Clarke and Van Ness family papers, 1841-1925.
Collection Number: 2166
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Clarke and Van Ness family papers, 1841-1925.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
2166
Abstract:
Includes official papers and correspondence concerning the Civil War service of Mr.
Clarke's father, James E. Clarke, and his maternal grandfather, Zolman Van Ness, as
well as correspondence, campaign publications, and clippings concerning the fund-raising
drive of the National Contributors Committee.
Creator:
Clarke, James Irving, 1885-1961
Quanitities:
2.5 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
Includes official papers and correspondence concerning the Civil War service of Mr.
Clarke's father, James E. Clarke, and his maternal grandfather, Zolman Van Ness; autograph
and photograph albums of his mother, Julia Marie Van Ness Clarke, and maternal grandmother,
Gloriana Gidney Van Ness; letters, veterans' pension documents, estate inventories,
other business and legal papers, genealogy, sheet music, and miscellaneous items of
the Clarke, Fowler, Gidney, Van Ness, and Van Zile families; Albany, Dutchess, Rensselaer
and Saratoga Counties. Also a scrapbook of correspondence, campaign publications,
and clippings concerning the fund-raising drive of the National Contributors Committee,
of which Mr. Clarke was executive secretary, conducted on behalf of the Republican
National Committee during the 1924 presidential election campaign. Also, a report
(Dec. 1924) of Payson & Clarke Company, New York City, concerning a proposed drive
to sell American Realty Corporation stock as a means of financing a new American Woman's
Association club house in midtown Manhattan; selected reports, plans, and form letters
(1 v., Jan. to June, 1925); and an album of photographs of persons and events associated
with this undertaking. Also includes Civil War memorabilia of James E. Clarke.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Clarke and Van Ness family papers, #2166. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections,
Cornell University Library.
Names:
Clarke, James E.
Van Ness, Julia Marie, 1851-1908.
Van Ness, Zolmon.
Gidney, Gloriana, 1824-1897.
Clark family.
Van Ness family.
Gidney family.
Fowler family.
Van Zile family.
American Realty Corporation
American Woman\'s Association
Payson & Clarke Company, N.Y
Republican National Committee. National Contributors Committee
Subjects:
Women -- New York (State) -- Societies and clubs.
Inventories of decedents\' estates -- New York (State).
Families -- New York (State) -- Saratoga County.
Families -- New York (State) -- Rensselaer County.
Families -- New York (State) -- Dutchess County.
Families -- New York (State) -- Albany County.
Military pensions -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Veterans.
Form and Genre Terms:
Scrapbooks.
Photograph albums.
CONTAINER LIST
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Container
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Description
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Date
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| Box 1 |
Bible: (large, red and gold, leather-bound, clasp) - family Bible of James Irving
Clarke, son of James E. Clarke. Contains records of births, marriages, and deaths;
came through maternal line: Gidney, Fowler, Van Ness, Clarke. Punch paper bookmark,
"God is Love."
|
1758-1961 | |
| Box 2 |
Bible: (pocket size, black, leather-bound) - note by J. and C. "Presented by my mother,
Julia M[arie] Van Ness, to my father before they were married and my father carried
this pocket bible throughout the Civil War"
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| Box 1 |
Album: (small, brown, leather-bound, raised design, clasp) - belonged to Julia Van
Ness; contains unlabelled photographs
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| Box 1 |
Autograph Album: ("Rosebud Album," black) - autographs of friends 1866-1868 while
Julia Van Ness Clarke was a student at Hudson Vale Institute, contains a photograph
of her. Lansingburgh, Albany Co.
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1866-1868 | |
| Box 2 |
Album (55 items): (small, dark, green, "Photographs") - only three are identified
by Mrs. Clarke. Some appear to have been taken of Eskimos and some in Japan. 3, Japanese
girls; 4, Eskimos; 9, Indians (Mrs. J.I.C. - remnants of tribe living in or near Saratoga);
also, Saratoga and vicinity scenes
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| Box 2 |
Velvet folder: containing loose photographs of U.S. Grant, Lincoln, Booth, Lincoln's
Cabinet; some of family pictures identified, souvenir album of Pasadena, 19-women,
25-men, 10-group or misc. Taken at Troy, Ballston, Saratoga, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie,
N.Y.C., Atlantic City. Mr. and Mrs. JEC, JIC, Mrs. Sarah Stillman Locke
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| Box 2 |
Autograph Album: (black, leather-bound, raised design) - belonged to Gloriana Gidney
Van Ness, grandmother of James Irving Clarke,
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1841-1852 | |
| Box 3 |
Album: (large, brown, raised design, leather-bound, "Julia") - photographs of some
family members and fiends identified, Lincoln, Sherman, Beecher, and H.B. Stowe, Horance
Greeley, John Brown
|
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| Box 1 |
Memoranda notebook: (black cardboard cover) - belonged to Gloriana G. Van Ness, dated
Jan. 1, 1858. Only five pages filled with notes of interest on the size of various
buildings and scriptural verses on love
|
Jan. 1, 1858 | |
| Box 1 |
Music book: (black hard cover) - "Mendelssohn's Songs without Words,"
|
Jan. 1, 1867 | |
| Box 1 |
Three volumes of bound sheet music: (large, black, hard cover) - on cover, "Julia
M. Clarke." On binding, "Music Vol. I." Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 respectively. Piano solos,
duets, transcriptions and songs, "Battle of Manassas," by Blind Tom. Most of these
pieces must be typical of the period because few if any have survived as a part of
the piano repertoire
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| Box 2 |
Photograph album: "American Woman's Association Campaign, Jan. 1, 1925-June 15, 1925.
A Selection of Photographs Property of Payson and Clarke (J.I. Clarke) Co. 385 Madison
Ave., New York." Pictures of Marie Dressler, Carol McComas, Billie Burke, Gloria Swanson,
etc.
|
Jan. 1, 1925-June 15, 1925 | |
| Box 1 |
Bound volume: "American Woman's Association Campaign, Jan. 1, 1925-June 25, 1925.
A Selection of Reports, Plans, Form Letters, etc." For a fund-raising campaign to
build a clubhouse
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Jan. 1, 1925-June 25, 1925 | |
| Box 2 |
Album: "Literature, Press Clippings, and Letters Regarding the Campaign for Funds
Conducted by the National Contributors Committee for the Republican National Committee
in the 1924 Campaign"
|
1924 | |
| Box 1 |
Marriage certificate of James E. Clarke and Julia M. Van Ness, Apr. 25, 1870, Troy,
New York
|
Apr. 25, 1870 | |
| Box 3 |
Citizenship paper of James E. Clarke, from England, Oct. 16, 1866. Rensselaer Co.
Ct.
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Oct. 16, 1866 | |
| Box 3 |
Envelope containing 50-cent Confederate bill
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| Box 3 |
Photostat of letter dated Oct. 4, 1864, from Executive Mansion and signed Abraham
Lincoln concerning the pardon of Roswell McIntyre. Note at bottom, "Taken from the
body of R. McIntyre at the battle of Five Forks, VA, 1865"
|
Oct. 4, 1864, 1865 | |
| Box 3 |
Folder containing Preliminary Report to the American Woman's Association by Payson
and Clarke Co.
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| Box 3 |
Typescript, "Siege and Capture of Port Hudson," 10 pages. Presumably written by JEC.
Action took place at Port Hudson, LA,
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May 27, 1863-July 8, 1863 | |
| Box 3 |
Letter from James E. Clarke to Capt. Ed. N. Ketchum, Jan. 27, 1914, eight pages (typed
cb.) relating Civil War adventures. JEC tells ENK what happened during rest of battle
after ENK was wounded and taken to the rear. 19th Corps, General [cuvier] Grover's
division. Between Newton and Middletown, VA (probably Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct.
19, 1864. Reference to Sheraton's ride
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Jan. 27, 1914, Oct. 19, 1864 | |
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Scope and Contents
JEC was living in Saratoga Springs when above letter was written. Ketchum was in Galveston,
Texas. The two had served together in the 128th Reg't., N.Y.S. Vols.)
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| Box 3 |
Typescript carbon, "How the Slave Mother Found Her Son," by James E. Clarke, 5 pages
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Envelope: "Zolman Van Ness Papers" (Zalmon?)
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| Box 3 |
Marriage certificate of Zolman Van Ness and Gloriana Gidney, Feb. 4, 1847. Milton
(Saratoga Co.?)
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Feb. 4, 1847 | |
| Box 3 |
Longhand Certificate stating that Zolman Van Ness volunteered Apr. 20, 1861. Camp
Willard
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Apr. 20, 1861 | |
| Box 3 |
Longhand Pass May 21, 1863 for Van Ness to visit Hq. and return to hospital
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May 21, 1863 | |
| Box 3 |
Longhand Discharge June 2, 1863 from hospital for Van Ness
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June 2, 1863 | |
| Box 3 |
Certificate of Discharge from Service May 26, 1863 for Zolman Van Ness
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May 26, 1863 | |
| Box 3 |
Manuscript Copy of "The Inscription on the Momument at Lindiwold (Lindenwald?) at
Kirkhook erected to the memory of Peter Van Ness, copied by James E. Clarke,
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Oct. 21, 1902 | |
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Envelope addressed to Z. Van Ness from Dept. of Interior
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| Box 3 |
Certificate of Elgibility for Pension for Z. Van Ness,
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July 22, 1891 | |
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Envelope: "Other Papers Old"
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| Box 3 |
Warrenty Deed between Otis G. Clarke and wife Amelia S., Jesse and Mary Van Zile,
and wife to Sarah M. McClure, Feb. 25, 1864. Land, Troy, Rensselaer Co.
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Feb. 25, 1864 | |
| Box 3 |
Citation to appear at Surrogate's Court for the Probate of the will of Solomon W.
Gidney, Apr. 17, 1865. Dutchess Co. Addressed to Sarah Maria Gidney, Ballston, Saratoga
Co.
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Apr. 17, 1865 | |
| Box 3 |
"James E. Clarke with Ensign S. Lockrow Contract to Convey, dated Oct. 8, 1908. Land
and house, furniture and fixtures for sum of $7,100, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
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Oct. 8, 1908 | |
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Envelope: "J.E. Clarke Papers"
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| Box 3 |
Statement of James E. Clarke as to Disablement to War Claims and Pensions, 1893 (?)
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1893 | |
| Box 3 |
Pension Certificate of James E. Clarke,
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Dec. 15, 1913 | |
| Box 3 |
Order for Transportation on the B&O for James E. Clarke from Harpers Ferry, VA to
Baltimore, MD
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| Box 3 |
Affidavit of Isaac J. Mickle on behalf of War Claim of James E. Clarke
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| Box 3 |
Letters of James E. Clarke to Gen. B. Raum, Commissioner of Pensions,
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Oct. 24, 1892 | |
| Box 3 |
Deed, Isaac J. Flansburgh and wife to James E. Clarke, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.,
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Dec. 28, 1891 | |
| Box 3 |
Receipt for payment of $2.00 for Saddle horse used by J.F.C. in G.A.R. parade, pd.,
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Feb. 4, 1918 | |
| Box 3 |
Check for $10.00 to J. Irving Clarke for Julia M. Clarke,
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Mar. 12, 1907 | |
| Box 3 |
Promisory note in the amount of $34 from Gloriana Van Ness to James E. Clarke,
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Mar. 1, 1890 | |
| Box 3 |
Affidavit of J.E. Clarke on behalf of War Claim of Isaac J. Mickle,
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Sept. 26, 1888 | |
| Box 3 |
Rent Receipt, Jan. 18, 1887 - Gloriana Van Ness received payment from James E. Clarke
|
Jan. 18, 1887 | |
| Box 3 |
Receipt of Dr. Kingsley from James E. Clarke, Oct. 27, 1873, for treating cancer of
breast for wife
|
Oct. 27, 1873 | |
| Box 3 |
Envelope containing letter from Isaac Van Dyck to James E. Clarke, Sept. 25, 1888,
re disability claim of JEC
|
Sept. 25, 1888 | |
| Box 3 |
Envelope addressed to J.E. Clarke conatining letter from E.M. Hinman, June 19, 1888,
re disability
|
June 19, 1888 | |
| Box 3 |
Envelope addressed to James E. Clarke containing letter from James E. Clarke to B.F.
Page, Jan. 23, 1893, and on the bottom the reply of Benj. F. Page, re disability
|
Jan. 23, 1893 | |
| Box 3 |
Discharge from Service for James I. Clarke, given at Savannah, Georgia,
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July 12, 1865 | |
| Box 3 |
Certificate of Inclosure of Certificate of Pension, Nov. 26, 1889 (JEC?)
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Nov. 26, 1889 | |
| Box 3 |
Letter to J. E. Clarke from (?) Van Ness,
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Sept. 23, 1886 | |
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Envelope
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| Box 3 |
Saratoga Surrogate's Court Inventory of the Estate of Zolman Van Ness
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| Box 3 |
Saratoga Surrogate's Court Inventory of the Estate of Gloriana Van Ness,
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Dec. 17, 1897 | |
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Civil War Objects
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Scope and Contents
Also includes an object that is noted as being from an Egyptian mummy.
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| Box 5 | MU-354 |
American anti-slavery medal
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1840 |
| Box 4 | MU-356 |
Torpedo wire
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| Box 4 | MU-357 |
Part of a torpedo rescued from a river
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| Box 4 | MU-358 |
Fuse to a 15" shell from the Monitor
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| Box 4 | MU-359 |
Unidentified piece of metal
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| Box 4 | MU-360 |
Fuse to a 15" shell
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| Box 4 | MU-361 |
Fuse to a 17" shell-gunboat guns
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| Box 4 | MU-362-363 |
Grape Shot for Cannon
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| Box 4 | MU-365 |
Unidentified piece of metal, possibly a fuse to a large shell
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| Box 4 | MU-366 |
Unidentified piece of metal, flat oval
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Flat, oval
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| Box 5 | MU-367 |
Section of a chain
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| Box 5 | MU-368 |
Unidentified pieces of metal, resemble gears
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Resemble gears
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| Box 4 | MU-369 |
Connection to 2 torpedo wires
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| Box 4 | MU-370 |
Unidentified piece of metal
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| Box 5 | MU-371-372 |
Unidentified pieces of gun
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| Box 4 | MU-547 |
Canteen carried through Civil War by JEC
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| Box 5 | MU-548 |
Lead ball
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May 27, 1863 |
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Scope and Contents
Includes note by James E. Clarke: "This bullet was shot at our skirmish line while
fighting in front of the rebel brest works at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863, and came within a fraction of an inch of finding a lodgement in my head (good luck).
James E. Clarke, Sergt. Co. E. 128th N.Y.S. Vols."
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| Box 4 | MU-549 |
Briar pipe
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Scope and Contents
JEC: "This Pipe was used in the War of the Slave holders rebellion by James E. Clarke,
Sergt. Co. E. 128th regt. N.Y.S. Vols."
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| Box 5 | MU-550 |
Leather pocketbook
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|
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Scope and Contents
JEC: "This pocket book was carried through the War of the Slave holders rebellion
by James E. Clarke. Sergeant Company E. 128th Regiment N.Y.S. Volunteers (contains
no writing)
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| Box 5 | MU-551 |
Cartridges
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Scope and Contents
JEC: "Cartridges brought home from the War of the Slave holders rebellion by Sergt.
James E. Clarke, 128th Regt. N.Y.S. Vols."
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| Box 4 | MU-552 |
Mummy Cloth
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MU-552 |
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Scope and Contents
Note reads: "Taken from an Egyptian mummy over 3300 years old. This was a piece of
the cloth wrapped around the body. It was a lady."
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| Box 5 | MU-553 |
Hand-carved bone ring
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Jan. 1863 |
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Scope and Contents
, JEC: "This bone ring was made by me while in camp at Chalmette, LA., about Jan. 1863. James E. Clarke"
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| Box 5 | MU-554 |
Human hair watch fob
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| Box 5 | MU-555 |
Watch chain with gold lover's knot as a fob
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| Box 5 | MU-548 |
Bullet shot at Port Hudson, with note describing the event
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1863-05-27 |