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Charles S. Burns papers

 Collection 0320-MDHC

Charles S. Burns (1846-1937) was a teacher in Maryland during the late nineteenth century; he also worked for the Customs House in Baltimore, Maryland. The Charles S. Burns papers consist of correspondence, both letters and postcards, from family members, friends, and organizations to which Burns belonged. The subject matter includes notices for membership dues owed the Order of the Golden Chain, news of family events, crop output, and solicitations from former students seeking Burns's help at the Baltimore Customs House. In addition, there is correspondence pertaining to the Sun Mutual Aid Society of Baltimore.

Dates

  • 1870-1911
  • Majority of material found within 1870-1888

Use and Access to Collection

There are no restricted files in this collection

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies or digital surrogates may be provided in accordance with Special Collections and University Archives duplication policy.

Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs unless otherwise specified. It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission to publish materials from the appropriate copyright holder.

Archival materials may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal and/or state right to privacy laws or other regulations. While we make a good faith effort to identify and remove such materials, some may be missed during our processing. If a researcher finds sensitive personal information in a collection, please bring it to the attention of the reading room staff.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Scope and Content of Collection

The Charles S. Burns papers cover the years 1870 to 1911 with the bulk of the material dating between 1870 and 1888. Most of the collection consists of correspondence, both letters and postcards, from family members, friends, and organizations to which Burns belonged. The subject matter includes notices for membership dues owed the Order of the Golden Chain, news of family events, crop output, and solicitations from former students seeking Burns's help at the Baltimore Customs House. In addition, there is correspondence pertaining to the Sun Mutual Aid Society of Baltimore.

Biography

Charles S. Burns was born in Manchester, Maryland, in 1846, one of several children born to Lydia Burns (b. April 23, 1806). His father, about whom little is known, died before Burns was four years old. Though the family's chief occupation was farming, Burns and several other siblings left the farm in pursuit of different careers. Before coming of age, Burns lived in the household of Michael Ritter, a farmer, who maintained a close relationship with Burns until Ritter's death ca. 1879. Burns lost his first wife, Mary Ann, on November 23, 1870. Their son, Robert (d. June 11, 1916), affectionately referred to as "Robbie" by all the family, was nine months old in 1870. Burns later remarried (ca. 1877), but his second wife's name is unknown. His letters from siblings reveal a closely-knit family.

Charles S. Burns held a variety of jobs. He began teaching school in Montgomery County, Maryland, circa 1866 at school #7, "Frog Pond," which was another name for the Burtonsville School. He also taught in Sandy Spring in 1870 and was still teaching as late as 1888, chiefly at both the YMCA in Baltimore and the Baltimore Business College. In 1888, Burns also worked in the Baltimore Customs House. Work took him to many areas around central Maryland: Laurel, Burtonsville, Annapolis Junction, and Baltimore. Socially, Charles enjoyed a wide correspondence and was a member of Druid Lodge No. 29, Order of the Golden Chain, a Masonic organization.

Charles S. Burns died on March 24, 1937, at the age of ninety-one. He was survived by his daughter from his second marriage, Mrs. W. E. Beall of Laurel, Maryland.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged as two series.

  1. Series 1: Correspondence
  2. Series 2: Broadsides and Note

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The University of Maryland Libraries purchased the Charles S. Burns papers from Carmen D. Valentino, a rare books and manuscripts dealer, in 1989.

Related Material

The University of Maryland Libraries also hold the Charles Fleetwood Hanna papers. Like Charles S. Burns, Charles Fleetwood Hanna worked at the Baltimore Customs House.

Processing Information

The materials were placed in acid-free folders and stored in an acid-free box.

Title
Guide to the Charles S. Burns papers
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by James Emmons.
Date
2007-03-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212