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Thatcher family papers

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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Papers primarily relate to the military service of Joseph L. Thatcher and his son, William Thatcher, both of whom served in the United States Navy. Other family members represented in the papers include Louisa A. Thatcher, the wife of Joseph Thatcher, and T. F. Bayard Thatcher, also son of Joseph and Louisa Thatcher.

Small group of miscellaneous papers relating to several generations of the Thatcher family of Wilmington, Delaware. Papers include correspondence, military documents, photographs, notebooks, legal documents, and miscellaneous material.

Boxes 1-2: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes Removals shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (32 inches)

Gift of the Moyerman Family, 1972.

Finding aid encoded by Lauren Connolly, November 2015. Further encoding by Tiffany Saulter, June 2016.

Publisher
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Finding Aid Date
2015 November 24
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research

Use Restrictions

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Collection Inventory

Series I.1.. Correspondence of Joseph L. Thatcher, 1870-1886.
Box 1 Folder F1-F3
Scope and Contents

Most of these letters are from the Department of Navy and consist primarily of orders, memoranda, and assignments relating to Thatcher's career as a naval carpenter. The final letter in this group is to Thatcher's wife, Louisa A. Thatcher, from the Navy and concerns his death.

Physical Description

26 items

Series I.2.. Correspondence concerning the the death of William Thatcher, the son of Joseph and Louisa Thatcher, who served as Chief Turret Captain, U.S. Navy, on the U.S.S. Georgia, 1907: July-December.
Box 1 Folder F4
Scope and Contents

These are letters to William's mother and brother, T.F. Bayard Thatcher from various naval personnel on the U.S.S. Georgia who knew of the incident surrounding William's death. (July 1907-December 1907).

Physical Description

4 items

Series I.3.. Miscellaneous Correspondence , 1906-1957.
Box 1 Folder F5
Scope and Contents

Small group of letters from various Thatcher family members. The first is to William Tatcher, from his Uncle Matt, and contains details concerning Thatcher family history. A second letter addressed to "Miss Thatcher" also relates to family geneaology. A third letter from T.F. Bayard Thatcher to Senator C. Douglas Bush concerning his retirement. The final letter in the group is "to grandson from grandfather" and gives advice on how to behave while in Europe. Enclosed with this letter are selections which the author has copied from A.I. DuPont and others.

Physical Description

7 items

Series II.. Shop Drawings, [n.d.].
Box 1 Folder F6
Scope and Contents

Thirty seven drawings of various shipboard systems and equipment. These drawing are presumed to have been used by Joseph Thatcher in conjunction with his work as a naval carpenter.

Physical Description

37 items

Bond and Warrant, 1912 February 23.
Scope and Contents

This document bonded Thomas F. Bayard Thatcher to Harry J. Stockle for the sum of $4000

Physical Description

1p

Petition for Condemnation, 1941: June 16.
Scope and Contents

This document relates to a court case of the United States of America, Petitioner, versus One Parcel of Land in the City of Wilmington, et. al., Defendants. Among the defendants named in the petition are several Thatcher family members, including William Thatcher, Samuel Thatcher, Aubrey Thatcher and Albert Thatcher. TD.

Physical Description

6 pp. 2 items.

Series IV.. Photographs.
Box 2 Folder F8
Scope and Contents

This series contains 12 photos, the majority of which are tintypes. Most appear to be portrait photographs and snapshots of various members of the Thatcher family.

Physical Description

12 items

Notebook of Joseph L. Thatcher containing his autograph geometry notes, 1875.
Box 2 Folder F9
Notebook containing questions for the examination for United States Navy rank of Turret captain, [n.d.].
Box 2 Folder F10
Scope and Contents

Notebook is presumed to have belonged to William Thatcher.

Large bound notebook containing notes taken by someone enrolled in a course given by the Navy. Unfoldered, [n.d.].
Box 2
Scope and Contents

The notebook is also presumed to have belonged to William Thatcher.

Physical Description

243 pp.

Series VI.. Miscellany.
Box 2 Folder F11
Scope and Contents

Small group of miscellaneous materials. Included are a pencil sketch drawing of a ship (the "Hartford"), several scrapbook items mounted on paper from a ship's log, four newspaper clippings, a catalog for rememberance cards, a laminated busines card from "Joseph Stoeckle, Diamond State Brewery, Wilmington, Delaware," and a tearsheet from the Army and Navy Register (1908: January 25) containing an article on the monument erected in the memory of William Thatcher and others who died in a turret explosion, July 15, 1907, on the U.S.S. Georgia (Note: orversize tearsheet shelved separately in folder on top of Box 1).

Scope and Contents

10 items

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