Reel Eleven: Financial Papers; Papers Relating to Sherman Property, and Miscellaneous Legal Documents.
Featured on this reel are a booklet listing subscribers to a July, 1865, testimonial to General Sherman, ledger covering the years 1868 through 1890, a cash memoranda book spanning the years 1874 through 1890, five bankbooks, a large number of cancelled checks drawn by W.T. Sherman, a number of receipts for taxes paid on property ni St. Louis, and, finally, a group of papers consisting of legal agreements, deeds, title searches, descriptions of property, and items related to the settlement of the estate of William Tecumseh Sherman.
Reel Twelve: Diaries and Related Items of W.T. Sherman.
The first diary on this reel covers the span from November, 1843, to March, 1845. This is followed by diaries for the years 1858-1861, 1865-1867, and 1887-1890. Although giving a fairly good indication of Sherman's whereabouts at various times, these diaries contain many blank pages (not filmed), and many of the entries that do exist are often very brief. Following the diaries are: a book listing Sherman's dinner engagements for the period from Oct. 16, 1879, to Oct. 25, 1883; a book of memoranda for the years 1879 through 1886 consisting mainly of names and addresses; a list of the field and staff of the First Battalion of the Thirteenth United States Infantry which Sherman commanded in 1863; and a log of distances between various points in western United States compiled apparently sometime between May and September, 1866.
Reel Thirteen: Diaries and Related Items of Ellen Ewing Sherman.
The first diary on this reel is for the year 1854. There follow diaries for 1855, 1860, 1861, 1863-1870, 1872, 1873, 1879, 1880 and 1883. The entries are sometimes quite full but frequently very brief, and many of the diaries contain lengthy gaps between entries. Only those pages bearing entries have been filmed. Two brief items complete the reel. The first is a sketch written by Ellen of her oldest son, Willy, who died on Oct. 10, 1863, at the age of nine; the second, entitled "Recollections for My Children," was composed by Ellen on Oct. 28, 1880, and recalls various episodes from her youth.
Reel Fourteen: Additional Diaries and Related Items.
The first series on this reel consists of items belonging to Thomas Ewing Sherman and includes: an account book for the year 1869; an extensive diary for the year 1872; an account of an inspection tour from St. Louis to Walla Walla in the summer of 1877 upon which Tom accompanied his father and General Sheridan; and a scrapbook containing various souvenirs, clippings, and manuscript letters, all of which have been filmed in sequence in which they appear in the book without regard to chronology. The next grouping is of items belonging to Philemon Tecumseh Sherman and includes: a resume of his life from 1880 to 1905; diaries for 1889 and 1890; a narrative of the summer of 1890; a diary for 1891; a typed copy of his "Reminiscences of Early Days" drawn up for family use in 1940; and a typed copy of a brief memorandum on General Sherman's uniforms. These are in turn followed by a number of items belonging to Minnie Sherman Fitch. Included are a typed copy of a memorandum by Minnie on Washington Society of 1869-1870, her "Album of the Heart," and a typed copy of a tribute to Ellen Ewing Sherman drawn up in 1892. The final two items on the reel are several pages from the diary of Mary Elizabeth Sherman concerning the last illness and death of her father, and a typed copy of a brief account of the boyhood of Philemon B. Ewing and William Tecumseh Sherman composed around 1932 by Philemon's daughter, Ellie Ewing Brown.
Reel Fifteen: Scrapbook of Letters Received upon the Publication of Ellen Ewing Sherman's Memorial of Thomas Ewing; Items Relating to the Death of Ellen Ewing Sherman; and Items Relating to the Death of William Tecumseh Sherman.
The first series on this reel consists of a scrapbook of letters of commendation received by by Ellen Ewing Sherman upon her publication in 1873 of a memorial to her father. These letters have been filmed exactly as they appear in the scrapbook without regard to chronology. They were also filmed with the microfilm edition of the Thomas Ewing Papers in the Ewing Family Collection. The second series comprises messages of condolence received upon the death on Nov. 28, 1888, of Ellen Ewing Sherman. Removed from an adhesive letter and invoice file, the binding of which obscured portions of the messages, they, nevertheless, have been filmed exactly as they appeared in that file without regard to chronology. The final two groups of items on this reel and in this microfilm publication were occasioned by the death of Willam Tecumseh Sherman on Feb. 14, 1891. The first of these consists of orders by various veterans' posts. Again, in filming, the items have been taken as they were bound without regard to chronology. The second and final grouping features various messages of condolence received by the family. These had been left unbound and, consequently, have been filmed in chronological order.