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Edward G. Granger Papers

 Record Group
Identifier: UA-10.3.56

Scope and Contents

The Edward G. Granger Papers consist of a diary and scrapbook created by Granger, as well as Civil War letters written during Granger’s enlistment in the Union Army, portraits, and newspaper clippings regarding the extended family. Included within the diary, the first portion (November 29, 1858 – February 20, 1859) was written while Granger was attending Michigan Agricultural College, and discusses classes, work assignments, daily routine, and recreation. The second portion (January 1, 1860 – February 1860) was written when Granger returned home to Detroit, Michigan, where he describes his work assignments, and wintertime recreational activities such as snowball fights, hunting, and sleighing. The last pages of the diary consist of passages copied from his readings and Latin exercises. Regarding the scrapbook, Granger recorded the hours he spent laboring at various farm jobs at M.A.C. as well as notes for several classes. Also included within the collection are Civil War letters written by Edward G. Granger to his sister Mary “Mollie” Granger Vernor, mother Matilda Granger, uncle Edward C. Walker, supposedly uncle Charles I. Walker, and cousin Alexander C. Caskey. These letters, which reflected Granger’s involvement in the Civil War and position as one of Brigadier General Custer’s aides, were compiled by Thomas E. Singelyn, edited by Sandy Barnard, and published in the book “An Aide to Custer: The Civil War Letters of Lt. Edward G. Granger” in 2018 by the University of Oklahoma Press. The collection also contains letters to Matilda Granger, Mary “Mollie” Granger Vernor, and the Vernor Family regarding the donation of historical materials. Additionally, portraits of Edward G. Granger and Mary “Mollie” Granger Vernor are included, as well as newspaper clippings pertaining to the Granger-Vernor-Mower families. Finally, the collection includes “He Rode With Custer” Thomas E. Singelyn research and digitized photographs CDs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1845 - 2010

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Edward G. Granger was born April 10, 1843 to parents Sylvester and Matilda Granger in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following the death of his father in 1845, Granger, his mother, and sister Mary “Mollie” moved to Detroit, Michigan to live with the family of Matilda’s brother, Charles I. Walker. Granger participated in schooling in Detroit, as well as attended Michigan Agricultural College from 1858-1859. Granger did not continue his formal education and instead studied in the law office of his uncle Edward C. Walker until his enlistment at the age of nineteen in the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment, Company C on August 14, 1862. Granger was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant and was formally mustered into the army on August 27, 1862. On August 20, 1863, Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer appointed Granger as one of his aides, a position Granger would hold until his death in August 1864. In addition to his appointment as Custer’s aide-de-camp, Granger was also promoted to 1st Lieutenant, a role in which he served until his passing on August 16, 1864, at the Battle of Crooked Run in Front Royal, Virginia.

Full Extent

0.5 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Legal Status

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to Michigan State University but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Copyright restrictions may apply. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Title
Edward G. Granger Papers
Status
3 Ready For Cataloging
Author
Rebecca Yeomans-Stephenson
Date
July 2025
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330