Scope and Content Note
The James Cheston Worthington Collection contains 37 letters written to his friend, Edward Shriver, between 1870 and 1877. The bulk are written from Fort Whipple, Arizona Territory. Worthington is one of 7 single men on the post, where there are only 2 ladies of marriageable age. One is the coquettish daughter of Lt. Col. John D. Wilkins, with whom Worthington imagines himself in love. He describes social activities revolving around croquet, Kino, billiards, ice cream socials, dances, plays, and German lessons with Mrs. August V. Kautz, wife of the commanding officer.
His letters are full of gossip about local people, the commanding officer (August V. Kautz) and his wife, Major Charles Porter, Adjutant of the Arizona Department, Paymaster Charles A. Reynolds, and more. We also learn about a dispute with a female doctor from Prescott, Mrs. Murray, which ended when Worthington was transferred to Camp Grant.
The collection is divided into two series: Original Letters and Facsimile. Series 1 contains the original letters (Box 1), while series 2 contains photocopies of the originals and typed transcripts (Box 2).
Dates
- Creation: 1870-1877
Creator
Language of Materials
Material in English
Access Restrictions
Box 1 of this collection contains the original letters, which are fragile and require permission to view and use. Use of materials from Box 2 is restricted to typescripts and photocopies. Contact Ask An Archivist for more information.
To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.
Copyright
Arizona State University does not own copyright to this collection. Distinctive Collections recognizes that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.
Biographical Note
James Cheston Worthington was born in Maryland on January 19, 1853. He graduated 3rd in his class from West Point in 1875 and was stationed at Fort McHenry, Maryland. Between 1877 and 1880 he served as Post Surgeon at Fort Whipple, A.T., Fort Huachuca, A.T., Camp Grant, and Fort McDowell, A.T.
Following 1880, he was Post Surgeon at Fort Wayne, Michigan, Jeffersonville, Indiana, Department of the Missouri, at Forts Crawford and Lewis, Colorado, and Fort Townsend, Washington, where he was serving in 1890. Worthington died on the 11 of August 1896.
Sources:
William H. Powell, Records of Living Officers of U.S. Army (Philadelphia: L.R. Hammersly and Co., 1890).
Francis Bertrand Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, Volume I (Washington, 1903).
Full extent
2 Box(es)
Full extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
The James Cheston Worthington Collection contains 37 letters written to his friend, Edward Shriver, between 1870 and 1877.
Arrangement
This collection consists of two boxes divided into two series:
- Series I: Original Letters
- Series II: Facsimiles
Provenance
The James Cheston Worthington Letters were purchased in December, 1996. The Worthington Photograph was purchased from the Sharlott Hall Museum, Prescott, Arizona, and donated by Patricia A. Etter in 1996.
Subject
- Worthington, James Cheston, 1853-1896 (Person)
- Shriver, Edward (Person)
- Kautz, August V. (August Valentine), 1826-1896 (Person)
- Porter, Charles, 1838-1902 (Person)
- Title
- James Cheston Worthington Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Patricia A. Etter in March 1999; machine-readable finding guide created by Michael Lotstein in July 2004.
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide encoded in English.
Repository details
Part of the Greater Arizona Collection Repository
Contact
Arizona State UniversityP.O. Box 871006
Tempe AZ 85287-1006 United States
(480) 965-4932
archives@asu.edu