Work Description: Today, I focused exclusively on processing Folder 225, Folder 226, and Folder 227 from the Dolan Papers Collection, which included highly fragile muster rolls, pay records, and arrest statements from the Texas Frontier Battalion. My goal was to gently separate, align, and stabilize all items within these folders, while identifying their chronological range and content for rehousing and metadata documentation. Folder 225 contained three separate muster rolls from 1876, 1877–1878, and 1878–1879, all of which were brittle, torn, and required careful flattening and placement within mylar sleeves or archival folders. Folder 226, the muster-out and pay roll dated April 30, 1879, was particularly challenging due to missing sections, edge deterioration, and ink bleeding, but I was able to preserve original structure and identify enlistment and discharge details. Folder 227 held a single document—a statement of arrests dated May 31, 1877—which provided incredible insight into the duties of Company F and listed names, dates, crimes, and narrative descriptions of law enforcement activity during the Reconstruction era. As I worked through each document, I compared the handwritten content against the preliminary metadata and cross-referenced it with the donor information attributed to the Shipman Collection, specifically Mrs. L. C. Brite. By the end of the shift, I had successfully processed, documented, and housed all three folders while flagging several sheets for potential conservation attention due to large tears and water damage.
Reflection: Handling these documents brought me face-to-face with the administrative backbone of Texas’s military and civil law enforcement during a historically volatile time. Seeing names, dates, pay rates, and even descriptions of specific arrests made these records feel alive, as if I were reading direct testimony from the past. The damage sustained by many of the documents was sobering, but it also reaffirmed the urgency and value of archival preservation. I took extra care to maintain the original order of items as listed and ensured each document was assigned a unique folder number and content description. One of the most rewarding moments was matching fragmented pages together by aligning torn edges and paper grain direction, similar to assembling a historical jigsaw puzzle. Working through these materials also emphasized how much hidden knowledge can be found in the margins—such as annotations, signatures, and even ink color—adding texture to what could otherwise appear as dry administrative records. This experience reminded me that every document, no matter how damaged or brief, is a witness to someone’s life and labor, and I feel incredibly honored to help preserve that legacy.
Summary of Work Completed:
- Processed Folder 225: Three muster rolls from 1876–1879, stabilized and rehoused.
- Processed Folder 226: One muster-out and pay roll, severely damaged, carefully aligned and placed in archival housing.
- Processed Folder 227: One arrest statement from May 31, 1877, with narrative details, flattened and labeled.
- Flagged items with severe tears, ink corrosion, and possible mold staining for conservation review.
- Recorded descriptive metadata for all items including dates, types, donor, and physical condition.
- Aligned fragmented pages and preserved order according to donor arrangement and content type.
This photo displays the original storage format of Folders 225 through 227, laid out on a work surface for reference. The brown archival covers are labeled with hand-written identifiers for easy retrieval. This image documents the starting point before materials were rehoused.
Here, several documents from Folders 225-227 are placed into acid-free folders with attached inventory sheets. A severely water-damaged muster roll is protected under mylar, showing early signs of ink migration and folding lines. The preservation work ensures these items are safe for future handling.
A single unfolded muster roll from Folder 225 is visible outside its housing for inspection. The document shows multiple fold lines, ink fading, and tears, revealing its age and extensive use. Content includes soldier names, pay rates, and dates from 1877.
The same document has been gently flattened and aligned within a new acid-free folder for long-term storage. Although the damage is visible, the legibility is mostly retained. This document was one of the most fragile in today’s batch.
This image shows the severely fragmented pay roll from Folder 226. Three different sheets are housed together, including one with substantial portions missing from the center. These sheets required individual handling and positioning using support paper.
Another sheet from Folder 226 displays rows of handwritten names and dollar amounts. This document was held together with outdated tape and needed special attention during transfer. Despite missing pieces, the majority of names remain legible.
This is a nearly intact muster roll for Captain Dolan’s company, listing names, dates of service, remarks, and dollar amounts paid. It has large water stains and small holes, but is structurally stable. This was one of the most readable documents processed today.
A water-stained statement from Folder 227 documents arrest activity from May 31, 1877. The narrative on the right side is still legible, detailing who was arrested, where, and for what crimes. The document also shows patched repairs and preservation challenges.
This image highlights the continued narrative of the arrest statement. The ink is darker and the handwriting larger, which aided in transcription. This page was carefully flattened and preserved with minimal interference.
A final fragment of the arrest report contains a narrative paragraph signed by Pat Dolan. Though smaller in size, it offers valuable insight into the duties of the Frontier Battalion during this time. It is now safely housed with supporting backer paper and in a labeled folder.
Add comment
Comments