George McClellan Derby Letters, 1874-1924 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Derby, George M.
Abstract:
George McClellan Derby (1856-1948) was a U.S. Army engineer recognized for his aerial balloon assents and reconnaissance efforts during the Santiago de Cuba campaign of the Spanish-American War. For the majority of his military career, he was involved in river engineering projects throughout the United States. The collection includes letters to George McClellan Derby, letters to his wife, Bessie (Kidder) Derby, and several letters written by Derby to his mother. Over 50 letters are grouped by originator within the George McClellan Derby series, 29 of which pertain to Derby's military career, mainly in relation to his responsibilities as Assistant Engineer in charge of New York river and harbor works during the mid-1880s. Nearly 90 letters, written by Derby's friend and uncle-in-law, Clarence F. Low, are arranged chronologically by year within the Clarence F. Low series. The collection, chiefly personal in nature, offers insights into the private life of this prominent military engineer and an indication of the challenges involved in conducting underwater explosions. Materials range in date from 1874 to 1907, 1924, and undated.
Extent:
0.4 Linear Feet
145 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00304

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes letters to George McClellan Derby, a military engineer recognized for his aerial balloon assents and reconnaissance efforts during the Santiago de Cuba campaign of the Spanish-American War, as well as letters to his wife, Bessie (Kidder) Derby, and several letters written by Derby to his mother. Over 50 letters are grouped by originator within the George McClellan Derby series, 29 of which pertain to Derby's military career, mainly in relation to his responsibilities as Assistant Engineer in charge of New York river and harbor works during the mid-1880s. Nearly 90 letters, written by Derby's friend and uncle-in-law, Clarence F. Low, are arranged chronologically by year within the Clarence F. Low series. The collection, chiefly personal in nature, offers insights into the private life of this prominent military engineer and an indication of the challenges involved in conducting underwater explosions. Materials range in date from 1874 to 1907, 1924, and undated.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1856 Nov. 1
Born at sea to George Horatio Derby (1823-1861) and Mary A. (Coons) Derby
1865-1871
Educated in Paris, Dresden, and Lausanne, Switzerland
1874-1878
Attended the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. (# 2717); graduated top of class
1878 June 14
Promoted to Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army
1881 Jan. 2
Promoted to First Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers
1881-1889
Served as Assistant Engineer in charge of river and harbor works in New York and northeastern New Jersey including the Hell Gate obstruction removal project
1888 Apr. 7
Promoted to Captain, Corps of Engineers
1889-1893
Taught at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
1893-1894
Served as Assistant to Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia
1894-1902
In charge of 4th District, Mississippi River improvements
1898 May 9
Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Engineer, U.S. Volunteers
1898 July 5
Promoted to Major, Corps of Engineers
1898 July 5-Oct. 1
Served as Chief Engineer, Fifth Army Corps, in Cuba during the Santiago campaign of the Spanish-American War, and later as Chief Engineer, Second Army Corps
1902-1903
In charge of Louisville and Portland canal and other river and harbor works in Louisville, Kentucky
1903-1906
In charge of reservoirs at headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota
1904 Apr. 4
Married Bessie Kidder (b. 1884) of New Orleans, daughter of Bessie (Low) Kidder and niece of Clarence F. Low
1906 May 5
Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers
1907 June 7
Retired at own request from military service
1948 Oct. 25
Died in New Orleans, Louisiana
Acquisition information:
The George McClellan Derby Letters were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2008.
Processing information:

Processed by Danielle Moore, August 2010

Encoded by Danielle Moore, August 2010

Accession 2008-0258 is described in this finding aid.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George McClellan Derby Letters, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University