Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a letter written by Charles Griswold who provides a firsthand account of the Great Camanche Tornado of June 1860.
Charles Griswold was a doctor in Fulton, Illinois. The Great Camanche Tornado occurred along the Iowa-Illinois border on June 3, 1860, most affecting Camanche, Iowa, and Albany, Illinois.
This collection contains one letter dated June 3, 1860 written by Charles Griswold to his sister, Augusta Griswold. Written over four days, the letter describes the Great Camanche Tornado and its aftermath, which Griswold described as "so painfully destructive of life and property." Griswold detailed the destruction, death toll, injuries, and disaster recovery in both Albany, Illinois, and Camanche, Iowa. A doctor from Fulton, Illinois, Griswold medically attended those injured from the tornado.
The Library purchased this letter in 2020.