The Francis Welch Crowninshield papers contain correspondence from 1861 to 1874 relating to Crowninshield's Civil War experiences and postwar trip to Europe, primarily in the form of letters to his mother and older brother Edward. There are also two short diaries and a sketch of a scene in a railroad car. Of special note are his descriptions of army routine and his experiences with General Sherman in the South. He wrote frequently about his perceptions of commanders, recruitment problems, and the state of the army.

Each folder contains original letters, followed by a folder of typewritten transcriptions. The transcriptions are occasionally inaccurate, but can be used in place of the originals to gain a general idea about the content of the letters. It is not known who made the transcriptions. Also included in this collection is Francis Crowninshield's 1865 passport.

Phillips Library Stacks