Collection Summary
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center
Capron, Thaddeus Hurlbut, 1840-1890
Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family Papers
1864-1966
(bulk 1867-1884)
1.35 cubic ft. (3
boxes)
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.
01694
English
Biography of Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron Family
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.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
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.
Arrangement of the Papers
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.
Access Restrictions
Access to original letters is restricted. Photocopies are available for
research use.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright,
property, and libel laws as they apply.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by Thaddeus
Hurlbut Capron Family at the date of processing.
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.
Access Terms
Capron, Cynthia Jane Steves,
1843-1923
Capron, Hazen Selwyn,
1868-1945
Crook, George,
1829-1890
United States Army. Officers
-- Correspondence
Army spouses -- West (U.S.) --
Correspondence
Frontier and pioneer life --
United States
Rosebud, Battle of the,
1876
Fort Laramie (Wyo. :
Fort)
Diaries
Photographs
Military
Social Life and Customs
Home and Family
Pioneers
Preferred Citation
Item description, Box Number, Folder Number, Thaddeus Hurlbut Capron
Family, Collection Number 0694, American Heritage Center, University of
Wyoming.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I.
Diaries of Thaddeus Capron
1868, 1876
Arranged chronologically. Diaries of Lt. Thaddeus H. Capron kept
while serving at Camp Wright, California, and during the Bighorn and
Yellowstone Expedition under General Crook. Includes transcripts and
photocopies. Originals in safe.
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
Arranged chronologically. Includes personal correspondence and
military papers of Thaddeus Capron and letters to and from Cynthia Capron,
Eloise Capron, and Hazen Capron.
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
Arranged by volume number. Transcripts made by Cynthia J. Capron
including commentary putting the letters in context.
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
Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Includes biographical and
genealogical information, printed material, photographs of family members and
forts, sketch of Fort Laramie.
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