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Hermon Clarke Correspondence

A description of the collection at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: Michele Combs
Date: 17 Jan 2025

Biographical History

Hermon Clarke (1837-1914) was a German-born American farmer who fought for the Union during the American Civil War. He grew up on a farm in Brookfield, New York, along with his father, Silas Clarke, his stepmother, and two stepsiblings Neiel and Elizabeth. In August of 1862, he joined the 117th New York Volunteer Infantry. He served until June of 1865, and returned to Waterville, New York, where he married Alice Cleveland in August of 1865. In 1902, he was elected clerk of Oneida County, a position he held for three years. Infomation was drawn from Back Home in Oneida: Hermon Clarke and his Letters by Jackson O'Donnell.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Hermon Clarke Correspondence contains mostly outgoing letters pertaining to Clarke’s service during the Civil War. The letters describe his military life. Most of the letters are addressed to either his father, Silas Clarke or his step brother, Neiel Clarke. Additionally, there is a letter to Hermon’s uncle and an unidentified person. There is also an incoming letter from a Sergeant Evvans [sic] to Clarke.

Arrangement of the Collection

This collection has been arranged alphabetically by correspondent and within the folders chronologically.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

Hermon Clarke's letters were transcribed and published in Jackson O'Donnell's book Back Home in Oneida: Hermon Clarke and his Letters, which is available in the Syracuse University principal collections.

Subject Headings

Persons

Clarke, Hermon.

Corporate Bodies

United States. -- Army. -- New York Infantry Regiment, 117th (1862-1865)

Subjects

Soldiers -- United States.
Veterans -- United States.

Places

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

Genres and Forms

Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Hermon Clarke Correspondence,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of William Goff, 2023.

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Inventory