Louise B. Hill research notes on John André
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection consists mainly of the research notes, drafts, and chapter outlines of Louise Biles Hill's unpublished book about Major John André (1751-1780). André was an officer in the British Army and head of its Secret Service in America during the American Revolutionary War. He was hanged as a spy by the Continental Army for assisting Benedict Arnold's treason.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Louise Biles Hill (1891*- 1959) was a writer, teacher, and historian. Born in Tennessee, Hill received bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in American History from Vanderbilt University. She was the author of "Joseph E. Brown and the Confederacy," a biography of the Civil War Governor of Georgia, published in 1940. The book was awarded the Mrs. Simon Baruch Prize by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Dr. Hill taught at Huntington College in Alabama; Colorado State Teachers College; and Bennett Junior College in New York. She retired in 1948 as head of the social science department of Bergen Junior College, which is now part of Fairleigh Dickinson University.
*(Hill's obituary in the Bergen Evening Record (NJ) and her gravestone in Tennessee indicate her birthdate was 1876).
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by topic.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists mainly of the research notes, drafts, and chapter outlines of Louise Biles Hill's unpublished book about Major John André (1751-1780). André was an officer in the British Army and head of its Secret Service in America during the American Revolutionary War. He was hanged as a spy by the Continental Army for assisting Benedict Arnold's treason.
The collection includes both typed and handwritten notes, as well as correspondence related to researching and publishing the book on Major André. It also contains 3 works by Hill that are unrelated to Major Andre: articles about Aaron Burr and George J.F. Clark, and a fictional story set in Florida during the 18th century.
In addition, the collection contains correspondence, notes and drafts from an unpublished manuscript about André written by Carroll Carstairs (1888-1948). Carstairs was an American art dealer who served in the Grenadier Guards of the British Army during World War I. Carstairs memoir of the conflict, "A Generation Missing," was published in 1930. It seems Hill obtained these items sometime after Carstairs'death in 1948.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Use Restrictions
Photocopying undertaken by staff only. Limited to 20 exposures of stable, unbound material per day. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: Louise B. Hill research notes on John Andre, MS 3090, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were found in N-YHS's collections with no clear documentation of their source, though presumably they were donated by Louise B. Hill, or by a relation after Hill's death in 1959.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The collection was processed in 2019-20. Archivist Elise Winks removed the papers from their storage in their original filing cabinet, boxed them, and prepared a preliminary description. Archivist Marybeth Kavanagh added further description and completed this finding aid.
Repository
View Inventory
Correspondence, 1944-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence with publishers, as well as research and reference correspondence with librarians and other sources. A few letters discuss Hill's financial situation as a retired widow with no pension, and her efforts to support herself.
Book drafts and chapter outlines, 1934-1959, inclusive
Other Writing, 1942-1944, inclusive
Scope and Contents
includes drafts of articles on Aaron Burr and George J.F. Clark, and a work of historical fiction.
Research notes organized by subject, 1944-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
subjects include biographical sketches, maps and geography, and place studies.
Research notes on secondary sources A-Sa, 1944-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Secondary sources include those written by:
William Abbatt, Isaac Arnold, Thomas Day, Malcolm Decker, William Lecky, Benson Lossing, E.V. Lucas, James Perkins, Agnes Repplier, and Winthrop Sargent.
Research notes on secondary sources Sh-W, Miscellaneous, 1944-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Sources include those written by:
Oscar Sherwin, Joshua Hett Smith, Jared Sparks, T.J. Wertenbaker, David Williams, Charles H. Winfield, W.E. Woodward, and Shanard, Frederic and Spodell.
Research notes on Revolutionary-era sources, 1944-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
sources include military journals by Andre, Heath, Simcoe and Thatcher.
Carroll Carstairs notes, 1935-1948, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence and notes from an unpublished manuscript about Andre written by Carroll Carstairs (1888 -1948). Carstairs was an American art dealer who served in the Grenadier Guards of the British Army during World War I. Carstairs memoir of the conflict, "A Generation Missing," was published in 1930.
Copies of reference articles/sources, circa 1944-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
photocopies and photostats