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Preliminary Inventory of the John Emory Bryant Papers, 1851-1955 and undated

Collection Overview

Correspondence, published writings and other papers, and scrapbooks (accession #68-34) (1,858 items; dated 1851-1907), relating to Bryant's Civil War service in South Carolina with the 8th Maine Volunteers, his activities as agent with the Freedmen's Bureau in Georgia, as a leader of the Negro Republicans in Georgia (1865-1887), his business ventures, and his interests in temperance and the Methodist Church. Correspondents include William Anderson Pledger and Henry McNeal Turner.

Addition (accession #2002-0175) (500 items, 2 lin. ft.; dated 1853-1955 and undated) contains correspondence; 5 black-and-white photographs and 10 albumen prints; and documents relating to Bryant, his family, and his involvement with the Freedmen's Bureau, the Republican Party, and African-American affairs in Georgia. Most of the letters are originals; many of the other items are copies or typescripts.

Descriptive Summary

Title
John Emory Bryant Papers, 1851-1955 and undated
Creator
Bryant, John Emory
Extent
3.14 Linear Feet, 2,358 Items
Repository
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Language
English.

Series Quick Links

Administrative Information

Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

warning Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

warning Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Contents of the Collection

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Letters, 1851-1863
Box 1
Letters, 1864-1869
Box 2
Letters, 1870-1875
Box 3
Letters, 1876-1879
Box 4
Letters, 1880-1907
Box 5
Legal Papers
Box 6
Financial Papers
Box 6
Official Papers and Writings: Misc.
Box 6
Official Papers and Writings: Methodist, 1878-1887
Box 6
Official Papers and Writings: Political, 1866-1892
Box 7
Journal of J.E. Bryant, 1853-1859
Box 7
Journal of Emma Bryant, 1866, 1876
Box 7
Autobiography of Alice Zeller
Box 7
1876-1877
Box 8
1888-1891
Box 8
William Anderson Pledger
Box 9
Letterpress Book, 1875-1879
Box 9
Scrapbook, 1874-1889
Box 9
Volumes: C.S.A. Army Records
Box 10
Volumes: Scrapbooks, 1861-1875

Including Scrapbook, 1861-1866, with Civil War orders and Freemen's Bureau materials

Box 11
Volumes: Scrapbooks, New York City and Athens, Tennessee, 1887-1890s
Box 12
Volumes: Account Books
Box 13
Volumes: Account Books
Box 14
Printed Materials: Clippings
Box 15
Printed Materials: Pamphlets, Broadsides and Leaflets (Xerox and Originals)
Box 16
Correspondence, 1854-1916
Box 1
Sons of Temperance, State of Maine documents, 1860-1861
Box 1
Legal Documents, 1866-1874
Box 1
Miscellaneous papers, letters and excerpts from books, by and about J.E. Bryant, 1853-1882 and undated
Box 1
American Institute of Civics, 1886 and undated
Box 1
Documents concerning Bryant's death, 1900-1909 and undated

Includes a copy of Bryant's death certificate.

Box 1
Church related documents, 1886-1889
Box 1
Deposit Book of the National Freedman's Savings and Trust Co., 1868
Box 2
Documents related to the Civil War, 1864-1905
Box 2
Day to Day Life and Thoughts of John Emory Bryant, written by Raymond Bryant Zeller, [1950s]

This biography was written by Raymond B. Zeller about 1955 from Bryant's journals and other papers. It was never published.

Box 2
Genealogical information and Biography, undated

The genealogy was complied by Margaret Zeller Garrett. The biography was written by Fred O. Smith for a school paper and was in turn sent to Raymond Bryant Zeller by Smith, Zeller's nephew.

Box 2
Printed Material, 1914-1915 and undated

Included here is a letter to, and telegram from, President Ulysses S. Grant pertaining to the appointment of a custom collector.

Box 2
J.E. Bryant Journal #5 (RBZ's typed copy), [1950s]
Box 2
J.E. Bryant Journal #3 (RBZ's typed copy), [1950s]
Box 2
Bryant's 1900 Diary (copy)
Box 2
Diary For the Year 1900

Written by both Bryant and his wife Emma.

Box 2
Notes by Emma Spaulding Bryant 25 Dec. 1900 - 31 Dec. 1900
Box 2
Emma's Sketch Book, undated
Box 2
5 black and white photographs, undated

Photographs include John Emory Bryant, his wife Emma and their only child Emma Alice Bryant Zeller, and Alice's first child Miriam.

Box 2
Photograph book of senior Union Officers, undated

A list of names of these officers is written in the back numbered 1-40.

Box 2
Misc., 1883-1897 and undated
Box 2
Letters, 1866-1895
Box 3
Letters, 1895-1898
Box 4
Letters, 1898-1900 and undated
Box 5
Recipes for Medicine, 1872 and undated
Box 5
Calling Cards, undated
Box 5

Historical Note

Abolitionist, Union officer with the 8th Maine Volunteers, agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, and Republican politician; from Union, Me.

Subject Headings

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Emory Bryant Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The John Emory Bryant Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1968 and 2002.

Processing Information

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff; Joshua A. Kaiser

Completed November 7, 2002

Encoded by Joshua A. Kaiser

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.