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By Kyle Beeler
Collection Overview
Title: Curtis F. Burnam Papers, 1803-1942
Predominant Dates:1860-1880
Extent: 1.13 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 04/27/1967
Subjects: Central University (Richmond, Ky.)--History., Civil War, 1861-1865., Clay, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903., Kentucky--History--Civil War, 1861-1865., Kentucky--History., Kentucky--Politics and government., Madison County (Ky.)--History., Politics, Practical, Slavery - Kentucky
Languages: English, Latin
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Curtis Field Burnam was a well-respected lawyer, judge, and statesman from Richmond, KY. He was a refined orator, as well, and numerous items in the collection are copies of addresses and orations which he presented to a variety of audiences. Much of the material has to do with the Civil War in Kentucky and in general. Many aspects of the Civil War, such as secession, abolition, and slavery, are reflected in the collection via newspaper articles, correspondence, and addresses.
His daughter, Lucia Burnam, also has material in the collection such as her personal diary, passport, and a memoir in which she recounts the events surrounding the Battle of Richmond.
Collection Historical Note
CURTIS F. BURNAM was born May 24, 1820 in Richmond, Kentucky. He was the son of Thompson Burnam and Lucinda Field. The subject of this narrative was prepared for college at the Madison Seminary. He entered Yale College in January, 1837, and graduated with the highest honors of his class in 1840. Immediately upon his return home he began the study of law with Judge Daniel Breck, which he continued for one year. He was admitted to the bar after graduating from the law department of Transylvania University in 1842. He served as a member of both houses of legislature and also as a member of the constitutional convention of 1890. He was the first assistant and at times acting Secretary of the United States Treasury during Gen. Grant's second term as President. He married Miss Sara Rollins, daughter of A. W. Rollins, in 1845. Mr. Burnam, died March 19, 1909 and was buried in the Richmond Cemetery.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Bennett, Esther S.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[Box 3],
[
Folder 1: Oversize, 1875],
[
All]
- Box 3
- Barcode: 31234014045122
- Folder 1: Lucia Burnam Passport, 1927-1928
- Passport for Lucia Burnam. Contains a photo of Lucia as well as writings and stamps from locations like France, Bombay, Egypt, Britain, and China.
- Folder 2: Autograph Book, 1874-1877
- This autograph book belonged to George Douglass Sherley who attended Centre College in the mid 1870s. The autographs within are from college friends and instructors. Some of the pages contain rather lengthy notes to Douglass, which apparently was George's preferred name.
- Folder 3: Lucia Field Burnam Diary, 1934-1936
- This is a small diary which was intended for short entries every day. It has 5 years worth of space, but Lucia only used up 3 of those years. The handwriting is extremely difficult to read.
- Folder 4: Miscellaneous Pamphlets, 1857
- This is a bound volume of pamphlets, brochures, and booklets covering a wide variety of topics. Most of them are political in nature, but there are also short story entries which are unrelated to politics.
- Item 1: The Military Profession in the United States and the Means of Promoting its Usefulness and Honour; An Address, 1839
- This is a copy of an address delivered before a certain society of cadets at West Point Military Academy.
- Item 2: Destiny; A Poem, 1846
- This is a copy of a poem delivered before students belonging to Delta Phi by E. Delafield Smith. Before the poem begins, there are copies of four articles of correspondence. At the end of the booklet is also a notes page.
- Item 3: C.F. Burnam Address, 1848
- This is a copy of an address delivered before Mason members of Madison Lodge No. 14. Within the Address, Burnam speaks to his fellow Masons about their past and what they stand for as an organization.
- Item 4: Battle of Buena Vista, 1851
- This is a copy of a journal article which originally appeared in Southern Quarterly Review in 1851. It offers an abstract of the Battle of Buena Vista which took place during the Mexican-American War. It contains a lot of important names, dates, locations, and information pertinent to the battle.
- Item 5: A Discourse on The Life and Character of the Hon. Francois Xavier Martin, 1847
- This is a rather lengthy account of Martin's life and accomplishments presented by his friend and colleague, Henry A. Bullard.
- Item 6: Report of the Naval Committee to the House of Representatives, 1850
- This is a report in favor of the establishment of a line of mail steamships to the western coast of Africa then on to London which would serve to promote the emigration of free persons of color from the United States to Liberia, to increase the steam navy, and to extend the commerce of the United States.
- Item 7: An Introductory Lecture on the Comparative State of the Profession of Medicine and of Medical Education in the United States and Europe, 1846-1847
- This is a lecture on the condition of medicine as a whole presented by Dr. John Revere who was a professor of medical theory and practice. The lecture was presented to students at the University of the City of New York.
- Item 8: Discourse Pronounced at the Capitol of the United States in the Hall of Representatives Before the American Historical Society, 1836
- This is a discourse presented by the Honorable Lewis Cass, president of the American Historical Society. It examines the organizations history, provides a copy of their constitution and officers, and their past, present, and future operations as a society as well as its significance.
- Item 9: Inauguration of Honorable John H. Lanthrop, LL. D. Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, At the Capitol, 1850
- Contains the reasoning for installing Lathrop as well as an address that was presented at the inauguration.
- Item 10: An Introductory Lecture Delivered at the Opening of the Kentucky School of Medicine, 1850
- This is a short explanation about what it meant to practice medicine at the time and what responsibilities come along with practicing.
- Item 11: Valedictory Address of the Duties Responsibilities and Hopes of American Lawyers, 1847
- This address was presented to the senior class of the Transylvania law department at the close of the didactic course on February 24, 1847. The person presenting the address is George Robertson.
- Item 12: An Earnest Appeal to the Free Church of Scotland on the Subjects of Its Economics, 1847
- This selection discusses how the church in Scotland chooses to allocate its finances and includes recommendations on how to better manage the funds to better benefit the people. The author is Reverend Thomas Chalmers, and there is an introduction by the American editor.
- Item 13: An Address Delivered Before the Union Literary Society of Miami University at Its Thirteenth Annual Celebration, 1838
- This address discusses the United States' prosperity as result of virtuous excellence. The author also discusses what the United States does for the welfare of the international community with special emphasis on those that are naturally inferior to the American race. It asserts that it is our duty as a nation to improve and enlighten those people and to help them develop into productive states.
- Item 14: An Address to the Students of Law in Transylvania University Delivered at the Beginning of the Session for 1835, 1835
- This address discusses law as a profession and what it takes to be successful. The author talks about the responsibilities associated with the occupation, the non-stop research and learning required to hone the skills of a lawyer, and how law is similar to a science in the way that perceptions of law change over time and evolve.
- Item 15: An Address Delivered Before the American Institute of the City of New York at the Third Annual Fair Held at Masonic Hall, October 1830, 1830
- This address is mainly focused on how people of the earth have evolved culturally over time. It talks about what certain people's goals were and what they did to accomplish them. The document covers numerous civilizations and periods in time.
- Item 16: Speech of the Honorable Henry Clay Delivered at Lexington, KY Nov. 13, 1847: And Letter of the Hon. Albert Gallatin on the Mexican War, 1847
- This speech is mainly concerned with the Mexican American War. Mr. Clay talks about war in general as being a terrible plague of humanity, and then he goes on to give information pertaining to the conflict with Mexico. Specific names, dates, and places are included. Also included after the speech is a piece titled "Peace With Mexico" by Albert Gallatin.
- Item 17: An Address to the Members of the Union Literary Society of Miami University, Ohio, 1844
- This address explains the responsibilities that men of genius hold in relation to society.
- Item 18: Address Before the Alumni Society of Hanover College, 1846
- This address examines the social, moral, and political progress and how it often conflicts with previously held opinion making it difficult to advance.
- Item 19: Remarks on the Slavery Question in a Letter to Jonathan Phillips, Esq., 1839
- This document examines numerous arguments for, and against, slavery. It also considers the societal impacts which may occur after making a decision on whether or not to continue slavery.
- Folder 5: Miscellaneous Pamphlets
- Item 1: South Pass Jetties, 1885
- This work is a discussion on a paper written by Colonel Merrill given before the American Society of Civil Engineers. Numerous maps and "charts" are included within the work.
- Item 2: An Oration: Delivered on the Occasion of the Centennial Commemoration of the Battle of Blue Licks, 1882
- This work goes into detail naming the key players in the battle, the overview of the skirmish, and the results.
- Item 3: Addresses Delivered at the Annual Banquet, Boston Merchants Association, 1889
- Contains numerous addresses given by attendants of the association meeting. Also includes a list of officers and information about the organization.
- Item 4: Address of the Hon. Francis Wharton, LL.D., at the Annual Commencement of the Law School of The Columbian University, 1885
- This address emphasizes the duties and responsibilities of good lawyers.
- Item 5: Catalogus Senatus Academici et eorum Qui Monera et Officia Gasserunt Quique Alicujus Gradus Laurea Donati Sunt in Collegio Centrali, Danvillae, in Republica Kentuckiensi, 1882
- This is a catalogue of Central University for 1882. The booklet is predominantly written in Latin.
- Item 6: Report of the President of Yale University, 1889
- This is a report written by the President of Yale for the years of 1887-1888.
- Item 7: Addresses at the Induction of Professor Timothy Dwight, as President of Yale College, 1886
- This contains numerous addresses which serve to congratulate the new president on his achievement. At the front of the booklet is a program for the event, there is an inaugural address by the new president, and the first address is written in Latin.
- Item 8: Memorial Address Delivered in Battell Chapel, June 24th, 1890, by President Dwight, 1890
- This is sort of a memorial for President Woolsey of Yale.
- Item 9: Improvement of the Capitol Buildings, 1888
- This work points out the flaws in the current capitol buildings in Frankfort and offer suggestions for improvement.
- Item 10: The School Question From a Parental and Non-Sectarian Stand-Point, 1889
- This work examines the state of education within America and draws upon international examples as well.
- Item 11: Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States
- This document provides an overview of the rules which govern the Supreme Court and those who operate within it.
- Item 12: A Red-Headed Family
- This booklet holds the story of a man that is determined to locate a rare woodpecker with aid of a local man that knows the area very well.
- Item 13: Flitters, Tatters and the Counsellor
- This is a very moving short story about three homeless children in Ireland that have to struggle to survive day-to-day life.
- Item 14: Shakespeariana, 1887
- This booklet is concerned with the works of Shakespeare and Boydell, a man that painted scenes from Shakespeare's works. It gives a list of characters and their attributes from the work "The Merchant of Venice." It provides information about different Shakespeare literary societies, and there is an overview of the play "Hamlet."
- Item 15: Suggestions of Judicial Reform, 1890
- This piece outlines general recommendations pertaining to judicial reform.
- Item 16: Sixth Biennial Musical Festival at Cincinnati, 1884
- This is a program for the music festival which includes a list of important people that organized the event as well as performance information.
- Item 17: Planting Trees in School Grounds and the Celebration of Arbor Day, 1885
- This booklet contains information about planting trees and the importance of doing so. It gives historical background on Arbor Day, examines what other countries did in regard to planting trees, and facts about what trees provide for the environment. At the end of the booklet is information about different types of trees, and there are even songs related to Arbor Day.
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Box 1],
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Box 2],
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