Manuscript Group 21, Sanford B. Hunt (1825-1884), Physician and Newark Daily Advertiser editor Papers, 1835-1891

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Manuscript Group 21, Sanford B. Hunt (1825-1884), Physician and Newark
Daily Advertiser editor

Papers, 1835-1891, 1 linear foot / 2 manuscript boxes

Call Number: MG 21 + box & folder number

• Summary

• Biographical Note

• Provenance Note

• Scope and
  Content Note

• Container List

Summary:

Correspondence and military records of a native of New York State who was a surgeon in the Union Army and later editor of the Newark Daily Advertiser; diary, 1834-1838, of Hunt’s father, Horace, a resident of Connecticut and an agent for the American Bible Society.  Correspondence consists primarily of letters from Sanford B. Hunt to his wife, Martha Tallmadge Hunt, written 1853-1868.  Many of these letters concern Hunt’s services as an army surgeon in Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas.   Sanford B. Hunt was born in Ithaca, New York and studied in the medical college at Willoughby, Ohio.  In 1855, he moved to Buffalo, New York and became Professor of Anatomy at the Buffalo Medical College, editing The Medical College.  He served as editor of two Buffalo newspapers and in 1860 was elected superintendent of public schools for the city.  After serving in the Civil War, he worked for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, and published a history of that organization in 1865.  In 1866, he became editor of the Newark Daily Advertiser.  An active abolitionist and Republican, Sanford B. Hunt died in Irvington, New Jersey.

Gift of William Southworth Hunt.

Biographical Note:

Sanford Beebe Hunt, a Civil War surgeon, was born in Ithaca, New York in 1825 and studied at the medical college at Willoughby, Ohio. In 1855 he became Professor of Anatomy at the Buffalo Medical College, served as editor of two Buffalo newspapers, including the Buffalo Express, and was elected superintendent of  Buffalo public schools in 1860. During the Civil War he was made surgeon at Fortress Monroe and later, Surgeon-in-Chief of the Army of the South-West, with headquarters at New Orleans. After the close of the war, he worked for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, and published a history of that organization. In 1866, he moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he edited the Newark Daily Advertiser until his death in 1884. His only child, William Tallmadge  Hunt (1854-1916), was also a prominent Newark editor.

Provenance Note:

Gift of William Southworth Hunt.

Scope and Content Note:

Bulk of papers document Hunt’s service as an army surgeon in Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas during the Civil War. Correspondence from Dr. Hunt to his wife, Martha Tallmadge Hunt, concerns his medical work, as well as descriptions of army life including troop movements, encampment plans, officers, supplies and food. An active abolitionist and Republican, Dr. Hunt records opinions and observations on army policies and national politics. One letter (May 31, 1862) to his son, “Willie,” describing life at the army camp at Newport News, Virginia, includes a pencil drawing of the camp layout.

Papers also include military and hospital records: invoices and receipts from the Medical Surveyors Offices; “order forms” for hospitals and convalescent camps including lists of materia medica, instruments, dressings, bedding, clothing and stationery; and salary forms. Also, correspondence regarding an auction sale of the effects of deceased soldiers, as well as sworn statements pertaining to Dr. Hunt’s responsibilities.

Also in the collection are copies of letters sent (1835-1838) by Dr. Hunt’s father, Horace Hunt (1788-1868), in his role as corresponding secretary of the New York Bible Society.

Container List:

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