Papers, 1836-1910; bulk, 1851-1898.

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Papers, 1836-1910; bulk, 1851-1898.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122346530

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. 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. 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.

29 boxes (8.0 cubic ft.)Box 1, Folders 2 and 3 2 microfilm reels.

New York State Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6686210

New York State Library

Related Entities

There are 6 Entities related to this resource.

Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831-1888

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fv9b1g (person)

Sheridan claimed he was born in Albany in the State of New York, the third child of six of John and Mary Meenagh Sheridan, Irish Catholic immigrants from the parish of Killinkere in County Cavan, Ireland. He grew up in Somerset, Ohio. Fully grown, he reached only 165 cm (5 feet 5 inches) tall, a stature that led to the nickname, "Little Phil." Abraham Lincoln described his appearance in a famous anecdote: "A brown, chunky little chap, with a long body, short legs, not enough neck to hang him, an...

United States. Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6km312r (corporateBody)

The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 and United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001. As the largest and senior branch of the U.S. military, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which wa...

Averell, William Woods, 1832-1900

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jt159j (person)

Averell was born in Cameron, New York. As a boy, he worked as a drugstore clerk in the nearby town of Bath, New York. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1855 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Mounted Rifles. George Custer was among his classmates. His early assignments included garrison duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and the U.S. Army Cavalry School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During two years of service in New Mexico, he was wo...

United States Military Academy

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67x01xt (corporateBody)

West Point, N.Y., was originally utilized as a strategic defense location during the American Revolution. West Point is geographically located on a 100 ft. plateau overlooking the Hudson River. After the American victory Congress created a Corps of Invalids (veterans) that were transferred to West Point for the purpose of instructing candidates for commission. In 1802 Congress legally established the United States Military Academy at West Point. The Academy produced many leaders of American forc...

Amato, Nicholas J., 1922-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61k40h7 (person)

United States. Army. Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tv0g4g (corporateBody)