Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred Citation

Houstater Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information

The materials were acquired by Special Collections Research Center on 06/08/2009.

Custodial History

Collection was held by Harriet Houstater. After her death, her sister Sarah Houstater owned it.

Processing Information

Accessioned and minimally described in June 2009 by Ute Schechter, Warren E. Burger Archivist. Arranged and described by Michael Lusby, SCRC Staff, in September-October 2009.

Biographical Note

Henry F. Houstater was born on 24 June, 1837 in Cambria TWP, Niagara, NY and died 29 October, 1862 in Sandy Hook, Washington, MD. He was buried at Mount View Cemetery, Pekin, Niagara, NY. His father was  Jacob "Isiah" Houstater, born 4 August, 1802 and his mother Belinda Gould, born 2 February, 1809 in NY.On September 18, 1861, he enlisted, at Lockport; mustered in as private, Battery M, 1st Regiment, Light Artillery, October 14, 1861, to serve three years. He was appointed corporal, October 14, 1861; sergeant, February 6, 1862; and died, October 29, 1862, at Sandy Hook, Maryland. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Henry F. Houstater">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Henry F. Houstater</a>.

Scope and Contents

Papers of the Houstater Family, primarily of Henry Houstater (1837-1862) and Harriet (Hattie) Houstater (1842-1931) of New York State. Collection was held by Harriet Houstater. After her death, her sister Sarah Houstater owned it.Collection includes the papers of Henry F. Houstater, a Democrat who enlisted in the Union Army in 1861. Also contains the papers of several Houstater family members. Henry F. Houstater's papers (1840s-1862) include political speeches and literary manuscripts written before the Civil War. During the war, Henry wrote and received several letters and he also wrote several political essays and produced a handwritten newspaper, the Camp Barry Herald.Other family members' papers consist of correspondence and financial documents.

Arrangement of Materials

Organized into two series: Series 1: Houstater Financial Documents and Series 2: Houstater Correspondence and Writings; Newspapers; Envelopes.

Index Terms

Genre/Form of Material:

• Correspondence
• Newspapers

Geographic Name:

• New York (State)--Social life and customs.
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
• United States--History--Civil War--Niagra County, NY

Topical Term:

• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Additional Information