John C. Leith Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-354

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The John C. Leith papers primarily consist of letters, many of which document various aspects of the Civil War. The most significant letters relating to the Civil War are the letters of soldiers and of John C. Leith. These letters contain passages regarding the hardships faced by the soldiers, and their desire to have news from home. Some legal documents, e.g. affidavits and an Ohio state bill, which concern the Leith family, are also included.

Many other documents, e.g. correspondence and property deeds, from the Birge and Pitkin families, are also included. Photographs, mostly of members of the Birge family are located in Series 4. Former Archivist William Bigglestone established that no relationship exists between the Leith and Birge-Pitkin families.

Dates

Creation: 1851-1973, undated
Other: Majority of material found in 1860-1901
Other: Date acquired: 1972 August 22

Creator

Leith, John C. (Leith, John Cary (or Carey)) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Little is known about John Cary (Carey?) Leith and his family. The ancestors of his family moved to Ohio before 1800 and settled in Wyandot County. Leith was born on August 24^th, 1843, and enrolled in the Oberlin preparatory department, 1861-1863. The entry in the Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue (1908) indicates that Leith hailed from Seal, Ohio and later from Nevada, Ohio. Leith pursued English Studies according to the 1863-64 College Catalogue. John Leith died on March, 11^th, 1863 in Seal, Ohio. Leith’s sister, Martha “Mattie” Leith (1855-1904) from Nevada, Ohio, enrolled in the Oberlin Conservatory for the 1876-1877 academic year, and later married J.Q. Williams.

Sources Consulted

1863-1864 Oberlin College Catalogue (RG 0)

1908 Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue

Student File of John C Leith (RG 28/1)

Note written by Jonathan M. Thurn

Extent

0.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

INVENTORY

Series I. Correspondence, 1851-1973, undated

Box 1

Letters of Birge-Pitkin Family, 1878, 1885, 1893, 1898, undated

Letters of Leith Family John C. Leith, 1861-1862 (originals and copies, 2f), Martha Leith Williams, 1889, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1973

Letters of Soldiers, 1861-1865

Miscellaneous Letters, 1851, 1860, 1864, 1878-1879, 1889, 1938, 1954, 1957

Series II. Miscellaneous Files relating to Birge-Pitkin Family, 1851, 1860-1938, undated

Box 1 (cont.)

Deeds, 1860, 1866, 1870-1871, 1882, 1887

Genealogical File, undated

Miscellaneous, 1851, 1889, 1894, undated

Newspaper Clippings, 1885-1938

Series III. Miscellaneous Files relating to Leith Family, 1864, 1872, undated

Box 1 (cont.)

Legal documents, 1864, 1872, undated

Series IV. Photographs, ca. 1860-1864, 1880-1886, 1892, 1897, undated

Box 1 (cont.)

Elizabeth Wetmore Birge, undated

Jean Esther Birge (Mrs. John Rock, Jr.), 1880-1886 (6; 1 with Joan Birge)

Margaret L., Jean, and Bessie W. Birge, 1892 (1 cabinet card, Cleveland, OH)

Richard Hart Birge, Margaret Lamberton Birge, and Alice Lamberton Birge (all cartes-de-visite: 2 of Richard, undated, 1 taken in Oberlin, the other in Cleveland; 1 wedding photo of Richard and Margaret Birge, ca. 1860, Oberlin; 2 of Alice as a small child, ca. 1863 and 1864, Oberlin

Grace Birge Clark, undated (1 cabinet card, Cortland, NY)

Ross and Jane Waugh Lamberton, undated (2 portraits of Ross, 1 of Jane)

John C. Leith and unidentified man, 1861 (1 cartes-de-visite, Oberlin, OH)

Jean Margaret Rock, 1897 (2 mounted prints)

Method of Acquisition

Some of the Leith Letters were filed in the Oberlin College Library’s “Autograph File” and the balance were found on the Library’s 3rd floor. These items were transferred to the College Archives on 1972 August 22, but were not accessioned.