Chamberlain Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The Chamberlain Family Papers consists of correspondence, certificates, photographs, address books, maps, programs, petitions, receipts, contracts, court records, deeds, WWII ration books, and estate documents Among the artifacts are Fred W. Chamberlain’s wallet, and the printing plate for William P. Chamberlain’s calling card. Certificates include William P. Chamberlain II’s certifications from Camp LeConte as well as certificates from his time at McCallie School. Chamberlain II’s 1933 Knoxville High School diploma is housed in flat storage. The contracts include the original Chamberlain and Albers 1867 co-partnership agreement. Photographs depict mostly unidentified Chamberlain family members and include one Civil War photograph of William P. Chamberlain in uniform. A 1918 broadside warned against the spread of influenza in Sevier County. The petition asks the Knox County delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to increase the comptroller’s salary. Programs include violin and piano recitals from Mrs. Krutch’s class and the graduation ceremony for Class 44-C, Army Air Forces pilot school. Letters from William P. Chamberlain to his wife, Kate, business correspondence to Frederick W. Chamberlain, letters from William P. Chamberlain II to his parents as well as courting letters addressed to the young Chamberlain comprise most of the correspondence. Two Civil War letters from William P. Chamberlain written at Camp White, West Virginia are also included. Annie McClung Chamberlain and Bessie B. McClung’s address books list acquaintances and their addresses. The map is a combination of Knox County USGS topographical maps bound together to make them portable.
Dates
- 1831 - 1959
- Majority of material found within 1863 - 1920
Conditions Governing Use
Material is available for research. Prior arrangement MUST be made by contacting the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection at mcclung-archivist@knoxlib.org
Biographical / Historical
William Porter Chamberlain was born on December 2, 1840, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio to Leander Chamberlain and Susanna Willey Chamberlain. He enlisted in the United States Army on April 21, 1861, as a corporal in the 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment. The army promoted him to 1st lieutenant in 1863 and he mustered out of service on July 6, 1864. He and his brother, Hiram, moved to Knoxville following the war, where Hiram operated the Knoxville Iron Works, and William formed a partnership with Andrew Jackson Albers in a drugstore. He married Mary Morrow in 1869, but she died the following year. In 1873, he married Katherine Harper, and the pair had four children, Harper Leander Chamberlain, Frederick William Chamberlain, Eleanor Chamberlain, and Kate Chamberlain. Chamberlain died on April 15, 1917, and is buried in Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville.
Frederick William Chamberlain was born on February 21, 1876, in Knoxville. He married Annie Dee McClung on January 23, 1904, and the pair had one son, William Porter Chamberlain. He graduated from the University of Tennessee and worked at the Southern Railway and Knoxville Iron Co. His World War I draft registration card described him as tall and slender with dark brown hair and eyes. Fred worked as an insurance salesman for Lincoln National Life Insurance Agency and as vice president of Albers Drug Co. He died on June 9, 1938, and is buried in Old Gray Cemetery.
Extent
3 boxes
Language of Materials
English
- Business enterprises Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Insurance Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- McCallie School Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Military Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pharmaceutical industry Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Zachary Keith
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection Repository
601 S Gay Street
3rd floor
Knoxville Tennessee 37902 United States
865.215.8814
mcclung-archivist@knoxlib.org
