Descriptive summary
|
creator:
|
Underwood, Sarah |
|
title:
|
Papers |
|
dates:
|
1857-1861, n.d. |
|
extent:
|
0.21 linear ft.
(1 half-document box) |
|
collection number:
|
MS
694 |
|
repository:
|
Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.
|
Administrative
information
|
access:
|
Open for research
|
|
publication rights:
|
Consult Head, Special Collections Department
|
|
preferred
citation:
|
Sarah Underwood
Papers, MS 694, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.
|
Biographical
note
|
|
Horace and Sarah
Tefft Underwood moved to eastern Iowa most likely during the summer
of 1857. They lived approximately two miles outside of the
community of Princeton, Iowa, which is located on the banks of the
Mississippi River just north of Davenport in Scott County. Sarah
cared for the house while her husband farmed. Sarah was the
daughter of John Tefft of Kingston, Rhode Island. |
|
Collection description
|
|
This collection
(1857-1861, n.d.) consists of 30 handwritten letters from Sarah
Tefft Underwood to her family in Kingston, Rhode Island. Her two
primary correspondents were her two sisters, Mae and Ann Tefft,
though the letters also include notes to her father and other family
members. When writing to her sisters, Sarah often signed as
"Sally." In the letters, Sarah asked about the family in Rhode
Island, talked about the people she had met in Iowa, and almost
always included a report on the weather in Iowa. She often wrote
about activities on the farm including meals, farm work during
harvest time, and butchering the animals. She also described some
of the buildings in the community such as the school house and the
grain mill and even commented on barge activity on the Mississippi
River. In addition, the collection has two notes containing song
verses, one of the notes is signed "Ma Frank." There is also a
photograph of an unidentified woman. |
|
Organization
|
|
The collection
is arranged chronologically.
|
Container list
| Box
|
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
| 1 |
1 |
Letters
(10) |
1857 |
| 1 |
2 |
Letters
(5) |
1858 |
| 1 |
3 |
Letters
(3) |
1859 |
| 1 |
4 |
Letters
(8) |
1860 |
| 1 |
5 |
Letters
(4) |
1861,
n.d. |
| 1 |
6 |
Photograph of unidentified woman (1- 2.5x4 b/w photograph) |
n.d. |
| 1 |
7 |
Song
verses and note from "Ma Frank" |
n.d. |
|
