writing a biography

[Americanfighter]

Hey guys I am planning on writing a biography of one of the lesser know figures in the civil war and I am having trouble finding the primary resources I need and I was wondering if you guys knew of a good place to find some. I have a few people in mind and ultimately who I chose will depend on the sources I can find

Thanks

AF

 

[Nathanb1]

Who?

 

[Americanfighter]

Who?

I had a few names ready:

Jonathan Letterman
Herman Haupt (I would also talk about the importance of railroads in the civil war)
Dennis Hart Mahan
Robert Smalls
George Henry Sharpe

I feel these are important figures that don't get the recognition they deserve. I bet there are many people on this forum that don't know who they are. My choice would ultimately depend on how much I can find on the person and how hard it will be to write about them. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[FarawayFriend]

With all respect, I think you should first decide whose biography you want to write and then we can focus on that person and help you with finding resources. If there was one spot where you can find everything about everyone, there would be no need for another book on those people. Apparently there is not that one spot in any library or even the internet, you will have to search at various places depending whose story you want to tell.
(spoken as a librarian)

 

[Americanfighter]

With all respect, I think you should first decide whose biography you want to write and then we can focus on that person and help you with finding resources. If there was one spot where you can find everything about everyone, there would be no need for another book on those people. Apparently there is not that one spot in any library or even the internet, you will have to search at various places depending whose story you want to tell.
(spoken as a librarian)

Well in that case i will say i would like to do George Henry Sharpe.

However, I would still have Jonathan Letterman as a fall back as he would be much easier to do.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Very well!
Maybe you should start a new thread then and put his name in the heading to attract attention. I'm sure you will not have to wait long before you'll get some helpful replies.
Good luck with your work!

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Well in that case i will say i would like to do George Henry Sharpe.

However, I would still have Jonathan Letterman as a fall back as he would be much easier to do.

Welcome from east Tennessee ! These your guys ?

George Henry Sharpe

Residence Kingston NY; 32 years old.

Enlisted on 4/23/1861 at Kingston, NY as a Captain.

On 4/23/1861 he was commissioned into "B" Co. NY 20th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 8/2/1861 at Kingston, NY

On 8/20/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff NY 120th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 6/3/1865 at Washington, DC
(On duty at Provost Marshal General's Office at MO)


Promotions:
* Colonel 8/20/1862 (As of 120th NY Infantry)
* Brig-General 12/20/1864 by Brevet
* Major-Gen 3/13/1865 by Brevet


Other Information:
born 2/26/1828 in Kingston, NY
died 1/13/1900 in New York City, NY

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- New York: Report of the Adjutant-General 1893-1906
- Information provided by HDS subscribers
- Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
- Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue
- Union Blue: History of MOLLUS
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com
...............................................................................................

Jonathan Letterman

Residence was not listed; a 24 year-old US Army Surgeon.

Enlisted on 6/29/1849 as a Asst Surgeon.

On 6/29/1849 he was commissioned into US Army Medical Staff
He Resigned on 12/22/1864


Promotions:
* Surgeon 4/16/1862 (Surgeon General Army of Potomac)


Other Information:
born 12/11/1824 in Canonsburg, PA
died 3/15/1872 in San Francisco, CA
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Gravesite: 3-1869

(Married Mary Diggs Lee)

After the War he lived in San Francisco, CA

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- Index to Compiled Military Service Records
- Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

 

[James B White]

Finding the primary sources is pretty much the basic skill necessary for writing a biography, so it's going to be a hard row to hoe without a natural knack for that.

Here are some general ideas. In all of these, of course, look for every possible spelling or misspelling of his name or nickname or title: "John Smith," "Smith, J.," "Col. Smith," "Johnny, the Smith boy," "JS," etc. etc.

--University and historical society collections where he/she lived. Use the individual collection search engines ruthlessly, looking not only for things with a main heading of his name, but for his name in the finding aids of other people, to find scattered letters he wrote to other people.

--Lawsuits. They're a goldmine, if your subject was (un)lucky enough to sue or be sued. Look for case reports in the state(s) where he lived, either through state archives or, if you're really lucky, state supreme court cases in period lawbooks.

--Deeds and plat maps, combined with censuses. They give a good idea of where someone lived, his neighbors, how he fit into the community, his socio-economic status, etc. Don't overlook state censuses, agricultural censuses, etc.

--Period newspapers. There are several free or paid collections online, with search engines. They give lots of trivia--passenger lists, county fair winners, committee members, who had a fire, who hosted a party, etc. Search well past his death date to catch not only obituaries but interviews with his children or reminiscenses about him by people who knew him.

--Look for memoirs or collections of papers or travel diaries of people who might have been in the area where he was and interacted with him. Obviously, search for his name in electronic versions, but even if they don't mention his name, he might be recognizable by a description (in this case, you're looking not just for "John Smith" but "the old gentleman who lived beside the ferry"). Even if he doesn't appear directly, it will at least give background information.

--Plan on traveling to some key areas in his life and looking through the best archives that cover that area. They may not be exactly where he lived--a state library or archives may have all the papers on microfilm from a small county, for example--but local libraries and historical societies may have good stuff too. Usually only a fraction of papers are even catalogued online.

--Track down descendants, if possible, and see if they know of any family papers.

--When you uncover a few close friends and relatives, do all the above for them, to give a broader picture of their background, how he interacted with them, and what made him who he was.

 

[ErnieMac]

Another consideration when looking at local records. States created new counties in whole from an existing county or by taking parts of two or more existing counties and combining them to create the new county. Most records dating before the split were retained by the original county.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I have one published biography (of someone who left a large volume of correspondence) and am working on the research for a second one (of someone whose papers did not survive). I know how difficult it can be to find the type of information that you will need.

Having worked extensively on intelligence gathering during the Gettysburg Campaign, I am very familiar with George Sharpe. The following suggestions are presented in no particular order and are offered in the hope that you find some useful suggestions here from someone who has walked more than a mile in this particular pair of moccasins.

First, and foremost, obtain Sharpe's service records from the NARA. RG 94.

Then, obtain the pension records, if there are any.

Since Sharpe was the head of the Bureau of Military Information, you will need to visit NARA to see what's in their records. Before doing so, you will want to read Ed Fishel's really outstanding book, The Secret War for the Union. Fishel was the one who discovered those records, and nobody knew them like he did.

You will want to review the regimental books and records, particularly for the 120th NY. Those are also in NARA. You will also find some excellent research resources here: http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/120thInf/120thInfMain.htm, including a couple of items penned by Sharpe himself.

New York State Adjutant General records will be useful, and regimental colonels had to file regular reports with their state AGO's.

Due to Sharpe's role as regimental colonel and then head of the BMI, there is quite a bit of correspondence to and from him in the Official Records. You will want to obtain each and every one of those items.

Since Sharpe was a lawyer, you will want to review whatever records are available through the New York State Bar Association. You will probably find some useful records in the county where he lived.

Local historical societies in the county where Sharpe resided can be very useful. There may even be items of his there.

Join a newspaper database such as newspapers.com and spend a lot of time combing through those records. Newspapers are some of my favorite sources. Obituaries are usually tremendous sources of good and useful information. Since you know the date and place of his death--New York City--be sure to search the free on-line archives of the New York Times and find his obituary. Be sure to spend ample time on the National Tribune, which was a veterans' weekly newspaper. The Trib has traditionally been underutilized, but it's one of my favorite sources.

Sharpe may have joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). In order to join MOLLUS, you had to have been a Union officer. Whenever a MOLLUS member died, an obituary pamphlet was published. Those can be valuable sources of information.

Genealogy will provide you with good information. Look for a published family genealogy. Once you find that, you will be able to piece together the puzzle of who the family was.

When all else fails, back fill in from other sources.

Expect this to be a long and frustrating process. In the absence of a treasure trove of material by your subject, it will come in fits and starts, and you will get frustrated. Take your time--this search will take time--and don't quit until you feel like you've turned over every rock that might yield useful information. Good luck.

 

[Americanfighter]

I have one published biography (of someone who left a large volume of correspondence) and am working on the research for a second one (of someone whose papers did not survive). I know how difficult it can be to find the type of information that you will need.

Having worked extensively on intelligence gathering during the Gettysburg Campaign, I am very familiar with George Sharpe. The following suggestions are presented in no particular order and are offered in the hope that you find some useful suggestions here from someone who has walked more than a mile in this particular pair of moccasins.

First, and foremost, obtain Sharpe's service records from the NARA. RG 94.

Then, obtain the pension records, if there are any.

Since Sharpe was the head of the Bureau of Military Information, you will need to visit NARA to see what's in their records. Before doing so, you will want to read Ed Fishel's really outstanding book, The Secret War for the Union. Fishel was the one who discovered those records, and nobody knew them like he did.

You will want to review the regimental books and records, particularly for the 120th NY. Those are also in NARA. You will also find some excellent research resources here: http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/120thInf/120thInfMain.htm, including a couple of items penned by Sharpe himself.

New York State Adjutant General records will be useful, and regimental colonels had to file regular reports with their state AGO's.

Due to Sharpe's role as regimental colonel and then head of the BMI, there is quite a bit of correspondence to and from him in the Official Records. You will want to obtain each and every one of those items.

Since Sharpe was a lawyer, you will want to review whatever records are available through the New York State Bar Association. You will probably find some useful records in the county where he lived.

Local historical societies in the county where Sharpe resided can be very useful. There may even be items of his there.

Join a newspaper database such as newspapers.com and spend a lot of time combing through those records. Newspapers are some of my favorite sources. Obituaries are usually tremendous sources of good and useful information. Since you know the date and place of his death--New York City--be sure to search the free on-line archives of the New York Times and find his obituary. Be sure to spend ample time on the National Tribune, which was a veterans' weekly newspaper. The Trib has traditionally been underutilized, but it's one of my favorite sources.

Sharpe may have joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). In order to join MOLLUS, you had to have been a Union officer. Whenever a MOLLUS member died, an obituary pamphlet was published. Those can be valuable sources of information.

Genealogy will provide you with good information. Look for a published family genealogy. Once you find that, you will be able to piece together the puzzle of who the family was.

When all else fails, back fill in from other sources.

Expect this to be a long and frustrating process. In the absence of a treasure trove of material by your subject, it will come in fits and starts, and you will get frustrated. Take your time--this search will take time--and don't quit until you feel like you've turned over every rock that might yield useful information. Good luck.

Wow This is perfect exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

Do you have any tips if I go the way of Jonathan Letterman?
I already have his memoirs a book by him and a book about him as well as several books about the Iron brigade.

Thanks

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Wow This is perfect exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

Do you have any tips if I go the way of Jonathan Letterman?
I already have his memoirs a book by him and a book about him as well as several books about the Iron brigade.

Thanks

The basic concept would remain the same. The primary difference would be to transfer to medical records rather than BMI records. Most of the rest of it would remain the same. With Letterman, you have his memoirs. Sharpe, you don't.

 

[Americanfighter]

The basic concept would remain the same. The primary difference would be to transfer to medical records rather than BMI records. Most of the rest of it would remain the same. With Letterman, you have his memoirs. Sharpe, you don't.

Thanks for all your help man.

I had done primary research and written mini thesis papers but nothing to this magnitude. Appreciate man.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Thanks for all your help man.

I had done primary research and written mini thesis papers but nothing to this magnitude. Appreciate man.

You're very welcome. I try to pay it forward when I can. A lot of good people helped me when I was starting out, so I try to return that favor now that I'm the grizzled old veteran.

 

[Americanfighter]

You're very welcome. I try to pay it forward when I can. A lot of good people helped me when I was starting out, so I try to return that favor now that I'm the grizzled old veteran.

You're very welcome. I try to pay it forward when I can. A lot of good people helped me when I was starting out, so I try to return that favor now that I'm the grizzled old veteran.

well thanks again

 

[Dave Wilma]

I suggest taking just about anyone and fictionalizing the account. Stick to the facts as much as you know, but give us an authentic version of what the man or woman was like. Take us back there and be free to invent.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I suggest taking just about anyone and fictionalizing the account. Stick to the facts as much as you know, but give us an authentic version of what the man or woman was like. Take us back there and be free to invent.

With all due respect, I could not possibly disagree more.

 

[James B White]

With all due respect, I could not possibly disagree more.

That would be my opinion too. One can certainly use historic facts to speculate about a person's motives or what he was "really" like if he showed different sides to different people, but I think it's important to make clear what is the author's speculation and what evidence it's based on. With so much information available today to search, comb through, combine and organize into a cohesive life story (as I described in post #8 above and as Eric Wittenberg described), biographies today can be based on so much more evidence that the Parson Weems model of biography just isn't necessary to tell an interesting story about a person's life.

The book I have out right now was all about discovering the truth behind a fictionalized antebellum autobiography--and the man's real life was actually more interesting. I'm working on a regular biography from scratch now, and again, truth is far stranger than fiction could be. If I invented some of the things that happened, they'd seem unbelievable, but the whole point of the biography is that they really happened.

 

[Drew]

This is not something I've ever attempted, nor do I think I would, but a very good friend of my dad's did it when I was a boy. All of the methods described here were used. There were of course no fax machines, let alone an internet in those days. Not to discourage, but it took "Uncle Lou" over fifteen years to get the job done. He nailed it, though, Pulitzer Prize 40 years ago this year. Nothing to do with the Civil War at all, but no one has dared challenge or "add to" his work since. Stick a fork in it, it's done, if you do it right.

 

[Americanfighter]

Finding the primary sources is pretty much the basic skill necessary for writing a biography, so it's going to be a hard row to hoe without a natural knack for that.

Here are some general ideas. In all of these, of course, look for every possible spelling or misspelling of his name or nickname or title: "John Smith," "Smith, J.," "Col. Smith," "Johnny, the Smith boy," "JS," etc. etc.

--University and historical society collections where he/she lived. Use the individual collection search engines ruthlessly, looking not only for things with a main heading of his name, but for his name in the finding aids of other people, to find scattered letters he wrote to other people.

--Lawsuits. They're a goldmine, if your subject was (un)lucky enough to sue or be sued. Look for case reports in the state(s) where he lived, either through state archives or, if you're really lucky, state supreme court cases in period lawbooks.

--Deeds and plat maps, combined with censuses. They give a good idea of where someone lived, his neighbors, how he fit into the community, his socio-economic status, etc. Don't overlook state censuses, agricultural censuses, etc.

--Period newspapers. There are several free or paid collections online, with search engines. They give lots of trivia--passenger lists, county fair winners, committee members, who had a fire, who hosted a party, etc. Search well past his death date to catch not only obituaries but interviews with his children or reminiscenses about him by people who knew him.

--Look for memoirs or collections of papers or travel diaries of people who might have been in the area where he was and interacted with him. Obviously, search for his name in electronic versions, but even if they don't mention his name, he might be recognizable by a description (in this case, you're looking not just for "John Smith" but "the old gentleman who lived beside the ferry"). Even if he doesn't appear directly, it will at least give background information.

--Plan on traveling to some key areas in his life and looking through the best archives that cover that area. They may not be exactly where he lived--a state library or archives may have all the papers on microfilm from a small county, for example--but local libraries and historical societies may have good stuff too. Usually only a fraction of papers are even catalogued online.

--Track down descendants, if possible, and see if they know of any family papers.

--When you uncover a few close friends and relatives, do all the above for them, to give a broader picture of their background, how he interacted with them, and what made him who he was.

This is great information thanks