Frank Godfrey letters, 1858-1876
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Godfrey, Frank.
- Title
- Frank Godfrey letters
- Dates
- 1858-1876 (inclusive)18581876
- Quantity
- 1 box, (.25 linear feet)
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 524
- Summary
- Following the Civil War, Frank Godfrey moved West in search of work. This collection contains letters to his parents in which he talks about his travels.
- Repository
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Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Little is immediately known about Frank Godfrey outside of what can be gleaned from these letters. In 1858 he was a seaman on the Bark Salacia under Captain J.S. Higgins, before being released at Buenos Aires on December 13. After conducting some sort of business in Argentina, he returned to the States when the Civil War began and served in the Union Army under Generals Butler and Banks. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry before he resigned for health reasons. In 1865 he moved West, passing through Fort Dodge, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa; Boulder Valley, Montana; and Virginia City, Montana. He speaks of quartz and gold mining while in Montana, but by 1866 he is trying to return East. The last letter, from 1876, shows him living in San Francisco and looking for a job as a lawyer. It appears that he is from Maine, and he also talks of his wife, Mary, whom he divorces in 1866.
Content Description
This collection contains letters from Frank Godfrey to his parents. The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1865 and 1866, with additional letters from 1858 and 1876. This results in a relatively incomplete history of Godfrey’s experience, though the letters individually touch on some interesting events he experienced. Of particular interest is his discussion of mining around Virginia City, Montana, as well as least one conflict with Native Americans while traveling with a “Yellowstone Party.”
Typed transcriptions are foldered together with the original letter. They were prepared by the vendor who sold the collection to USU in 2014.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Frank Godfrey letters must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: Frank Godfrey letters USU_COLL MSS 524, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 524, USUSCA.
Administrative Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
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Frank Godfrey Letters, 1858-1876
9 letters-
Description: Frank Godfrey to his Father- From Buenos AiriesDates: 1858 December 11Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Incomplete Letter Frank Godfrey to his Parents-from Fort Dodge, IowaDates: 1865Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Frank Godfrey to his Mother-from Sioux City, IowaDates: 1865 May 3Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Incomplete Letter from Frank GodfreyDates: 1866Container: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Frank Godfrey to his Parents- from Boulder Valley, MontanaDates: 1866 January 9Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Frank Godfrey to his Father- from Boulder Valley, MontanaDates: 1866 January 13Container: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: Frank Godfrey to his Mother- from Virginia City, MontanaDates: 1866 April 25Container: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: Frank Godfrey to his Father- from Virginia City, MontanaDates: 1866 April 30Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Frank and John Godfrey to Father- from San Francisco, CalifoniaDates: 1876 October 19Container: Box 1, Folder 9
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Gold mines and mining--Montana.
- Indians of North America--Warfare--Montana.
- Quartz mines and mining--Montana.
Personal Names
- Godfrey, Frank.
Geographical Names
- Boulder Valley (Mont.)
- Fort Dodge (Iowa)
- Sioux City (Iowa)
- Virginia City (Mont.)
