The Rennals Papers.

[rebelatsea]

I have mentioned briefly once, the gentleman in Mobile who's wife is a descendant of the yard manager at Montgomery.

Mr Walter T. Rennals and Grace have decided that the copies of the relevant papers would be safer with me in the UK, as they are both getting on in years and have no children. Walter's only brother is over 90 and living in Oxfordshire, England

The originals were given to my late dear friend Ben Schuman, and when he died without a will his estate was disposed of by the State, before any one could intervene.

I have not had the chance to examine everything in detail but the first sheet I saw was this, which appears to be a drawing of an armoured , or at least protected paddle sloop or frigate, there is no scale or other ID or signature.
There is a page of sketches too , one of which is clearly CSS Montgomery, again no scale ID or signature, which I will get round to eventually.
Perhaps my learned colleagues in this forum may be able to shed light on the drawing

.

 

[lupaglupa]

I am glad to hear that keeping the papers safe is foremost in the minds of the owners. I hope that at some time these papers could end up in an archive in the United States, where they would be more accessible to researchers looking at the Civil War (the bulk of whom are in the USA).

 

[milhistbuff1]

I am glad to hear that keeping the papers safe is foremost in the minds of the owners. I hope that at some time these papers could end up in an archive in the United States, where they would be more accessible to researchers looking at the Civil War (the bulk of whom are in the USA).

Or at least digitized to be accessible internationally.

 

[rebelatsea]

Or at least digitized to be accessible internationally.

That will be up to Mrs Rennells, At present I am only the guardian, with permission the use them for my research. I sm afraid that they both feel that as the collection relates to the Confederacy, they will not be safe at home.

 

[milhistbuff1]

That will be up to Mrs Rennells, At present I am only the guardian, with permission the use them for my research.

Understood, just grateful they were saved and providing an alternate option to Lupaglupa's for making them available if the owners wished.

 

[bschulte]

That will be up to Mrs Rennells, At present I am only the guardian, with permission the use them for my research. I sm afraid that they both feel that as the collection relates to the Confederacy, they will not be safe at home.

What would happen to them if something happens to you? Do you/they have a plan to get them to an archive somewhere, hopefully in the US?

 

[rebelatsea]

What would happen to them if something happens to you? Do you/they have a plan to get them to an archive somewhere, hopefully in the US?

The original papers were in the care of my much missed friend Ben Schuman who died without a will, and therefore with the exception of the info I already had and some pieces that Robert Holcombe managed to obtain, the whole of Ben's estate including his vintage car and gun collection fell into the hands of Georgia, subsequent disposal unknown. the Museum at Columbus put in an official request I understand but haven't heard anything further.

Walter and Grace are actually preparing to relocate to the UK to join the rest of the family, stating that the copied family papers will go together with Walter's manuscript and book collection, into the family archive in Oxford. I'm guessing that it may well be the Library of the University that elder brother William attended. Of course I will comply with their instructions when the time comes.

BTW I owe them an apology as I have mispelled the surname in the thread, it is Rennals with an A.

The Archive of the Danish Naval Museum in Copenhagen also has a copy of the unidentified paddle steamer, they have no clue either., apart from listing the source as Richmond, Virginia USA.

I have deliberately not followed up on the thread as I have nothing concrete to add.

 

[bschulte]

The original papers were in the care of my much missed friend Ben Schuman who died without a will, and therefore with the exception of the info I already had and some pieces that Robert Holcombe managed to obtain, the whole of Ben's estate including his vintage car and gun collection fell into the hands of Georgia, subsequent disposal unknown. the Museum at Columbus put in an official request I understand but haven't heard anything further.

Walter and Grace are actually preparing to relocate to the UK to join the rest of the family, stating that the copied family papers will go together with Walter's manuscript and book collection, into the family archive in Oxford. I'm guessing that it may well be the Library of the University that elder brother William attended. Of course I will comply with their instructions when the time comes.

BTW I owe them an apology as I have mispelled the surname in the thread, it is Rennals with an A.

The Archive of the Danish Naval Museum in Copenhagen also has a copy of the unidentified paddle steamer, they have no clue either., apart from listing the source as Richmond, Virginia USA.

I have deliberately not followed up on the thread as I have nothing concrete to add.

All good. I love that there is a plan in place. Keep doing what you do.

 

[gary]

I hope the Museum of Georgia gets those papers. At least it will be accessible to the public that way.

 

[rebelatsea]

I hope the Museum of Georgia gets those papers. At least it will be accessible to the public that way.

It's the naval museum at Columbus, I know they made enquiries to the State but haven't hears whether they succeeded i have no idea. I suspect the Schuman estate was sold off to whoever came up with the most $. Certainly Ben's car and gun collection was worth a great deal of money, My fear is that his paper records may have been destroyed as worthless. Not being accusatory because it has happened here in the UK in both naval and railway fields.