Focus on the Collections - 2011

With the 2011 issue of Cumberland County History, a new feature will appear in the Journal. The new feature will be an opportunity for our readers to learn more about the extensive and varied collections housed at the Cumberland County Historical Society in irs library, museum, and photo archives. Staff in each of these areas of the Society will select an item or group of items to highlight in each issue. Since this issue is focused on the Civil War, the items selected by the staff will be Civil War related. In subsequent issues, the library, museum or the photo archives staff will select items based on their uniqueness or may focus on a recent addition to the collection. 

Museum

Joshua E. Van Camp- Civil War Relic Hunter- Collection

Joshua E. Van Camp was a well known physician in Cumberland County in the 19th century. He was born in Perry County on February 21, 1844 and later settled in Carlisle. On August 8, 1862 while in his late teens he enlisted in Company H, 133rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Later in the war he reenlisted as a Private in Company E, 208th Penna. Volunteer Regiment on September 2, 1864. Van Camp was soon promoted to Sergeant in that same regiment and was discharged at the age of 20 on June 11, 1865, shortly after the War ended,. His unit participated in battles at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, and Petersburg. After the war he taught school at Markelsville and Greason. He then studied at Pennsylvania College in Gettysburg and read medicine with Dr. Bluger in Newport. He then attended medical lectures at Ann Arbor University in Michigan from where he graduated in 1870. Upon his return to Pennsylvania he married Rachel M. Kaiser of Middlesex, Cumberland County. Together they had three children. Dr. Van Camp practiced medicine for more than 27 years in Markelsville, Plainfield , and Carlisle. He was a member of the Cumberland County Medical Society, the Carlisle Board of Health, and the G.A.R. 

Library

Soldier's Monument Association Papers

On the grounds of the 1845 Cumberland County Court House, the [Civil War] Soldiers' Monument in downtown Carlisle has a prominent position and is an important part of our local cityscape. The monument was originally known as the Soldier's Monument bur is now commonly referred to as the Civil War Monument. While downtown Carlisle continues to evolve, the respect the county citizens hold for those in military service continues to grow. The area surrounding the Civil War monument now has memorials for many other military conflicts. The Soldier's Monument is particularly interesting because of the attempts by local citizen to erect the monument over a five year period beginning two years after the war ended. 

Photo Archive

William Noble's "Camp Alabama" Presentation Album

The Todd Photo Archives houses an important carte-de-visite (CDV) album that belonged to William F. Noble of Carlisle. Mr. Noble (1833-1898) was a fourth generation member of the Noble family, established in America by the 1795 Irish immigrant, John Noble. The family had extensive land holdings in the Carlisle area and was very prominent in the life of the town. William lived in the Noble family home located at 28 South Pitt Street. 

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