viblbv00638Billings, Elden E., CollectionElden E. Billings Collection, 1862 - 1991 Ms.1991.036Special Collections StaffSpecial Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

2010 (CC0 1.0)

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield DriveNewman Library, Virginia TechBlacksburg, Virginia 24061Business Number: 540-231-6308specref@vt.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-09-24 08:52:34 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Elden E. Billings Collection Billings, Elden E. Ms.1991.036 25.5 Cubic Feet 22 boxes 1862-1991 This collection contains subject files, clippings, memorabilia, and artifacts related to the American Civil War. There are seven series, five of which predominately contain Civil War materials. The other two series in the collection also contains files on other subjects of Billings' historical interests, including aspects of military and United States history. The materials in the collection are in English. Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

 Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

 Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Elden E. Billings Collection, 1862-1991, Ms1991-036, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

 Source of Acquisition

The Elden E. Billings Collection was donated to Special Collections in 1991, 2001, and 2004.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.

 Processing Information

The processing, arrangement and description of the Elden E. Billings Collection commenced and was completed in August 2008. Earlier processing of the collection had been done in 1992. Additional description was completed in 2010.

 Scope and Content

This collection contains subject files, clippings, memorabilia, and artifacts related to the American Civil War. There are seven series, five of which predominately contain Civil War materials. The other two series in the collection also contains files on other subjects of Billings' historical interests, including aspects of military and United States history.

 Arrangement

The collection is arranged into seven series. Files in each series are arranged alphabetically by folder or item title.

Series I: Civil War Files and Prints contains subject files on various American Civil War topics including specific battles, locations, regiments, and historic figures, as well as works of art, maps, and images. Other files include information on railroads, prisons, ethnic or social groups, and branches of the military.

Series II: Other Subject Files contains files on various topics, some tangentially related to the Civil War. Topics include, but are not limited to, figures from US military history, World Wars I and II, the Mexican War, railroads,

Series III: Lincoln Materials contains historical information about aspects of Abraham Lincoln's life and presidency. The series also includes cartoons, newsletters, portraits, and memorabilia.

Series IV: Elden E. Billings - Personal Files contains biographical information and photographs, correspondence to and from Billings, book catalogs, and notes relating to speaking events and writings.

Series V: Publications contains newsletters and journals, mostly from the Civil War period or about the Civil War. Other publications relate to Civil War Roundtables, historical societies, and military history.

Series VI: Primary Documents contains two subseries. Subseries A: Scrapbooks includes several related to Civil War regiments or individuals. Subseries B: Manuscripts includes originals and typed copies of diaries, correspondence, and ephemera from the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.

Series VII: Artifacts contains several portraits, daguerrotypes, and photographs of Civil War figures, including Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. This series also contains medals, coins, calling cards, stamps, and other memorabilia. There are two non-Civil War related items: a print of an elephant fight from India, and a notebook that belonged to Ulysses S. Grant III.

Related Materials

A portion of the American Civil War books in the Special Collections and University Archives's Rare Book Collection were donated by Elden E. Billings. The department also houses a portrait of Elden E. "Josh" Billings, Art-120. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.

 Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Elden E. Billings Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

 Civil War Folk, historical, and patent medicine Medicine Medicine, Military -- History Presidents -- United States United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Series I: Civil War Files and PrintsEnglish.Aeronautics, Civil War11Alabama, Civil War12Alton Union Riflers13Animals14Appomattox15Arkansas, Civil War16Arms, Artillery, Civil War17Army of the Potomac18'Battles & Leaders' ProjectEnglish.19BattlesAntietam, Battle of110Balls Bluff, Battle of111Big Bethel, Battle of112Brandy Station, Battle of113Brice Cross Roads, Battle of114Cedar Creek, Battle of115Cedar Mtn., Battle of116Chantilly, Battle of117Chattanooga, Battle ofEnglish.118Chickamauga, Battle of (sketch on)English.134Clustee, Battle ofEnglish.119Cold Harbor, Battle of120Crater, Battle of121Fort Stedman, Battle of122Fort Stevens, Battle of123Galveston, Battle of124Gettysburg, Battle of125Manassas, Battle of126Pea Ridge, Battle of127Peninsula, Battle of128Pilot Knob, Battle of129Saltville, Battle of130Santa Rosa Island, Battle of131Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of132Vicksburg, Battle of133Wilderness, Battle of134Wilderness, Battle of1327Bermuda, Civil War135Bibliographies, Civil War136Bierce, Gen. Lucius V.137Bios, Various138Black Troops139The Blue and the Gray, Curtis Paper Company, 4 black/white prints17Bragg, Brig. Gen. Braxton132Brazil140Brochures, Civil War parks/monuments/battlefields141Brown, John142Burnside, Gen. Ambrose143Butler, Gen. Benjamin144Campaigning with Lee Seminar145Catton, Bruce146Cavalry147Cemeteries148Census Information149Centennial1958150Chamberlain, Gen. Joshua L.151Chaplains of the U. S. ArmyEnglish.133Christmas, Civil War152Civil War, General Info153Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, Currier & Ives print17Confederate Powder Works154Conscription155Correspondents156Currier & Ives prints – Genl. Beagher at the Battle of Fair Oaks, The storming of Fort Donelson, TN17Curtis, Josiah157Davis, Jefferson21Delaware, Civil War22Derrickson, David V.23Douglas, Stephen24Drummer Boys251899 picture of U.S. Grant17Ewing, Charles Brig. Gen.26Fashion, Civil War-era27Finance28Flags29Florida210Foreign Affairs and the Civil War by Howard Westwood136Forrest, Nathan Bedford211Forts212Georgia213Generals214Gettysburg Address215Gettysburg Advance and Retreat216Gettysburg Advance and Retreat217Gettysburg, Commercial Tower Controversy218Gettysburg, Tourist Information219Gibbons, Major General John220Gill, Delancey W.221Grant, Gen. U.S.222Grout, Josuah, Publ.1925523"A Soldier's Tribute to His Chief"224"Guide of the Confederate Government, An Official"225Gulager, Charles226Hancock, Winfield Scott227Harper's Ferry228Hayes, Pres. Rutherford B.229Henderson, Gen. Thomas J. 230Hill, Gen. A. P. 231Hitchcock, Henry232Hooker, Gen. Joseph233Hospitals234Hunt, H. J. 235Hunter's Raid236Illinois237Indiana238Intrenchment239Iowa240Irish241Ironclads242Jackson, Gen. T. J. "Stonewall" 243Jewish Servicemen244"Johnny Reb and Billy Yank" 245Kane, Brig. Gen. 246Keene, Laura247Keller, CassiusEnglish.248KentuckyEnglish.249Lee, Gen. R. E.250Lees of Virginia Tech251Lee Jackson Foundation252Lee's General Order Number Nine, a likeness as a keepsake for the members of The Civil War Round Table17Longstreet, Lt. Gen James253Loose pages from the Photographic History of the Civil War, 1910 by Brady14Louisiana254Magruder, Gen. John B. 31Maine32Manassas, Mall Controversy33Map, Lee Retreat/Appomattox Advance of34Maps35Maps (10) Second Battle of Manassas Troop Movements17Marine Corps36Maryland37Massachusetts38Maury, Matthew Fontaine39McClellan, Gen. George B. 310McCook, Daniel311Meade, Gen. George312Medicine313Michigan314Military Balls315Military Order of the Loyal Legion – Memoriums316Mississippi317Missouri318Monitor, U.S.S. 319Monuments, Civil War1317Music, Civil War Era319a?Navy320New Hampshire321New York322North Carolina323Northern Lake Frontier during the Civil War"1897324Notes on Civil War, handwritten by Billings1320Ohio325Oklahoma326Ord327Gen. E. O. C., Career of – Thesis –1951328Pennsylvania329People, Misc. 330Personnel Problems331Petersburg, VA – Siege of332Phillips, David, Confederate Hero – copies333Phoebus, Harrison334Photographs, Civil War calendar14Photographs – Civil War related335Photographs & Negatives – Civil War related336Pickett, LaSalle Corbin (Gen. Pickett's widow)337Porter, Benjamin338Porter, Gen. Fitz John339Portraits, Civil War leaders340Postcards341Prisons342Prison Camps, Confederate1321Railroads343Randall, James G. 344Reconstruction345Reenactments346Relic Hunters347Reno, Major Marcus348Rhode Island349Richards, Almarin Nehemiah Cooley350Robinson, George Foster (Sgt.)351Russell, Irwin, 'Private Notes' – copy1888352Sanitary Commission41Scrapbooks on Civil War42Sedgewick, General John43Seminars,"Campaigning with Lee" 44Sharpshooters45Shaw, Henry Wheeler46Sheldon, Bert47Shepherd, Alexander48Sheridan, Philip Henry (Lt. Gen.)49Sherman, William T. (Gen.)410Shields, Gen. James411Signals, Civil412Soldiers of the Civil War, 4 prints, Princeton Printing Co.196217South Carolina, Civil WarEnglish.413Statistics, Civil War414Stone, General Charles P. 415Stonewall Brigade416Strange, Col. John B.417Stratton Case418Stuarts Cavalry419Stuart, J.E.B.420Tennessee421Texas and Pacific Railway, Rates to Dallas and return for Confederate Veterans Reunion17Theatre, Civil War era132231st Virginia Confederates422Thomas, Benjamin P.423Thomas, Gen. George H., paper on424Tobacco425Tournier, Charles, Diary (N.Y. Lgt. Artillery) –typed426Tyrell, H. H. – RR pass, receipt, voucher and reunion ribbon1323Underground Railroad427Union Army428Union and Confederate Commander, Prints, 217United Daughters of the Confederacy429Ursuline Convent, the Burning of430Valley Campaign431Veterans432Vicksburg, paper by H. C. Westwood433Virginia434Virginia, Civil War1325Virginia, Historic Sites435Virginia Military Institute (VMI)436Voorhees, Hon. D. W., 1863 Speech437Washington, D. C., Civil War era438Washington Light Guard18711326Weapons439West, Civil War era440West Point, Civil War441West Virginia Tech442Whitaker, Gen. Walter443Whitman, Walt444Wilson Creek Nat'l Battlefield Park445Winthrop, Theodore, n.d., n.a. 1328Women and the Civil WarEnglish.446Zoaves447Series II: Other Subject FilesEnglish.American Revolution51Army, United States521Assassinations53Atomic Energy Commission54Black Family – GeneologyEnglish.55Bookmarks56Cemeteries57Chattanooga Choo Choo58Chessie59Conscription510Custer, General George511Economics and WarfareEnglish.512Files on City planning and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. 21Forbes, Cecil (artist) Houses of Parliament14Frontier Military Posts, Southwest513Grant, III, Lt. Col. U.S.S. Official Speeches, Articles514Grant, III, Lt. Col. U. S. S.1925-1928515Harmon Memorial Lecture516Hump Pilots517Institute for Learning and Retirement518Iroquois Club1941519Kennedy, Pres. John F.520Ku Klux Klan521Loch Ness Monster522Maps1316Mexican War523Montpelier, A Brief History524New York Avenue Presbyterian Church1318Newspapers1880s-1890s1319Oldest Inhabitants of D. C., Assn. of525Order of the Indian Wars526Pledge of Allegiance527Sandburg, Carl528"TAPS"529Tennessee, History of530Texas531Treasury Bond- Bon du Tresor1943532United Kingdom533Vietnam534Virginia, Fairfax County535Washington Housing Assoc. 536White, Harry Decker537White House Photos538World War I540World War II541Series III: Lincoln MaterialsEnglish.Anderson Cottage61Anecdotes62Assassination63Azerodt, George A.64Bibliographies, Lincoln65Biographical Sketches66Birth, Lincoln67Booth, John Wilkes68Cartoons on Lincoln69Clark, Allen C.610Colleges611Commemorative Ceremonies612"Commentaries" 613Conspirators614Corbett, Boston615Dinner Brochures616Dog, Lincoln's617Education, Lincoln's618Elections619Emancipation Proclamation Centenary620Evans, George W. – friend of Lincoln621Finances, Lincoln's622Food, Lincoln and623Forbes, Charles624Ford Theatre625Ford Theatre, Newspaper Clippings626Funeral Train627Gettysburg, Lincoln's Address628Gettysburg Address print17Ghosts, Lincoln's629Hat, Lincoln's630Health, Lincoln's631Inaugurations632International Lincoln633Isham, Lincoln634Kennedy/Lincoln – Comparisons of635Lee and Lincoln prints, Civil War Times196317Legal Career636Library of Congress Papers on Lincoln637Lincoln Bibliography138Lincoln Bibliography139"Lincoln Chronicle"638Lincoln collectibles18"Lincoln Commission"639Lincoln Commission Flag specifications and Lincoln Silhouttes17Lincoln Fellowship of Canada640Lincoln Fellowship of Wisconsin641Lincoln Group642Lincoln Home, National Historic Site643"Lincoln Legacy"644Lincoln Legal Papers645Lincoln, Abraham – letters646Lincoln Log647"Lincoln Lore"648Lincoln Lore, 1 – 170215Lincoln Lore, 1703-184016Lincoln Memorial71Lincoln and Music of the Civil War1310"Lincoln and Negroes" – notes by E. Billings1311Lincoln, news clippings1927-19601312Lincoln Newsletter72Lincoln, notes and handwritten speeches by Billings1313Lincoln Pew73Lincoln, pictures1314Lincoln Speech on Sectionalism, copy of original1315Lincoln, Various articles about74"Lincolnian"1957-198475"Lincolnian"1985-199076"Lincolnian"1991-199477Mary Todd Lincoln Opera Committee – Opera 'Wing of Expectation'17Mudd, Dr. Samuel A. 78Murder Conspiracy79Music on Lincoln710New York Herald Planographic print, April 15, 1865 Lincoln Assassination17Paintings, Lincoln711Pamphlets712Patents713Payne, Lewis714Peterson House715Photographs on Lincoln716Portraits of Lincoln717Postcards718Quotations719Religion720Scrapbook on Lincoln1896721Sculptures722Sesquicentennial Abraham Lincoln Dinner Brochure195917"Sesquicentennial Intelligencer"723Seward, William H. 724Skits, Radio725Speeches on Lincoln726Stamps, Postage727Surratt, Mary728Swatches reputedly taken from the lining of Lincoln's coffinEnglish.14Theatre and Lincoln729Tomb, Lincoln's730Tourist Information731Washington National Cathedral732Youth, Lincoln's733Series IV: Elden E. Billings - Personal FilesEnglish.American Way of Life, notes by Elden Billings131Billings, Mrs. Margaret81Biographical, Billings82Book Catalogs83Book Catalogs, Old and Rare84Book Purchases and Receipts85Book Reviews86Calendar, Personal87Cards, Greeting88Catalog of Books in Billings Collection89Certificates810Certificate – Elden E. Billings for Meritorius Public Service Gov. of the District of Columbia196514College811Correspondence, Civil War from Billings812Correspondence, Civil War-related813Correspondence, D. C. Centennial Commission814Correspondence, Personal815Dinner with Ike Program196014Geneology, Billings816Gregor, Year Book of the Clan817High School, Billings818Hohlweck, Phil J, Correspondence819Library of Congress Papers by Billings820Military Career, Billings821Photographs822Photograph, Mr. and Mrs. Elden BillingsEnglish.14Photograph, Group14Photograph, Margaret Billings14"Planning": Speeches, Articles, Broadcasts, Etc. 21Post Cards823Programs, Events824Vest, Senator George Graham, Billings notes1324Series V: PublicationsEnglish.American Antiquarian Society1906English.91Americana Illustrated92Atlantic Monthly186693Banner94Beauvoir95Book Shopper96Century Illustrated189697Century Magazine98Civil War Centennial Commission99Civil War Centennial Commission910Civil War Monitor911Civil War Press Corps912Civil War Round Table Digest913Civil War Round Table, Alexandria, VA914Civil War Round Table, Illinois915Civil War Round Table, Mississippi916Civil War Round Table, Mississippi917Civil War Round Table, Mississippi918Civil War Round Table Obituaries919Civil War Round Table, D.C.920Civil War Round Table, Others921Civil War Society Newsletter922Civil War Times923Civil War Times Illustrated924Color Bearer925Columbia Historical Society926Confederate Historical Institute "Dispatch"927Foraging the Books928Fort Ward Dispatch929Franklin Co. Historical Society930Franklin Flyer1968-1976931Franklin Flyer932Friends of Virginia Civil War Parks933Fury934The Grand Review1965935Grant Cottage Chronicles936Harper's New Monthly1850-1855101Harper's New Monthly1856-1861102Harper's New Monthly1862-1865103Harper's New Monthly1866-1869104Harper's New Monthly1870-1875105Harper's New Monthly1876-1879English.106Harper's New Monthly1880-1885107Harper's Weekly1861108Heliogram109Historic Lexington Foundation1010Loyal Legion Historical Journal1011Journal of the Military Service Institute1887-18941012Journal of the Military Service Institute1895-18991013Journal of the Military Service Institute1900-19021014Journal of the U. S. Infantry Association19091015U. S. Army Military History Institute1016U. S. Service Magazine18651017The Maryland Line1018Museum Graphic19651019Newsletters, Various1020Pathways1021Pictorial ReviewJune 191717Rebel Yell1022Society for Correct Civil War Information1023Society News and Views1024Surrant Courier and Society News1025Valley Echo News1026Virginia Canals and Navigation Society1027Whitehead & Hoag Co., Catalog page17Series VI: Primary DocumentsEnglish.Subseries A: Scrapbooks1858-1931, n.d.English.Army War College, Study on Civil War1931English.111Joe Hooker Post Minutes, N.J.1887-1889English.112Large scrapbook, 118th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 60 typewritten letters by or to - 2 Large ScrapbooksEnglish.20Benton L. Thompson1862-1865English.14Scrapbook – unknown owner1889-1910English.113Scrapbook, newsclippings - unknown owner 1890English.114Scrapbook, news clippings1858-1904English.115History of the 73rd Indiana Regiment by E. K. BarnhillEnglish.116Washington Light Infantry Scrapbook117Subseries B: Manuscripts1861-1924, n.d.English.Allan, Joe M., Abbyville, Miss., Dec. 15, 1862 to his cousin Charlene Morgan, in Minn. Allan describes war, traitors, rebels deserting, burning bridges, describes his tent and "two black boys who do our cooking and take care of our horses." Also mentions Grand Junction and Maj. Gen. U. S. GrantEnglish.121Bevel, G. A. (?) to 'Tom,' writes of service in the Confederacy until Jan. '63 when he 'played quits, scouting four months in Tenn. And then went 'over Cumberland Mountain into the Federal line" 1866English.122Bierce, L. V., 3 letters, 2 written in 1870, 1 possibly earlier and possibly to Lincoln? 123Binion, James, 10th Ga Infantry, in Virginia, typed copies1861-1864124Bryant, Corp., S.O., 20th Michigan Infantry, typed1863125Burns, Calvin J., copies of letters1864126Burr, 'no first name,' Washington, D.C., Lincoln's deathApril 28, 1865127Butler, Calvin to his brother W. A. Wolcott, Mass. Original1864128Carpenter, Lyman, writes from TN to his sister about battles in TN and getting smallpox and typhoid, typed1863129Chancellorsville Letter, typed, from Camp ConvalescentJune 2, 18631210Civil War Diary of G. W. Pennington1862-1865135Clift, R. H. to his mother, typed, re: Battle of MurfreesboroJanuary 10, 18621211Cluseret, Gutave-Paul, handwritten transcription of letters by Billings1212Crawford, Samuel Wylie to George W. Reed original letter written from Huntsville Ala. Wylie reminisces about Sheridan's last campaignJuly 10, 18691213Curtis, Lyman to Susan, original letter, writes about loss of son in battleAugust 28, 18641214Curtis, Gen. Samuel Ryan, typed copy of letter to his nephewJuly 30, 18621215Denver, Gen., letter on Sherman's March into Miss., original18751216Diaries, Memories (Civil War era) – all reproduced, transcribed, typed1227Eliza – ltr from, to sister and aunt, writes about Christmas, originalDecember 26, 18671218Gillette, James (Capt. C.S.) writes to his mother about Battle of ChancelorsvilleMay 9, 18631219Grant, U.S. to Major Gen. W. Sherman, copy of originalDecember 18, 18641220Hyde, John E. (Private) of Mississippi, typed copies18651221Ladies Association for Soldiers' Relief18631222Letters, assorted Civil War, all copies1223Letter, Civil War, copy of – brother Phil to brother unknown1862137Letter, partial to 'Bro' from 'unknown,' Lancaster, mentions 'Alexandria'September 10, 18621224Letter from son to father, Gainesville, Ga. Letterhead designates 'Office of Commissioner of Railroads' and son writes of horse and cost of hay, peas, sugarSeptember 19, 18991225Letters, 4 original to Josie from Miranda – religious in subjects18651226Letter to Abraham Lincoln, unsigned, n.d., subject hospitals and religion1227Manassas Junction, original letter from John 'undeciphered,' writes he had measles, the battle at Manassas, wounded, a 'Ball' in Fairfax and the ladiesJuly 28, 18611228Mansfield, Richard H. cartoonist, his cartoons from newspaper1229McCarthy, John B. (?) Rockford, Illinois original letter, Aug. 31 '?', to '?' Clark writes about Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln1230Merrick, C. Henry, 6 original letters1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 18691231Nine Mile Road, letter, brother to sisterJuly 18621232Pace, Thomas N., Indiana Volunteers, Certificate of Service1233Phelps, Walter (copies of letters)1861-18621234Quartermaster Receipt, blank, Confederate States1235Reckmeyer, W., typed/translated, TN18611236Sackey, John to his cousin Miss Mattie Turner, original letter from Camp Near Winchester Virginia, writes that he is weak from being sickAugust 3, 18611237Sewells Point Battery letter from L. C. Jones, discusses artilleryJuly 1, 18611238Sherman, W. T. Gen., (copies of letters)1863, 1864, 18881239Sherman, W. T., signed by Sherman but written by unknown18871240Struthers, Jeannie Gourlay to Allen Clark, [Lincoln flag]19241241Taliaferro, W. B. to General W. W. Loring, typedJanuary 29, 18621242Warner, Charles, 145th N.Y. Reg., letters typed and transcribed1862-18631243Wiggenton, Thomas S.R. to Capt. J. Thomas Clark, original letter written at Racoonford, VA writes about death, wounds and capturesAugust 20, 18631244Wolcott, I. H. P., original letters, plus typed and transcribed copies18631245Series VII: ArtifactsEnglish.1 Jackson201 Lee20Collectibles, various19Daguerrotypes (4), Calling Cards, Medallions22Elephant Fight, print from Chandni Chowk, Delhi17Notebook of U.S. Grant III21Stamps of the Civil War17Robert E. Lee bust1