Category: Research Resources

An Old Letter Helps Understand the Chicago Fire

Old, forgotten letters tucked away long ago in attics and closets often illuminate the past in ways that history books and newspapers cannot. They capture the voices of individuals, bringing history to life in personal and unique ways.

letter great chicago fire
An 1871 letter discusses the Great Chicago Fire and the business of the customs house in Galena, IL (Letter courtesy of Mary McGreevy)

 A recent assignment in one of my classes reminded me of this when Kylie Redding, one of my students, undertook a primary document analysis.  Asked to find and analyze an original piece of historical evidence, she discovered a remarkable 154-year-old letter carefully preserved by her grandmother, Mary McGreevy.  Mrs. McGreevy had discovered it decades earlier.

This letter, dated October 10, 1871—just two days after the Great Chicago Fire was penned by John W. Wann, a young clerk at the Galena, Illinois Customs House.1,2,3 Addressed to his sister in Harford County, Maryland, the correspondence offers both a glimpse into the 24-year-old  government clerk’s life that autumn and an account of one of America’s most devastating urban disasters.

John began by apologizing for his delayed response, explaining that he had been preoccupied with overseeing the customs house since his uncle (Daniel Wann),4,5 Col. Stephenson (the supervising inspector) and Captain Gordon (the local inspector), were absent. With a blend of youthful confidence and humor, he remarked that their absence left him in charge of the entire business of the U.S. Government at the customs port, making him feel like a “rather important person.” Yet he admitted there wasn’t much to do—leaving him ample time to write letters.    

The Great Chicago Fire

Turning to the catastrophe that gripped the nation, John described the Great Chicago Fire  as “the largest ever known in the U.S.”  His matter-of-fact tone belied the gravity of the tragedy unfolding 160 miles away.  He recounted how flames had swept through the entire business district of Chicago, leaving 100,000 residents homeless and unemployed.

To convey the staggering scale of destruction, he wrote that a single commercial house, C. B. Farwell  & Co., had suffered $1.5 million in damages—one of many businesses devastated by the inferno. In response to this immense suffering, neighboring towns and cities, including Galena, quickly mobilized relief, cooking meals and sending provisions to those in need.

Most compelling are the eyewitness accounts John relayed from his young friends who rushed from Galena to Chicago to assist the stricken city. They described the scene during the fire as unforgettable:  “everything in the wildest confusion.”  A Heavy gale had fanned the flames, spreading destruction so quickly that most residents had no time to save even their clothing.  Families were separated in the chaos—”some screaming, some praying, and some swearing.” Adding to the terror, thieves, looters, and gamblers preyed upon those homes that the flames had not yet consumed.  John described it as “the most awful spectacle ever witnessed.”

Letters Help Understand the Past


In our current age of text messages, emails and other forms of digital communication, it is easy to overlook the historical value of handwritten correspondence.  Yet letters like John W. Wann’s offer a unique perspective on the past that no secondary source can provide.  They allow us to see events—like the Great Chicago Fire—through the eyes of those who lived through them, capturing the facts, emotions, fears, and resilience of people involved. 

But beyond documenting monumental events, letters also illuminate everyday lives, revealing mundane details, personal relationships, and individual narratives that history books often neglect. These personal glimpses into history are invaluable for researchers, students, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of earlier times.

John W. Wann’s letter is just one example of how personal correspondence can deepen our understanding of the past. By seeking out, studying, and preserving these documents we ensure that the words of ordinary people—voices that might otherwise be lost to history—continue to be heard. 

Notes

  1. “The Late John W. Wann,”Galena Daily Gazette, October 10, 1889, Galena Daily Gazette (1873-1953) 10 October 1889 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. Wann, 44, passed away in Sioux City, Iowa on October 6, 1889. He was born in Bel Air, MD., and enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 17. At the close of his service, Wann moved to Galena, ILL ↩︎
  2. Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military and Naval in the Service of the United States on the thirtieth September 1869, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1870), 101, https://www.google.com/books/edition/Official_Register/CQM3AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22john+w.+wann%22&pg=PA101&printsec=frontcover. ↩︎
  3. United States Census Bureau, Ninth Census of the United States, 1870 (Galena, IL), ↩︎
  4. “Death of a Venerable Citizen,” Galena Daily Gazette, May 11,1870. Galena Daily Gazette (1873-1953) 11 May 1870 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. Daniel Wann, originally from Harford County, was the surveyor of customs at Galena ↩︎
  5. History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois (Chicago: H.F. Kett & Co., 1878), https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Jo_Daviess_County_Illinoi/gWYOAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=wann. 654. ↩︎

Triumph News — Uncovering the Past Through World War II Company Magazine

During World War II, in-house magazines were vital channels for connecting employees engaged in critical wartime production. These internal publications not only informed workers about plant happenings but also fostered a sense of community and provided a unique glimpse into the daily lives of civilians contributing to national defense.    

Despite the wealth of information in these periodicals, they remain underutilized in historical research. Each page offered valuable insights into the social and industrial realities of the era, telling the stories of individuals engaged in hazardous occupations. 

Triumph News

One notable publication was “Triumph News Topics” (TNT), created for the employees of Triumph Explosives in Elkton, MD. This defense plant employed thousands of people, including many women who stepped into traditional male roles in ordnance production with remarkable resilience and dedication. These “Women Ordnance Workers” made up about 75 percent of the Elkton plant’s workforce. 1 

The roots of Triumph Explosives can be traced back to several small fireworks plants established in the Elkton area shortly after World War I. As the conflict in Europe escalated, these plants began receiving contracts to produce signal flares, so they shifted to producing war materials. Investors incorporated Triumph Explosives in the 1930s as European contracts swelled. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, defense requirements resulted in tremendous growth in the demand for ordnance, with the company expanding from a few hundred to around 11,500 workers to meet the surging needs of the Army and Navy.2,3

Winifred W. Gregory, Triumph News, TNT
Winifred W. Gregory, the first editor of Triumph News (TNT, June 1944) in the collection of the Historical Society of Cecil County

This hurried expansion called for an internal publication to keep employees informed and engaged. In June 1942, Winifred W. Gregory launched the Elkton plants’ in-house organ, TNT.4,5 Under her leadership as the editor for 25 months, the magazine became a vital source of news, entertainment, and inspiration for the workforce. TNT skillfully balanced the gravity of wartime work with lighter content to maintain high morale among employees. 

In the summer of 1944, the Navy transferred Gregory’s husband to Nevada, prompting the family to move with the chief ordnance inspector. In her final column, “Editor’s Adieu,” Gregory reflected on her time with the magazine: “We try to give you a magazine you can be proud to send home, but we remember that this is a war plant, and it won’t be too fancy. The same feeling is behind the content of the magazine. We try to hold to the middle course, giving you a few laughs, all the personal items we can gather, and reminders that you ought to buy bonds and give blood, and above every bit of information we get on the performance of the ammunition we make at Triumph.”6

Betty Reese
The cover of the January 1945 issue of TNT featured Betty Reese of Childs. Betty worked as an aide to John Lane, General Foreman of the fuse area. She was writing down her New Year’s resolutions for Triumph News.

Following Gregory’s departure, Harold F. Hall, a graduate of Notre Dame University, assumed the role of editor. Hall emphasized that the magazine should be tailored to the needs and interests of the employees and encouraged contributions from everyone.7

TNT’s last edition, Volume 4, Number 2, came off the printing press in July 1945. Throughout the war years, the monthly had offered a diverse range of content.8  Readers would find personal stories of employees, from their hobbies and family life to their wartime contributions and community involvement. The pages always featured social events, such as dances, picnics, and blood drives.  They also included humor sections with cartoons, jokes, and lighthearted anecdotes. Importantly, Triumph News Topics served as a platform for employee voices, featuring letters to the editor, poems, and even short stories written by fellow workers. This multifaceted approach ensured that the magazine remained engaging and relevant to the diverse interests of a large industrial workforce.

Researching Company Magazines

Margie Wilburn TNT
Margie Wilburn had worked on the press line and served as a powder carrier. When she appeared in the April 1945 issue, she was a timekeeper for Walter Lee.

In conclusion, company trade magazines like TNT are invaluable for historical research. They provide a window into the lives and contributions during wartime, enabling us to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and resilience. By exploring these publications, we can better appreciate the stories like those at Triumph Explosives and piece together the rich tapestry of their contributions to the war effort—stories often overlooked in other historical sources.  Furthermore, these serials also make them valuable for family history research.

A nearly complete run of TNT is available at the Historical Society of Cecil County.

Should women give up their jobs after the war, TNT Minute Interviews, July 1944. In the collection of the Historical Society of Cecil County.
Should women give up their jobs after the war, TNT Minute Interviews, July 1944

Notes

  1. Maryland in World War II: Industry and Agriculture (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society. Ward Records Division. 1951), 429-433. HathiTrust https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058524646&seq=5
    ↩︎
  2. Maryland in World War II, 429-433. ↩︎
  3. The Employment Angle, Vol. 3 Nos. 2-3 (Baltimore: Maryland State Employment, March-June 1941) Service, vertical files of Enoch Pratt Library. ↩︎
  4. Triumph News Topics, vol. 1, no. 2 (July 194), Triumph Explosives, Elkton, MD. Note: The information is taken from the second issue; the first issue was not located. ↩︎
  5. “Editor’s Adieu,” Triumph News Topics, vol. 3, no. 1 (June 1944). ↩︎
  6. “Editor’s Adieu,” Triumph News Topics, vol. 3, no. 1 (June 1944), Triumph Explosives: 2,7 ↩︎
  7. “New Editor,” Triumph News Topics, Vol 3. No. 2, (July 1944), Triumph Explosives: 2. ↩︎
  8. Triumph News Topics, vol. 4, no. 2 (July 1945), Triumph Explosives, Elkton, MD. Note: This was the final issue of the magazine. In 1945, the company changed its name to Triumph Industries. ↩︎

The Clerk of the Court’s Office: Unlocking History’s Treasures

Over the years, I have come to appreciate the immense value of the Clerk of the Court’s office as a repository of historical information. This sentiment was greatly reinforced during my recent visit to the Atlantic County Courthouse in May’s Landing, where I had the pleasure of meeting County Clerk Joseph J. Giralo.

When I stepped into the Clerk’s office, I was struck by his passion for local history and commitment to preserving the rich tapestry of the past in the Jersey shore county. Rather than simply handing me a stack of dusty files and sending me on my way, Clerk Giralo took the time to personally guide me through the meticulously organized records housed within his office.

Atlantic County Clerk of the court Joseh J. Giralo
Atlantic County Clerk of the Court Joseph J. Giralo discusses an official volume.

As I pored over the aging bound volumes, I found his expertise and deep knowledge of Atlantic County’s public records invaluable. He pointed out hidden gems that would have otherwise eluded my search and offered insightful explanations about the significance of these often-overlooked documents.

Clerk Giralo’s enthusiasm and commitment to his role as the custodian of public records transformed what would have been a routine research experience into an enlightening and energizing journey. His guidance helped me uncover connections and insights I would have likely missed had I not had the privilege of his expertise.

By the way, a few years ago, I discovered that the clerk had digitized Atlantic County newspapers and provided free access to them online.

 When tackling challenging research questions, remember that the Clerk of the Court’s office can be a source of elusive traces. Within these constitutional offices, the public records custodians maintain official documents, naturalization papers, land records, court proceedings, and other historical records. Of course, practices vary from state to state and county to county, so having a public official orient you to the practices of the jurisdiction is helpful.

Oxford Newspaper Available Online

Old newspapers are a goldmine of information when researching genealogy and history, and a recent addition by newspapers.com has made an Oxford Newspaper, the Oxford Press, available to researchers. With editions spanning from 1866 to 1930, the broadsheet provides extensive coverage of Southern Chester County, PA, and Northern Cecil County, MD.

This Oxford newspaper has been invaluable to my work, and I often visited the Oxford Library to use the microfilm reader. However, this recent digitization of the old volumes is a significant advance for anyone uncovering the past, particularly genealogists and historians. With greater ease of access, we now have a vast wealth of text-searchable information at our fingertips.

Newspapers.com is available by subscription, or anyone holding a Harford County Public Library card has free, off-site access through the library. Any Maryland resident may obtain a Harford County Library card.

Here’s the link to newspapers.com

Here’s the link to the Harford County Public Library’s newspaper page.

Oxford newspaper, press
The Oxford Press