Scope and Contents:
This collection focuses on letters exchanged between a couple during the last year of the US Civil War. Richmond Smith worked in telegraphy at the time as part of the Union Army.
Eliza Gorin Smith (1843-1923) was born in Washington, Illinois. Richmond Smith (1838-1891) was born in Little Falls, New York. The two likely met in Washington, Illinois, in 1864 and then married in 1865 after Richmond finished working for the Union Army as a telegraph operator. By 1870 they moved to the Boston area where they had two children, Lucy (married name Lucy Seaman) and Alfred. Sometime before 1880 they moved to Brooklyn, NY. In both locations, Richmond worked for telegraph companies. After Richmond died in 1891, Eliza may have relocated to St. Louis and then to Cook County, Illinois where she died in 1923.
This collection consists of correspondence, primarily between Eliza Gorin and Richmond Smith while they were engaged to be married, 1864-1865. At the time, Eliza lived in Washington, Illinois, possibly with her family, and Richmond worked as a telegraph operator for the Union Army. Eliza’s letters discuss the comings and goings of friends and brief mentions of her work with the “Order of the ‘Good Templars.’” Richmond’s letters include anecdotes from his time in Atlanta, Georgia with General Sherman’s army, visiting “negro concerts” and the Stock Exchange in New York City, and his pursuit of business opportunities. Both consistently emphasize their anxiety about when the next letter will come and their love for and devotion to the other person.
This collection also includes a handful of letters from Eliza’s family (focused on the comings and goings of family) and a handful of letters related to Eliza and Richmond’s daughter Lucy. Some of those letters are recommendations for Lucy to work as a teacher in New York or St. Louis.
The Library purchased this collection in 2025 with the support of the Bruce C. Creamer fund.
Creators 
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