University Libraries

MsC 405

  Manuscript Register

PAPERS OF THE STERNS FAMILY

Collection Dates: 1858 --1947
1.5 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:November 1997

Acquisition Note: This collection was donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by Virginia M. Edwards in 1982.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Photographs: Boxes 2 and 3

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 Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections.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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biographical note

Scope and contents

Box 1 Carver, Fred B. -- Sterns, Thomas Rescum

Box 2 Sterns, Thomas Rescum -- Photographs

Box 3 Photographs

Box 4 Model boat

The major correspondents are Thomas Rescum Sterns, Edward Van Deusen, Albert Henry Sterns, Lavinia C. Van Deusen Sterns Mathews, Lottie Gilmore Sterns, and Fred B. Carver.

Thomas Rescum Sterns (1839 -- 1863) joined the army in 1862, serving as a corporal in company F, Regiment 29, Wisconsin Volunteers. He died while returning home on the transport Minnehaha. He was buried in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lavinia C. Van Deusen Sterns Mathews (1840 -- 1921) and Thomas Rescum Sterns were married April 25, 1960. They had one son, Albert Henry (1861 -- 1921). Most of his career was spent working on various railroads, but he also participated in the Alaskan gold rush in the 1890's. Albert Sterns was married (Lottie Gilmore) and had two children, Hubert Gilmore (1889 -- 1946) and Hazel Lavinia (1891?-??). Lavinia Sterns was remarried, April 7, 1874 to Benjamin Franklin Mathews (1829 -- 1916). They had two children, Alta E. (1878 -- 1961) and Hubert E. (1880 -- 1885). The donor of this collection, Virginia Hoffman Edwards, is the daughter of Alta Mathews.

Edward Van Deusen (1845 -- 1864) was the brother of Lavinia Sterns Mathews. He served in Company A, Regiment 37, Wisconsin Volunteers. Van Deusen died in battle at Petersburg, Virginia on July 30, 1864.

Fred B. Carver was a friend of Alta E. Mathews Hoffman. He served with Company G, Regiment 51, Iowa Infantry Volunteers. Carver died on his way to the Philippine Islands in 1898.

The Sterns family papers consist of approximately 365 items and date from 1858 -- 1947. All of the material is chronologically arranged with alphabetical divisions. Virginia Edwards donated this collection to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1982. The papers are open for research by students and scholars.

Carver, Fred B. Correspondence, 1898. Written to Alta E. Mathews Hoffman (daughter of Lavinia Sterns and Benjamin F. Mathews) while stationed in San Francisco, California with the Iowa Infantry, 51st Regiment, Company G.

Congregational Church -- Fontanelle, Iowa, 1890 and 1900

Miscellaneous items, including tickets, broadsides, newspaper clippings, Santa Fe RR brochure, etc., 1858 -- 1874 and undated

Newspaper clippings, 1860 -- 1911

Sterns, Albert Henry

Business cards,1895

Correspondence, 1883 -- 1887

Correspondence, 1894 -- 1908

Newspaper clippings, 1897 -- 1921

Programs and badges, 1893 -- 1896. (Order of Railway Conductors and K. of P.)

Sterns, Hubert Gilmore

Biographical material, 1918 -- 1947

High school graduation announcement, 1909

Sterns, Lavinia Van Deusen

Calling card

Certificate of merit

Correspondence, 1863 -- 1914. Primarily written to Lavinia Sterns Mathews

Genealogical materials

Marriage certificate, Benjamin F. Mathews, 1874

Obituary, 1921

Sterns, Thomas Rescum

Correspondence. Comprised of original letters accompanied by typewritten transcripts

September -- December 1862

January -- March 1863

Sterns, Thomas Rescum, cont.

Correspondence, cont.

April -- June 1863

July -- August 1863

To Thomas Sterns from the Davies (his aunt and uncle)

Pension records, 1862 -- 1921. Photocopies from the National Archives

Personal ephemera, including buttons from Civil war uniform, pen, stamps, etc.

Poetry

Teacher's certificate, 1862

Sterns, Thomas Rescum and Lavinia Van Deusen

Calling cards

Family record, 1860 -- 1863

Van Deusen, Edward

Correspondence, April -- July 1864

Pension records, 1864 -- 1898. Photocopies from the National Archives

Photographs

Carver, Fred B. Friend of Alta Mathews Hoffman

Hoffman, Alta Mathews

Mathews, Benjamin Franklin

Misner, Hiram -- tintype. Cousin of Lavinia Sterns

Near, Eva Rector -- daguerreotype. Grandmother of Lavinia Sterns

Sterns, Albert

Sterns, Albert and Lottie

Sterns, Albert, Lottie, and Hubert

Sterns, Hazel Lavinia

Sterns, Hazel L. and Hubert G.

Photographs. cont.

Sterns, Hubert G. (2 folders)

Sterns, Hubert and Dee J. Damron (wife)

Sterns, Lavinia -- daguerreotype and photo

Sterns, Lavinia and Albert -- tintypes and photo

Sterns, Lottie

Sterns, Lottie and Hubert

Sterns, Mariah. Mother of Thomas Rescum Sterns

Sterns, Thomas Rescum -- daguerreotypes and photos

Sterns, Thomas and Lavinia -- daguerreotype

Van Deusen, Edward -- daguerreotypes and photo

Van Deusen, Henry and Eliza -- daguerreotype and photo. Parents of Lavinia Sterns

Miscellaneous

 Model boat belonging to Albert Sterns

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