Perrie C. Soule papers

Collection

Identifier: D.136

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

Perrie C. Soule, born September 16, 1844, died in Rochester, July 22, 1924, was a practicing physician in Rossburg, Allegany County, New York. During his life, he served in the New York Cavalry and, Infantry during the Civil War, advocated women's suffrage, served as trustee of school district 13, in the town of Hume, Allegany County, and participated actively in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) veterans association, The collection revolves around his activities, financial concerns, and children. On August 1, 1861, Perrie Soule enlisted under the name Peter Soule as a private in Company B of Regiment 18, New York Infantry. On November 1, 1864, he was promoted to Commissary Sergeant of Company I of Regiment 5, New York Calvary, the rank with which he was discharged on August 29, 1865. While serving in the Union Army, he sustained many injuries. Two major ones which affected his right arm and left leg for life, occurred while he led a charge against Confederate troops. After the end of the war, Soule continued his military interests as an active member of GAR. He was Commander of the Burnside Post 237, Allegany County, N.Y. for 15 years. He also at various times served as vice president, secretary, and treasurer of GAR for the state of New York.

Soule lived in Allegany County until 1919 when he moved to Rochester. He resided in Rochester for five years until his death in 1924.

Scope and Contents

The collection is arranged by specific topics. The GAR and Civil War material occupies the majority of box 2, the remaining topics and general correspondence are filed in box 1. The collection contains 14 folders related to the Civil War and the GAR. Two folders contain general correspondence, one folder contains financial papers and reports, and one folder contains charters and certificates. Also included are two folders of correspondence and papers revolving around Soule's permanent war injuries, and the resulting pension compensation. Within Box 1 are two personal diaries, in which Soule kept a daily account of his activities during part of the war. Other folders contain pamphlets related to GAR Annual National Encampments. Two folders of the collection contain papers related to an ankle and spinal injury sustained by Lucile Soule, daughter of Perrie Soule, while exiting from a moving railroad car, on August 11, 1913. Complications resulted from the original injury, causing traumatic cerebrospinal meningitis and the quarantine of the Soule home. Soule attempted to obtain monetary compensation through legal action but failed. As trustee of school district number 13, town of Hume, Allegany County, Soule was involved in an attempt to establish a new school location for the two merged school districts, 13, Rossburg and 5, Wiscoy in 1906. Two folders contain papers and correspondence between Soule and the New York State Education Commissioner. The last specific topic of correspondence deals with the death and estate settlement of Frederick Evans Soule, son of Perrie Soule. Frederick was an Alaskan gold miner, who with his wife died in a shipwreck off the coast of Alaska on October 26, 1918. The remaining papers include two folders of general correspondence, financial papers including tax receipts, miscellaneous printed ephemera, and photographs. The printed ephemera contains announcements of a female suffrage rally and several of the sponsoring group's badges of membership. The photographs represent a diverse mixture of subjects. The collection also contains one oversized map folder of newspaper front pages, mainly from the Grand Army Journal. Box 3, which was added to the collection at a later date, contains correspondence and documents relating to Perrie Soule's personal and business affairs, including household and business account books, both for his medical practice and the Taylor and Soule General Building business. Other materials are related to Soule's service as trustee of school district number 13, Hume, New York, Lucile Soule's railroad accident, the GAR, and the women's suffrage rally.

Creator

Soule, Perrie C., 1844-1924 (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1864-1925

Language of Materials

English

Extent

4 box(es)

Access

The Perrie C. Soule 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

The Soule Papers were the gift of Lee N. Sherwood of Rochester, N.Y. to the History of Medicine Section of the Miner Medical Library in May 1974. Mr. Sherwood was the son-in-law of Dr. Soule. The non-medical material in the collection was transferred to the Department of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Archives, Rush Rhees Library, in 1979. The contents of Box 3 were transferred and added to the the Soule Papers in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections from the Edward G. Miner Library in April 2006.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Perrie C. Soule Papers, D.136, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester