Walter Thorn papers
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Abstract
Letters, documents, news clippings and related personal papers of Walter Thorn (1844-1920), a Brooklyn civic leader and attorney who served in the Civil War.
Biographical Note
Walter Thorn was an attorney, prominent Brooklyn resident, and outspoken abolitionist who served in the Union army during the United States Civil War. He served in two New York Infantry units before becoming second lieutenant in the 116th Infantry, a regiment of Black soldiers from Kentucky. In the 116th he attained the rank of Brevet Major and won several medals for combat and bravery.
After the war, Thorn held several government posts at the federal, county, and local levels. He was Captain of the New York National Guard and active in veterans' organizations. He was appointed a Deputy Sheriff in Brooklyn as well as to other local government posts. In the early 1900s, he served as commander of the Medal of Honor Legion and President of the War Veterans and Sons Association.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into four series.
Series 1: Correspondence and Series 2: Documents are arranged chronologically.
Series 3: Autographs, Ephemera and Photograph is arranged by type, and the autographs are arranged alphabetically.
The newspaper clippings in Series 4 are grouped to match their original arrangement in four folders and a scrapbook. The clippings have been photocopied for preservation. The small amount of non-clipping ephemera from the scrapbook is foldered separately.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, documents, news clippings, a small autograph collection, ephemera, bound reports of the Medal of Honor Legion Annual Convention, and one photograph. The materials in this collection date primarily to the years following the Civil War with a focus on Thorn's civic activities, especially with the Medal of Honor Legion. The 12 autographs in this collection are from Civil War officers and other prominent friends, including 27th Vice President James S. Sherman and Civil War Major General Henry Ware Lawton, a fellow Medal of Honor winner killed during the Philippine-American War.
Subjects
Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Use
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); Walter Thorn Papers, BCMS.0076, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Provenance
Purchased from Between the Covers Rare Books in 2019.
About this Guide
Repository
Series 1: Correspondence
Medal of Honor Legion letters, circa 1899-1910
Brooklyn Daily Times letter, 1907
Series 2: Documents
Appointments certificates, 1870-1873
Medal of Honor Legion Annual Convention Reports, 1902-1911
Surgeon Gabriel Grant memorial tribute, circa 1909
Series 3: Autographs, Ephemera and Photograph
Autographs, circa 1864-1912
General
Childs, George W. Publisher and philanthropist.
Creswell, John A.J. Maryland Congressman and Senator and Postmaster General under President Grant.
Dickinson, Donald M. Postmaster General under President Cleveland.
Eckert, Thomas T. Brigadier General in the Civil War, Assistant Secretary of War (1865-67) and Western Union executive.
Haldane, Richard B. British politician, lawyer, and philosopher.
James, Thomas L. Journalist, banker, and Postmaster General under President Garfield.
Lawton, Henry Ware. Major General in the Civil War and Medal of Honor winner.
Schenk, Robert C. Major General in the Civil War and diplomat.
Sherman, James S. 27th Vice President of the United States (1909-1912).
Unidentified. "Union General Civil War" in ink on verso.
