Item Detail
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Mcgillycuddy, Fanny Hoyt
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1850-1897
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MSS SC 139
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Journal
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Fanny Hoyt was born in 1850 in New York. There is not much information available on her between the years 1850 and 1875. On December 19, 1875 she married Valentine Trent O'Connell McGillycuddy, MD in Ionia, Michigan. He left for an expedition soon after they were married when General George Crook offered him a position as field surgeon with the western army. Fanny remained in Michigan until November 11, 1876 when she joined him on his expedition. They moved to Pine Ridge Agency, Shannon, Dakota Territory in 1880 where Valentine worked as an agent for the Indians improving life on the reservation. They stayed there until about 1888 when he was dismissed from this position. They then moved to Rapid City, Dakota Territory where they built a large Victorian style home. Fanny remained there until she died in 1897.
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This journal is a day to day record of the goings on of military life while Valentine McGillycuddy was working as the field surgeon for the western army. It is 32 pages long, written on both front and back in a notebook three inches by six inches. It is all handwritten in pencil and can be somewhat hard to read at times. The notebook has the label 'V.T. McGillycuddy, MD U.S. Black Hills Expedition' on the cover. It begins in the hand of Valentine McGillycuddy in May 1876 where he documents the occurrences of the days: letters he has written, wounded soldiers he has attended to. Included are a description of the Battle of Slim Buttes and the death of the Sioux chief, American Horse. Beginning on December 14, 1876 the entries are written in Fanny's hand. She writes through to the end of the journal, which ends on April 11, 1877. Her portion is mostly concerned with social engagements and the weather ordinary day to day things such as the walks they took and the horseback riding they did. Each date is noted and very few days are missed.
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1811-1893