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Angela K. Davis Typescript

An inventory of her typescript at Syracuse University

Finding aid created by: --
Date: Nov 1988

Revision history:
16 Oct 2008	converted to EAD (LDC)

Biographical History

Angela Kirkham Davis (1827-1919) was an American author living in a border slave state during the American Civil War. She was born on May 26, 1827 in Batavia, New York. Davis married Joseph Francis Davis with whom she moved to Funkstown, Maryland, near Boonsboro. She wrote Wesley and Early Methodism published in 1884; however, is unknown when Davis wrote War Reminiscences: A Letter to My Nieces Emma K. Devlin, Belle K. Page, and Leigh K. Williams.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Angela K. Davis Typescript is a narrative that describes Davis's experiences during the time period leading up to the Battle at Antietam, which took place not far from her home in Funkstown, Maryland. She relates the tensions as well as the friendships between the "Secessionists" and the "Yankees" in her town and the divisions that took place within families and friends, and attempts to explain the reasons why Maryland did not ultimately secede.

The volume begins with a short narrative of the events leading up to the war, in particular the march of the Massachusetts troops through Baltimore and the confrontation that took place between soldiers and citizens. She then describes the Union encampments she visited, the phenomena of Union soldiers marching through her town, and the influx of freed slaves from Virginia.

When Frederick was occupied by Lee's forces, the tide was turned, and the Confederates flooded through town, needing shelter and food and relying on the Christian charity of women such as Angela Kirkham Davis. Her husband had fled north at this point, but joined her again as the Confederate forces were pushed back and the Battle of Antietam formed. They visited the aftermath of the battle together, bringing food and supplies to the Union troops, and experiencing the bloody remainder of the Union battlions. Angela Kirkham Davis's narrative of her personal experiences of the horrors of war and the effect it had on the citizen population of both sides expresses the cruel reality of brother fighting against brother in a state that supported the loyalties of both sides.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

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.

Subject Headings

Persons

Davis, Angela K. (Kirkham)

Subjects

Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862
Maryland Campaign, 1862.

Places

Maryland, History, Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States, History, Civil War, 1861-1865, Campaigns.
United States, History, Civil War, 1861-1865, Personal narratives.
United States, History, Civil War, 1861-1865, Women.

Genres and Forms

Reminiscences.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Angela K. Davis Typescript
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Martha Wallin (grandniece of author), 1976.

Table of Contents

Typescript

Inventory