Scope and Content of the Collection From the Collection: Mainly courtship letters between Gideon W. Allen and Annie Cox prior to their marriage in 1865, containing detailed descriptions of life and their political beliefs during the Civil War. Gideon W. Allen lived in Ann Arbor while attending law school. and described the conflicts he faced in school because of his political beliefs as a "Copperhead Democrat," as well as his financial struggle to finish his law studies. Later he discussed the machinations of avoiding the draft, and...