William F. Shields Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-7

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Military papers, business and personal correspondence of William F. Shields, tickets for medical classes at New York University and cholera remedy for William B. Shields; and land deeds and related documents for Shields family property in Mississippi and South Carolina, as well as Choctaw Orphan Land and land purchased from the Jennings family.

Dates

1812 - 1912

Creator

Shields, William (William F. Shields) (Person)

Biographical / Historical

William F. Shields joined the Navy as a Midshipman during the War of 1812. A career Navy man, he served as Commander of the USS Preble, and later as head of the Memphis Navy Yard. Shields resided in several locations during his life, but his final residence was in Columbus, MS. He married Harriett L.C. Bouchelle in 1838, and they had at least two sons, William B. Shields and Thomas Shields. Commander William F. Shields died in Columbus in May of 1856.

William B. Shields attended first St. Joseph’s College in Bardstown, KY, the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and finally the New York University Medical School. He later served as a Navy doctor during the Civil War. Thomas Shields attended the University of Mississippi.

Extent

.33 Cubic Feet (1 mss box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement and Description

The papers are divided into six series: I. Military papers; II. Business papers; III. Personal correspondence; IV. Land records; V. Miscellany; and VI. Oversize. The papers are arranged chronologically within each series.

Series I. Military papers Box 1, Folder 1-3

Original commission War of 1812; copy of orders for diplomatic mission to SouthEast Asia and Africa, 1824; correspondence with Naval officers, sailors and foreign dignitaries, mostly from Peru; correspondence to and from the Memphis Navy Yard including a Board of Engineers dispute and cholera in Memphis; correspondence with former shipmates on a variety of topics, including future service and the integration of the Texas Navy with the U.S. Navy.

Series II. Business papers Box 1, Folder 4

Receipts and correspondence regarding cotton and wheat trade.

Series III. Personal correspondence Box 1, Folder 5

Correspondence, including a letter from Congressman A.H. Clayton; letters regarding the education of Shields’ sons at the Naval Academy and University of Mississippi, and some discussion of William B. Shields attending medical school.

Series IV. Land records Box 1, Folder 6

Correspondence, deeds, and surveyor’s maps regarding Shields family land in South Carolina and Mississippi. Also correspondence regarding Choctaw Orphan Land, and land purchased from the Jennings family.

Series V. Miscellany Box 1, Folder 7

Recipe against Cholera and Willam B. Shields matriculation and class cards, Dept of Medicine, New York University, 1857-59.

Series VI. Oversize SMO Box Land deeds and a Confederate bond.