Donoho family papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-3704

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Donoho family papers

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Scope and Contents

This collection is primarily made up of letters between members of this Tuscaloosa, Alabama, family between 1838 and 1883, the majority of which were written between 1850 and 1868. Most of the letters were written by Henry S. and Isabelle Donoho and their Aunt Peek. There are also a few letters from Charles M. (the father) and Charles M. (the son), as well as some from other relations and friends.

Many of the war-time letters are particularly poignant, especially those between Isabelle and Aunt Peek. They offer some insight into the general mood and mind of those on the home front. Several of Henry's letters give vivid commentary of significant events including the battles around Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, and the fall of Atlanta.

The persons shown in the photographs are not identified, but there is a possibility that they are two of the authors of the letters.

Dates

Creation: 1838-1914

Creator

Donoho, Charles M. (Charles Mitchell) (Person)
Peek, A. M., Mrs. (Person)
Donoho, Isabelle (Person)
Donoho, Henry Seymour (Person)

Biographical / Historical

The Donoho family lived in and around Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in the early and mid nineteenth century. Charles Mitchell Dohono (1809-1856) married Rebecca Trowbridge Whitcomb (1817-1846) and had two children: Henry Seymour and Isabelle (1842-1915). Rebecca Dohono died 30 March 1846, leaving Charles with the two young children. An aunt, Mrs. A. M. Peek, cared for the children.

Henry served in the Alabama 2nd Battalion Light Artillery, Company F, Lumsden's Company; he enlisted on 21 February 1861 as a private. His cousin, Charles Donoho, enlisted on 29 November 1861, also as a private. Henry was captured on 15 December 1864, near Nashville, Tennessee, and spent the remainder of the war in various prisoner of war camps in Kentucky and Illinois. Charles was also captured in Tuscaloosa, on 18 May 1865.

Isabelle married twice, first to William Young Norris around 1867, and second to Samuel Lowrie Robertson. She and Samuel had eight children.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Letters between members of a close Tuscaloosa family written primarily during the Civil War.

Provenance

Purchased from Denning House Antiquarian Books and Manuscripts, Lancaster, PA, 2013.

General

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