urn:taro:utexas.cah.01441 A Guide to the David C. Clapp Papers, 1856-1915 Original EAD encoding by Jessi Fishman according to TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. June 2010 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Clapp, David C. Clapp, David C. Papers 1856-1915 Materials are written in English. 66-28 5 in. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin David Cappen Clapp (1806-1893) was a printer, publisher, and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. The Clapp papers include correspondence, journal, commissions, biographical sketch, programs, and photographs about Clapp's service in the Union Army during the Civil War and short periods of time prior to and after the war. Biographical Sketch

David Cappen Clapp (1806-1893), born in Massachusetts, began apprenticing at the age of 16 at the printing office of John Cotton, Jr. He eventually became sole manager of the office in 1831, entered a partnership with John Cotton, Sr., and changed the firm name to D. Clapp Jr. & Co. Clapp took over the business once more in 1834 and thirty years later his oldest son, John Cotton Clapp, joined the partnership, which became David Clapp and Son. Of notoriety in his printing business was the publication of the first weekly medical periodical in the United States, and Clapp had the distinction of being its proprietor and publisher for about fifty years.

Additionally, Clapp served in the 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, April to August 1864. He then served as Second Lieutenant of the 8th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops, which was organized between September 1863 and January 1864 at Camp William Penn, near Philadelphia, and was mustered out in November 1865, after doing duty in Texas as part of the force trying to convince France to pull its troops out of Mexico.

Sources: David C. Clapp Papers, 1856-1915, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Acton Memorial Library Civil War Archives. Forty-Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Nine Months. Acton Memorial Library. http://www.actonmemoriallibrary.org/civilwar/Regiments/Mass/44MVI.htm (accessed June 17, 2010).

Battle of Olustee or Ocean Pond--Florida. Eighth United States Colored Troops. Florida Department of Environmental Protection--Recreation and Parks, Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Citizens Support Organization, University of Florida--Thomas R. Fasulo. http://battleofolustee.org/8th_usct.html (accessed June 17, 2010).

 Scope and Contents

The David C. Clapp Papers, 1856-1915, consist of correspondence, journal, commissions, biographical sketch, programs, and photographs about Clapp's service in the Union Army during the Civil War and short periods of time prior to and after the war.

The papers concern Clapp's voyage to Cronstadt, Russia, in 1862, conditions along the Texas-Mexican border, and relations among the Mexican, French, and American troops. The letters give descriptions of the conditions of areas in which Clapp was stationed and concern personal items, reactions to wartime conditions, and references to the economic situation and to war time Boston. Subjects include Clapp’s commissions and assignments, some business and personal activities prior to the Civil War, his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, information on pensions for veterans, and other activities after the war.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

 Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Clapp, David, 1806-1893--Archives. Subjects (Organizations) United States. Army. Colored Infantry Regiment, 8th (1863-1865) United States. Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 44th (1862-1863) Grand Army of the Republic Subjects Armies--History--19th century. African Americans--History Places New Orleans (La.) Boston (Mass.) Petersburg (Va.) Brownsville (Tex.) Cronstadt (Russia) United States--Armed Forces--African Americans United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--African Americans United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans Preferred Citation

David C. Clapp Papers, 1856-1915, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

 Processing Information

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project, 2009-2011.

 Detailed Description of the Papers Inventory 3C16 Letters received: 3C16 1856-1860 3C16 Newbern, North Carolina, March 1862 - May 1863 3C16 1864 3C16 1865 3C16 From Mother, Father, Lizzie A. Clapp, Mary S. Clapp, Stillman A. Tucker, and friends, 1866 3C16 Letters written by David C. Clapp and his Civil War journal, 1862-1866 3C16 Letters asking for information on pensions from soldiers 3C16 Letters and fragments undated 3C16 Roster of the 44th Massachusetts Regiment 3C16 North Carolina Almanac and letter 3C16 Permission to leave South Boston, August 9, 1864 3C16 Commissions of David Capen Clapp 3C16 Appointments, resignation, changes in status and biographical sketch 3C16 Calling cards, programs 3Y582 Photographs: 3Y582 David C. Clapp 3Y582 Officers of the 44th Massachusetts Regiment, 1862 3Y582 Reunion of Union soldiers, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, ca. 1868 3Y582 Unidentified soldiers