Morgan-Parry family papers
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Abstract
The Morgan-Parry family papers include the official and personal papers of Henry C. Morgan and Augusta Parry Morgan. Materials of an official nature include documents and correspondence of Henry C. Morgan relating to his work as a 1st Lieutenant in the 12th infantry of the U.S. Army, and later as Captain in the 30th Regiment of the Infantry. Personal materials include correspondence and letters relating to Henry and Augusta, as well as their daughter Mary and Augusta's father, Edward O. Parry. The collection contains a contract for Henry and Augusta's residence on Clinton Street dating from December 1870. The collection contains five portraits, which include the following people: A.V. Lt. E. Cooker (?), Lt. Col. Henry C. Morgan, Mary Churchill Morgan, William A. Stedman, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. William Witman. It also contains two cards containing images and plans of the Royal Mail Steam Ship Scotia.
Biographical note
Henry C. Morgan was born in Brooklyn on December 30, 1842. His father was N.D. Morgan, President of the North America Life Insurance Company in New York, and his uncle was Edwin Denison Morgan, who served as Governor of New York and later was a United States Senator. During the Civil War, Edwin D. Morgan served as major general of Volunteers in the Union Army (1861-1863). Henry worked as clerk for the Manhattan Life Insurance Company before being enlisted to serve in the Civil War as a Recruiting Officer in October of 1861.
While recruiting service in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Henry met his future wife, Augusta "Gussie" Parry. After being wounded in Virginia in 1864, requiring amputation of his left leg above the knee, Henry left service, and he and Augusta were married in April of 1865. The couple had three daughters, Mary, Ruth, and Kate, and settled in Brooklyn at 446 Clinton Street. Henry's brother, William G. Morgan and his wife Elizabeth C. Morgan resided next door at 448 Clinton Street. Later, the family moved to Colchester, Connecticut.
In 1875, Henry C. Morgan made several inquiries into the manufacturing of, and then secured a patent for, a toy pistol called the "Centennial Toy Pistol."
Henry C. Morgan died on February 5, 1906. Augusta followed on September 28, 1910. They are buried beside each other in Linwood Cemetery, Colchester, Connecticut.
Arrangement
The materials are arranged by type.
Scope and Contents
The Morgan-Parry family papers include the official and personal papers of Henry C. Morgan and Augusta Parry Morgan. Materials of an official nature include documents and correspondence of Henry C. Morgan relating to his work as a 1st Lieutenant in the 12th infantry of the U.S. Army, and later as Captain in the 30th Regiment of the Infantry. Personal materials include correspondence and letters relating to Henry and Augusta, as well as their daughter Mary and Augusta's father, Edward O. Parry. The collection contains two contracts for Henry and Augusta's residence on Clinton Street dating from December 1870. The collection also contains five portraits, which include the following people: A.V. Lt. E. Cooker, Lt. Col. Henry C. Morgan, Mary Churchill Morgan, William A. Stedman, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. William Witman. It also contains two cards containing images and plans of the Royal Mail Steam Ship Scotia.
Subjects
Families
Genres
People
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
The materials in this collection are in the public domain. While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Morgan-Parry family papers, 1990.006, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Elizabeth Stookey, 1990.
Separated Materials
Henry C. Morgan's wallet is stored with the Art and Artifact collections under the object ID M1990.34.1.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Sativa Peterson under the supervision of Leilani Dawson in April 2008. A collection-level version of the finding aid was created circa 2011. The collection was rehoused and the finding aid revised by Dee Bowers in 2024.
