Finding Aid to the George W. Howell Correspondence, 1856-1860 Finding Aid to the George W. Howell Correspondence, 1856-1860 North Jersey History and Genealogy Center
The Morristown and Morris Township Library One Miller Road Morristown, NJ 07960
Overview of Collection George W. Howell, Edward Howell, Mary Howell and Susan Howell H 929 MSS Howell George W. Howell Correspondence, 1856-1860. .50 linear foot in 1 manuscript box Biography of George W. Howell, 1835-1901

George W. Howell was born December 21, 1835 to Edward Howell and Mary Lee Howell of Morristown, New Jersey. At the age of 21, in 1856, he was a member of the first class to attend the New Jersey Normal School in Trenton. Upon graduation he became a teacher at the Normal School, and later taught at schools in Bordentown and Troy Hills. He married Rachel M. Cornish of Gillette, Passaic Township in 1862 and they had five children. From 1865-1866 he worked as a civil engineer, mostly with the Morris and Essex Railroad, becoming one of the foremost engineers in northern New Jersey. He was chief engineer on the Passaic and Delaware Railroad, a branch of the Lackawanna line in New Jersey, and later, chief engineer on the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1887 he is listed in the Morristown City Directory as a Civil Engineer and Surveyor working out of the Iron Bank Building at 6 Washington Street. He died on February 15, 1901.

Sources:

- The Jerseyman, February 22, 1901; p. 5.

- H VF Howell; Howell I-Howell IV - Howell Family Vertical files.

Related materials in this repository:

HM512 Bus Eph- Business Ephemera and Artifacts Collection, circa 1816-2007

Scope and Content of the Correspondence

The bulk of correspondence from this small collection covers the four years from 1856-1860 when George W. Howell attended the New Jersey Normal School in Trenton, New Jersey. George's family consisted of his father, mother and sister and all three family members regularly communicated to their son and brother. In his turn, George was also a regular correspondent, faithfully responding to his father and parents, though not writing as often to his sister. Topics of discussion range from the mundane (warm enough clothes, how long the trip took), to town gossip and the political climate of the nation, to the family and the farm. The letters provide a wonderful look into the mid 19th century life of a Morris County farmer's family and their sons' education in Trenton.

Arrangement of the Correspondence

All correspondence is arranged chronologically in five to six month intervals over the course of four years. The first folder of correspondence, Folder 2, contains letters written to George W. Howell from his family members; Edward, his father, Mary, his mother and his sister, Susan. Correspondence from George W. Howell to his family members for the same time period is contained in the following folder (in this case, folder 3). Most of his letters home are addressed to his Father, to his Parents or, to Father and Mother.

Important Information for Users of the Correspondence collection

This collection is open to researchers. Correspondence may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission. The contents of the George W. Howell Correspondence may be photocopied, but because this material is a permanent part of the History Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier for bound material. The use of digital cameras is encouraged.

Acquisition Information

The George W. Howell Correspondence, 1856-1860, was donated to the Morristown Public Library by Adelaide Johnson Howell, January 3, 1926.

 Preferred Citation

When citing specific folders: Indicate <title render="bold">box/<title render="bold">folder number and <title render="bold">folder title and dates before: <title render="bold">George W. Howell Correspondence, 1856-1860. North Jersey History Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library. Morristown, NJ.

 Processing Information

Finding Aid arranged by C. Jochem, 1996; Encoded by North Jersey History and Genealogy Center Archivist, 2009.

Container List 1 1 Correspondence [3 items]: letter to Rev. Sym from H.B. Johnson, 1836; letter to Edward Lee, Mary Howell's brother in Ohio, 1848; and letter from Adelaide Johnson Howell, 1926. 1 2 Correspondence: George W. Howell (GWH) to family members [16 items], March 1856-July 1856. 1 3 Correspondence: George W. Howell (GWH) from family members [17 items], March 1856-July 1856. 1 4 Correspondence: GWH to family members [13 items], September 1856-January 1857. 1 5 Correspondence: GWH from family members [14 items], September 1856-January 1857. 1 6 Correspondence: GWH to family members [24 items], February 1857-July 1857. 1 7 Correspondence: GWH from family members [18 items], February 1857-July 1857. 1 8 Correspondence: GWH to family members [23 items], September 1857-January 1858. 1 9 Correspondence: GWH from family members [22 items], September 1857-January 1858. > 1 10 Correspondence: GWH to family members [17 items], February 1858-July 1858. 1 11 Correspondence: GWH from family members [18 items], February 1858-July 1858. 1 12 Correspondence: GWH to family members [21 items], September 1858-January 1859. 1 13 Correspondence: GWH from family members [31 items], September 1858-January 1859. 1 14 Correspondence: GWH to family members [17 items], February 1859-June 1859. 1 15 Correspondence: GWH from family members [21 items], February 1859-June 1859. 1 16 Correspondence: GWH to family members [20 items] September 1859-March 1860. 1 17 Correspondence: GWH from family members [20 items], September 1859-March 1860.