Skip to main content

Philander Smith papers and photographs

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-216

Scope and Contents

This collection includes correspondence, diary entries, military and genealogical records, and photographs from Philander Smith in Greenfield, Indiana ranging from 1863 to 1866 regarding his personal papers and records.

Dates

  • 1863-1866

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections.

Biographical Note

Philander Smith was born on March 23, 1835 to Samuel and Parthena Rowland Smith in Union County, Indiana. He enlisted as a Sergeant on 1861/08/25, in Company B of the 8th Indiana Volunteer Infantry (the regiment was being reorganized at Indianapolis). The regiment mustered-in on September 10, for three years, and left the same day to join John C. Fremont’s Army at St. Louis, Missouri. Orders for the regiment assigned it to Colonel Jefferson C. Davis’s brigade. The 8th Indiana fought at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, joined Grant’s forces, and engaged in fighting at Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion’s Hill, and the siege of Vicksburg. It also took part in the capture of the fort on Mustang Island, Texas. In August 1864, the regiment became part of the 19th Corps near Berryville, Virginia, and with it participated in the Shenandoah Valley campaign. Smith gained promotion to 2nd Lieutenant on 1863/01/18, was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 1864/07/01, and to Captain on 1864/09/30. He was paroled from Libby Prison sometime in February 1865, and honorably discharged on 1865/05/04, as a 2nd Lieutenant.

After discharge, Smith married Sarah S. Allee on August 4, 1865 in Henry County, Indiana. They had four children: Harry Denman Smith, Edgar Bert Smith, Annie Dale Smith Moore, and Jimmie Smith. Philander Smith died on August 1, 1900 and is buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Parkville, Missouri.

Extent

0.3 Cubic Feet (1 box and 1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Philander Smith correspondence, 1863-1866

Series 2: Philander Smith diary, 1864

Series 3: Philander Smith military and genealogy records, 1864

Series 4: Philander Smith photographs, 1863-1874

Custodial History

The Philander Smith papers were purchased by Archives and Special Collections from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Manuscripts and Archives in 2002/04.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of the Philander Smith correspondence and military records are available electronically through the Ball State University Libraries' Digital Media Repository at http://libx.bsu.edu.

Related Materials

Materials relating to this collection may be found in the following collections in Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie IN:

MSS 23: Cassady and Nelson Families Papers

MSS 70: G.W.H. Kemper Papers

MSS 276: Sarah E. McVicker Papers

MSS 280: Delaware County Civil War Records

Guide to Civil War Resources in Archives and Special Collections: http://bsu.libguides.com/archivescivilwar

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2002/05/07 by J. Rhoades. Finding aid revision completed 2006/4 by Jane E. Gastineau. Finding aid revision completed 2009/7/1 by Rachel N. Miller. EAD finding aid completed 2009/08/05 by Maren L. Read. EAD finding aid revised 2013/10/30 by Rebecca Marangelli.

Title
Philander Smith papers and photographs
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Stoeckel Archives of Local History Repository

Contact:
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie Indiana 47306 USA