Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. Letters to his family and other papers: Guide.
Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
© 2002 The President and Fellows of Harvard College
Descriptive Summary
Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Location: b
Call No.: MS Am 1910
Creator: Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863.
Title: Letters to his family and other papers,
Date(s): 1852-1947 (inclusive) 1855-1863 (bulk).
Quantity: 2 boxes (1 linear ft.)
Abstract: Letters and other papers of the American military commander Robert Gould Shaw.
Acquisition Information:
*74M-57.
Gift of Mrs. Lloyd K. Garrison, Mrs. Alexander D. Harvey, Frances Jay, and Mrs. Lawrence Fox; received: 1975.
Historical Note
Shaw, of Massachusetts, was colonel of the first black regiment to serve with the Union Army during the Civil War. He and over half his regiment were killed in battle at Fort Wagner, South Carolina on July 18, 1863.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection consists of letters by Robert Gould Shaw to his family, including 98 letters to his mother, 31 to his father, and some to his sisters and brothers-in-law. Most were written during the Civil War, though some to his parents are from his pre-soldier days when he traveled in Europe and was a student at Harvard. Also contains a memorial poem to Shaw by James Russell Lowell, correspondence and genealogical notes of the Barlow family (one of Shaw's sisters married Francis Channing Barlow), and a box of notes for a biography of Shaw by Louisa Barlow Jay.
Container List
(1-2) Brooks, Phillips, bp., 1835-1893. 2 letters to Francis Channing Barlow:
(1) A.L.s.; Philadelphia, 12 Oct 1864. 2s.(4p.)
(2) A.L.s.; same, 31 Nov 1864. 2s.(4p.)
(3) Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882. A.L.s. to [Almira (Penniman)] Barlow; Concord [n.d.]. 1s.(2p.)
(4-6) Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882. 3 letters to Francis Channing Barlow:
(4) A.L.s.; Concord, 27 Aug 1855. 1s.(3p.)
(5) A.L.s.; [Concord, Feb 1863]. 1s.(2p.) With A.L.s. by Emerson to [Ethan Allen] Hitchcock; Concord 28 Feb 1863. 4s.(6p.)
(6) Same, 26 Dec 1863. 1s.(3p.)
(7) Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882. A.L.s. (photocopy) to William Emerson; Concord, 27 Aug 1855. 2s.(2p.)
Introducing Francis Channing Barlow.
(8) Forbes, Allyn B T.L.s. to Louisa (Barlow) Jay; Boston, 19 May 1942. 1s.(1p.)
(9) Hicks, Granville, 1901-1931. T.L.s. to Robert Shaw Barlow; Troy, 16 Apr 1931. 1s.(1p.)
(10-12) Lathrop, John Howland, 1880-1967. 3 letters to Louisa (Barlow) Jay:
(10) T.L.s.; Brooklyn, 23 Apr 1947. 1s.(1p.) and calling card.
(11) A.L.s.; same, 26 Apr 1947. 1s.(2p.)
(12) T.L.s.; same, 29 May 1947. 1s.(1p.)
(13) Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891. Memoriae positum. R.G.S. A.MS.s.; Elmwood, 4 Dec 1863. 5s.(5p.)
Fair copy.
(14) [Notice of the death of Robert Gould Shaw]. MS. (unidentified author); Beaufort, 31 Jul 1863. 1s.(1p.)
(15) Putnam, Alfred Porter, 1827-1906. A.L.s. to Francis Channing Barlow; Concord, 1 Jul 1892. 1s.(4p.)
(16) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. A.L.s. to Annie (Russell) Agassiz; Culpepper, 13 Aug 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(17) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. A.L.s. (copy) to John Albion Andrew; Boston, 8 Apr 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(18-19) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. 2 letters to Anna (Shaw) Curtis:
(18) A.L.s.; Darnestown, 23 Sep1861. 2s.(8p.)
(19) A.L.s.; Steamer "De Molay", 3 Jun 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(20-24) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. 5 letters to George William Curtis:
(20) A.L.s.; Brookline, 28 Nov1860. 1s.(3p.)
(21) A.L.s.; [n.p.] 19 Apr 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(22) A.L.s.; Darnestown, 8 Oct 1861. 3s.(5p.)
(23) A.L.s.; Fairfax Station, 1 Jan 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(24) A.L.s.; Readville, 2 Apr 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(25) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. A.L.s. to John Murray Forbes; Steamer "De Molay", 3 Jun 1863. 1s.(4p.)
Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. 15 letters to Josephine (Shaw) Lowell, see item nos. 59-73.
(26) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. A.L.s. to Mary (Forbes) Russell; Williamsport, 7 Jun 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(27) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. MS.L. (copy, fragment, in an unidentified hand) to Annie (Haggerty) Shaw; Steamer "De Molay", 1 Jun 1863. 1s.(3p.)
(28-58) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. 31 letters to Francis George Shaw:
(28) A.L.s.; Hanover, 5 Mar 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(29) A.L.s.; same, 6 Mar [1856]. 1s.(4p.)
(30) A.L.s.; Cambridge, 8 Dec 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(31) A.L.s.; same, 19 Mar 1858. 1s.(2p.)
(32) A.L.s.; same, 24 Mar 1858. 1s.(4p.)
(33) A.L.s.; Boston, 6 Feb 1859. 1s.(3p.)
(34) A.L.s.; New York, 28 Mar 1861. 2s.(8p.)
(35) A.L.s.; Washington, 25 Apr 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(36) A.L.s.; same, 4 May 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(37) A.L.s.; same, 7 May 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(38) A.L.s.; Brook Farm, 19 May 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(39) A.L.s.; same, 4 Jun 1861. 1s.(3p.)
(40) A.L.s.; same, 14 Jun 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(41) A.L.s.; Maryland Heights, 12 Aug 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(42) A.L.s.; Washington, 27 Aug 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(43) A.L.s.; Darnestown, 3 Sep 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(44) A.L.s.; Cantonment Hicks, 24 Jan 1862. 1s.(3p.)
(45) A.L.s.; Strasburg, 13 May 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(46) A.L.s.; Williamsport, 27 May 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(47) A.L.s.; Manassas Junction, 29 Aug 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(48) A.L.s.; Readeville, 25 Feb 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(49) A.L.s.; same, 21 Mar 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(50) A.L.; same, 2 Apr 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(51) A.L.; same, 24 Apr 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(52) A.L.; [n.p.] 3 Jun 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(53) A.L.; Beaufort, 5 Jun 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(54) A.L.s.; Steamer "De Molay", 8 Jun 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(55) A.L.; St. Simon's Island; 22 Jun 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(56) A.L.; St. Simon's Island, 24 Jun 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(57) A.L.; St. Helena Island, 1 Jul 1863. 1s.(3p.)
(58) A.L.; same, 4 Jul 1863. 1s.(1p.) See also item nos. 165 and 166.
(59-73) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. 15 letters to Josephine (Shaw) Lowell:
(59) A.L.s.; Washington, 30 Apr 1861. 3s.(8p.)
(60) A.L.; [Washington County, 31 Jul 1861]. 1s.(4p.) lacks beginning.
(61) A.L.; Darnestown, 11 Sep 1861. 2s.(4p.)
(62) A.L.; Muddy Branch, 11 Nov 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(63) A.L. (signature cut away); Seneca, 1 Dec 1861. 1s.(3p.)
(64) A.L.; Camp Hicks, 8 Dec 1861. 2s.(6p.) lacks ending.
(65) A.L.; Cantonment Hicks, 15 Jan 1862. 1s.(4p.) lacks ending.
(66) A.L.s.; Frederick, 9 Feb 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(67) A.L.s.; Charlestown, 9 Mar 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(68) A.L.s.; Edenburg, 16 Apr 1862. 2s.(8p.)
(69) A.L.s.; Front Royal, 25 Jun 1862. 2s.(8p.)
(70) A.L.; Sharpsburg, 21 Nov 1862. 1s.(4p.) lacks ending.
(71) A.L.s.; Stafford Court House, 25 Jan 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(72) A.L.; Boston, 3 Mar 1863. 2s.(8p.)
(73) A.L.; St. Helena Island, 8 Jul 1863. 1s.(1p.)
(74-171) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863. 98 letters to Sarah Blake (Sturgis) Shaw:
(74) A.L.s.; Neuchâtel, 22 Mar 1853. 1s.(4p.)
(75) A.L.s.; same, 15 May 1853. 1s.(4p.)
(76) A.L.s.; Hanover, 29 Oct 1854. 1s.(4p.)
(77) A.L.; same, 5 Nov 1854. 1s.(4p.)
(78) A.L.s.; same, 14 Nov 1854. 1s.(4p.)
(79) A.L.s.; [n.p.] 16 Jul 1855. 1s.(2p.)
(80) A.L.s.; [n.p.] 29 Jul 1855. 1s.(4p.)
(81) A.L.s.; [n.p.] 12 Aug 1855. 1s.(4p.)
(82) A.L.s.; Hanover, 7 Oct 1855. 1s.(4p.) mutilated.
(83) A.L.s.; same, 28 Oct 1855. 1s.(4p.)
(84) A.L.s.; same, 19 Dec 1855. 1s.(4p.)
(85) A.L.s.; same, 26 Dec 1855. 1s.(4p.)
(86) A.L.; Berlin, 31 Dec 1855. 1s.(4p.)
(87) A.L.s.; Hanover, 8 Jan 1856. 1s.(2p.)
(88) A.L.s.; same, 30 Jan 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(89) A.L.s.; same, 13 Feb 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(90) A.L. (signature torn away); same, 20 Feb 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(91) A.L.; same, 15 Mar 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(92) A.L.s.; same, 27 Mar 1856. 1s.(2p.)
(93) A.L.s.; same, 9 Apr 1856. 2s.(8p.)
(94) A.L.s.; Cambridge, 29 Aug 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(95) A.L.s.; same, 5 Sep 1856. 2s.(8p.)
(96) A.L. (signature cut away); same, 7 Oct 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(97) A.L.; same, 14 Oct 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(98) A.L.s.; same, 18 Nov 1856. 1s.(4p.)
(99) A.L.s.; Boston, 1 Mar 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(100) A.L.s.; Cambridge, 29 Mar 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(101) A.L.; same, Apr 1857. 1s.(4p.) lacks ending.
(102) A.L.s.; same, 22 Apr 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(103) A.L.s.; Cambridge, 29 Apr 1859. 2s.(8p.)
(104) A.L.s.; same, Apr 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(105) A.L.s.; same, 11 May 1857. 2s.(5p.)
(106) A.L.s.; same, 25 May 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(107) A.L.s.; Jamaica Plain, 3 Jun 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(108) A.L.; Cambridge, 22 Jun 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(109) A.L.s.; same, 11 Sep 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(110) A.L.; Jamaica Plain, 20 Sep 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(111) A.L.s.; Cambridge, 7 Oct 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(112) A.L.s.; same, Oct 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(113) A.L.; Cambridge, 31 Oct 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(114) A.L.s.; same, 7 Nov 1857. 1s.(3p.)
(115) A.L.; same, 16 Nov 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(116) A.L.s.; Keene, 28 Nov 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(117) A.L.; Cambridge, 2 Dec 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(118) A.L.; same, 17 Dec 1857. 1s.(4p.)
(119) A.L.s.; same, 13 Jan 1858. 1s.(3p.)
(120) A.L.s.; same, 19 Jan 1858. 1s.(3p.)
(121) A.L.s.; Portland, 28 Feb 1858. 1s.(4p.)
(122) A.L.s.; Cambridge, 21 Apr 1858. 1s.(4p.)
(123) A.L.s.; same, 23 May 1858. 1s.(4p.)
(124) A.L.s.; same, Jun 1858. 1s.(3p.)
(125) A.L.s.; same, 9 Sep 1858. 1s.(3p.)
(126) A.L.s.; same, 11 Oct 1858. 1s.(4p.)
(127) A.L.s.; same, Nov 1858. 1s.(4p.)
(128) A.L.s.; same, 1 Dec 1858. 1s.(3p.)
(129) A.L.s.; same, 9 Dec 1858. 1s.(3p.)
(130) A.L.s.; Boston, 29 Oct 1859. 1s.(4p.)
(131) A.L.s.; Niagara, 18 Nov 1860. 1s.(4p.)
(132) A.L.s.; Brookline, 24 Nov 1860. 1s.(4p.)
(133) A.L.s.; New York, 29 Mar 1861. 2s.(8p.)
(134) A.L.s.; Staten Island, 18 Apr 1861. 2s.(6p.)
(135) A.L.s.; Philadelphia, 20 Apr 1861. 1s.(1p.)
(136) A.L.s.; Washington, 2 May 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(137) A.L.s.; same, 3 May 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(138) A.L.s.; same, 6 May 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(139) A.L.s.; same, 10 May 1861. 2s.(6p.)
(140) A.L.s.; Camp Andrew, 25 May 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(141) A.L.s.; same, 31 May 1861. 1s.(3p.)
(142) A.L.s.; same, 9 Jun 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(143) A.L.s.; [n.p.], Jun 1861. 1s.(1p.)
(144) A.L.s.; Martinsburg, 13 Jul 1861. 2s.(6p.)
(145) A.L.s.; Charlestown, 18 Jul 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(146) A.L.s.; Harper's Ferry, 21 Jul 1861. 2s.(6p.)
(147) A.L.s.; same, 23 Jul 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(148) A.L.s.; same, 24 Jul 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(149) A.L.; Darnestown, 30 Aug 1861. 1s.(4p.) lacks ending.
(150) A.L.s.; same, 5 Sep 1861. 2s.(6p.)
(151) A.L.s.; Seneca Mills, 31 Oct 1861. 3s.(6p.)
(152) A.L.s.; Muddy Branch, 5 Nov 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(153) A.L.; Seneca, 20 Nov 1861. 1s.(4p.)
(154) A.L. (signature cut away); Seneca, 25 Nov 1861. 1s.(2p.)
(155) A.L.s.; Charlestown, 28 Feb 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(156) A.L.; Strasberg, 28 Mar 1862. 2s.(8p.)
(157) A.L.; Sharpburg, 3 Nov 1862. 1s.(4p.)
(158) A.L.s.; Boston, 20 Feb 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(159) A.L.; Readeville, 25 Mar 1863. 1s.(3p.)
(160) A.L.; same, 7 Apr 1863. 1s.(2p.)
(161) A.L. (signature cut away); same, 14 Apr 1863. 1s.(3p.)
(162) A.L.; same, 17 Apr 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(163) A.L.; same, 27 Apr 1863. 1s.(1p.)
(164) A.L.; same, 17 May 1863. 1s.(3p.)
(165) A.L.; Beaufort, 6 Jun 1863. 1s.(4p.) Includes A.L. to Francis George Shaw.
(166) A.L.; St. Simon's Island, 13 Jun 1863. 2s.(7p.) Includes A.L. to Francis George Shaw.
(167) A.L.; same, 18 Jun 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(168) A.L.; St. Helena's Island, 28 Jun 1863. 2s.(4p.)
(169) A.L.; [n.p.] 3 Jul 1863. 3s.(12p.)
(170) A.L.; Cambridge [n.d.]. 1s.(3p.)
(171) A.L.s.; Jamaica Plain, [n.d.]. 2s.(6p.)
(172-174) Shaw, Sarah Blake (Sturgis), d. 1902. 3 letters to Robert Gould Shaw:
(172) A.L.; Rome, 6 Dec 1852. 2s.(6p.)
(173) A.L.; [n.p.] 6 Feb 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(174) A.L.; Boston, 31 May 1863. 1s.(4p.)
(175) Jay, Louisa (Barlow) 1873- [Genealogical notes on the Barlow family]. A.MS. and TS.; [v.p., v.d.]. 2 folders.
Includes 5 letters to Louisa (Barlow) Jay from various correspondents, and some printed matter.
(176) Jay, Louisa (Barlow) 1873- [Notes for a biography of Robert Gould Shaw]. A.MS. notes and data, transcripts of letters and miscellanea; [v.p., v.d.]. 9 envelopes.