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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
English
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Historical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

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

Preferred Citation

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

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Administrative Information

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

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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Processed by D.C. Thompson
2006

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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