Papers, 1852-1943. 1852-1943.

ArchivalResource

Hemphill family. Papers, 1852-1943.

Papers, 1852-1943. 1852-1943.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55648098

The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence within each of the generations. The Joseph Hemphill series is particularly noteworthy for the correspondence between Joseph and Silas which describes Silas' service in Company F of the 22nd Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. The letters describe camp life, troop movements and the siege of Vicksburg. The Mary Ward Hemphill includes many letters from her son Arch, sent from locations around Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska as he describes his work stringing telegraph wire. Eventually Arch was made an office manager for the Postal Telegraph Co. in Cairo, Ill. His letters from Cairo include comments on race relations, climate and local events. The J.K Hemphill series is small, documenting his relations with friends and family. The Esther Klenk series consists primarily of correspondence between J.K. Hemphill and Esther. The letters include a 6 year (1933-1939) run of courtship correspondence and correspondence after their marriage while J.K. was serving in the Navy during World War II. These letters reflect wartime concerns, Iowa City events and news of military life. The majority of the photographs in the final series of the collection are portraits and snapshots of Esther Klenk and J.K. Hemphill and images of the Klenk family farm. Of special interest however, are some early photographs of 19th century Iowa City, including an open-air haymarket on Iowa Ave.

2 linear ft. (4 boxes)

Iowa State Historical Society