Manuscript Register

 

THE MEAD FAMILY PAPERS

 

Collection Dates:1861 -- 1929

(Bulk Dates: 1862 to 1866)

1 linear ft.

 

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

 

Posted to Internet: June 2002

 

 

 

Access and Restrictions: The collection is open for research.

 

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

 

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

 

Biographical Note

James H. Mead (1839 -- 1904) joined the army in 1862, serving in Company E, Regiment 24, Iowa Infantry Volunteers. He later became an officer of the 62nd Regiment of the U.S. Colored Volunteer Infantry, in Companies B, E, H, and K. He was a 2nd Lt. in Company B when discharged from the army in the spring of 1866.

Ellen Kepner Mead and James H. Mead were married July 4, 1866. Ellen Mead (b. 1842) is addressed variously as Elizabeth, Nell, Nellie, Nettie, Ellie, and E.E. throughout the correspondence.

Robert M. Kepner (1838 -- 1929) was the brother of Ellen Mead. Kepner served with Company G, 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry Volunteers,
1861 -- 1864. He was wounded twice in the Battle of Corinth, 1862.

The last major correspondent was Adda Mead Bradford. She was the sister of James H. Mead. In 1864 she married Matt Bradford.

Scope and Contents

The Mead papers are composed primarily of correspondence, with a small number of pension records. All material is arranged chronologically. The major correspondents are James H. Mead, Ellen Kepner Mead, Robert M. Kepner, and Adda Mead Bradford. There is a handwritten index of the letters in the departmental file.

 

Box List

 

Box 1

 

Biographical and genealogical materials

Correspondence

Box 2

Correspondence

Pension Records -- Kepner, Robert M., 1861 -- 1929 (23 items)

Pension Records -- Mead, James H., 1863 -- 1916 (30 items)