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Ira M. Whiteman Collection of Photographs and Military Paraphernalia

 Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-Whiteman

Scope and Content of the Collection

Spanish-American War photographs and military artifacts. Includes sixteen photographs, some by Waterman of Chicago, which show Cuba in 1899 and Camp Cuba Libre in Jacksonville, Fla., other Havana Harbor scenes and a picture of Waterman in his uniform at home. Artifacts include a wood fragment purported to be from the USS Maine, an epaulet, several badges, medals and ribbon bars, and two metal buttons.

Dates

  • Creation: 1898-1899

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Ira M. Whiteman Collection of Photographs and Military Paraphernalia is open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Ira M. Whiteman Collection of Photographs and Military Paraphernalia is the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Ira M. Whiteman

Illinois soldier.

Ira Whiteman was born in 1871 and lived in the small Illinois farming town of Lexington, located near the twin university towns of Bloomington and Normal. He married Flora Belle Faddis in 1904. In 1910 they adopted a daughter, Grace Irene Smith, from an Industrial Home in Bloomington. Grace died two weeks after the birth of her son, James Holloway, who with his siblings, grew up in Chicago. These Holloways were the grandchildren of Whiteman, who had served in the army in the Spanish-American War.

Ira Whiteman was mustered in as a private in the 2nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry in May, 1898, and then appointed corporal in Jan.,1899, at Havana, Cuba. Returning to Lexington, Illinois in April, 1899, Whiteman brought back with him a number of army photographs and military artifacts, including metal buttons, some medals and pins, an epaulet and what is said to be a piece of the USS Maine.

Whiteman died in 1944.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (1 box)

Abstract

Sixteen photographs and fourteen artifacts of military paraphernalia belonging to Ira M. Whiteman, relating to the Spanish-American War. Includes commercial photographs by Waterman of Chicago showing Cuba in 1899 and Camp Cuba Libre in Jacksonville, Fla.; other photos are of Havana Harbor, of Whiteman and other soldiers, and of “Muster-Out Day”. Military artifacts include badges, buttons, an epaulet, medals and a reputed piece of the USS Maine.

Organization

Papers are organized in the following series

Series 1: Photographs, 1898-1899 and undated
Box 1
Series 2: Artifacts, approximately 1898-1899
Box 1

Collection Stack Location

1 36 2

Provenance

Gift, James Holloway, 2004.

Processed by

Virginia Hay Smith, 2007.

Title
Inventory of the Ira M. Whiteman Collection of Photographs and Military Paraphernalia, 1898-1899
Status
Completed
Author
Virginia Hay Smith
Date
©2007.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512