Scope and Contents:
The Bailey collection contains 52 letters written to Josiah Bailey in Maine by various members of his family in Illinois. The majority of the letters are from Isaac Bailey, Josiah's brother. Isaac Bailey spent a large portion of his life working with the Illinois railroad companies. In the letters he describes his work on the railroad, the crops he encounters in his travels, a speech by Stephen Douglas, his general health, and the well-being of his family. He says little about the Civil War and most of the letters are from the post-war years.
Additional correspondents include Josiah's sister-in-law Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Bailey, his cousin Thomas Bailey, his son E.M. Bailey, his cousin Sally B. Haines, his brother Kimball Bailey, and Enoch A. Simpson.
Further detail about individual items may be found in the dealer's summaries of the letters, available in the Library. Please contact the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections at ihlc[at]library.illinois.edu for more information.
Subjects (links to similar collections)
Submit request (Aeon)
