Correspondence - Outgoing, Business, 4 April 1820 - 20 April 1821

File — Box: 635, Folder: 484.01

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection contains correspondence from William H. Ely while in Alabama, between February 1820 and June 1821, to his family and business associates in Hartford, Connecticut, while he acted as commissioner of the Connecticut Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. In 1819, the Congress of the United States, under a motion made by Henry Clay, gave to the school twenty-three thousand acres of public land, and with the proceeds of the sale of this land, suitable grounds were secured, buildings were erected, and permanent funding was provided.

The majority of the letters are to Ely's wife, Clarissa M. Ely, with the rest addressed to his business associates, Ward Woodbridge and James Wells, vice president and treasurer, respectively, of the Connecticut Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. The letters in the collection describe both the difficulties of the mission and the life and settlement of Alabama during its earliest years of statehood.

There is also a photograph of Ely's tomb in Hartford.

Dates

Creation: 4 April 1820 - 20 April 1821

Creator

From the Collection: Ely, William H. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.