Guide to the Ernest Sturm Collection, 1742-1929

Collection Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Subject Headings
Related Material
Administrative Information
Access and Use
Encoding Information
Series List
Container List

Repository:	Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries
Creator:	Sturm, Ernest
Title:	Ernest Sturm Collection
Dates:	1742-1929
Quantity:	3 cubic feet (4 boxes, 4 volumes)
Abstract:	Variety of rare manuscripts relating to American and European history, art and literature.

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Born in New York on August 24, 1878, Ernest Sturm was an insurance executive and collector of historic letters, documents, and books. After a grammar and preparatory school education, Sturm studied law and finance at New York University, where he received his Bachelor of Laws. Sturm served as director and president of a number of companies, including the Fire Companies Building Corporation, the American Eagle Investment Company, Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway, Inc., the Shell Union Oil Company, and American Type Founders, Inc. He also served as chairman of the boards of the "America Fore" group of insurance companies, including the Continental Insurance Company, the Niagara Fire Insurance Company, the First American Fire Insurance Company, the Fidelity-Phenix Fire Insurance Company, the American Eagle Fire Insurance Company, the Maryland Insurance Company of Delaware, and the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York. He died in 1936 at the age of 58.

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Includes an original typescript of Woodrow Wilson on the States and the federal government, a letter and maps relating to the battle of Gettysburg; documents and letters signed by members of George Washington's first cabinet; documents relating to the Revolutionary Battle of Harlem Heights; documents signed by Catherine the Great relating to the Russian Navy; letters and documents signed by signers of the Declaration of Independence; items signed by American naval figures; a signed card and portraits of William Tecumseh Sherman; items signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, his family and generals; photos, letters, and documents relating to the Civil War; similar items of English literary and artistic figures; a letter of Edmund Burke; a letter and photos of Robert Browning; a letter of Robert E. Lee; letters and documents signed by American Presidents; and a transcript of a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.

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Access

This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to quote (publish) from unpublished or previously published material must be obtained as described in the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library.

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A Qur'an was separated from the collection, catalogued as Arabic MS 11, and added to the Islamic Manuscripts Collection, December 2024.

A Draft of the Constitution of The United States, printed in 2 columns on 4 numbered pages in New York by John McLean for John Dunlap (Evans, American Bibliography 20817), 1787, was separated from the collection and catalogued bibliographically, February 2025.

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Names:

Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
Catherine II, Empress of Russian, 1729-1796
Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward). 1807-1870
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Subjects:

Artists--England
Authors, English
Generals--France
Presidents--United States
State governments

Places:

France--History, Military
Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863
Harlem Heights, Battle of, N.Y., 1776
Russia. Voennyi flot
United States, Declaration of Independence--signers
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States--History-Revolution, 1775-1783
United States--Politics and government--1783-1789
United States--Politics and government--1789-1797
United States. Navy

Document Types:

Autographs
Correspondence
Maps
Photographs
Poems

VCL Categories:

Autographs
Literature and Writing
Politics

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Encoded by Elizabeth Clarke, August 2007.

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Preferred Citation

Ernest Sturm Collection, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.

Processing Information

Original listing completed circa 1997, updated in 2007.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ruth Foster Sturm, 1997.

Custodial History

Collected by Ernest Sturm, father of Ruth Foster Sturm, VC 1932.

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Series List

Series I. Woodrow Wilson (Box 1)

Series II. Gettysburg (Box 1)

Series III. Washington's First Cabinet (Box 1)

Series IV. Battle of Harlem Heights (Box 1)

Series V. Catherine the Great (1 volume)

Series VI. Signers of the Declaration of Independence (Box 3)

Series VII. The American Navy (Box 1)

Series VIII. William Tecumseh Sherman (Box 1)

Series IX. Napoleon and His Generals (Box 1)

Series X. Civil War (Box 2)

Series XI. English Literature and Art (Box 4)

Series XII. Edmund Burke (Box 4)

Series XIII. Robert Browning (Box 2)

Series XIV. Robert E. Lee (Box 2)

Series XV. Napoleon and His Family (1 volume)

Series XVI. Presidents of The United States (1 volume)

Series XVII. Robert Louis Stevenson (1 volume)

Container List

Series I. Woodrow Wilson
Folder 1.1	The States and The Federal Government, undated [printed galleys]
Folder 1.2	The States and The Federal Government, undated [signed typescript]
Series II. Gettysburg
Folder 1.3	Battle of Gettysburg Map, 1863
Folder 1.4	Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863
Folder 1.5	Map of Pennsylvania Movement of Gibbons 2nd Army Corp, 1863
Series III. Washington's First Cabinet
Folder 1.6	Hamilton, Alexander, 1794
Folder 1.7	Jefferson, Thomas, 1792
Folder 1.8	Randolph, Edmond, 1794
Folder 1.9	Washington, George — Appointment of M. de Poirey, 1790
Series IV. Battle of Harlem Heights
Folder 1.10	Agreement of Massachusetts Minute Men, 17--
Folder 1.11	Hancock, John — Appointment of Josiah Hayden, 1781
Folder 1.12	Hayden, Josiah — account of the Battle of Harlem Heights, 1776
Folder 1.13	Order of the Committee of Safety On Enlistment of Men, 1775
Series V. Catherine the Great
Volume	Collection of approximately 40 manuscript documents signed by Catherine, mostly relating to Russian Naval Matters, 1792-96. Bound in contemporary green velvet. Evidently removed from the Russian Royal Archive after the Revolution, 1792-1796
Series VI. Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Folder 3.1	Adams, Samuel, 1774, 1795
Folder 3.2	Barlett, Josiah, 1776
Folder 3.3	Carroll, Charles, 1829
Folder 3.4	Clymer,George, 1803
Folder 3.5	Ellery, William, 1781
Folder 3.6	Franklin, Benjamin, 1777
Folder 3.7	Gerry, Elbridge, 1812
Folder 3.8	Hancock, John, 1758
Folder 3.9	Hart, John, 1742, 1776
Folder 3.10	Hopkins, Stephen, 1771
Folder 3.11	Hopkinson, Francis, 1790
Folder 3.12	Huntington, Samuel, 1780, 1789, 1793, 1812
Folder 3.13	Jefferson, Thomas, 1807
Folder 3.14	McKean, Thomas, 1768, 1780, 1816, 1849
Folder 3.15	Middleton, Arthur, 1762
Folder 3.16	Morris, Robert, 1782, 1798
Folder 3.17	Morton, John, 1776
Folder 3.18	Paca, William, 1776
Folder 3.19	Paine, Robert Treat, 1757
Folder 3.20	Rodney, Caeser, 1775, 1777
Folder 3.21	Rush, Benjamin, 1786, 1794, 1810
Folder 3.22	Rutledge, Edward, 1782
Folder 3.23	Sherman, Roger, 1786
Folder 3.24	Smith, James, 1782
Folder 3.25	Walton, George, 1785
Folder 3.26	Whipple, William, 1778
Folder 3.27	Williams, William, 1776
Folder 3.28	Wolcott, Oliver, 1775
Folder 3.29	Wythe, George, 1803
Series VII. The American Navy
Folder 1.14	Angus, Samuel, 1813
Folder 1.15	Bainbridge, William, 1819
Folder 1.16	Biddle, James, undated
Folder 1.17	Broom, C. R., 1816
Folder 1.18	Coutler, Mifflin, 1831
Folder 1.19	Crane, William M., 1827
Folder 1.20	Decatur, Mrs. Stephen, 1824
Folder 1.21	Elliott, Jesse D., 1813, 1827
Folder 1.22	Farragut, Admiral D.G., 1863
Folder 1.23	Harrison, Joseph, 1807
Folder 1.24	Hull, Isaac, 1818, 1829, 1835
Folder 1.25	List of Stores, 1812
Folder 1.26	Morris, J., 1819
Folder 1.27	Petition Signed by 42 Members Of Crew of Guerriere, 1815
Folder 1.28	Porter, D., 187-, undated
Folder 1.29	Rodgers, John, 1822
Folder 1.30	Rogers, John, 1812
Folder 1.31	Shubrick, E.B., 1823
Folder 1.32	Smith, Hon. R., 1808
Folder 1.33	Warrington, Lewis, 1838, 1842
Folder 1.34	Worden, John L., 1840
Series VIII. William Tecumseh Sherman
Folder 1.34	William Tecumseh Sherman, undated
Series IX. Napoleon and His Generals
Folder 1.36	Abrantes, D. — Duchess, 1845
Folder 1.37	d'Anglas, Boissy, 1818
Folder 1.38	Bailly, Jean Sylvain - Mayor of Paris, 1789
Folder 1.39	Berthier, Louis Alexandre - Marshal, 1810
Folder 1.40	Bertrand, Henry Gratien - General, undated
Folder 1.41	Beurnomville, Pierre - Marshal, undated
Folder 1.42	Bonaparte, Napoleon, undated
Folder 1.43	Bourbon, Louis de, undated
Folder 1.44	Bourgeois, R.- In Battle of Waterloo, undated
Folder 1.45	Chaptal, 1808
Folder 1.46	Chenier, C.H., undated
Folder 1.47	Clary, Julia Marie — Queen of Spain, Wife of Joseph Bonaparte, 1813
Folder 1.48	Damme, Dominique Joseph Van — General, 1813
Folder 1.49	Desaix, Louis Charles Antoine — General, 1792
Folder 1.50	Destouches, Philippe Nericault, 1834
Folder 1.51	Fonquier, Tinville, 1793
Folder 1.52	Gouvion, Saint Cyr — General, 1817
Folder 1.53	Le Hefvre, F.G. — General, 1808
Folder 1.54	Lauriston, Jacques Alexandre — Marquis-General, 1808
Folder 1.55	Malherbe, Francois de, undated
Folder 1.56	Montesquieu, Marquis A.P. — General, 1796
Folder 1.57	Montholon, Charles Tristan — General, undated
Folder 1.58	Murat, Joachim — King of Naples, Cavalry Commander, undated
Folder 1.59	Phillippe, Louis — Duke de Chartres, 1848
Folder 1.60	Segur, 1782
Folder 1.61	Unidentified, undated
Folder 1.62	Walewska, Count Andrew — Son of Napoleon, undated
Series X. Civil War
Folder 2.1	Angur, C. C., 1865
Folder 2.2	Army Pass, 1861, 1865
Folder 2.3	Banks, N. P., 18--
Folder 2.4	Barlow, F. S., 1865
Folder 2.5	Blunt, Jas. G., 1866
Folder 2.6	Burnside, A. E., 1869
Folder 2.7	Butler, B. F., 1862
Folder 2.8	Cameron, Simon, 1885
Folder 2.9	Casey, Gen'l. Silas, 1865
Folder 2.10	Cass, Lewis, 1859
Folder 2.11	Chase, Salmon P., 1864
Folder 2.12	Cox, J. D., 1864
Folder 2.13	Curtis, S. R., 1865
Folder 2.14	Dent, F. T., 1866
Folder 2.15	Dodge, G. M., 1865
Folder 2.16	Grant, Ulysses S., 1863
Folder 2.17	Halleck, H. W., 1863
Folder 2.18	Hancock, Winfield Scott, 1808
Folder 2.19	Heintzleman, S. P., 1862, 1863
Folder 2.20	Herron, F. J., 1866
Folder 2.21	Hooker, Joseph, 1862
Folder 2.22	Howard, O. O., 1866
Folder 2.23	Jackson, Jas. W., 1852
Folder 2.24	Johnson, R. W., 1863
Folder 2.25	Lincoln, Abraham, 1862
Folder 2.26	Logan, John A., 1867, 1868
Folder 2.27	Lyon, N., 1861
Folder 2.28	Marcy, R. B., 1862
Folder 2.29	Martindale, J. H., 1863
Folder 2.30	McClellan, George B., 1864
Folder 2.31	Order for Cask Ale, 1865
Folder 2.32	Paine, Charles J., 1866
Folder 2.33	Porter, Fitz John, 1862
Folder 2.34	Rosencrans, W. S., 1862
Folder 2.35	Rousseau, L. H., 1866
Folder 2.36	Sale of Army Mule, 1863
Folder 2.37	Scott, Winfield, 1861
Folder 2.38	Sheridan, Phil, 1867
Folder 2.39	Sherman, William T., 1866
Folder 2.40	Sickles, Danz, 1867
Folder 2.41	Stanley, D. S., 1874
Folder 2.42	Stanton, Edwin M., 1864
Folder 2.43	Sykes, G. D., 1864
Folder 2.44	Thomas, G., 1866
Folder 2.45	Townsend, E. D., 1867
Folder 2.46	Vanderveer, William, 1865
Folder 2.47	Wheaton, Frank, 18--
Series XI. English Literature and Art
Folder 4.1	The Barber's Shop Ad, undated
Folder 4.2	Blackstone, W., 1766
Folder 4.3	Burke, Edmund, 1787
Folder 4.4	Canning, George, 1820
Folder 4.5	Coledon, 1865
Folder 4.6	Collingwood, 1807
Folder 4.7	Cornwills, Barry, undated
Folder 4.8	Desaike, Edward, undated
Folder 4.9	Dickens, Charles, 1870
Folder 4.10	Edgeworth, Maria, undated
Folder 4.11	Eliot, George, 1858, 1861
Folder 4.12	Gortchakof, Prince Peter, undated
Folder 4.13	Grattar, Henry, 1793
Folder 4.14	Hook, Theodore, 1856
Folder 4.15	Hume-Jones, Philip, 1899
Folder 4.16	Irving, Washington, undated
Folder 4.17	James, G. V. R., 1851
Folder 4.18	Johnson, Samuel, 1782
Folder 4.19	Key, Francis Scott, undated
Folder 4.20	Kipling, Rudyard, undated
Folder 4.21	Knowles, Shendac, 1834
Folder 4.22	Landsar, Sir Edwin, 1869
Folder 4.23	Lang, Andrew, undated
Folder 4.24	Lardner, Dion, 1834
Folder 4.25	Lemon, Mark, 1863
Folder 4.26	Lerch, Mark, 1864
Folder 4.27	Levis, C. , undated
Folder 4.28	Lighte, Fred, undated
Folder 4.29	Lockhart, J., undated
Folder 4.30	Longfellow, Henry W., undated
Folder 4.31	Martin, Theodore, undated
Folder 4.32	Morgan, Sydney, 1839
Folder 4.33	Ophir Hall Ticket, undated
Folder 4.34	Pepys, Samuel, undated
Folder 4.35	Pitt, Harriot, 1769, 1770
Folder 4.36	Pitt, Hester, undated
Folder 4.37	Pitt, William, 1770, 1771
Folder 4.38	Pluyfair, Lyon, undated
Folder 4.39	Proctor, R. W., 1855
Folder 4.40	Rapell, J. H., undated
Folder 4.41	Rogers, Samuel, undated
Folder 4.42	Rose, George, 1857
Folder 4.43	Saffi, A., 1868
Folder 4.44	Sandars, 1855
Folder 4.45	Shillen, Mrs., undated
Folder 4.46	Stevenson, Robert Louis, 187-
Folder 4.47	Talma, Francois Joseph, 1809
Folder 4.48	Tennyson, Alfred, undated
Folder 4.49	Terquem, P. N., 1885
Folder 4.50	Thackeray, William M., undated
Folder 4.51	Turner, 18--
Folder 4.51	Unidentified, 1840
Series XII. Edmund Burke
Folder 4.53	Burke, Edmund, 1772
Series XIII. Robert Browning
Folder 2.48	Robert Browning Letter, 1878
Folder 2.49	Browning Family Photographs, undated
Series XIV. Robert E. Lee
Folder 2.50	Robert E. Lee, 1854
Series XV. Napoleon and His Family
Volume	Album containing approximately 10 letters and documents signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and members of the imperial family, including the Empress Josephine and Empress Mari-Louise, 1787?-1816?
Series XVI. Presidents of The United States
Volume	Album containing letters and documents signed by every United States president from George Washington through Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1796-1929
Series XVII. Robert Louis Stevenson
Volume	Autograph transcript signed of his poem, "To H.F. Brown," 18--