Skip to main content

Frank Allen Letter

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2023-107

Scope and Content

This collection contains a July 8th, 1864 letter from Frank Allen at "Camp Toland" to his sister, Sallie E. Allen, in Bellbrook, Ohio. A Union soldier during the American Civil War, Frank describes his company's retreat from Lynchburg and return to Camp Toland. This collection also includes the envelope that was used to mail the letter, which is stamped July 10, Kanawha, West Virginia.

Dates

  • 1864

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in this collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Franklin L. "Frank" Allen was born in November 1843 to Benjamin F. and Jane Allen. Frank was working as a clerk and living with his family in Bellbrook, Greene County, Ohio, in 1860. During the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army in Company C, 34th Ohio Infantry as a private on November 30th, 1863. On July 30th, 1864, Allen was trasferred to Company D, 36th Ohio Infantry. He mustered out of the army on July 27th, 1865, in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Allen married Anna J. Snowden (1847-1939) around 1867, and they settled in Dayton, Ohio, by 1869, where he worked as a bookkeeper and salesman. The couple had three children: Walter, Edith, and Harvey. Allen died in 1938 and is buried in the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton.

Sources:

U.S. Federal Censuses, 1850-1930

"Franklin L Allen" in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/1555/records/893420, accessed Sept. 25, 2023.

"Franklin L Allen" in the 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/572017:8667, accessed Sept. 25, 2023.

"Frank L Allen" in the U.S., National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/1200/records/485549, accessed Feb. 14, 2025.

"Francis L 'Frank' Allen", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89814034/francis-l-allen, accessed Feb. 14, 2025.

"Walter S. Allen" in the Ohio, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2541/records/2043413, accessed Feb. 14, 2025.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This collection contains a letter from Frank Allen (1843-1938) to his sister, Sallie E. Allen, dated July 8th, 1864, and posted from Kanawha, West Virginia. He describes his company's retreat from Lynchburg and return to Camp Toland, while serving as a private in the Union Army in Company C, 34th Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War.

Source of Acquisition

The Frank Allen Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in September 2017.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Frank Allen Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Frank Allen Letter was completed in September 2023.

Title
Frank Allen Letter, 1864
Status
Completed
Author
Tyler Williams, Student Assistant, and LM Rozema, Archivist
Date
2023 (CC0 1.0)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308