manuscripts

Manuscripts

Finding the Diamond in the Rough

Images courtesy of the St. Louis Mercantile Library @ UMSL unless otherwise noted

Learning how to find them and how to use them can be very enlightening and

rewarding

Dead ends can come back to life with a little work and creative thinking

What are manuscripts?Why are they important?How do I find them?How do I use them?

What are manuscripts?

Letter written by James Polk

Articles of the Missouri Fur Company

The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Business Records of Robert Campbell. 1832-1879

Journal of Henry G.A. Caspers. June 13, 1846 - December 1848

Why are they important?

GEORGE CALEB BINGHAMDaniel Boone Escorting Settlers Through the Cumberland Gap, 1851-52

Oil on canvas, 36 1/2 x 50 1/4"

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University in St. Louis.  Gift of Nathaniel Phillips, 1890

www.wisconsinhistory.org

How do I find them?

Learn about their life

KARL BODMER Boston Lighthouse

Courtesy of The New York Public Library.  www.nypl.org

KARL BODMER Herds of Bisons and Elks on the Upper Missouri

Courtesy of The New York Public Library.  www.nypl.org

GEORGE CALEB BINGHAMThe County Election, 1852

KARL BODMER Capture of the Daughters of Daniel Boone and Richard Callaway by the Indians

Courtesy of Yale University

Now that I know more about their life, where would the

information be?

www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/index.html

www.worldcat.org/

Think Outside the Box

Historical Societies Libraries Churches Local Government Current Local Population

(basements, garage sales)

How do I use them?

Institutional Information

Protocols Services Restrictions to Access Content of Collections Links to Other Collections that Relate

Handling One-of-a-kind Material

Paper Records Remove folders from boxes for review, rather than

“fingering” through the documents in the box Devote extra time to carefully turning individual sheets Pick up a document with two hands Documents should be fully supported on desks or tables Avoid writing on paper on top of the record material

Bound Volumes Be careful when turning leaves in a volume, especially if it is

weak, brittle, or extremely large When available, use book cradles and supports for bound

material

Citing and Quoting

[item], [folder title], [series title], [name of collection], [accession or manuscript number], [name of curatorial unit], [name of institution]

Make sure to include box numbers or folder titles where appropriate (if not recorded, the item may be difficult, or impossible to locate again)

Specific institutions may have required citations. Make sure to check.

Through the use of manuscripts not only will you learn about the world your ancestor lived in, but you may

even find your ancestor.

Contact Information

Deborah E. Cribbs

decribbs@gmail.com