Gunn family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
Gunn family papers
Date
1816-1926
Extent
0.27 Cubic feet
Subjects
Clergy--Kentucky.
Engineers--Kentucky.
Family archives--Kentucky.
Soldiers--Kentucky.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Laura A. Hess
Preferred Citation
73M28: [identification of item], Gunn family papers, 1816-1926, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
William Gunn was born in North Carolina in 1797. He became a travelling preacher for the Methodist Episcopal Church's Henderson, Kentucky, circuit in 1819 and then, married Frances Adams, the daughter of a Shelbyville, Kentucky, Methodist minister, in 1826. Their children included William A. Gunn, Thomas Morris Gun, John Tevis Gunn, and James Gunn. William A. Gunn was an engineer and inventor. During the Civil War, he served as chief engineer of the U.S. Military Railroad and constructed several forts in Kentucky. After the war, he built the bridge at Clay's Ferry, Kentucky, and invented the "H" form of column for steel construction. His brothers, Thomas Morris Gunn and John Tevis Gunn served in the Union Army with the 21st Kentucky Volunteers. Thomas acted as army chaplain during the Civil War and later became a Presbyterian minister. James Gunn followed in his father's footsteps by working as a Methodist minister. He also taught at Transylvania University.
Scope and Content
The Gunn family papers comprise the correspondence, legal papers, speeches, and family tree of the William Gunn household. The correspondence series contains letters discussing theological matters and church problems debated at Methodist conferences as well as a number of Civil War epistles between Frances Gunn and her sons. The various legal papers in the collection consist of land deeds, receipts, a will, and marriage licenses from wedding ceremonies presided over by William Gunn, a Methodist Episcopalian minister. The speeches in the collection were made by Reverend Gunn at the 1851 commencement of Shelby College and at the Farmer's Club tenth anniversary. A family tree traces the history of the Gunn family with details from a biographical account and research by William A. Gunn, Reverend Gunn's son.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Correspondence, 1816-1926

Scope and Contents note

The Correspondence series includes letters to Reverend William Gunn about theological matters and church business, as well as letters between the Gunn family members during the Civil War.

, 1816-1849

  • Box 2, Folder 1
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, 1851-1861

  • Box 2, Folder 2
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, 1862-1863

  • Box 2, Folder 3
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General correspondence, 1860, 1863, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 4
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Correspondence, genealogy, biographical materials, 1910-1926

  • Box 2, Folder 5
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Copies of correspondence, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 6
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Family tree, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 11
Scope and Contents note

The Family tree series contains a copy of the Gunn family tree.

To top

Legal papers, 1821-1859

Scope and Contents note

The Legal papers series includes marriage licenses from ceremonies William Gunn presided over, as well as land tract deeds and receipts.

Marriage licenses, 1824-1834

  • Box 2, Folder 7
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Legal papers, 1821-1859

  • Box 2, Folder 8
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Speeches, 1851, 1888

Scope and Contents note

The Speeches series includes a speech made at the Farmer's Club anniversary and a speech from the 1851 commencement of Shelby College.

Speech, 1888

  • Box 2, Folder 9
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Shelby College materials, 1851

  • Box 1, Folder 1
  • Box 2, Folder 10
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.