Henry and Lucy Fike papers
Overview
The correspondence of the Fike papers is divided into three series the first grouping is composed of sequentially numbered letters, dating from August 25, 1862 to July 9, 1865, written by Henry C. Fike to his wife. Lucy Cimbaline's written response to her husband's letter are arranged chronologically in the second portion of the collection. The third series is a grouping of unnumbered letters received by Henry C. Fike from various relatives and friends. The collection also includes Lucy Cimbaline Fike's diaries and recipe book.
Dates
- Creation: 1862 - 1906
Creator
- Fike, Henry C. (Person)
- Fike, Lucy Cimbaline (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 Henry C. Fike
Henry C. Fike was a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps, 117 Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. He was billeted at Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee, and participated in several military engagements in the state of Missouri, as well as in Alabama, Kentucky, and Louisiana. Henry C. and Lucy (Cimbaline) Fike made their home in Mascoutah, Illinois, where Lucy Cimbaline resided during her husband's service with the Union Army from 1862-1865.
Extent
2 Linear Feet (5 boxes + 8 volumes)
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection consists of letters between Henry C. and Lucy Cimbaline Fike. Other correspondents or individuals named in the letters include Ellie Fike, Ausby Fike, Sterling Price (1809-1867), and William Gannaway Prownlow (1805-1877).
U.S. Civil War battles and sieges described in some of the collection include the Siege of Fort Blakeley in 1865, the Siege of Mobile, Alabama in 1864, the Battle of Nashville in 1864, the Battle of Pleasant Hills, Louisiana in 1864, the Battle of Sabine Crossroads in 1864, the Siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama in 1865, and the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1863, as well as the 1864 Red River Expedition. Forts and camps mentioned in the letters include Camp Butler, Illinois; Camp Chalmette, Louisiana; Fort Morgan, Alabama; Fort Pickering, Tennessee (where Fike was billeted); and Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
Letters also discuss the 1864 U.S. presidential election and describe conditions in some areas of the South and Midwest, including Corinth, Mississippi; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Alexandria, Louisiana; Cairo and Mascoutah, Illinois; California and St. Louis, Missouri; and Columbus, Kentucky.
Physical Location
RH MS 5
Physical Location
RH MS A4
Physical Location
RH MS A5
Physical Location
RH MS A6
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Martha Rayhill estate, 1965; 1969.
Subject
- Fike family. (Family)
- Confederate States of America. Army (Organization)
- United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 117th (1862-1865) (Organization)
Geographic
- Alabama -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Confederate States of America -- Social conditions
- Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- African Americans
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Destruction and pillage
- Title
- Guide to the Henry C. Fike Collection
- Subtitle
- Henry and Lucy Fike papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by jma,1973; lgg, 1973; mg 2004. Finding aid encoded by mg, 2004. Finding aid revised by mwh, 2019.
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/4300341321
- Preferred citation
-
Henry C. Fike Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 5, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository