Guide to the Ambrose E. Burnside Collection , 1850-1883

(bulk 1862-1881)


Bristol Historical and Preservation Society
PO Box 356
48 Court Street
Bristol, RI, 02809
Tel: 401-253-7223
email: info@bhps.necoxmail.com

Published in 2017

Collection Overview

Title: Ambrose E. Burnside Collection
Date range: 1850-1883, (bulk 1862-1881)
Creator: Bristol Historical and Preservation Society
Extent: 80-90 item(s)
Abstract: The Historical Society holds a number of Burnside artifacts, primarily items related to his service in the Civil War.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Bristol Historical and Preservation Society
Collection number: MSS 1881

Scope & content

Access Points

Subject Topics

Arrangement

Collection is comprised of five (5) series.

  • 1. Military Related Items
  • 2. Certificates and Medals
  • 3. Printed Material
  • 4. Visual Material
  • 5. Household Items

Biographical Note

Ambrose Everett Burnside was born in Liberty, Indiana on May 23, 1824 to Edghill and Pamela Brown Burnside, and was the fourth of nine children. He attended the United States Military Academy for four years, graduating in 1847. He served in the Mexican-American War with the United States Army, and the American Civil War with the Union Army and ultimately received the rank of Major General. He took part in many famous battles including the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg, among many others. He was assigned to Fort Adams in Newport, RI in 1852, and married Mary Richmond Bishop on April 27th of that year. The marriage lasted until her death in 1876, and they had no children. He resigned from the Army in 1853 in order to focus on the production of his famous Burnside Carbine. At this time, he was also employed as a director for many independent railroad and industrial companies. He went on to be elected as the 30th Governor of Rhode Island, where he served three consecutive one-year terms from May 29, 1866 to May 25, 1869. He continued his political career when he was elected as a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island to the U.S. Senate in 1874, a position he held until his death in 1881. Burnside was also elected to be the first President of the National Rifle Association in 1871 and held the position for a year before resigning. Burnside is known in popular culture for his iconic facial hair, which grew down in front of his ears, joining to his mustache but with a clean-shaven chin. This style became known as “sideburns”, a term we still use to this day. Ambrose Burnside died September 13th, 1881 in Bristol, Rhode Island of heart failure. He is buried in the Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the University Library. Although Roger Williams University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim copyright except where noted. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Ambrose E. Burnside Collection, MSS 1881, Bristol Historical and Preservation Society.
Contact information: Bristol Historical and Preservation Society
PO Box 356
48 Court Street
Bristol, RI, 02809
Tel: 401-253-7223
email: info@bhps.necoxmail.com

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: There are no accession records for the bulk of the items. Hence little is known about their origin. Items were likely given to the Society by various townspeople.
Processing information: This collection has been minimally processed. The following preliminary inventory is available. It will be updated periodically.Please contact the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society for additional information.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Molly Buckley and Teagan Doran.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Heidi Benedict and Victoria Ramos, 2017.
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Series 1. Military Related Items
Items in this series highlight Burnside's military career.

  • chair and saddle
  • field glasses
  • military seal, 1862
  • powder horn
  • sword with sheath
  • sword without sheath
  • sword
  • Burnside muzzle loader patent, 1857
  • Burnside's field desk
  • Burnside's money/document box
  • commemorative medal, 1862
  • epaulets
  • field binoculars
  • mess kit
  • roll of company G.2nd R.I. volunteer, 1861
  • stirrups
  • telescope

Series 2. Certificates and Medals


  • certificate of promotion, 1862
  • certificate of recognition, 1869
  • certificate of recognition, 1886
  • completed template of Samuel A. Taylor's record, noting his enlistment, rank, company, and discharge, 1877
  • appointment signed by R.I. Governor William Sprague, 1861
  • badges worn at the laying of the Burnside Memorial, 1883
  • commission signed by Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Series 3. Printed Material
Items in this series include published books, pamphlets and programs, letters, etc.

  • book: the Life and Public Services of Ambrose E.Burnside
  • Burnside funeral article, 1881
  • collection of papers
  • Burnside's coat of arms
  • four business cards
  • sales receipt, 1914
  • book: The Life of General A.E.Burnside, 1884
  • pamphlet:Union Forever
  • rogram:Burnside Memorial Reception, 1983
  • letterbook
  • invitation to clambake with envelope, 1875
  • letter, 1876
  • stationery of General Burnside

Series 4. Visual Material
Items in this series include photographs, drawing, postcards, and other images on paper.

  • Burnside's coat of arms
  • framed picture of a horse
  • framed picture of men, 1887
  • illustration of Burnside with horse
  • photograph of front view of Fort Sedgwick, 1865
  • photograph of Fort Sedgwick showing bomb proof of 7th Rhode Island, 1865
  • photograph of interior of Fort Sedgwick, 1865
  • sepia-toned portrait of Burnside
  • black and white portrait of Burnside
  • postcard of Burnside's home
  • Burnside's coat of arms
  • framed picture of Libby Prison, 1863
  • framed picture of ships, 1864
  • group with General Burnside on the Summit of Mt.Washington
  • photograph of Mary Richmond Bishop Burnside
  • photograph of Mrs. A.E. Burnside
  • picture of Burnside's family in horse and wagon
  • steel engraving of General A.E. Burnside
  • steel engraving plate
  • six portraits of Burnside (two dated 1861)

Series 5. Household Items
This series includes clothing, furniture, tableware, etc.

  • candle stick holder
  • pieces of broken furniture
  • Burnside chair
  • Burnside table
  • handkerchief and two buttons
  • pieces from china place setting
  • hat
  • silverplated cup, spoons, and forks
  • box, with ties, containing hay and bottles
  • black wooden cane
  • purple necktie
  • purple ribbon, 1881
  • white bust of Burnside
  • brown wooden cane, 1881
  • wallet containing coins and papers