The Charles L. Dering Papers, 1827-1872, deal mainly with the early lead mining activities of Mr. Dering's father, Philip F. Dering, and other members of the family, at New Diggings, Wisconsin, in the 1830's and 1840's. The collection includes miscellaneous business and legal papers, 1827-1872, as well as the journal of John C. Smith, Galena, Illinois, merchant, 1836-1841, who transacted business with the Dering family. Included in the business papers is an agreement for a lot for the Catholic church at New Diggings executed on April 7, 1846, by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli.
The collection also contains two diaries kept by Charles L. Dering. The first, which was recorded in the John C. Smith journal, begins at Rose Dale, in June, 1856, and continues through July, 1857, while Mr. Dering was a student at Hobart College. In this diary, he records his sentiments regarding American nativism. The second diary is for 1865, and is mainly concerning business. It is unbound and is located in the folder labelled “ephemera.”
