Laidley Family Papers

These papers are at the Clements Library in Ann Arbor. I examined them on 1 July 2003. A finding aid is available. This collection is uncatalogued.

Folder 1. Amacetta Laidley (Mrs. George W. Summers) (1818-     )

Folder 2. George W. Summers (1804-68)

Folder 3. T. T. S. Laidley. West Point Reports.

5 documents. All preprinted with spaces to fill in. All from Engineering Department in Washington.

1. Dec 19 1879. Extract of the Class and Conduct Reports of the Military Academy for the Month of November 1839, furnished for the information of Parents and Guardians. Third class composed of 78 members. Laidley was 19th in Math, 10th in French, 34th in Drawing, and 15th in English Grammar. 0 demerits this month. 12 since the beginning of the academic year. Signed by Trotten.

2. Jan 28, 1840.Semi Annual Examination for Third class. 78 cadets. 15th in Math, 17th in French, 13th in Drawing, 12th in English Grammar.

3. Oct 21, 1841. Class and Conduct report for Sept 1841. 58 members [they lost 20!]. 7th in Engineering, 10th in Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy, 9th in Minerology. 0 demerits in year.

4. March 26, 1842. Class and Conduct report for Feb 1842. 57 in class. 7th in Engineering, 9th in Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy, and 3rd in Artillery. O demerits for the month. 7/2 for year.

5. May 21, 1842. Class and Conduct report for April 1842. 56 in class. 9th in Engineering, 13th in Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy and 8th in Tactics. 0 demerits in Month.

These are individually not very interesting, but try to get one for someone famous.

Folder 4. Euphradian Gazette 1843. (Phila Mag prob never published)  T. T. S. Laidley to W. Sydney Laidley (bro).

This would be after graduation in 1842. The title on the folder makes no sense. These are letters from Theodore to his brother Syd.

Folder 5. Leander S. Saidley (b. 1798). 

First is 1838, then 1855.

Folder 6. Alex. T. Laidley (nephew of John Laidley)

Folder 7. Helen (niece of John Laidley).

Folder 8. John Laidley (1791-1863).

Folder 9. Jane W. (Mrs T. T. S.) Laidley

One letter, 1851 is from Tarrytown and she describes the area and events that have taken place nearby such as capture of Andre.

The other is 1852. Have heard of you through Theo.

Folder 10. W. H. Buffington (s. in law of John Laidley)

One letter 1848.

Folder 11. Loa Virginia Burns.

1852.

Folder 12. James H. Laidley (1837-1893).

Letters from 1850s.

Box 2

There is a folder marked "T. T. S. Laidley" and it is a goldmine. Letters from him as a cadet to his parents John  and Mary L. Laidley.

1838.06.04.  Arrived "yester-week". Gives schedule. Recites in arithmetic from 2 to 4. Exams soon.

1839-04-14. I am 17 today. "We are studying Descriptive Geometry which treats representing magnitudes on planes but I do not see the use of it. It is pretty hard and I do not like it." Talks of sons of famous people at the academy. 

1841-06-17. "The examination was unusually strict. They examined 13 of us 6 1/2 hours on Philosophy. I feel very much relieved for I was almost worn out by stuedying so song and so hard almost the whole time." "Our board of visitors are more scientific this year than usual. Proff Davis the former Proff at this place of Math. A Graduate of this place. Com. Stewart &c &c. They have paid a good deal of attention to the examination and asked questions on several branches."

Perhaps there are only 6 cadet letters.

At first I was very excited when I saw this mass of letters. But after reading a few there may not be as much really good info as I expected. However, I should come back and read through this carefully.