John E.T. Milsaps Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS 0033
Scope and Contents
Along the way Major Milsaps kept a meticulous seventy-three volume diary which chronicles not only his army activities, but also a host of general observations useful to researchers. In addition, the Milsaps Papers contain extensive scrapbooks of personal and salvationist material, personal correspondence and an extensive photographic collections. Similarly, the papers contain a significant body of Salvation Army literature and ephemera unique in this country. When the only complete "run" of the WAR CRY in existence and Milsaps' personal library in Special Collections were added to the Milsaps collection holdings, it became one of the most significant bodies of Salvation Army materials in the United States.
Finally, the collection includes certain materials that may prove useful to researchers concerned neither with Milsaps personally or the Salvation Army in general. The Milsaps Papers contain, for example, the Major's collection of autographs, many of which bear on nineteenth century American politics, especially in the state of Ohio. Also in the collection is a group of scrapbooks dealing with such diverse topics as the Galveston Storm of 1900 and the San Francisco Earthquake. Of unusual interest too is the body of materials Major Milsaps collected in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War which may aid some scholars interested in that conflict or the subsequent insurrection. There is also an extensive collection of materials relating to the history of Slavery.
Finally, the collection includes certain materials that may prove useful to researchers concerned neither with Milsaps personally or the Salvation Army in general. The Milsaps Papers contain, for example, the Major's collection of autographs, many of which bear on nineteenth century American politics, especially in the state of Ohio. Also in the collection is a group of scrapbooks dealing with such diverse topics as the Galveston Storm of 1900 and the San Francisco Earthquake. Of unusual interest too is the body of materials Major Milsaps collected in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War which may aid some scholars interested in that conflict or the subsequent insurrection. There is also an extensive collection of materials relating to the history of Slavery.
Dates
- 1531-1986
- Majority of material found within 1852 - 1930
Access Restrictions
Access to vault materials is by appointment with Archives department.
Use Restrictions
None.
Biographical Note
John Ephraim Thomas Milsaps - bibliophile, salvationist, traveler and diarist - was born in Houston, Texas on January 3, 1852. After leaving his home as a young man to seek his fortune in western mining, Milsaps joined the Salvation Army in 1883 and remained in its service until his retirement. Milsaps died in Houston on November 29, 1932. As a professional salvationist, Major Milsaps travelled widely in this country and abroad as a Salvation Army organizer and (San Francisco) WAR CRY editor. He was among the first representatives of the Army in Hawaii in the 1890's and was the army's spokesman in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War and the subsequent Filipino insurrection.
Extent
75 Linear Feet (131 document boxes, 3 flat boxes, 75 volumes, 9 large volumes, 2 drawers of oversized items, 1 record storage box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Milsaps papers are arranged in Series (A,B,C, D, etc.) according to either material type or emphasis. Series "A", for example, centers around Milsaps' personal life, while Series "B" and "C" concern the Salvation Army with little regard to Milsaps himself.
Arrangement
- Series A - Personal Material
- Series B - Salvation Army Pamphlets and Songbooks
- Series C - Photos
- Series D - Philippines
- Series E - Hawaii
- Series F - Hawaiian Language
- Series G - Missions - Hawaii
- Series H - Missions - Asia
- Series I - Missions - Africa and Middle East
- Series J - Missions - North, Central and South America
- Series K - Missions - Chinese Language
- Series L - Missions - General
- Series M - Religious Pamphlets - General
- Series N - Religious Pamphlets - Baptist
- Series O - Religious Pamphlets - Catholic
- Series P - Religious Pamphlets - Lutheran, Methodist, Quaker, et. al.
- Series Q - Religious Pamphlets - Mormon
- Series R - Sermons - Author Known
- Series S - Sermons - Author Unknown
- Series T - Temperance Pamphlets
- Series U - Slavery Pamphlets
- Series V - Black Pamphlets
- Series W - United States - History - 1492 - 1839.
- Series X - United States - History - 1840 - 1849.
- Series Y - United States - History - 1850 - 1860.
- Series Z - United States - History - 1861-1865, Civil War
- Series AA - United States - History - Reconstruction Era, 1865-1877.
- Series BB - United States - History - 1866 - 1899.
- Series CC - United States - History - 1900 - 1932.
- Series DD - United States - Economic Policy - Trade, Banking, Revenue.
- Series EE - United States - Economic Policy - Money and Currency: Free Silver Debate.
- Series FF - United States - Foreign Relations - Spanish America (Canals).
- Series GG - Texas - History
- Series HH - Texas - Railroad and Land Development Literature
- Series II - Houston and Suburbs - Boosterism Literature (1890's - 1920's).
- Series JJ - Crockett, Davy, 1786 - 1836 - Pamphlets (Almanacs)
- Series KK - Immigration Pamphlets
- Series LL - Peace Pamphlets
- Series MM - Germany - World War, 1914 - 1918.
- Series NN - Travel Pamphlets
- Series OO - Indians of North America
- Series PP - Japan - Pamphlets
- Series QQ - Language & Languages
- Series RR - Language & Languages - Arabic
- Series SS - Mines and Mineral Resources
- Series TT - Museums and Expositions
- Series UU - Libraries - Pamphlets
- Series VV - Books, Music, Arts & Crafts, Collecting (also Milsaps Cigar Bands)
- Series WW - Bookplates
- Series XX - Autograph Collection and Autograph Bible
- Series YY - Scrapbooks (13 listed, one missing)
- Series ZZ - Map Case Items
John Milsaps Diaries, 1852-1930
The Milsaps diaries were microfilmed as part of a cooperative effort between the Houston Metropolitan Research Center and the Salvation Army Archives in New York. As part of the project, the Salvation Army produced these microfilm copies for use by HMRC patrons.
Roll 1 -- Vols. 1-7, 1852-1899
Roll 2 -- Vols. 8-17, 1899-1902
Roll 3 -- Vols. 18-25, 1903-1905
Roll 4 -- Vols. 26-33, 1905-1909
Roll 5 -- Vols. 34-41, 1909-1912
Roll 6 -- Vols. 42-48, 1912-1915
Roll 7 -- Vols. 49-57, 1915-1921
Roll 8 -- Vols. 58-65, 1921-1927
Roll 9 -- Vols. 66-69, 1927-1930
Roll 1 -- Vols. 1-7, 1852-1899
Roll 2 -- Vols. 8-17, 1899-1902
Roll 3 -- Vols. 18-25, 1903-1905
Roll 4 -- Vols. 26-33, 1905-1909
Roll 5 -- Vols. 34-41, 1909-1912
Roll 6 -- Vols. 42-48, 1912-1915
Roll 7 -- Vols. 49-57, 1915-1921
Roll 8 -- Vols. 58-65, 1921-1927
Roll 9 -- Vols. 66-69, 1927-1930
Processing Information
The Japanese color prints were formerly shelved with the Milsaps books in the stacks. They were unfolded, repaired by Charles Arbore, and encapsulated.
The religious papers and journals were formerly listed under Series F (Miscellaneous), Box 2, "Evangelical Newspapers, ca. 1900." The Philippine newspapers were in the same box, but do not appear to be religious papers. The other items were formerly listed under Series F (Miscellaneous), Box 1, folders 8 ("Civil War Commission") and 9 (Miscellaneous Documents"). They have been taken out of folders, encapsulated and placed in the Map Case, along with the religious papers, the newspapers, the Japanese prints, the map of Milsap's travels, and the 1897 drawing of Milsaps made by Leon Boiller, and the photo of Milsaps in old age.
The religious papers and journals were formerly listed under Series F (Miscellaneous), Box 2, "Evangelical Newspapers, ca. 1900." The Philippine newspapers were in the same box, but do not appear to be religious papers. The other items were formerly listed under Series F (Miscellaneous), Box 1, folders 8 ("Civil War Commission") and 9 (Miscellaneous Documents"). They have been taken out of folders, encapsulated and placed in the Map Case, along with the religious papers, the newspapers, the Japanese prints, the map of Milsap's travels, and the 1897 drawing of Milsaps made by Leon Boiller, and the photo of Milsaps in old age.
- African Americans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Afro-American Fair and Inter-state Exposition (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Agriculture -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Aldine Park (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Alvin (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Anti-slavery movements -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Austin (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Burnet Beach (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Camp Logan Riot (Houston, Tex.), 1917 Subject Source: Local sources
- Campaign literature, 1928 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Central Park (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Corpus, Christi (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dallas (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- El Paso (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Falfurrias (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fig -- Texas -- Marketing Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fort Worth (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fruit-culture -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Galveston (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Galveston Hurricane, 1900 Subject Source: Local sources
- Galveston Hurricane, 1915 Subject Source: Local sources
- Hawaii -- Description and travel -- 1880-1911 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hawaii -- History -- To 1893 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hawaiians -- Missions Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Houston (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Houston (Tex.) -- Industries Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Houston Fair and Exposition (1921) Subject Source: Local sources
- Houston Heights (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hurricanes -- Galveston (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- La Porte (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Magnolia Park (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Missionary work Subject Source: Local sources
- Odem (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Local sources
- Pearland (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Petroleum industry and trade -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Philippines Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Philippines -- Description and travel -- 1880-1918 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Philippines -- History -- Revolution, 1896-1898 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Public libraries -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Railroads -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Real estate development -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Real estate development -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rice -- Planting -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Riots -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Salvation Army Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- San Antonio (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 Subject Source: Local sources
- San Jose (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- San Leon (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Slavery -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Southampton (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Southland (Houston, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Suburbs -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sugar growing -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sunnyside Farms (Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Temperance -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Texas -- History -- 19th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- Race relations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Waco (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Westmoreland Farms (Bellaire, Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Winnie (Tex.) -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- John E.T. Milsaps Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center Repository
