Martha Phelps portrait, 1897

The Charles Edward Phelps collection consists of two series: Manuscripts and Photographs.

Series I, Manuscripts, primarily contains correspondence to and from Charles Edward Phelps, circa 1859-1907. This correspondence consists of five folders, located in Subseries: Correspondence. The earliest letters are from Charles to his half-brother, John Wolcott Phelps, whom he refers to as "Wolcott." The contents of his letters range from philosophical musings to political commentary, both foreign and domestic. In a letter dated May 12, 1859, Charles writes extensively of his thoughts on the war in Italy, later known as the Second Italian War of Independence: "What the result is to be, no man who has faith in human progress can doubt. What may be the fate of dynasties, or the changes in the colors upon the map of Europe. Of course, it is idle to speculate, but that is a subordinate and insignificant question. Whether the regeneration of Italy is the immediate result or not, I think it is not sanguine to predict, that when the smoke rolls off from the fields of carnage to which the embodied Past has challenged the Future, it will disclose a new step achieved in the direction of human freedom, and self-government, if not established in fact, at least recognized in principle."

Notably, Phelps writes to his brother of his engagement and subsequent capture at the Battle of Spottsylvania Court House on May 8, 1864, where he received a shot through the elbow. He was treated "by a rebel surgeon, from Balto., formerly a schoolmate and intimate friend, Dr. Murray...They treated me very well, after they found out who I was, but rather shabbily at first, as they robbed me of everything I had." He also writes a month later, informing him that he is up for promotion, "unexpected and unsolicited by me..." After the close of the war, Phelps' letters to Wolcott return to political conversation. His letter of May 23, 1868 during the Fortieth Congress mentions a Bill that he introduced after waiting for the "impeachment hubub" to simmer down. He does not discuss the bill in detail, but notes that he will make a speech in the House in favor of Colonization and "this measure in particular."

Also in this series is a folder of correspondence from Charles Phelps to his eldest son, William Woodward Phelps. The letters range from 1879, when William was 9 years old, to 1891, during his tenure at the Naval Academy. The earliest letter, dated January 29, 1879, contains Phelps' response to a note his son gave him informing his father of his good progress in school. Phelps was so touched by the kind tone of the note, that he penned a full letter in gratitude for the boy's effort. There is a ten-year gap in the letters, after which Phelps writes several letters to his son while he is away at the United States Naval Academy. In one letter, dated August 19, 1890, Phelps recounts a recent visit to his birthplace in Vermont, and touches on the good character of his brother Wolcott (who died in 1885), and describes the homes and personalities of various Phelps ancestors. His other letters between October 1890-November 1891 are full of fatherly advice and family news.

There is one folder of incoming correspondence to Charles Phelps, dated 1885-1907 (with a gap between 1885 and 1907). There are a few letters dealing with William Woodward Phelps' appointment to the Naval Academy and tuition for a Naval Academy preparatory school outside Baltimore, followed by correspondence regarding Phelps' honorary Princeton degree in 1907.

The next folder of correspondence is from Charles Phelps to his wife, Martha Phelps, dated 1900-1906. He penned all letters while away from home, the first several of which he wrote while on a trip to England in 1900. He also sends Martha a postcard from Niagra Falls in 1903, and then several letters in July 1906 from Cape May. In his final letter of July 12, 1906, he regrets the mispelling of his name on his L.L.D. degree from Princeton.

The final two folders in the correspondence subseries consists of one letter of Charles Phelps to his daughter-in-law, Susie Phelps, as well as a folder of miscellaneous correspondence to and from other members of the Phelps family. Included in the miscellaneous folder are two letters from Myra Phelps (Charles Phelps's half-sister), one letter from William Woodward Phelps to Martha Phelps, a letter from Martha Phelps to William Woodward Phelps, and one letter from William Woodward, "Grandfather Woodward" to William Woodward Phelps.

The remainder of the materials in Series I are arranged by date, the earliest of which is an 1861 "Soldier's Prayer Book," carried by Charles Phelps during his Civil War service. Also included is the Congressional Directory for the 3rd session of the 40th Congress, a lengthly obituary sketch of John Wolcott Phelps, a folder of newspaper articles related to the life and death of Charles Edward Phelps, and one folder of miscellaneous manuscripts. Of particular note is a collection of materials related to awarding the Medal of Honor to Col. Phelps for his service at the battle of Laurel Hill on May 8th, 1864. The file contains extracts from the proceedings of the Committee on Medal of Honor, as well as letters from witnesses recommending Phelps for the honor. The letters of recommendation contain details of Phelps's actions at Laurel Hill.

Series II, Photographs, contains images of the Phelps family, as well as modern photographs from the Spottsylvania Battlefield in Pennsylvania, where Charles Phelps fought with his regiment. The collection of photographs contains portraits of Charles Phelps dated 1864-1908, his wife Martha Woodward Phelps, 1865-1888, their children, and some photographs of Martha's family, the Woodwards. The images of the battlefield are dated circa 1995-2005.