Dates
- Majority of material found within 1830-1922, 1854-1886
Scope and Content Note
The material in this collection spans the period 1830 to 1922, with the bulk dating from 1853 to 1886. The collection is approximately one cubic foot in size, comprising two letter-sized and one legal-sized manuscript boxes.
The collection centers on Israel Silvers' work for the U.S. Christian Commission in 1863 and 1864, but also documents his life as a schoolmaster in Swedesboro and Pennington, N.J. In addition, the collection includes documentation of Israel Silvers' wife Emma Talman, her parents, and children. Scrapbooks and publications in the collection dating from the early twentieth century were compiled by Israel Silvers' youngest daughter Israella Silvers Headley. Both of the scrapbooks are included in family account books.
Document types include numerous portraits, in various formats, of Silvers and Talman family members, diaries, account books/scrapbooks, correspondence, publications, newspaper clippings, miscellaneous documents, and memorabilia. Of particular interest are Israel Silvers' Christian Commission journals describing his experiences in Gettysburg and Virginia during the U.S. Civil War in 1863 and 1864, as well as his letters to his wife Emma during this period. The collection consists of six series.
Extent
1.06 Cubic Feet (3 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions.
Abstract
The Israel F. Silvers Family Papers primarily consist of the letters, diaries, account books and photographs of the Silvers and Talman families. In addition, there are miscellaneous other personal papers, as well as various newspaper clippings and magazine articles collected by the family.
<emph render="bold">Biographical Sketch</emph>
Israel F. Silvers was born on June 19, 1832 in Reaville in Hunterdon County, N.J., the son of Job and Maria Silvers. Growing up, Israel would aid his father in running his general store in Lambertville, Hunterdon County. At the age of seventeen, Silvers was inspired by the Reverend Wesley Robertson and became "born again . . . born of the spirit." With his newfound faith, Silvers began to teach Sunday school and became a leader in his local Methodist church.
In 1857, Silvers married Emma Talman of Swedesboro, N.J. Emma was the daughter of Edward C. and Lydia Talman, the former of whom was a cordwainer in Gloucester County. After they married, Israel and Emma remained in Swedesboro, where Israel was a school teacher, until at least 1858. Letters that he sent from Lambertville suggest that Israel already resided there in 1859. The following year the 1860 federal census recorded that he and his family lived in Lambertville, where his occupation was that of merchant. By the fall of 1860, the family had removed to Pennington, Mercer County, N.J., where Israel worked as a teacher.
Shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, Silvers volunteered for the United States Christian Commission. Initially dedicated to advising and converting soldiers to Christianity, the Christian Commission later in the war would serve a more practical role, distributing food and clothing, writing letters, and providing medical assistance to injured soldiers.
Silvers again served with the Christian Commission in June of 1864. Shortly after returning home to his family, Silvers complained of exhaustion. Only thirty days after his discharge, Silvers was struck with typhoid fever and passed away July 28, 1864 in Lambertville. He was survived by his wife Emma and their three daughters: Kate (born approximately July 1, 1859), Anna Maria (who lived only from 1862 to 1866), and Israella (born in January, 1865 after Israel's death).
- Title
- Inventory to the Israel F. Silvers Family Papers MC 1467
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Ryan Sullivan and Fernanda Perrone
- Date
- May 2017
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
- Sponsor
- Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.
Part of the New Brunswick Special Collections Repository