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Reynolds Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 006

Summary

This collection consists of letters, diaries, scrapbooks, hand-drawn maps, clippings, photographs, transcripts, war communications and books relating to three generations of the Reynolds family of Lancaster, PA. The collection consists mostly of the papers of William Reynolds (1815 - 1879) and John Fulton Reynolds (1820-1863). Scrapbooks were compiled by Eleanor Reynolds and mostly chronicle the military career of brother John. Books (monographs) that were included in the Reynolds Family Papers are probably from the personal library of James Lefevre Reynolds. The journals which William Reynolds wrote during the U.S. Exploring Expedition are available on microfilm. In 2003, portions of the Reynolds Family Papers were digitized with the support of a 2002 NETShare grant award.

Dates

  • Creation: 1765-1934,
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1830-1880

Creator

Language of Material

All materials in English.

Restrictions on Access

Access semi-restricted.

Restrictions on Access

Researchers must use electronic or published copies of selected material where available.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Photocopying and publication may be restricted. except by permission of copyright owner..

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Publication of William Reynolds' private journals and U.S. Exploring Expedition letters are restricted by copyright. except by permission of copyright holder..

Biographical / Historical

The Reynolds family of Lancaster Pa. were prominent members of the community in the nineteenth century. John Reynolds (1787-1853) was owner/publisher of the Lancaster Journal, manager of Cornwall Iron Furnace for Robert Coleman, friend of James Buchanan, and Trustee of Franklin College. His sons William and John Fulton served a officers in the U.S. Navy and Army. William (1815-1879) participated in and chronicled the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842 while John (1820-1863) served in the Civil War as Major General of Volunteers and was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863. Another son James Lefevre Reynolds was a prominent PA attorney and Trustee of Franklin and Marshall College.

For additional resources and information about the Reynolds family, see the Reynolds Family Papers Research Guide.

Extent

6.66 Linear feet (18 boxes)

3 Objects (3 artifacts)

.10 Linear feet (1 flat drawer)

75 Books (75 books)

Arrangement

Collection: Organized into series corresponding to individual family members. arranged chronologically by date of birth / lineage.

Ownership and Custodial History

Papers were donated to the Archives and Special Collections Department on two separate occasions, in 1955 and 1962, by members of the Reynolds family. The donors were: Mrs. John Fulton Reynolds Scott, wife of John Fulton Reynolds' grand nephew; Katharine Hoffman Kline, grandaughter of Lydia Reynolds Evans; and Mary Reynolds Kline Shannahan, daughter of Katharine Hoffman Kline. The papers had been in the possession of the family up until the time of the donation to the college. Some of the items were first assembled by members of the Reynolds family in the mid-1860s, with family ownership of the material being continuous up until the collection's transfer to Franklin and Marshall College.

Ownership and Custodial History

Artifacts and some paper and photographic material donated by Mrs. Edward J. Nichols in November 1986.

Ownership and Custodial History

Additional papers consisting mostly of the correspondence of Lydia Moore Reynolds Evans and Nathan Evans to / from members of the Reynolds family were donated in 2013 by Katie Cleaver from the estate of Ann Hoffman Cleaver.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Reynolds Family. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1955, 1962..

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Elanor Black Nichols. Address--Myrtle Beach, SC. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1986..

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Katie Cleaver. Address--North Bennington, VT. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2013..

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Alternate Form Available

Digital reproductions of selected letters of John and William Reynolds are available at http://library.fandm.edu/archives/reynolds/splash.html. Additional selected letters of William Reynolds are available published as: Cleaver, Anne Hoffman and E. Jeffrey Stann. "Voyage to the Southern Ocean: The Letters of Lieutenant William Reynolds from the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842." (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1988).

Alternate Form Available

Unabridged electronic transcripts of William Reynolds private journals are available in repository. An abridged transcript is available published as: Philbrick Nathaniel and Thomas Philbrick, eds. The private journal of William Reynolds : United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 (New York : Penguin Books, 2004).

Related Archival Materials

Edward J. Nichols Collection (MS 24): Custodian--Archives and Special Collections: Address--Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, Country--USA..

Publications About Described Materials

Nichols, Edward J. "Toward Gettysburg: A Biography of General John F. Reynolds." University Park, PA: Penn State University Press, 1958.

Publications About Described Materials

Philbrick, Nathaniel. "Sea of glory : America's voyage of discovery : the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842." (New York : Viking, 2003).

Publications About Described Materials

Cleaver, Anne Hoffman and E. Jeffrey Stann. "Voyage to the Southern Ocean: The Letters of Lieutenant William Reynolds from the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842." (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1988).

Publications About Described Materials

Philbrick Nathaniel and Thomas Philbrick, eds."The private journal of William Reynolds : United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842" (New York : Penguin Books, 2004).

General

Eleanor Reynolds' correspondence scrapbook conserved 2002

General

selections digitized 2003

Processing Information

Processing completed 1985.

Description rules
Appm
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Franklin and Marshall College Special Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3003
Lancaster PA 17604 United States