J. Theodore Heard Civil War papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: ghsl-37

Staff Only

Content Description

Papers of John Theodore Heard (1836-1906), a surgeon during the American Civil War. Includes official and personal correspondence; military publications, orders, and circulars; medical reports written by Heard and other surgeons; lists and returns of soldiers including those sick or wounded; and other miscellaneous military and medical papers. Collection covers Heard's entire career in the military, from his appointment as an assistant surgeon in the 13th Massachusetts Volunteers in June 1861 through his promotions to Surgeon, Brigade Surgeon, and Surgeon-in-Chief in the 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps; Surgeon-in-Chief of the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac; Medical Director of the 1st Army Corps; Medical Director of the 4th Army Corps, Department of the Cumberland; and finally his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in June 1865 and mustering out in October 1865. Also includes a notebook kept by Heard from October 1864 to February 1865, briefly recording his movements and activities as Medical Director of the 4th Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland.

Dates

1861 - 1866

Creator

Heard, John T. (John Theodore), 1836-1906 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Extent

4 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of John Theodore Heard, a surgeon during the American Civil War. Includes correspondence; military orders and circulars; medical reports; and lists and returns of soldiers including those sick or wounded.

Arrangement

Items were originally grouped into five volumes (possibly by Heard himself), four of which were in continuous chronological order from 1862-65; the fifth volume had a separate chronological order from 1861-66. Volume order has since been lost but the rough chronological order from within each volume is retained.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source and date of acquisition unknown.

Related Materials

Related materials include the John Theodore Heard letters at the United States Military Academy Library, collection identifier Manuscripts (Heard, John Theodore, 1836-1906); the John Theodore Heard papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society, collection identifier Ms. N-1385; and the J. Theodore Heard Letters, 1855-82 at the University of Virginia Library, collection identifier MSS 9398-e.

Condition Description

Paper is brittle and dirty with expected wear.

Processing Information

Minimally processed by Emma Florio during a collections survey, July 2023.

Papers had call number 973.77 H35 1862-65. Notebook had call number WZ 100 H435j.