Collection: Thönges family papers

Scope and Contents: The collection consists, except for a few items, of letters of various members of the Thönges Family. The most representative is Heinrich Thönges, the father, who writes from Steinfurth, Germany to his children resident in the United states. The rest of the mterial consists of letters from the various children and brothers of Heinrich.

The letters from Heinrich contain advice consistent with his Protestant ethic, while the children's letters have fleeting glimpses of life during the U. S. Civil War in which they participated.

The collection is entirely in Geman except for the letter of Chester K. Knight (1863 Nov 29) and the reply thereto from Conrad Thönges (1864 Jan 24).
Conditions Governing Access: The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use: Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Gift of Robert C. Meyer.