Edward Fitch Correspondence
Overview
Edward Fitch came to Kansas in 1855 as a representative of the New England Emigrant Aid Society of Boston. This collection consist of letters of Sarah Fitch, Otis Wilmarth, Sarah's father, and also a short family history written by Sarah's daughter.
Dates
- Creation: 1854-1870, 1928.
Creator
- Fitch, Edward, 1832-1863 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of Fitch, Edward
Edward Fitch came to Kansas in 1855 as a representative of the New England Emigrant Aid Society of Boston. He settled in Lawrence and served as the first school teacher. In April 1857, he married Sarah Wilmarth; they had three children. During William Quantrill's raid in August of 1863 on Lawrence, Edward was killed by one of the raiders.
The collection consists of correspondence from Edward to his family in the East. In his letters he discusses the pro- and anti-slavery conflicts in and around Lawrence, his finances, and daily life.
Extent
1 folder (52 items)
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
The collection also contains letters of Sarah Fitch and Otis Wilmarth, Sarah's father; including a detailed letter from Sarah to Edward's parents describing Quantrill's raid and Edward's death and funeral.
The collection also contains a short family history written in 1928 by Julia Fitch, Sarah Fitch's daughter.
Physical Location
RH MS P429
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, Susan Walker, January 1982
Additional Information
NOTE: The letters are transcribed.
The Fitch family has the original letters. See: Watkins Community Museum for information and copyright for publication purposes. Letters were published in Kansas History, v.12, nos. 1-2 (spring-summer 1989).
Subject
- Fitch, Sarah Wilmarth (Person)
- New England Emigrant Aid Company (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Edward Fitch Collection
- Subtitle
- Edward Fitch Correspondence
- Author
- lt March 1982 mg 2004
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid writtenin<language> English.</language>
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/7167235533
- Preferred citation
-
Edward Fitch Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS P429, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository