Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Seattle, WA 98195

Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 3094 (Accession No. 3094-001) Abbott, Twyman O. (Twyman Osmand), -1937 Twyman O. Abbott manuscripts circa 1910 .63 cubic ft. (2 boxes) Collection materials are in English. Unfinished manuscripts about states' rights and rights of slaves before the Civil War

Twyman Osmand Abbott (1863-1937) was born to Milton and Louisa Abbott in Pittsfield, Illinois on Febrary 7, 1863. His father was a printer and editor and Twyman worked with his father in the printing business in his early twenties before being admitted to the Bar in 1885. His family crossed the Plains in 1865 eventually arriving in Oregon. He moved to Washington in 1878, then a Territory, and practiced law in Tacoma and Seattle. Around 1903, he moved to New York and began practicing law on Wall Street. He moved to California before 1930 and died in Santa Clara on January 28, 1937. He was the author of several books and pamphlets including Real property statutes of Washington Territory from 1843-1889 and wrote several articles about the rights of non-smokers around the turn of the 20th century before such rights were deemed important.

Arranged in 2 series.

Slaves rights States' rights

Unfinished manuscripts (typescripts and handwritten) about states' rights and rights of slaves before the U.S. Civil War. Twyman approaches these topics from a legal perspective, covering the history of how emancipation occured, various legal cases that set precedents and laws that were passed in regards to slavery in various Southern states before the Civil War. Abbott covers the various categories of slaves, such as "half slave/half free", re-enslavement and the problems former slaves encountered after being emancipated during the pre-Civil War period.

The collection contains a mix of typed and handwritten pages and is very disorganized. Corrections are often handwritten and pinned through the pages they correct or relate to. These pins should be carefully removed before copying and an acid-free paper clip should be used to reattach the corrections after copying. Some paper is acidic and brittle and could be damaged during copying. Therefore, material can be copied at the discretion of Special Collections staff. Handwriting is in cursive.

Collection is open for research use but material is stored offsite; advance notice is required for use.

Request at UW

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries. Some material cannot be copied due to the brittleness of the paper.

Received 7/1/1980.

Abbott, Twyman O. (Twyman Osmand), -1937--Archives Slaves--United States Slaves--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States States' rights (American politics) Slaves--Emancipation--United States Slavery--United States--History Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Politics and Politicians Laws and Legislation

1 Slaves rights 2 States' rights

The material in folder 2 is completely handwritten.