Guide to the Campbell Family Papers Collection

Collection

Identifier: C-1049

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Most of the earliest records in the collection are those of Mrs. Campbell, dating from her school days in the 1850s. Correspondence for both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell dates from the mid-1860s, with the bulk in the 1870s. The bulk of Mrs. Campbell's correspondence is with family members and the letters focus more on personal matters. Mr. Campbell's correspondence largely deals with business and government matters. There are references to and correspondence with Wyoming's political leaders and United States government and military leaders. There are also a fair number of letters from family members and friends that are written on a more personal level. Many of the other personal papers deal with social events and travel.

Dates

1854-1907
Majority of material found within 1860-1907

Creator

Campbell Family (Family)

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Biographical Note

John A. Campbell, the first Governor of Wyoming Territory, was born in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, on October 8, 1835. Campbell joined the Union Army in 1861as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 19th Ohio Infantry. He later served as Ordnance Officer and Acting Assistant Adjutant General under General Alexander M. McCook, and Assistant Adjutant General on Major General John M. Schofield's staff. Brevetted as a Brigadier General in 1866, retroactive to March 1865, he continued to serve under Major General Schofield during the reconstruction period. President Grant appointed him Governor of the newly organized Wyoming Territory on April 3, 1869. Governor Campbell took the oath of office on April 15, 1869. On February 1, 1872 he married Isabella (Belle) Wunderly of Philadelphia.

Isabella Crane Wunderly was born June 29, 1845. Earlier records in the collection show the family name as Wunderlich.

The Campbells' only child, Isabella, was born on April 14, 1873. John Campbell was appointed Third Assistant Secretary of State on February 24, 1875, and resigned from the office of Wyoming Territorial Governor on March 1. He served with the Secretary of State until he was appointed American Consul at Basle, Switzerland on December 3, 1877. Because of deteriorating health he resigned from this position on February 4, 1880 and died in Washington, D. C. on July 14, 1880.

Extent

2.5 cubic feet

Additional Description

Abstract

Personal papers of the John A. and Isabella Wunderly Campbell Family, Wyoming's first territorial governor. The collection provides a glimpse of what life was like in mid-19th century America and Wyoming Territory. Allusions to Civil War events can be found, as can references to political maneuverings in the 1870s. The military records provide data on Civil War events and mustering.

Acquisition Information

The Campbell Collection consists of the following accessions: C-1049, B-283, B-915, and H71-52. Except for a small number of documents, the records of Governor and Mrs. Campbell were given to the State of Wyoming in two donations by their daughter, Isabella Campbell, in the 1930s. The first accession included personal and official papers and books, the second consisted of the diaries. In 1966, the records were transferred to the State Archives by the Historical Division of the Archives and Historical Department. They were added to the Governor's records already held by the Archives, which primarily consisted of letterpress books. In 1977, the personal papers, and records unrelated to Governor Campbell's official duties in Wyoming, were returned to the Historical Research Office of the State Museum, the successor to the Historical Division. However, some personal correspondence remained interfiled with the Governor's official correspondence retained by the Archives.

Alternate Formats Available

Typed transcriptions of diaries available.

Related Material

RG0001.01, Territorial Governor John A. Campbell Records, Wyoming State Archives.

Separated Material

Eight photographs were transferred to the Historical Photograph Collection. One photograph is identified as "Julie," another as "Mrs. R. Knittle's granddaughters." The rest are unidentified.

Processing Information

Governor Campbell's records in the State Archives, were processed in the late 1980s as part of a grant-funded project. All the Campbell records were placed in the custody of the State Archives in 1995, when the collections and duties of the Historical Research Office were transferred to the Archives. When the current collection was assembled from the various accessions, the processing archivist weeded clearly personal letters out of the official correspondence of Governor Campbell and added them to C-1049.