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William Oland Bourne papers

Call Number

MS 69

Date

1837-1881, inclusive

Creator

Bourne, Wm. Oland (William Oland), 1819-1901

Extent

0.75 Linear feet

Language of Materials

The documents in this collection are in English.

Abstract

This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, newspaper clippings and lectures related to the career of William Oland Bourne (1819-1901), a social reformer, editor and author in New York City. Of particular note are materials related to his publication, Soldier's Friend, a newsletter for Civil War Veterans through which Bourne organized a Left-handed Penmanship Contest for veterans who had lost their right arm. The collection contains photographic portraits of four of the contest participants, left-handed writing samples and a sample written with a prosthetic arm.

Material related to left-handed penmanship is digitized and available in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Library.

Historical Note

Born during the nascent abolitionist movement in the United States, throughout his professional life as a journalist, editor and author in New York City, William Oland Bourne embraced social reform causes related to the anti-slavery movement, labor and civil war veterans' rehabilitation. The Bourne Papers, which are suggestive of an evangelical orientation and advocacy for temperance, demonstrate Bourne's considerable passion for his causes through his writing as well as the fervent responses it elicited from peers and readers.

Four broad areas of Bourne's professional life are documented. The first is the publication of Soldier's Friend, a newsletter focusing on the stories and needs of Civil War veterans. A proponent of education and rehabilitation, Soldier's Friend sponsored a Left-handed Writing Contest for veterans who had lost their right arm. The collection documents this event including four portraits of competing veterans, left-handed writing samples and a sample written with a prosthetic arm.

Additionally, the collection covers Bourne's involvement with the Workingmen's Democratic Republican Association and his related publication, The Iron Platform. There is documentation pertaining to the formation, operations and dissolution of the American Mining, Metallurgical and Manufacturing Company and the Humboldt Mining and Manufacturing Company. Much in Bourne's handwriting, these materials include letters, copies of agreements and memoranda of his meetings with firm officials from 1859 to 1860. And lastly, the collection documents Bourne's literary and oratory work in the form of unpublished manuscripts and copies of lectures.

Arrangement

The William Oland Bourne Papers are arranged chronologically in three series:

Series I: Soldier's Friend
Series II: Labor
Series III: Manuscripts, Lectures and Articles

Scope and Contents

The William Oland Bourne Papers consist of a range of materials both hand-written and printed. These include agreements, articles, broadsides, correspondence, leaflets, lectures, manuscripts, memorandums and newspaper clippings related to his advocacy for the laborer and disabled civil war veterans. The collection contains several unique items which include four photographic portraits of disabled civil war veterans who participated in the Left-handed Penmanship Contest, left-handed writing samples and one sample written with a prosthetic arm.

Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as the William Oland Bourne Papers, MS 69, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital copies of material related to left-handed penmanship are available in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Library.

Collection processed by

Margaret Bausman

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:46:36 -0400.
Language: Finding Aid is written in English.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024