A Guide to the Robert H. Voigt Family Papers, 1832-1942 (bulk 1861-1866)

Biographical Note

Born in Germany, Julius Robert Voigt (b. 1832; known as Robert) had moved to Texas by 1852. Within three years, he married Ann Schweikart, with whom he had at least three children; his great grandson was Robert H. Voigt. During the Civil War, Julius Robert Voigt enlisted in the Confederate Army, becoming a major and commander of a company in Waul’s Texas Legion in 1862. The next year, Voigt was captured by Union soldiers at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and imprisoned at Johnson’s Island, Ohio, where he stayed until the end of the war. Throughout his life, Voigt wrote poems and drew portraits of friends, river scenes and vessels, and landscapes.

Scope and Contents

Comprised of correspondence, diaries, drawings, engravings, and other documents, the Robert H. Voigt Family Papers, 1832-1942 (bulk 1861-1866), chronicle the Voigt family’s affairs, particularly during the Civil War and Julius Robert Voigt’s lifetime. Correspondence from Julius Robert Voigt to his wife Anna, 1862-1865, describes his service in the Confederate Army, including marches and battles, the population and countryside of several southern states, conditions within camps, his capture at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and his imprisonment at Johnson’s Island in Ohio. Primarily between Julius Robert and Anna, the remaining correspondence, 1832, 1852-1861, 1928, 1935, concerns Julius Robert’s trips through several cities in Texas, the couple’s social engagements in Houston, and Anna’s relatives in Germany. A German diary, 1862-1864, discusses the activities of a Confederate soldier from Texas.

Sketches, drawings, and a photograph of drawings by Julius Robert Voigt, 1864, undated, depict river scenes, sailboats, steamships, a view of Cedar Point during Voigt’s incarceration at Johnson’s Island, and other Civil War depictions and friends, while engravings include “The Lord’s Prayer” and a highway map of Texas. An undated engraving by R. Meyer and L. Weber illustrates the Canton Zug area of Switzerland, and an additional photograph shows a monument to Confederate soldiers at Johnson’s Island, Ohio. The collection also contains an 1847 certificate and 1850 passport for Julius Robert Voigt; several 1864 show-bills for the Rebellonians at Johnson’s Island; birth certificates and baptismal records, 1856-1858, 1868, 1874; notes, account records, and business cards, 1860, 1866, undated. Materials from the Voigt family after Julius Robert Voigt’s death include programs and tickets for the Founders’ Day Celebration of the Houston Jahn Turnverein, 1876-1878; an 1898 patent report; poems in German and English; and assorted printed materials.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Robert H. Voigt Family Papers, 1832-1942 (bulk 1861-1866), 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