Farr and Rowe Civil War archive

This collection includes 2 boxes containing 42 holograph letters, 30 photographs and photographic items, sent between members of the Rowe family. The majority of the letters were written to John Rowe of Jersey City, New Jersey, by family serving in the Union Army. These letters were sent from battle locations throughout the deep south and Missouri, describing in clear detail, camp life, troop movements, scouting expeditions, battle details and personal observations of other soldiers, officers and war-related news. In addition, the collection includes photographs of Dennis H. Farr and members of his family, as well as an original dovetailed storage box owned by Dennis H. Farr, containing his personal belongings. There are a total of 42 letters ranging from 1786-1872, with a few of undated. Most of the letters have been sent to John Rowe by James S. Stiller, George A. Lewis and Henry C. Bidwell. The letters are written on clear white or lined paper. They are relatively short in length and have visible folding lines, due to having been sent in small envelopes. Photographs There are 21 photographs, including seven full-length images of Dennis H. Farr (six of which he is in uniform); one carte de viste of Abraham Lincoln; two images of E.W. Carter of the Vermont Vols.; one head and shoulder portrait of Farr; one portrait of Mary Brown (Farr’s future wife), two portraits of the children of Mary Brown and Dennis H. Farr; and six images of Farr’s relatives. Realia The storage box is accompanied by four cased tintypes (one of which contains an image of Farr in a fireman’s uniform and another a portrait of Farr), one army and navy hymn book, one engraved (with the initials M.B.F.) and tarnished silver spoon, an empty leather clasp photo album (contained the 21 photographs mentioned above), six cheques, three receipts, three empty envelopes, a cloth, an insurance company payment note, a guide to furs and skins, a certificate of a proxy vote, an invitation, a bullet, a wooden escutcheon, a handle, five medical uniform pins and buttons, two military eagle buttons.

See "Other Finding Aids" for a more detailed index of collection contents.