MS-105 Benjamin F. Cryder Papers

Introduction

The papers of Benjamin Franklin Cryder were accessioned into the Wright State University Archives and Special Collections in August 1980. Cryder was the grandfather of the late Dr. Frederick White, former vice-president and one of the founders of Wright State University. Dr. White donated this collection of papers after finding them in his attic. The collection fills one Hollinger box and contains 11 files. Span dates are approximately 1816-1888. There are no restrictions on the use of the collection.

Scope and Content

The Benjamin Franklin Cryder Papers are an interesting and varied collection of documents concerning Ross County in the 19th century. The material in this collection gives insights into the geography of Ross County, the Civil War residents of Ross County in the 19th century, the events of that era, and B.F. Cryder himself. The collection is divided into four record groups or series. They are: survey maps, civil war Bounty Reenlistment Receipts and Records, correspondence, and essays.

Series I, survey maps, contains hand drawn maps, some in color, of sections of land in Ross County. Some of the maps bear Cryder’s signature and are believed to have been drawn by him. It is not known who drew the remaining maps. The earliest map in this collection was drawn in 1816.

Series II: bounty reenlistment receipts and records, is valuable for the insights the records within it give into the civil war. This series contains bounty reenlistment receipts for 1864-66, one of which has a letter from a union soldier to his father written on it. On another letter in the same file is a stamp from that era. Also in this series is a list of subscribers to the Colerain Township, Ross County, Veteran Bounty Fund to which Cryder was a contributor. This record could be insightful for genealogists researching persons from Ross County. Finally, there is a financial statement of bounties paid by the Veteran Bounty Fund for the years 1862-64.

Series III contains a small amount of correspondence from the years 1880-86. Also in this series is a file containing unidentified documents.

Series IV contains a collection of essays; political, humorous, and personal, written by B.F. Cryder. The titles given to the essays by Cryder are listed in the inventory. Some of the essays were written for school by Cryder and contain corrections and comments by his instructor. These essays, some of which contain a number of drafts, give lively and fascinating insights into Cryder’s personality and the topics and events of his time.

Container Listing

Series I: Survey Maps

Series II: Bounty Reenlistment Receipts and Records

Series III: Correspondence

Series IV: Essays