Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- This collection contains correspondence between Illinois farmer and Civil war soldier James Alvin Bell (1834-1863) and his fiancee about their private life. A few letters written by other soldiers after Bell's death, depict hardships of a Civil War soldier's life.
- Extent:
- 5.8 Linear Feet (3 boxes )
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. James Alvin Bell Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains 135 letters written by James to Augusta during the period 1854-October, 1863, and 141 letters from Augusta to him. The content of their letters is limited to themselves and their limited social sphere. James' war letters provide little description of relevant conditions, but do afford his reactions to the hardships. Another soldier's letters to Augusta (24 in all) during the 1863-1865 period and 12 others written to her after the death of James portray the tragedy of the war. There are other miscellaneous letters, a few of Augusta and James' poems, seven photographs, and some fragments.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Born c. 1834, James Alvin Bell was a farmer in Kaneville, Illinois until he enlisted in the 8th Illinois Cavalry in May, 1861 where he served until his death at Stanton Army Hospital (Washington, D.C.) in October 1863. His long engagement to Augusta Anna (Hallock) Elliott, a school teacher in rural New York, is the most prominent matter of this collection.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from G.E. Woodley, July 1964.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged in alphabetical order by author, and then chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
- Terms of access:
-
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. James Alvin Bell Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191