Title: Charles Lanman Collection
Inclusive Dates: 1858-1866

Creator:

• Lanman, Charles, 1819-1895

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 187

Quantity: 0.2 cubic ft. (1 box)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Biographical sketches of congressmen from Wisconsin collected by Charles Lanman (1819-1895) for a book.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0187

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Charles Lanman was born on 14 June 1819 in Monroe, Michigan. Lanman studied art at the The Hudson River School in New York City. He later worked as an editor for various newspapers before becoming a librarian. In this capacity, Lanman worked for the U.S. War Department, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the City of Washington Library. He also served as private secretary to Senator Daniel Webster. Lanman authored several books, including Dictionary of the United States Congress (1859) and Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the United States, During its First Century (1876). He died on 4 March 1895.

This collection contains the responses of members of Congress from Wisconsin that Lanman collected for his book the Dictionary of the United States Congress. Originally intended as a guide for sitting members of Congress, this would later be known as the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, which continues to be updated today. The materials are biographical in nature and some are written as correspondence telling about their lives and background while some are questionnaires that the congressmen filled out. These responses provided the basis for Lanman's book. Two folders also contain calotypes, an early type of photograph, of the individuals (Jones and Potter).

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Lanman, Charles, Collection, 1858-1866, Collection 187. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dictionary of the United States Congress : Containing Biographical Sketches of Its Members from the Foundation of the Government

The Private Life of Daniel Webster

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The collection was purchased by the Milwaukee Public Library in 1974-1977.

Processing Information

Processed by Bob Jaeger, 2019.

Box   1 Folder   1	Billinghurst, Charles, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Brown, James S., 1863
Box   1 Folder   3	Cobb, Amasa, 1863
Box   1 Folder   4	Darling, Mason C., 1858
Box   1 Folder   5	Doolittle, James R., undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Eldredge, Charles A., undated
Box   1 Folder   7	Estabrook, Experience, 1859
Box   1 Folder   8	Hopkins, Benjamin F., 1866
Box   1 Folder   9	Howe, Timothy O., 1861
Box   1 Folder   10	Jones, George W., 1858
Box   1 Folder   11	Larrabee, Charles H., 1858
Box   1 Folder   12	McIndoe, Walter D. (by Charles Hunter), 1863
Box   1 Folder   13	Paine, Herbert E., 1865
Box   1 Folder   14	Potter, John F., undated
Box   1 Folder   15	Randall, Alexander W. (copy), 1865
Box   1 Folder   16	Sawyer, Philetus, 1865
Box   1 Folder   17	Sloan, Ithamar C., 1862
Box   1 Folder   18	Wheeler, Ezra, 1864