John Henry Bliler Diary

Identity elements

Reference code

US TxAM-C 97

Level of description

Collection

Title

John Henry Bliler Diary

Date(s)

  • 1862-1875 (Creation)

Extent

1 box

Name of creator

(1844-1924)

Biographical history

John Henry Bliler was born on September 8, 1844, near Manchester, OH. Bliler enlisted in Company H, 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on August 4, 1862. During the Civil War, he served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia (including New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, and the Atlanta campaign). He served under General William Tecumseh Sherman, and against such Southern generals as Joseph E. Johnston and John Bell Hood.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This diary serves as John Henry Bliler's account of the Civil War. It was kept in the Bliler family, in some form since the Civil War, up until it was acquired by the repository.

It looks that Bliler copied over his original diary several times himself, and this last copy occupies all but a few leaves of the five exercise tablets. As noted in the description of Series 1, these first five exercise books could not possibly have contained a copy made any earlier than 1890. The only exception seems to be a portion of the last tablet, which is filled by entries copied over in pencil in 1944 by one of Bliler's descendants, Ardath Bliler Kelly, reportedly since the family copy had become quite damaged by then.

Thus, according to p. 56 of the typewritten transcript of the diary entries in the five exercise books, "[John Henry] Bliler copied his account of the Civil War three times during his lifetime. The last copy was made shortly before his death in 1924." On page number 116 in pencil in the fifth exercise book, an entry from March 31, 1944, made in different handwriting reads "The following copied from by [sic.] originally by Ardath Bliler Kelly, granddaughter of the narrator [sic.]. The original is ragged and yellowed and crumbling." Entries which are thus copied on p. 116-123 of this last exercise book are out of order, dated June 24, [1865] - June 29, 1865, followed by a note in Ardath Bliler Kelly's hand, "A portion of the original omitted in the copy," then the dates January 24 - January 31, 1865.

The typed transcript and index were probably made by Roy K. Bliler later than 1944, and not too long previous to when it was received by the repository. This transcript preserves the original order of John Henry Bliler's diary entries.

System of arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following 4 folders:

  • 1/1, Diary RESTRICTED, 1862-1865; 1920s-1944
  • 1/2, Index and Transcript (with a photostatic copy of the diary), undated
  • 1/3, Condensation of Diary, undated
  • 1/4, Photocopy of all Materials, February 2003

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Restricted access to original diary notebooks. Permission to view the very fragile original diary must be granted by the Director of Cushing Memorial Library, and an appointment will be made if permission is granted. Photocopy surrogates are available in the repository.

“Partially processed. Might not be available to patrons. Please contact the Cushing Library’s Reading Room for more information.”

Physical access

Restricted access to original diary notebooks. Permission to view the very fragile original diary must be granted by the Director of Cushing Memorial Library, and an appointment will be made if permission is granted. Photocopy surrogates are available in the repository.

Restricted access to original diary notebooks. Permission to view the very fragile original diary must be granted by the Director of Cushing Memorial Library, and an appointment will be made if permission is granted. Photocopy surrogates are available in the repository.

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

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Finding aids

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Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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