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Title
Papers, 1836-1910; bulk, 1851-1898
Author
Averell, William Woods, 1832-1900.
Pages:
29
Item info:
3 copies available at New York State Library and Manuscripts and Special Collections.
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New York State Library
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Material
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357.1092 A952 RL 1
1
MICROFILM
MB (nocirc)
357.1092 A952 RL 2
1
MICROFILM
MB (nocirc)
Manuscripts and Special Collections
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SC12349
2
MANUSCRIPT
N (nocirc)
MARC Record
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Control Number:
(OCoLC)122346530
Local call number:
SC12349
Author:
Averell, William Woods, 1832-1900.
Title:
Papers, 1836-1910; bulk, 1851-1898.
Quantity:
29 boxes (8.0 cubic ft.)
Quantity:
Box 1, Folders 2 and 3 2 microfilm reels.
Arrangement:
Arranged into five subseries: I. Correspondence, 1851-1900. II. Diaries, 1851-1897. III. Military Service Papers, 1851-1865; 1888-1898. IV. Patents, Business, and Legal Papers, 1870-1898. V. Memoirs and Biographical Papers.
Additional phys form:
Letters from 1853 to 1854 (Box 1, Folders 2 and 3), which include Averell's time at West Point, are also available on microfilm.
Historical/biog note:
William Woods Averell's career in the United States Army began with his appointment to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. After graduating as a commissioned officer in 1855, he was stationed at cavalry barracks, first at Carlisle, Pa., then at Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1858, he was sent to New Mexico Territory, where he participated in the Navajo Expedition. Severely wounded in a skirmish, the following year, he had to return to Bath, NY on convalescent leave. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, Averell was appointed Colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was involved in several skirmishes with the Confederate Cavalry during the Virginia Peninsular Campaign, 1862. His most successful engagement was at Kelly's Ford, where he captured 150 confederate cavalrymen. Shortly thereafter his forces were defeated along with the rest of the Union Army at Chancellorsville. Averell was then reassigned to command of cavalry units in West Virginia. Though the West Virginia cavalry regiments were largely successful in disrupting confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley, irreconcilable differences in battle strategy ultimately led to Averell being relieved of command by General Philip Sheridan.
Historical/biog note:
After the war, Averell served three years, 1866-1869, as United States Consul General in Montreal before he had become greatly interested in the uses of asphalt for street pavement. In 1878, he was granted a United States patent entitled "Improvement in Asphaltic Pavement," that commenced twenty years of litigation and court proceedings endured by Averell to successfully defend it. Averell was married to Kezia Hayward Browning. In 1888, Averell was appointed inspector general of soldiers homes which entailed much lobbying activity before Congress seeking adequate appropriation of funds.
Review:
The papers of William Woods Averell contain a nearly complete documentation of his years of active military service and endeavors in various business ventures. The papers relative to his service in the U.S. Army include correspondence, diaries, and official orders, and reports that document the following two phases of his military career: A) The cavalry presence in New Mexico Territory, 1855-1858, with many fine details of the wars between the United States Army and the Navajos, Kiowas, and Zunis. There are also interesting descriptions of frontier social life and customs. B) Averell's service during the Civil War, 1861-1865, especially his command of the third Pennsylvania Cavalry and the Eastern Division of the West Virginia Cavalry. Also included is a considerable amount of material related to his being relieved of command by General Philip Sheridan, and subsequent efforts seeking vindication.
Review:
The business phase of Averell's life was largely preoccupied with the development and uses of asphalt for street pavement and electrical conduits. His private papers, business correspondence, and diaries, from 1870-1898 are filled with technical, legal and other details relating to asphalt. Moreover, his diaries record his persistent seeking of street pavement contracts. Also included are legal briefs and court proceedings generated by nearly twenty years of litigation endured by Averell in defense of the only successful asphalt pavement patent of the period when many American cities received paved streets. There is also much documentation relating to his patent for the asphaltic electrical conduit and water (sonar) telephone.
Abstract:
Other aspects of Averell's career where the documentation is not complete, yet would be worthy of examination include: A) his service as consul general to British North America, (Canada), in Montreal from 1866 to 1869. His diaries contain many fine observations of the activities of the United States Legation and the social life and customs of the French Canadians. B) His service as Inspector General of soldiers homes that generated many official letters and reports regarding his travels and lobbying activities.
Provenance note:
The Averell Papers are largely comprised of two separate manuscript groups received by this repository on two widely different occasions separated by many years. The first group was purchased from an unspecified source, ca. 1950, and was not processed until 1970. The second group was acquired in October 1990 from Mrs. Nicholas J. Amato. It was originally acquired by her late husband from William E. Dascomb of Allegany, New York, who was a grandnephew of William W. Averell's niece and adopted daughter, Lucy Henica. Also included are single accessions, 13657 and 14458.
Finding aids:
Unpublished finding aid available in the repository snd online: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/sc12349.htm
Publications note:
Ten Years in the Saddle: The Memoir of William Woods Averell / Edited by Edward K. Eckert and Nicholas J. Amato--San Rafael: Presidio Press, 1978.
Personal subject:
Averell, William Woods, 1832-1900.
Personal subject:
Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888.
Corporate subject:
United States Military Academy--History--Students.
Corporate subject:
United States. Army--Officers Records and correspondence.
Corporate subject:
United States. Army. Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865)
Subject:
Cavalry--United States--History.
Subject:
Indians of North America--Wars--New Mexico.
Subject:
Indians of North America--New Mexico--Social life and customs.
Subject:
Navajo Indians.
Subject:
Zuni Indians.
Subject:
Kiowa Indians.
Subject:
Peninsular Campaign, 1862.
Subject:
Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862.
Subject:
Chancellorsville, Battle of, Chancellorsville, Va., 1863.
Subject:
Shenandoah Valley Campaign, 1864 (May-August)
Subject:
Diplomatic and consular service, American--Québec (Province)--Montréal.
Subject:
Diplomats--United States Records and correspondence.
Subject:
Soldiers--United States Diaries.
Subject:
Veterans--United States.
Subject:
Asphalt industry--United States--History.
Subject:
Pavements, Asphalt--United States--Patents.
Subject:
Electric conduits--United States--Patents.
Subject:
Soldiers' homes--New York (State)--Bath--History.
Geographic terms:
New Mexico--History--1848-
Geographic terms:
New Mexico--Social life and customs.
Geographic terms:
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Geographic terms:
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Cavalry operations.
Geographic terms:
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives.
Geographic terms:
Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.
Geographic terms:
West Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Geographic terms:
United States--Foreign relations--Canada--1865-1898.
Geographic terms:
Montréal (Québec)--Social life and customs.
Geographic terms:
United States--History--1865-1898.
Geographic terms:
New York (State)--History--1865-
Geographic terms:
Bath (N.Y.)--History Sources.
Geographic terms:
Bath (N.Y.)--Economic conditions.
Personal author:
Amato, Nicholas J., 1922-
Electronic access:
Finding aid: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/sc12349.htm
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