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Ropes and Skinner families papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-142

Collection Scope and Contents

This collection consists of diaries, correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, and other material regarding the Ropes and Skinner families and their involvement in the American Civil War. A significant portion of this material dates from 1861-1865, including diaries from Hannah A. Ropes (matron of an army hospital), Alice R. Skinner (employee of the Freeman's Bureau), and Jairus L. Skinner (infantry captain and prisoner of war). Publications of the Grand Army of the Republic and correspondence regarding the American Civil War are also included. Additionally, this collection contains material material that details the experiences of the Ropes and Skinner families in California during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Includes correspondence from members of the Perry family (related to the Ropes and Skinner families), documents from Whittier, Fuller, and Co. (employer of Jairus L. Skinner), and literary manuscripts, chiefly written by Alice R. Skinner and Jairus L. Skinner.

Dates

  • Creation: 1826-1978, undated
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1855-1917

Creator

Languages

The collection is in English.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Historical Note

Hannah A. Ropes (1809-1863) was born Hannah Anderson Chandler and was married to William Henry Ropes, with whom she later became estranged from. She spent most of her life in Massachusetts and during the 1850s she spent time with her son Edward in Kansas, writing a book about her experiences. During the American Civil War, she went to Washington D.C. to serve as matron of a military hospital where she contracted, and eventually died from, typhoid.

Edward E. Ropes (1837-1931) was the son of Hannah A. Ropes and William Henry Ropes. He grew up in Massachusetts, but spent a significant portion of the 1850s in Kansas with his mother. During the American Civil War he served as a private in the infantry, fighting in various battles including the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war he relocated to Florida.

Alice R. Skinner (1841-1918) was born Alice Ropes to Hannah A. Ropes and William Henry Ropes. She spent the latter part of the American Civil War working for the Freeman's Bureau in North Carolina. In 1866, she married Jairus L. Skinner. During the 1880s, she worked as a piano teacher in Sacramento, California and became active in the Woman's Relief Corps in the 1890s.

Jairus Leander Skinner (1838-1899) spent his early life working in various jobs throughout Massachusetts. During the American Civil War, he served in the Massachusetts infantry, rising to Captain, and spending time as a prisoner of war. From 1865 to 1876, he served as Postmaster of Amherst. He also started a lifelong association with the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), rising to become Senior Vice-Commander of the Department of Massachusetts. During the late 1870s, he moved to Sacramento, California where he worked first as a music teacher and later as an employee of Whittier, Fuller, and Co. He also maintained his ties to the GAR, serving as a member of the statewide Board of Administration. In the late 1880s, he relocated to Los Angeles, California continuing to work for Whittier, Fuller, and Co, and also beginning work as a lecturer of Swendenbourgism and as a writer/performer of poetry.

Alfred Parsons Skinner (1878-1920) was the son of Jairus L. Skinner and Alice R. Skinner. After receiving an education, he held a string of jobs in various parts of the western United States. He was active in the Sons of Veterans, at one point holding the position of Captain.

Rose Skinner (personal dates unknown) was the wife of Alfred P. Skinner. The two appear to have married sometime around 1902, and divorced sometime before 1909.

Esther S.Perry (1866-unknown) was born Esther C. Skinner to Alice R. Skinner and Jairus L. Skinner. In 1899 she married John C. Perry, after working in various odd jobs (including as a draughtswoman for an architectural firm) throughout the United States.

John C. Perry (personal dates unknown) appears to have worked at various odd jobs, including Publishing, prior to and shortly after marrying Esther S. Perry. Around 1910, the Perry family settled in Highland, California where John C. Perry became involved in the citrus industry.

Chronology

1861-1865
During the American Civil War Jairus L. Skinner and Edward E. Ropes served in the army, Hannah A. Ropes worked at an army hospital, and Alice R. Skinner worked for the Freeman's Bureau.
1864-1865
Jairus L. Skinner was a prisoner or war, and, after one failed escape attempt, managed to reach the Union lines.
1866
Jairus L. Skinner and Alice R. Skinner were married.
1876
Jairus L. Skinner served as Senior Vice-Commander of the Department of Massachusetts Grand Army of the Republic.
1865-1876
Jairus L. Skinner served as Postmaster of Amherst.
circa 1880-1899
Jairus L. Skinner was employed by Whittier, Fuller, and Co.
circa 1886-1889
Jairus L.Skinner, Alice R. Skinner, and family relocated to Los Angeles, California.
1899
John C. Perry and Esther S. Perry were married.
circa 1913-1939
John C. Perry, Esther S. Perry, and family were active in Southern California citrus industry.

Extent

20.48 Linear Feet (46 boxes)

Abstract

This collection consists of diaries, correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, and other material regarding the Ropes and Skinner families and their involvement in the American Civil War. A significant portion of this material dates from 1861-1865, including diaries from Hannah A. Ropes (matron of an army hospital), Alice R. Skinner (employee of the Freeman's Bureau), and Jairus L. Skinner (infantry captain and prisoner of war). Publications of the Grand Army of the Republic and correspondence regarding the American Civil War are also included. Additionally, this collection contains material that details the experiences of the Ropes and Skinner families in California during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Includes correspondence from members of the Perry family (related to the Ropes and Skinner families), documents from Whittier, Fuller, and Co. (employer of Jairus L. Skinner), and literary manuscripts, chiefly written by Alice R. Skinner and Jairus L. Skinner.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged into five series as follows:

  1. Series 1. Ropes family papers, 1837-1931, undated
  2. Series 2. Skinner family papers, 1854-circa 1970, undated
  3. Series 3. Perry family papers, 1874-1956, undated
  4. Series 4. Grand Army of the Republic and related organizations, 1862-1921, undated
  5. Series 5. General correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other material, 1826-1978, undated

Acquisition Information

Gift of Alice Perry Van Boven, 1967.

Processing History

Processed by Sara Seltzer and Russell M. Fehr, Student Processing Assistants, 2009-2010.

Title
Ropes and Skinner families papers
Status
Processed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Sara Seltzer and Russell M. Fehr, Student Processing Assistants.
Date
2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository

Contact:
University of California
Rivera Library
P.O. Box 5900
Riverside 92517-5900 USA