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John Cromer family papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.150

Biographical/Historical note

George Cromer was born in 1841 and served in the 91st New York Infantry in Key West, Florida. Cromer was killed in action on May 25, 1863 at Port Hudson, Louisiana. His brother, Phalon L. Cromer was born in 1839 and also served in the Union Army. He was part of the 5th Regular Infantry in the New Mexico Territory. In 1885, Phalon L. Cromer was murdered in Taos, New Mexico Territory. A third brother in the family, William Cromer was born in 1846.

Scope and Contents

The main part of the John Cromer Family Papers consist of forty-three letters, most of which were written by George Cromer to his parents in Rochester, while he was serving with the 91st New York Infantry in Key West, Florida in 1862. The letters chronicle daily camp life and describe the local inhabitants and economy, as well as several skirmishes with Confederate troops in the area. There are also a few letters by his brother, Phalon L. Cromer, who was serving with the 5th Regular Infantry in New Mexico Territory, and one letter by a third brother, William Cromer. There is a typescript of the letters with the collection.

Also included in the papers are miscellaneous correspondence and documents relating to other members of the family, and to a Mauder family of Rochester. One group of correspondence relates to the murder of Phalon L. Cromer in Taos, New Mexico Territory, in 1885, and the efforts of his family in Rochester to determine the circumstances of his death and the disposition of his estate. Numerous legal instruments, such as birth certificates, baptismal records, deeds, indentures, wills, and receipts are in the papers, including an 1853 indenture of an apprentice to a ship-builder in Rochester.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1838-1948

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1 box(es)

Access

The John Cromer Family 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 papers were the gift of Mrs. Stanhope Ficke, June 19, 1980.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], John Cromer Family Papers, D.150, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Karl Kabelac and Ken Hawkins in 1980 and 1985. Finding aid written by Karl Kabelac and Ken Hawkins in 1980 and 1985. It was encoded in 2014 by Lori Birrell.

Related Archival Materials

General note: Transcriptions of the letters in this collections can be accessed here.

Title
John Cromer family papers
Author
Karl Kabelac and Ken Hawkins
Date
1980 and 1985
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