MS 780 - McKnight Family Papers
MLA Citation
Tags
| Title | MS 780 - McKnight Family Papers |
|---|---|
| Subject | Civil War |
| Introduction | The McKnight family papers consist mainly of correspondence within the McKnight family, the majority of whom resided in Bowling Green Ohio, between the years 1862 to 1955. The collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections by Harriet Cunningham on March 23, 1999, with an addition in 2009 by Scott Cunningham and Cheryl Windisch. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. The collection was processed and register prepared by BGSU student Tim Monroe in June 2007, with revisions in 2009 by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts. |
| Biographical Sketch | Henry C. McKnight was born in 1844 to William and Mary McKnight, the exact date is not known. At the age of 17 Henry McKnight was mustered into Co.E of the 11th Regiment O.V.I. Henry served in Co. E until October 1862 when he was transferred to Co. G. The 11th Regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio starting in June 1861 and members were to serve for three years, they served in such key battles of the Civil War as Bull Run and Antietam. The 11th Regiment was recognized for being well drilled in military exercises and also for cleanliness. Henry McKnight was captured at New Middleton, Tennessee, in March 1863. Henry was paroled, exchanged and returned to Co. G in June 1863. Henry was captured again at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863 and sent to Andersonville Prison where he died on May 2, 1864. Henry McKnight was brother to Joseph McKnight and uncle to Henry Douglas McKnight. Henry Douglas McKnight was born in Troy, in Miami County Ohio, on July 13, 1884 to Joseph R. and Cora C. McKnight. He moved to Bowling Green Ohio with his parents in the 1890s. Following his High School graduation in 1903 he became an employee of the local electric light company, where he worked his way up from lineman to management. Douglas married Mildred Taylor on October 25, 1905. The couple had four children: Mary, Harriet, Taylor, and Robert. In 1934 the General Utilities Company which controlled the Ohio Northern Public Service Company promoted him to local managership of its electric properties throughout a wide area of Northwestern Ohio covering east to Fostoria, south near Lima and north, to Paulding and Defiance Counties. In 1935 Douglas and his family moved to Deshler, Ohio where he died a few weeks later of a heart attack at his home on October 4, 1935. Mildred Taylor was born in Akron, Ohio to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Moore Taylor in 1885, her family later moved to Bowling Green, Ohio. Her father was an oil producer of the city and served as mayor. Mildred graduated from Central High School (Bowling Green) in 1903, and married Henry Douglas McKnight on October 25, 1905. The couple had four children: Mary, Harriet, Taylor, and Robert. Mildred's husband H.D. McKnight died on October 4, 1935 at their home in Deshler. Following the death of her husband Mildred McKnight moved back to Bowling Green, Ohio and took up residence at 158 South Church St. Mildred was an active member of the First Methodist Church and was active for many years in its Sunday School Class. On November 4, 1964 Mildred McKnight died in the Wood County Hospital after a month of hospitalization. She is buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Mary McKnight was born October 9, 1909 to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Douglas and Mildred McKnight in Bowling Green, Ohio. In May 20, 1929 Mary was sent to the Ohio State Sanatorium in Mount Vernon Ohio due to Tuberculosis, and in January 1930 she was released. Mary graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1933 and began teaching math and English in the White House School District from 1932 until 1942. For twenty-nine years Mary served as a civilian mathematician in the Department of Navy in Washington D.C. before retiring in 1973, and in 1983 she returned to Bowling Green, Ohio. Mary became active in various organizations: she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Kings' Daughters, the American Association of University Women, and the Bowling Green State University Alumni Association. She also volunteered with the American Red Cross for many years. On February 9, 1996 Mary McKnight died at the Wood County Hospital and is buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery. |
| Scope and Content | The McKnight Family Papers are comprised mostly of correspondence written between the McKnight family from 1862 and 1955 by various family members. The first series of correspondence are photocopied letters from Henry McKnight to his parents between 1862 and 1863 during the Civil War. Henry writes in his letters about the daily rigors of military life, the marching, drills, and lack of rest. They reflect Henry's desire to become a soldier in the Union Army, only to realize after joining the army he no longer wants to be a soldier and desperately wants to come home. The second set of correspondence comes from Mary McKnight and her family between 1929 and 1930 during her stay at the Ohio State Sanatorium. Contents include general information such as to her health, information about her family members and neighbors, as well as general information about life in Bowling Green during the 1920s. This provides general information about lifestyles in Bowling Green, Ohio at the onset of the Great Depression. There are also correspondences between Mary McKnight and her family in 1938 as she and some friends took a trip out west. The third set of correspondence comes from Mildred McKnight who resides in California between 1941 and 1955. The content of these letters contain information on the McKnight Family in Bowling Green, her own personal health, politics, a family scandal due to the disappearance of $500, and her last will and testament. Also included in this collection is a photograph scrapbook compiled by Mary McKnight of her time spent at the Ohio State Sanatorium between July 1929 and January 1930. Scrapbook pictures include Mary and her friends, the Ohio State Sanatorium, programs from events they would have attended, and menus for holiday dinners, as well as a diary with itinerary, photographs, and brochures from her trip out west between June 30, 1938 and August 6, 1938. |
| Series Description | CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE - From Henry McKnight CORRESPONDENCE - To Mary McKnight CORRESPONDENCE - From Mary McKnight CORRESPONDENCE - From Mary McKnight CORRESPONDENCE - To Mildred McKnight CORRESPONDENCE - To Mildred McKnight LITERARY PRODUCTION DIARY and ITINERARY - By Mary McKnight SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIAL GENEALOGICAL SCRAPBOOKS PRINTED MATERIALS BROCHURES PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL PHOTOGRAPH SCRAPBOOK - By Mary McKnight PHOTOGRAPHS - By Mary McKnight |
| Inventory | Box 1 Folder
Box 2 Folders
Box 3 Folders
Wrapped Scrapbooks
|