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Isaac K. Russell papers, 1897-1900

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Russell, I. K. (Isaac K.)
Title
Isaac K. Russell papers
Dates
1897-1900 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.25 linear feet, (1 box and 1 oversize box)
Collection Number
ACCN 1568
Summary
The Isaac K. Russell papers (1897-1900) consists of documents regarding U. S. military activities in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Included are letters from Isaac Russell to various members of his family describing his activities, a troop roster (1899), issues of The American soldier, illustrations from Harper's weekly concerning the U.S. Navy (1897), and two maps of the Philippines (1899). Russell was a Utah soldier who served in the Phillipines during the Spanish-American War. He founded a newspaper in the Philippines titled The American soldier.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Russell, as a young man, went to the Philippine Islands in July 1898 with Battery A of the Utah Volunteer Light Artillery. There he participated in the battle of Manila and in quelling native insurrections following the war. He started a weekly newspaper, The American Soldier, in Manila. He was separated from the service while in the Philippines and remained there after his battalion returned to the U.S. in mid-1899. He worked for the firm, Thomas E. Evans, Importers and Commission Merchants, in Manila and then served as civilian aide/secretary to General Bates, the military governor of Mindanao and Jolo.

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Content Description

The Isaac K. Russell papers (1897-1900) includes correspondence, copies of The American Soldier, and other documents regarding U. S. military activities in the Phillipines. These items were received by Russell's family in Salt Lake City during and after his military service in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish American War. The collection's twenty-nine letters written to Russell's family include short personal letters to his mother, aunt, and younger sisters and brother, as well as long letters to his older brother Samuel that include details of his experiences. These letters to Sam make frequent mention of sending material he wished to have saved for useful reference in an anticipated writing career. There are also letters from a cousin, Parker Pratt, who was in the army in the Philippines during this period, and a letter from Thomas Evans, Isaac's employer in Manila. Thirteen issues of The American Soldier from 1898 are also in the collection; these identify Russell as President and Managing Editor on the masthead. Finally, the collection includes a troop roster (1899), a copy of The Soldier's Friend (1989), unattributed poetry, and a letter-to-the-editor of The American Soldier. Russell returned to the United States in August 1900, and later had two books published: Hidden Heroes of the Rockies (Yonkers-on-Hudson, New York: World Book Co., 1923) and Joseph Smith and the Great West (n.p., n.d.).

Click here to view digitized materials from the collection or visit ArchivesSpace for a container level list of digitized materials.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

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Administrative Information

Processing Note

Processed by William Roberson and Mark Jensen in 1997.

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Separated Materials

See also the Isaac K. Russell photograph collection (P0715) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Correspondence, Publications, and Poetry

    • Description: Correspondence
      Dates: 1898-1900
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1-9
    • Description: Letter-to-the-Editor

      This folder contains a letter to the editor of The American Soldier, author identified only by initials.

      Dates: 1898
      Container: Box 1, Folder 10
    • Description: Roster for Troops Serving in the Department of the Pacific and Eighth Army Corps
      Dates: 1899
      Container: Box 1, Folder 11
    • Description: The Soldier's Letter

      Published in Manila, Phillipines. Note on cover states: "American Soldier office copy."

      Dates: 1898
      Container: Box 1, Folder 12
    • Description: Poetry

      This folder contains typescript and handwritten poetry on military themes, entitled, "Rumminoosences."

      Container: Box 1, Folder 13
    • Description: Illustrations from Harper's Weekly and Phillipine Islands Maps

      This folder contains Pre-Spanish American War Navy and other maritime subjects. Illustrations from cover pages include (on reverse side) the first page of text from the magazine. This folder also contains two maps: one is an overall view of the Phillipine Islands and the other is of Manila and the surrounding area that provides information on U. S. military positions and movements.

      Dates: 1897; 1899
      Container: Box 2, Folder 1
    • Description: The American Soldier

      Volume 1, issues 4, 5, 6, 8 [missing pages], 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15.

      Dates: 1898
      Container: Box 2, Folder 2-11

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Spanish-American War, 1898--Campaigns--Philippines

Personal Names

  • Russell, I. K. (Isaac K.)--Archives

Corporate Names

  • United States. Navy--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Maps (documents)
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