Newberry Library - Jefferson Columbus Davis papers, 1867-1878

Jefferson Columbus Davis papers, 1867-1878

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Open book Jefferson Columbus Davis papers, 1867-1878

Title Jefferson Columbus Davis papers, 1867-1878

Creator Davis, Jefferson Columbus, 1828-1879

Date 1867-1878

Place Alaska, Mississippi River, Mexico--Mexico City, Louisiana--New Orleans

Language English

Subjects United States, Indians of North America, Steamboats

Summary Original journals, correspondence, photographs, engravings, newsclippings, together with some typed copies, documenting Davis' tenure as military governor of Alaska, 1867-1870, and his and his wife's tour of Mexico in 1878. Alaskan materials include: 1867 orders and instructions issued by Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, Sec. of State William H. Seward, and Asst. Adj. Gen. E.D. Townsend; correspondence and a journal written by Davis and his wife, describing the Russian cession ceremony, Sitka, daily life, and trips to tribal settlements, 1867-1870; an 1872 explanation of Davis' treaty-mandated takeover of Russian Fur Company property; correspondence from Robert N. Scott, a senior aide of Halleck's in San Francisco, commenting on military appointments, congressional funding, presidential impeachment proceedings, and Davis' handling of an 1869 incident involving a Chilkat chief; a copy of the first issue of the Sitka times (issued in ms., Sept. 19, 1868); and photographs (Metropolitan Veniaminov, Sir John Franklin, Prince Maksutov, etc.), engravings, and administrative correspondence. Mexican-related items include Mrs. Davis' 1878 diary containing detailed descriptions of an Ohio and Mississippi River steamboat passage, New Orleans, and Mexico City; and signed photographs of President and Mrs. Porfirio Diaz, whom the Davis' visited.

Biographical/Historical Note Career army officer.

Extent 0.4 linear feet (1 box)

Format Sources

User-Contributed Transcription trouble in dealing with cases of this kind, even up to the time of my being relieved from that Command in 1870. My correspondence on these subjects was frequent and sometimes quite extensive, sometimes with citizens, sometimes with Headquarters Mil. Div. of Pacific,_ Adjutant General,_ Treasury Dept,_ Russian fur Company &c. In my first report a few days after the transfer in Nov: 1867 I alluded to the fact, that I was not satisfied with the transfer or rather non transfer of public buildings, but as the Russian fur Company had a considerable length of time allowed it in which to close its business and leave the territory, I could not act, - they, by construction of the treaty, could hold and occupy these buildings for a considerable time, which they did, and its true, in the mean time the Russian Governor disposed of many buildings to citizens, which in my judgement he should have turned over to the United States Government, in other words he sold the property and signed the deeds as chief Factor of the Russian fur Company. Some of the deeds were warranty deeds!! at that.The history of these transactions can be

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

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Call Number VAULT Ayer MS 3057

BibID 991296448805867

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2252px × 3273px 21.12 MB

Filename 991296448805867_Ayer_MS_3057_FL010_00003.tif

Unique Identifier NL11E651

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