository. Thanks goes to Lincoln
Memorial University for contributing matching funds, and to the museum staff and
various supporters who have contributed, in the past and during the present, their talents
and efforts in the endeavor of acquiring, sustaining, and preserving one of the most
significant 19th century historical collections in the nation. Special recognition goes to
Steven M. Wilson, Assistant Director and Curator; and Dr. Charles M. Hubbard, Dean of
Lincolniana. Special thanks is extended for support given by Dr. Edwin S. Gleaves,
Coordinator of the Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board, of the Tennessee State
Library and Archives, and the late John H. Thweatt, Deputy Coordinator
Biographical Sketch
1830 (Nov. 8) Born in Leeds, Kennebec County, Maine.
1850 Graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine.
1850-54 Cadet at West Point, New York.
1855 Married Elizabeth Ann Waite of Portland, Maine.
In command of Kennebec Arsenal, Maine.
1856 Fought against Seminoles in Florida.
1857-61 Acting Professor of Mathematics at West Point.
1861 Colonel of the Third Maine Volunteers of the Union army.
Promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers.
1862 Lost his right arm due to wounds received at the Battle of Fair
Oaks (Peninsular Campaign).
1863 Assigned to command the 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac.
1864 Assigned to command the 4th Army Corps, Army of the
Cumberland.
Assigned to command the Department and Army of the Tennessee.
1864 (Dec. 21) Named Brigadier General in the regular Army.
1865 Breveted Major General in the regular Army for Ezra Church,
Jonesboro and the Atlanta campaign.
Served as connnissioner (1865-7 4) of the Freedmen's Bureau.
1869 Served as Howard University's third President (1869-73), an allblack
school in the nation's capital that Howard was instrumental
in founding.
1870 Subjected to an investigation by members of the House of
Representatives on charges of mishandling of funds of the
Freedmen's Bureau. Exonerated by a court of inquiry (1874).
1872 Howard was chosen by President Grant to serve as peace
connnissioner to make peace with the Apache Indians, a tribe then
at war with the government. Howard accomplished this, along with
settling numerous disputes with other tribes in Arizona and New
Mexico.
1874 Assigned to command the Department of the Columbia, part of the
military district of the Pacific.
1877-78 Engaged in two fudian wars: Nez Perce War (1877) and Piute and
Bannock War (1878).
1877 Engaged in war with a tribe offudians called the "Sheepeaters,"
near Sahnon River, Idaho.
1881-82 Served as superintendent (1880-82) of the U.S. Military Academy,
West Point, New York.
1882-86 Assigned to command the Department of the Platte, headquarters
at Omaha, Nebraska.
1884 Received the decoration of the Legion of Honor from the
President of the French Republic, when on temporary duty
attending the French maneuvers.
1886 Promoted to Major General in the regular Army, and passed to
the Military Division of the Pacific, which included the
Department of the Columbia of California and Arizona.
1888 Transferred to command the Military Division of the Atlantic.
Commanded the Department of the East, Governor's Island,
New York City, until his retirement by law.
1894 (Nov. 8) Retired from the Army.
1894-95 Spent the winter at Portland, Oregon, writing his memoirs.
1897-1909 Managing Director (and continuing as President of the Board of
Directors) of Lincoln Memorial University at Cumberland Gap,
Tennessee for the education of mountaineer children.
1897 During the Spanish-American War, Howard worked in the interest
of the Y. M. C. A. Christian Commission, giving addresses in
camps in both the United States and Cuba.
1909 Died at Burlington, Vermont.
- Title
- OLIVER OTIS HOW ARD PAPERS
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Leanne Garland
- Date
- May-June 1998
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum Repository
Lincoln Memorial Univesity
Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate Tennessee 37752 United States
archives@lmunet.edu