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Arthur Tracy Lee papers

 Collection
Identifier: A.L47

Biographical / Historical note

Colonel Arthur Tracy Lee (1814-1879) served as a regimental officer in the US Eighth Infantry for twenty-three years, twelve in Texas. He joined the army in the late 1830s serving in various posts before arriving in Texas in 1849. Lee, at that time a captain, was part of a force sent to west Texas to protect white settlers who were encroaching on Indian territory. His regiment was encamped at various posts including Camp Worth, Fort Croghan and Fort Martin Scott. In October, 1854 Lee and his regiment were ordered further west, into Apache territory, to establish a fort in the Davis Mountains. Here, inspired by the dramatic scenery surrounding Fort Davis, Lee painted and sketched many views.

After four years, Lee in command of two infantry companies left Fort Davis in September, 1858 to establish a new post, Fort Quitman, 120 miles further west. In September 1859, Lee was ordered to assist in the defense of the United States-Mexican border during the "Cortinas Wars." He arrived after the skirmishes ended and did not participate in any military action. Lee was next assigned to Fort Stockton as part of a force to protect the San Antonio-El Paso stage route. Shortly after he arrived at Fort Stockton the Civil War began Lee was captured by Confederate forces while attempting to evacuate his troops from Texas. He was granted parole on the grounds that he not take up arms against the Confederate government or give information against Confederate interests unless "regularly engaged." Returning to the North, he served in various assignments and was promoted to major. His parole expired and under no further obligation not to engage in combat, Lee fought in the Battle of Gettysburg and received injuries to the right ankle and hip. Although his wounds kept him from returning to active service, he was promoted in 1863 to the rank of lieutenant colonel; in 1869, in recognition of his many years of service to the US army, Lee was promoted to full colonel.

In 1869 Lee assumed the position of governor of the National Soldier's Home and Park on the outskirts of Washington DC. A volume of his verse, Army Ballads and Other Poems, was published in 1871. The following year Lee relinquished his post at the Soldier's Home and he and his family moved to Rochester, NY where they had made several earlier visits and their daughter Kate lived with her husband William J. Ashley. They spent summers in Shelter Island, NY and Lee spent much of his time painting the local scenery. Arthur Tracy Lee died December 28, 1879 in Rochester. He was buried in the Ashley family plot, Mount Hope Cemetery.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains seventy matted water color paintings and sketches by Arthur Tracy Lee (for the most part undated), two scrapbooks, and publications containing reproductions of Lee's paintings of Texas scenes.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1814-1879

Language of Materials

English

Extent

5 box(es)

Access

The Arthur Tracy Lee Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Arthur Tracy Lee's granddaughter, Mary Janet Ashley, May 2, 1961.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Arthur Tracy Lee Papers, A.L47, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Genre / Form

Geographic

Occupation

Related Archival Materials

Further information about Lee and his paintings can be found in: Lee, Arthur Tracy. Fort Davis and the Texas Frontier text by W. Stephen Thomas (Fort Worth, TX: Texas A & M University Press, 1976).

Title
Arthur Tracy Lee papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA