Roger Woodbury journals

Collection

Identifier: COU:1775

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The journals are divided into five volumes. The first volume, Woodbury 1, examines the history of the Woodbury Lineage in England. It also provides biographical information stretching back 8 generations from the author (Roger William Woodbury) to his Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather William Woodbury. The second volume, Woodbury 2, provides biographical and anecdotal information about the author’s parents (Henry and Hannah Woodbury) and siblings (Adoniram, Sallie, Davidson, Stillman). It is good to note that for this journal, the page numbers begin at number 175. The third volume, Woodbury 3: Roger Williams Woodbury, provides biographical and anecdotal information about the life of the author, Roger William Woodbury. It begins with tales from his childhood and young adulthood, continuing into his account of his time as a Union soldier. The journal closes with the end of the Civil War. The fourth volume, Woodbury 4, provides biographical and anecdotal information about the life of the author, Roger William Woodbury, beginning after the Civil War. It discusses his career as a newspaper man as well as public figure. It is good to note that the pages are not numbered in this journal; the numbers in brackets are of my own designation. The last volume, Journal of trip to Florida and Cuba: 1886, provides an account of Woodbury’s trip through Florida and Cuba, along with his wife and another couple. He records his impressions of the country and the itinerary of the travelers. Reproducations have been made of this last volume in the form of photocopies and compact discs.

The chapter headings provide accurate descriptions of the content contained in each. The calendar provides a brief summary of the information presented in each chapter. An index which lists all of the photos and other materials Woodbury is included.

The last series titled Personal papers, is a genealogical chart.

Dates

Creation: 1841 - 1896

Biographical Note

Roger Williams Woodbury was born March 3, 1841 in Francestown, New Hampshire, son of Henry and Hannah (Davidson) Woodbury. His education alternated with factory work in the textile town of Manchester, NH. He subsequently learned the printing trade and was the foreman of the composing room of the Manchester Mirror.

He volunteered following the first battle of Bull Run, July 1861, and was enlisted into Company A, Third New Hampshire Infantry, and was promoted to sergeant prior to that unit's assignment to the field. He was commissioned and promoted to captain in his company, taking part in the expedition to Port Royal, South Carolina, the capture of Morris Island and reduction of Fort Sumter. After a brief campaign in Florida, his unit was transferred to General Benjamin F. Butler's Command, participating in the in the battles around Petersburg, FT. Darling and the James River in Virginia in 1864. He also participated in General Butler's Fort Fischer Campaign on the cape Fear River. He mustered out in Concord, MA, on August 2, 1865.

After a brief return to the Manchester Mirror, Woodbury went west to Colorado in the spring of 1866, panning the streams and gulches of Summit County, until he withdrew from mining and went back to Journalism with the Golden Transcript, the Denver Daily Tribune, and The Denver Daily Times and Denver Evening Times. He rose to managing editor and proprietor of the Tribune, until he sold his interest in 1871 and purchased the Times. He was its influential editor until 1882.

Woodbury was president of the Denver Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, was elected as president of the Union Bank of Denver from 1886 to 1893. He invested in railways, milling, and other Colorado industries. He was instrumental in the founding of the first free public library in Denver, now the Denver Public Library. He was elected to the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado for a term running 1884 to 1890. His name was given to the first men's residence hall in 1890. Woodbury Hall is still standing in 2008, 118 years later, as part of the Eaton Humanities complex.

He was a Mason (AF and M, GM of the GL, Royal Arch, and Grand Commandery) and organized the Masonic Temple Association of Denver. He was a Brigadier General in the Colorado National Guard. He was also a prominent member of the Colorado Republican Party.

In 1870, he married Ann M. Koons. They had one son, Frank S. Woodbury who followed in his father's journalistic and banking footsteps. Roger Williams Woodbury died in 1903.

Extent

2 linear feet (8 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Roger Williams Woodbury was elected Regent of the University of Colorado and served one term between 1884-1890. His life included federal service during the Civil War, a career in journalism in New Hampshire and Colorado, and Denver positions in banking. His journals detail Woodbury’s family history (both ancient and modern), as well as providing an autobiographical account of his life. His third journal gives an account of his Civil War service. The fifth journal details a trip Woodbury took to Florida and Cuba.

Image and Insert Index

Woodbury Volume 1

An Old Planter in New England (inserted in beginning, 80 pages) Coat of Arms; 18 Copy from Domesday Book of “Wodeberie” entry; 33 Photo: View from Woodbury Point; 126 Map of Coast along Woodbury Point; 126 Photo: View from Woodbury Point; 127 Petition to Organize a Church (1659); 128 Revolutionary Service of Curtis Woodbury, with seal; 203-205 Reproduction of Nicholas Woodbury’s Gravestone; 268 Reproduction of Ann Woodbury’s Gravestone; 269

Woodbury Volume 2

Photo of unidentified woman and child; 219 Photo of unidentified woman; 245 Photo of unidentified man; 254 Picture of Henry Woodbury; 260 Photo of unidentified man; 260 Photo of unidentified man; 286 Photo of unidentified man; 333 Photo of unidentified man; 414 Photo of unidentified man; 415 Photo of unidentified woman; 415 Photo of two unidentified children; 415 Photo: unidentified man at tombstone of Sallie Davidson Woodbury; 416 Photo of unidentified woman; 420 Photo of unidentified woman; 422 Photo of unidentified man; 425 Photo of two unidentified children; 445 Note, dated April 8, 1864; 446 Photo of unidentified man; 447

Woodbury Volume 3

Original Warrant for Roger Woodbury; 161-162 Certificate of Discharge due to Promotion, July 1, 1863; 218 Orders, 1863 November 1; 240 Orders, 1864 February 29; 254 Orders, 1864 April 14; 276 Orders, 1864 June 13 and September 9 (3 pages); 310 Orders, 1864 October 19; 344 Certificate of Disability, 1864 November 8; 346 Orders, 1865 January 5; 362 Orders, 1865 April 2; 382 Photo: RW Woodbury, age 22; 382 Orders, 1865 June 21; 407 Orders, 1865 August 2; 418 Certificates of Non-Indebtedness (4 pages); 422

Woodbury Volume 4

Woodbury Coat of Arms; [i] Photo of unidentified man; [ii] Ancestor Chart; [iv] Ancestor Chart; [v] Photo of unidentified boy; [109] Denver Daily Times, 1877 July 24; [155] Newspaper clipping; [202] Photo: Highlands - dwelling; [258] Photo: Highlands – front door; [258] Photo: Highlands – the stable; [258] Photo: Highlands – the grove; [258] Residence of Capt. RW Woodbury; [260] Residence of Gen. RW Woodbury; [264-265] Unlabeled Photo; [266] Unlabeled Photo; [266] Unlabeled Photo; [266] Unlabeled Photo; [266] Unlabeled Photo; [266] Unlabeled Photo; [266] Clipping: Banks and Bankers of Colorado; [326-334]

Florida and Cuba

Map of Havana; inside cover page Newspaper Clipping; 5 Moccasin Bend and Chattanooga from the Point, Lookout Mountain; 24 Cut-out of a little boy; 32 Bay Street; 41 Photo: The Carleton House; 42 Man holding alligator; 54 Street Scene; 58 Up St John’s; 66 Scene of train in woods; 75 View of town (Tampa); 78 Photo: Tree with Spanish moss; 91 Man sitting on a box; 104 Three boys eating watermelon; 108 Leaf (Banyan); 109 Woman with basket; 113 Photo: Havana from the harbor; 119 Newspaper Clipping: Photo of Clarence Darrow with caption; 121 Colored Reproductions: Arms of Spain and Havana; 127 Photo: Hotel San Carlos; 129 Menu: Hotel San Carlos Menus for 1886 January 1 and 1886 January 17; 140 Photo: Hotel San Carlos; 161 Photo: Dining Room; 161 Newspaper Clipping: Bad Check for Gas; 161 Colored Reproductions: two men; 178 Photo: No. 83 Cyprus Gate, on the Oklawaha; 178 Photo: No. 78 The Boneyard, Silver Spring Creek; 179 Photo: View overlooking the rooftops of Havana; 200 Photo: View overlooking the rooftops of Havana; 201 Suplemento: La Habana Elegante – Semanario dedicado al Bello sexo; 241 Engraving (?): Plaza de Armas – Governor’s Palace; 243 Ticket Stubs: Sillones y Sillas; 251 Photo: View of Havana Street and Park; 260 Photo: View of Church Façade; 261 Photo: Boats on the shoreline and a horse in the surf; 280 Photo: Fort Wall and view of Harbor; 281 Calling Card: Julian Alvarez; 296 Sheet of Lottery Tickets; 300 Flyer: Plaza de Toros de La Habana – Beneficio de los Andaluces; 321 Ticket: 20 Pesos – Plaza de Toros de la Habana; 358 Telegraph: February 5, 1886 to Denver; 379 Photo(?): In the Caves of Bellamar (?); 380 Photo: Cuban countryside; 381 Ingenio “Toledo:” February 16, 1886, three persons; 383 Photo: Volante and driver; 400 Photo: Volante and driver; 401 Engraving (?): View of wharfs, river and boats (Tampa?); 422 Photo: No 76 – Steamer Okahumkee at Silver Spring; 440 Photo: House (Mrs. Griffin’s Hotel?); 441 Man in hat with drum; 445 River scene with palms and alligator on rock; 449 River scene with plants, steamer, alligator in foreground; 450 Lighthouse; 457 Sidewalk scene including possible monument; 457 Building (possibly a church); 457 Scene of harbor (St Augustine?); 461 Gathering of people, one man holding a candle; 461 Dade Monument (small pyramids and obelisk); 463 Ancient Gates; 463 Calling Cards; [381] Linea del Ferro-Carril de la “Bahia de la Habana” (Rail road time table); [383] Hotel San Carlos Receipts: 1886 January 23; 1886 January 30; 1886 February 6; 1886 February 13; 1886 February 16; [383] Hotel San Carlos Matanzas Receipt: 1886 February 10; [383] Dried leaves and bark; [383] US Department of State ‘passport’; [384]