>Resent-Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 05:21:35 -0800 (PST) >X-Sender: sgorin@mail.glasgow-ky.com SEARCH@rootsweb.com >Resent-Sender: KYRESEARCH-request@rootsweb.com > >TIP#230 THE DRAPER MANUSCRIPTS > >THE DRAPER MANUSCRIPTS: What are they? Where are they? We've all heard >about them; will they help us in our Kentucky research? > >The Draper Manuscripts (often referred to as the Draper Papers) were >compiled by Lyman Copeland Draper. He had planned to do a book which he had >named "Sketches of the Lives of the Pioneers". The book was never realized. >But, his collection of interviews does exist. The collection is a series of >interviews which he conducted, many in person, some in letters, about the >old pioneers. The time frame is expansive - from the 1740's through the War >of 1812 time frame. The territory covered is just as impressive - 21 states >east of the Mississippi River, Iowa, Missouri and parts of Canada! The >papers also include documents, 575 early maps and manuscripts. His >interviews ranged from the heroes of the time to the unknown little >settler. And, bless his historical heart, he sensed that we in later years >needed more than a list of their names. He included their names, parents >and grandparents; sometimes more. > >When Draper died in 1819, he had been working on the manuscripts for over >50 years. Draper himself, a New York man, was so intent on his research >that he caught the attention of his cousin's husband, Peter Remen. Having >the finances to help, Remen was a strong supporter of Draper's quest. > >The original collection is housed at the State Historical Society of >Wisconsin, Madison, WI. You are allowed to see the originals there, but >cannot photocopy them. Some of the information contained is absolutely a >gold mine of information and includes information such as color of hair and >eyes, where the individual was born, military service and much more. > > How many manuscripts are there? 491 volumes on 123 reels of microfilm >which are divided into 50 separate series. The series are labeled A through >ZZ (with the letter I and II not used). The George Rogers Clark Papers are >Series J and are 65 volumes on 15 reels alone. The Joseph Brant Papers, >Series E contained 22 volumes on 6 reels. > > A Guide to the Draper Papers was published by Josephine L. Harper, she the >Curator of the Draper Manuscripts, gives a description of each series, an >index to the people named and places cited; it includes 4 appendices. There >are also Calendars to 11 of the series in the collection which give an >over-view of the documents by date and an index to the actual documents. >Five of these Calendars are in print and may be ordered from McDowell >Publications, of Utica, KY. Printed Calendars include the Calendar of the >Kentucky Papers of the Draper Collection, Calendar of the Tennessee and >King's Mountain Papers of the Draper Collection, and The Preston and >Virginia Papers of the Draper Collection. See their web site at: >http://members.aol.com/sammcpub/cat3.htm > > These Calendars can be found on microfiche and may be ordered from., 623 >Martense Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666 (1984 address): Calendar of the George >Rogers Clark Papers of the Draper Collection; Calendar of the Frontier War >Papers; Calendar of the David Shepherd Papers; Calendar of the South >Carolina Papers; Calendar of the South Carolina Papers in the Revolutions >Miscellanies and Calendar of the Thomas Sumter Papers. (Unable to locate a >web site). > > The State Historical Society of Wisconsin will loan their film out of >state. You might want to check their web site. The Newberry Library in >Chicago have complete collections but will not loan out the film. The Allen >County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN will not loan. > >(c) Copyright 4 March 1999, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved, >sgorin@glasgow-ky.com > > >TIP OF THE WEEK! Remember not to open any attachment with Happy.exe as the >subject! > >Col Sandi Gorin 205 Clements,Glasgow, KY 42141 (502) 651-9114 >PUBLISHING: http://members.delphi.com/gorin1/index.html >SCKY: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/BarrenObits >TIPS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips >KYBIOS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Bios >ARCHIVES: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl >