Michael Tames Papers, PC.5106

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Michael Tames Papers, PC.5106

Abstract

Michael Tames is an antiques and postcard collector, Civil War enthusiast, and resident of Roanoke Island, N.C. The Michael Tames Papers, 1861-2009 and undated, primarily consists of Tames' collection of letters and documents related to the Civil War on Roanoke Island, as well as photographs of the Outer Banks area taken by the Tames family.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Michael Tames Papers
Call Number
PC.5106
Creator
Tames, Michael
Date
1861-2009 and undated
Extent
0.810 cubic feet
Language
English
Repository
Outer Banks History Center

Series Quick Links

Restrictions on Access & Use

Access Restrictions

Available for research. Computer files may be inaccessible pending reformatting. Contact the Outer Banks History Center for more information.

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by the United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying these materials.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], PC.5106, Michael Tames Papers, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC, U.S.A.

Collection Overview

The Michael Tames Papers, 1861-2009 and undated, primarily consists of Tames' collection of letters and documents related to the Civil War on Roanoke Island. Tames collected dozens of letters from soldiers stationed at forts and on ships in the vicinity of the island, as well as numerous official records created during the war. Substantial collections of letters from William S. Chace, 4th Rhode Island Infantry, and Thomas Love, 89th New York, are present in the collection, in addition to numerous discrete letters and documents created by soldiers stationed on Roanoke Island at various points during the war. Many of the letters are love letters, including most of Thomas Love's letters to his wife, and a 5 May 1865 letter from Jonathan Gable to his sweetheart, Miss Julian Grove. The collection also includes photocopies of several documents related to Chace and Love collected by Tames while doing research at various archival repositories.

In addition to papers related to the Civil War, the collection also includes photographs created by the Tames family during their time on Roanoke Island in the 1960s-2000s. These photographs depict the area surrounding the William B. Umstead Bridge in the early 1980s, family beach excursions, metal detecting and searching for artifacts at the former site of a Civil War camp on Roanoke Island, Tames and his family surfing and swimming in the 1960s, the First Colony Inn in Nags Head, Jockey's Ridge State Park, the removal of ancient tree stumps from Nags Head beach in the early 1990s, Boy Scout fishing trips, an unidentified "LST" shipwreck, and damage after Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Photographs include black and white and color prints, negatives, contact sheets, and born digital images.

Arrangement Note

Most materials arranged chronologically within folders.

Biographical/Historical

Michael Tames is an antiques and postcard collector, Civil War enthusiast, and resident of Roanoke Island, N.C. He spent approximately three decades acquiring the Civil War materials in this collection. Tames created a website entitled "The Civil War on Roanoke Island" to share his research.

Tames is especially interested in the Battle of Roanoke Island, a campaign which took place 7-8 February 1862. Many of the letters and documents in this collection relate to this campaign and the movements of the Burnside Expedition in the preceding months.

Contents of the Collection

1. William S. Chace Letters, 1861-1862

William S. Chace Letters, 1861-1862
Box 1

2. Thomas Love Letters, 1861-1862

Thomas Love Letters, 1861-1862
Box 1

3. Letter from Thomas Love to Jane Love, 24 June 1862

Letter from Thomas Love to Jane Love, 24 June 1862
Box 3

4. Letter from Thomas Love to Jane Love, 3 October 1862

Letter from Thomas Love to Jane Love, 3 October 1862
Box 3

5. Discrete Civil War Letters, 1861-1865

Letter from Asa Winn, 3rd Georgia, Roanoke Island, to his father Charles J. Winn, 6 September 1861
Box 2
Letter fragment from Asa Winn, 3rd Georgia, Roanoke Island, to his father Charles J. Winn, 4 October 1861
Box 2
Letter from William Miller, U.S. Steamer Underwriter, to His Cousin, 14 November 1861
Box 2
Letter from William B. Alexander, 23rd Massachusetts Co. E, on board the Hussar, to His Wife, 12 January 1862
Box 2
Letter from John Morrarty, 8th Connecticut, Roanoke Island, to His Wife, 9 February 1862
Box 2
Letter from William B. Alexander, 23rd Massachusetts Co. E, on board the Hussar, to His Wife, 10 February 1862
Box 3
Letter from an unknown soldier, 4th Rhode Island, on bard the steamer Eastern Queen, to His Mother, 11 February 1862
Box 2
Letter from F. Seaweind, 27th Massachusetts, Roanoke Island, to His Cousin, 16 February 1862
Box 2
Letter from William B. Hammond, 24th Massachusetts Co. B, Roanoke Island, to His Family, 18 February 1862
Box 2
Letter from an unknown soldier, 10th Connecticut, Croatan Sound, to His Father, 26 February 1862
Box 2
Letter from [George?] Campbell, 51st Pennsylvania Co. G, Roanoke Island, to His Father, 26 February 1862
Box 2
Letter from Enoch B. Kirby, 51st Pennsylvania, to Mr. Trites, 27 February 1862
Box 2
Letter Fragment from William L. Norton, 10th Connecticut, with Hand-Drawn Map of the Battle of Roanoke Island, to Pennie E. Annis, 3 March 1862
Box 2
Letter from George Arnott, 89th New York, Roanoke Island, to His Friend Ida, 24 March 1862
Box 2
Letter from "Edgar," 89th New York, Roanoke Island, regarding the U.S.S. Monitor, to His Sisters, 28 March 1862
Box 2
Letter from N.B. Tobin, 6th New Hampshire, Roanoke Island, on the Battle of South Mills, to His Wife, 26 April 1862
Box 2
Letter from Charles H. Amsbury, 89th New York, Roanoke Island, to D.H. Ogden, 5 May 1862
Box 3
Letter from William E. Fredenburg, 89th New York, Roanoke Island,on the Battle of South Mills, to His Friend Charles, 29 May 1862
Box 2
Letter from B. Lamoreaux, Hatteras Island, to His Brother George, 15 June 1862
Box 2
Letter from Daniel P. Gladding, 4th Rhode Island, Beaufort Harbor, to His Father, 22-23 June 1862
Box 2
Letter from Jonathan Gable, 103rd Pennsylvania, Roanoke Island, to His Friend [Miss] Julian Grove, 5 May 1865
Box 2
Letter from W.S. Armstrong, 103rd Pennsylvania, Roanoke Island, to His Sister Catherine, 25 May 1865
Box 2
Letter from W.A. Clarkman, 30th U.S. Colored Infantry, Roanoke Island, to Captain D.E. Proctor, 12 October 1865
Box 2
Letter from Henry R. Durham, 30th U.S. Colored Infantry, Roanoke Island, to His Aunt, Mrs. William A. Mason, 14 November 1865
Box 2

6. Discrete Civil War Documents, 1861-1865

Enlistment Record for James Malpass, Fort Hatteras, 10 August 1861
Box 2
Morning Report, 7th North Carolina Volunteers Co. F, 27 August 1861
Box 2
Discharge Certificate, [Veron?] P. Giles, 6th New Hampshire, 3 March 1862
Box 2
Discharge Certificate, Isaac N. Morse, 6th New Hampshire, 3 March 1862
Box 2
Document Appointing William K. Pollack, 1st U.S. Artillery Co. E, to Second Lieutenant, 26 March 1862
Box 2
Account of Pay, Corporal Coe O. Coleman, 89th New York, 31 May 1862
Box Oversize Folder 1
Hand-Drawn Map of the Battle of Roanoke Island, 1862
Box 2
Abstract of Expenditures, Ft. Parke, 5th Rhode Island, 1864
Box Oversize Folder 1
Pay Documents of Elida Kies, 16th Connecticut, 1864
Box 2
Letter from an Unknown Soldier, 103rd Pennsylvania, Roanoke Island, Requesting Six Men for Police Detail, 27 April 1865
Box 2
List of Stores Received from Lt. R.P. Parker, 1st U.S. Colored Infantry, Roanoke Island, 12 July 1865
Box 2
Two envelopes postmarked to Roanoke Island, circa 1861-1865
Box 2

7. Research Papers on Thomas Love (1862-1994), circa 2000s

Research Papers on Thomas Love (1862-1994), circa 2000s
Box 3

8. Research Papers on William S. Chace (1862-2009), 2000s

Research Papers on William S. Chace (1862-2009), 2000s
Box 3

9. CD-Rom with Sampling of Scanned Civil War Letters, 2003

CD-Rom with Sampling of Scanned Civil War Letters, 2003
Box 3

10. Tames Family Photographs, 1962-1990s and undated

Tames Family Photographs, 1962-1990s and undated
Box 2

11. CD-Rom with Digital Photographs of Hurricane Isabel Damage, 2003

CD-Rom with Digital Photographs of Hurricane Isabel Damage, 2003
Box 3

Subject Headings

  • Battle of, N.C. 1862 South Mills
  • Battle of New Bern, New Bern, N.C., 1862
  • Burnside's Expedition to North Carolina (1862)
  • North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Outer Banks (N.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Roanoke Island (N.C.)--History--Capture, 1862
  • Roanoke Island (N.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Love letters

    • Acquisitions Information

    Donated by Michael Tames, May 2003, March 2012, and March 2018; and the Outer Banks History Center Associates, December 2009.

    Processing Information

  • Processed by Samantha Crisp, February 2020.