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Daniel Lyman Chandler Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-128

Scope and Content of the Collection

Twelve letters from Daniel Lyman Chandler to his brother Henry and Henry’s wife Charlotte, plus two other family letters, written between 1855 and 1866. Four letters from Chicago, where Chandler worked with horses, are full of details regarding the possible draining of the city, local and national politics, and his thoughts on slavery, religion and temperance. Included is a description of visiting a Chicago cemetery and attending a Jewish service, plus a lengthy report on traveling from Massachusetts to Chicago.

Letters from Ogden, Kansas, 1857-1863, reflect the passions and emotions of an abolitionist living and working in the midst of social and political turmoil. Chandler’s descriptions of life during a time later termed that of “Bleeding Kansas” include the terrible hardships of the emigrants who have arrived to homestead, and his exhortations to his Eastern relatives to send assistance and/or come join the anti-slavery efforts. Letters also include rough maps of Ogden, reports on farming, descriptions of the landscape, comments on national politics and local affairs, and many other thoughts and opinions of an observant and literate correspondent.

One of two undated letters is written on the back of a circular published in English, Cherokee and Creek from Fort Gibson in the Department of Missouri, April 16, 1863, which urges Indians to enlist in the United States army. The two letters not written by Chandler are to his sister-in-law Charlotte, from an unknown family friend and from her son John.

Dates

  • Creation: 1855-1866

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Daniel Lyman Chandler Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Daniel Lyman Chandler Papers are 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 Daniel Lyman Chandler

Chicago hostler and Kansas farmer.

Daniel Lyman Chandler from Massachusetts was living and working as a hostler in Chicago in the 1850s, when he decided to emigrate to the Kansas Territory. Staking his claim in Ogden, near Manhattan, Kansas, Chandler farmed corn and hay, and encouraged some members of his family to come west, settle near him and join him in the anti-slavery movement. Apparently Chandler became active in local politics around 1860.

It is believed Chandler died in 1892.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (2 folders)

Abstract

Twelve letters of New Englander Daniel Lyman Chandler from Chicago, Illinois, and Ogden, Kansas, to his relatives,1855-1863, which describe life in Chicago and in the Kansas Territory. Also, two other letters from his nephew John and a woman named Elisabeth Hewins.

Arrangement

Materials arranged in chronological order: originals in one folder and transcripts in another.

Collection Stack Location

1 1 2

Provenance

Gift, Mrs. Myles F. Gibbons, 1978.

Processed by

Virginia Hay Smith, 2008.

Title
Inventory of the Daniel Lyman Chandler Papers, 1855-1866
Status
Completed
Author
Virginia Hay Smith
Date
©2007.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 08/17/2011: Revisions, additions, and updates were made.

Repository Details

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

Contact:
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