Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family Papers

Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family Papers, 1864-1966 (bulk 1867-1884)

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Capron, Thaddeus Hurlbut, 1840-1890
Title: Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family Papers
Dates: 1864-1966 (bulk 1867-1884) (inclusive)
Quantity: 1.35 cubic ft. (3 boxes)
Collection Number: 01694
Summary: Thaddeus H. Capron was a United States Infantry officer during the Civil War and the subsequent Indian Wars. He served under General Crook at the Battle of the Rosebud (June, 1876). The collection includes diaries and letters of Thaddeus Capron and reminiscences of his wife, Cynthia. Photographs and drawings are also included.
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
Access to original letters is restricted. Photocopies are available for research use.
Languages

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron was born in Wisconsin on February 11, 1840. He enlisted in the 55th Illinois Infantry September 9, 1861 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant March 1, 1863. After the Civil War he joined the 9th U.S. Infantry as a second lieutenant January 22, 1867, and served in many western campaigns and at many western forts. On June 27, 1867, he married Cynthia Jane ("Jennie") Steves. He was promoted to first lieutenant November 8, 1871, and served under General Crook at the Battle of the Rosebud (June 1876). Capron retired from the army August 30, 1887, and died on December 24, 1890.

Cynthia Jane Steves Capron (1843-1923) was born near Syracuse, New York, and grew up in Durand, Illinois. She accompanied her husband to the west and experienced the life of an officer's wife at Camp Wright (California), Fort Laramie (Wyoming), and Fort Hartsuff (Nebraska), among other locations. Their children were: Hazen Selwyn (1868-1945), Clara Eloise (b. 1871), Henry (1873-1876), Blanche (1879-1940), Mary Louise (b. 1882), and Bessie Adelaide (1884-1909).

Hazen Selwyn Capron married Margaret Bidwell in 1893. Their children were: Ruth Capron (Thomas), Lois Capron, and Margaret Winifred Capron (Moyer). Blanche Capron married Harry H. Barber. Mary Louise Capron married Robert A. Hunter.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

In 1897, after her husband's death, Cynthia Capron began copying some of his diaries and many of his letters in her own hand into copybooks. She interspersed the letters with her reminiscences of the events, and titled the volumes "Thad's and My Letters." These volumes comprise Series III of the collection. Typescripts of the volumes were created by American Heritage Center staff to assist researchers. Some of the original documents on which the volumes were based can be found in Series I (Diaries) and Series II (Correspondence). Of special note in Series I are the diaries which Lieutenant Capron kept during 1876 while he was serving with General Crook's expedition which culminated in the Battle of the Rosebud. Series IV (Other Papers and Photographs) includes a sketch of Fort Laramie done by Cynthia Capron in the 1870s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~18~18.

Preferred Citation

Item description, Box Number, Folder Number, Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family, Collection Number 0694, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 4 series:

Series I. Diaries of Thaddeus Capron, 1868, 1875-1876.

Series II. Correspondence, 1864-1932.

Series III. "Thad's and My Letters," ca. 1890s.

Series IV. Other Papers and Photographs, ca. 1868-1966.

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I.: Diaries of Thaddeus Capron, 1868, 1876Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Diary - 9th U.S. Infantry, Camp Wright, California	1868
1	2	Diary - 9th U.S. Infantry, Camp Wright California, Typescript and partial transcript	1868
1	3	Diary - Fort Hartsuff, Fort Laramie, Camp Sheridan, Transcript 1875
1	4	Diary - Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition	May-June, 1876
1	5	Diary - Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition	July-September, 1876
1	6	Diary - Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition, Transcript 1876
1	7	Diary - Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition, Typescript 1876
1	8	Diary - Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition, Typescript from David Hunter 1876

Series II.: Correspondence 1864-1932 Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	9	Correspondence, Cynthia Steves to her brother Emory	1864
1	10	Correspondence, Military papers of Thaddeus Capron	1865-1866
1	11	Correspondence, Personal and military, Camp Wright, California	1867-1870
1	12	Correspondence, Jesse Lee to Thad Capron, Fort Russell, Wyoming	1872
1	13	Correspondence, Thad Capron to his sister Emma, Camp Sheridan, Nebraska	1875
1	14	Correspondence, Cynthia Capron, Fort Laramie, Wyoming	1876
1	15	Correspondence, Thad Capron, Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition	June-July, 1876
1	16	Correspondence, Thad Capron, Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition	August-October, 1876
1	17	Correspondence, From Cynthia Capron, Jesse Lee; military,	1877
1	18	Correspondence, Military; Thad to Cynthia Capron	1878
1	19	Correspondence, To and from Eloise Capron; John G. Bourke	1879
1	20	Correspondence, Thad to his sister Cynthia; Cynthia Capron to Hazen	1880
1	21	Correspondence, Personal and regarding promotion; Nebraska and South Dakota	1882
1	22	Correspondence, Regarding promotion and to Hazen; Fort Niobrara, Fort Bridger	1883
1	23	Correspondence, To Hazen; Fort Bridger	1884
1	24	Correspondence, From George Crook and to Hazen	1888
1	25	Correspondence, From C.A. Garcelon, John G. Bourke, George McAnulty, Charles King	1890, 1892, 1921-1922
1	26	Correspondence, From G.E. Adamson, John J. Pershing, Guy V. Henry, James Shelton	1931-1932, 1939
1	27	Correspondence, Jesse Lee; Fort Bridger	undated
2	1	Correspondence, Calling Cards undated
2	2	Correspondence, Envelopes, Without letters	1876
2	3	Correspondence, Invitations 1870s-1880s
2	4	Correspondence, Invitations, Weddings 1870s-1880s

Series III.: "Thad's and My Letters," circa 1890s Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	5	Volume 1: "Life in the Army, June 27, 1867, to March 27, 1869" undated
2	6	Volume 1: Typescript undated
2	7	Volume 2: "Life in the Army," 1868, 1869-1871 1898
2	8	Volume 2: Typescript undated
2	9	Volume 3: 1868-1869, 1871-1873	undated
2	10	Volume 3: Typescript undated
2	11	Volume 4: 1873 1899
2	12	Volume 4: Typescript undated
2	13	Volume 5: June 1874 to August 1875, Thad's Diary undated
2	14	Volume 5: Typescript undated
2	15	Volume 6: August to December 1875 undated
2	16	Volume 6: Typescript undated
2	17	Volume 7: 1876, Includes some original documents 1897
2	18	Volume 7: Typescript undated
3	1	Volume 8: 1876-1877, Includes some original documents 1898
3	2	Volume 8: Typescript undated
3	3	Volume 9: 1877 to July 1878, Includes some original documents undated
3	4	Volume 9: Typescript undated
3	5	Volume 10: July 1878 through 1879 undated
3	6	Volume 10: Typescript undated
3	7	Volume 11: 1879, 1880-1882 undated
3	8	Volume 11: Typescript undated
3	9	Volume 12: June 1882 to October 1884 undated
3	10	Volume 12: Typescript undated

Series IV.: Other Papers and Photographs, circa 1868-1966 Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Includes biographical and genealogical information, printed material, photographs of family members and forts, sketch of Fort Laramie.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	11	Biographical - Capron Genealogy, Includes sketch of Capron home near Syracuse, New York	undated
3	12	Biographical - Hazen Selwyn Capron, Includes reminiscences	1880, 1940, 1966
3	13	Biographical - Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron, Also includes Cynthia Capron, family history, and history of 9th U.S. Infantry	undated
3	14	Button - Military Eagle and shield with "C" undated
3	15	Pamphlets - Table of Distances, Department of the Platte, Indian Wars 1877, 1935-1936
3	16	Photographs - Capron Family	circa 1868-circa 1959
3	17	Photographs - Fort Hartsuff; Camp Wright	undated
3	18	Photographs - Fort Laramie	1926
3	19	Sketch - Fort Laramie, By Cynthia J. Capron; includes photographs of sketch	circa 1873
3	20	Transcript of Article "Pioneer History" by George W. Towar, August 21, 1919; regarding Fort Hartsuff, Nebraska	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Army spouses -- West (U.S.) -- Correspondence
Frontier and pioneer life -- United States
Rosebud, Battle of the, 1876

Personal Names

Crook, George, 1829-1890

Corporate Names

United States Army. Officers -- Correspondence

Geographical Names

Fort Laramie (Wyo. : Fort)

Form or Genre Terms

Diaries
Photographs

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Capron, Cynthia Jane Steves, 1843-1923
- Capron, Hazen Selwyn, 1868-1945

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