Charles Kuhlman, History Papers
Title: Charles Kuhlman,
History Papers
Creator: Kuhlman, Charles, 1872-1959
Dates: 1895-1959
Quantity: 4 boxes (2 linear
feet)
Collection Number: RG 12-14-23
Language: English, French
Restrictions: None
Access and Use: For information on access or copyright, please see our guidelines
or email archives@unl.edu.
Historical Records Statement: Please see our statement on historical records and materials.
Preferred Citation: Charles Kuhlman, History Papers (RG 12-14-23). Archives & Special
Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries.
Biography:
Charles Kuhlman was born on 15 January 1872 in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated from the
University of Nebraska with a bachelors degree in 1897, and a masters degree in
1900. In 1901, he received a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich. He returned to
Nebraska and taught history at the University of Nebraska and was appointed head of
European History. He retired after one year due to an increasing deafness. Kuhlman
became a farmer and in his spare time he continued to study and write history. In
1916, Kuhlman moved to Billings, Montana, and developed an interest in the events
surrounding the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Applying his knowledge of historical
methods and his geographical proximity, Kuhlman intensely studied and published
around issues concerning the battle, producing large volumes of correspondence with
other prominent authors in the field. Kuhlman's interest in military tactics and
revolt remained a central focus in his historical research. His earlier scholarship
concentrated primarily on the Jacobin cause and other revolutionary societies of the
French Revolution. Kuhlman continued to revise his earlier writings through the
1950s, hoping to publish a definitive text on Jacobin history. Charles Kuhlman died
in Billings, Montana, in 1959.
Scope and Content:
The Kuhlman papers primarily concern his research on General George A. Custer and the
Battle of the Little Bighorn, including research notes and research correspondence.
Manuscripts and drafts of published works include revisions and correspondence with
editors and publishers. The collection also contains some undergraduate and graduate
notebooks from Kuhlman's time at the University of Nebraska.
Subjects:
Kuhlman, Charles, 1872-1959
Custer, George Armstrong, 1839-1876
Finkle, Frank
Little Bighorn, Battle of the, Mont., 1876
Series Description:
Series 1: Correspondence, Box 1- Box 2, Folder 13The correspondence comprises the majority of the collection and is arranged
alphabetically by the author, including Kuhlman. Some of the correspondence
files include additional items, such as photographs and newspaper clippings.
One piece of correspondence from his son is located at the end of this
series.
Series 2: Research Material and Manuscripts, Box 2, Folder 14-Box 3, Folder 6The majority of Kuhlman's research focused on General George A. Custer and
the Battle of the Little Bighorn and may have been used as research for his
publications on Custer. The materials include handwritten and typed notes
from published sources that Kuhlman used for his research. Kuhlman noted his
sources on these documents and this is noted where possible. There are
several hand-drawn battlefield maps and placement of participants in the
battle. Photographs associated with this material are located in Box 4.
There is a small section of handwritten notes on democracy and social
sciences dated 1916-1918.
Series 3: Manuscripts, Box 3, Folder 7-Box 3, Folder 17Kuhlman's manuscripts are drafts and revisions relating to his published
work. Some of the items are drafts of chapters or on a specific topic. The
manuscripts have been identified where possible. All of the material in this
section was created by Kuhlman.
Series 4: Academic Notes and Materials, Box 3, Folder 18- Box 4 This series includes materials from Kuhlman's undergraduate and graduate
studies at the University of Nebraska. Included are his lecture notes from
classes that he attended, papers that he wrote, some of which address
arguments both for and against a specific opinion or viewpoint. Some of
Kuhlman's work was published in the University of Nebraska's Graduate Bulletin and University Studies periodical series. There are also copies of
Kuhlman's dissertation from the University of Zurich. This material is
arranged chronologically. This material is followed by a biographical
pamphlet on Kuhlman.
Container List:
Series 1: CorrespondenceBox 1. Folder 1. Correspondence, Balmer, Joseph
Box 1. Folder 2. Correspondence, Bell, William
Box 1. Folder 3. Correspondence, Brininstool, E. A., 1939
Box 1. Folder 4. Correspondence, Brininstool, E. A., 1940
Box 1. Folder 5. Correspondence, Brininstool, E. A., 1941-1953
Box 1. Folder 6. Correspondence, DuMont, John
Box 1. Folder 7. Correspondence, Dustin, Fred, 1939
Box 1. Folder 8. Correspondence, Dustin, Fred, 1940
Box 1. Folder 9. Correspondence, Dustin, Fred, 1941
Box 1. Folder 10. Correspondence, Dustin, Fred, 1942-1946
Box 1. Folder 11. Correspondence, Dustin, Fred, 1953-1955
Box 1. Folder 12. Correspondence, Ellison, R. S.
Box 1. Folder 13. Correspondence, Falconer, William, 1939, Jan.-June
Box 1. Folder 14. Correspondence, Falconer, William, 1939, July-Dec.
Box 1. Folder 15. Correspondence, Falconer, William, 1940-1941
Box 1. Folder 16. Correspondence, Frost, Lawrence
Box 1. Folder 17. Correspondence, Graham, W. A.
Box 1. Folder 18. Correspondence, Hutchings, James
Box 1. Folder 19. Correspondence, Kuhlman, Charles
Box 1. Folder 20. Correspondence, Luce, E. S., 1938
Box 1. Folder 21. Correspondence, Luce, E. S., 1939, Jan.-Mar.
Box 1. Folder 22. Correspondence, Luce, E. S., 1939, Apr.-Aug.
Box 1. Folder 23. Correspondence, Luce, E. S., 1939, Sept.-Dec.
Box 1. Folder 24. Correspondence, Luce, E. S., 1940-1945
Box 1. Folder 25. Correspondence, McCreight, M. I.
Box 1. Folder 26. Correspondence, McLean, Norman
Box 1. Folder 27. Correspondence, Rice, Frierson, 1940
Box 1. Folder 28. Correspondence, Rice, Frierson, 1941
Box 1. Folder 29. Correspondence, Rice, Frierson, 1943-1944, undated
Box 2. Folder 1. Correspondence, Russell, Don
Box 2. Folder 2. Correspondence, Stackpole, E. J., 1951
Box 2. Folder 3. Correspondence, Stackpole, E. J., 1952, Jan-Mar.
Box 2. Folder 4. Correspondence, Stackpole, E. J., 1952, Apr.-May
Box 2. Folder 5. Correspondence, Stackpole, E. J., 1955-1957, undated
Box 2. Folder 6. Correspondence, Steele, Russell
Box 2. Folder 7. Correspondence, B, 1940-1955Items to and from Bob Blumling, Henry Billmeyer, Flora Bullock, and
Raymond Burnside.
Box 2. Folder 8. Correspondence, C-F, 1940-1953Items to and from Ralph Carr, R.G. Cartwright, Grace Coates, Roy Covert,
Charles Custer, Margaret Custer, Charles DuBois, and Earle Forrest.
Box 2. Folder 9. Correspondence, G-K, 1938-1952Items to and from Fulton Grigsby, Lou Grill, O. Lee Hawk, Hamilton
Hawkins, Willford King, John Kleinschmidt, and Emil Kopak.
Box 2. Folder 10. Correspondence, L-M, 1938-1955Items to and from John Lentz, J.E. LeRossignol, Library of Congress,
Gordon MacGregor, Mrs. McCormick, Andrew Mills, George Moses, and Miriam
Mountford.
Box 2. Folder 11. Correspondence, N-P, 1948-1955Items to and from National Archivist, Ellwood Nye, Osten(?), B.
Patterson, and Jerome Peltier.
Box 2. Folder 12. Correspondence, R-S, 1944-1958Items to and from Leslie Ricker, Mrs. Ralph Rose, Scudday(?), Miss
Sherman, and Hugh Shick.
Box 2. Folder 13. Correspondence, T-W, 1935-1955Items to and from The Telegraph Press (Harrisburg, PA), Adjutant
General's Office U.S. Department of War, Frederic Van de Water, Jonathan
Wainwright, and Kathryn Wright.
Box 2. Folder 14. Family correspondence, 1940, Sept. 3
Series 2: Research and ManuscriptsBox 2. Folder 15. Research notes, democracy, social sciences, 1916-1918
Box 2. Folder 16. Research, field notebooks, 1926, 1946, undated
Box 2. Folder 17. Research, interview transcripts, undated
Box 2. Folder 18. Research, interview transcripts, undated
Box 2. Folder 19. Research notes, interviews, undated
Box 2. Folder 20. Research notes, J.P. Dunn, Massacre of the
Mountains
Box 2. Folder 21. Research notes, Fred Dustin
Box 2. Folder 22. Research notes, reprints, Fred Dustin, 1919, 1930s
Box 2. Folder 23. Research notes, Manning F. Force, "Great Commanders"
Box 2. Folder 24. Research notes, Hamilton Hawkins
Box 2. Folder 25. Research notes, Montana State Historical Society, undated
Box 2. Folder 26. Research notes, identified sources, undated
Box 2. Folder 27. Research notes, "firing," undated
Box 3. Folder 1. Research notes, "Weir
Point," undated
Box 3. Folder 2. Research notes, misc., pgs. 1-3, 19-53, undated
Box 3. Folder 3. Research notes, fragments, undated
Box 3. Folder 4. Maps, battlefields, hand-drawn, 1937-1959
Box 3. Folder 5. Map, "A Lost Trail and Gall
Suga"
Box 3. Folder 6. Published materials, Custer, Indian Campaigns, American
West
Series 3: ManuscriptsBox 3. Folder 7. Manuscript draft, "Legend Into
History," chapter 3
Box 3. Folder 8. Manuscript draft, "Legend Into
History," chapter 10
Box 3. Folder 9. Footnotes, appendices, "Legend Into
History"
Box 3. Folder 10. Review, "Legend Into
History," 1951
Box 3. Folder 11. Manuscript draft, "Did Custer Disobey
Orders..."
Box 3. Folder 12. Manuscript draft, "Benteen Hard
Pressed" pgs. 35-65
Box 3. Folder 13. Manuscript draft, "Comments on
Stackpole suggestions"
Box 3. Folder 14. Manuscript draft, chapter 1, unidentified work
Box 3. Folder 15. Manuscript draft, chapter 3, "The
Custer Battle," unidentified work
Box 3. Folder 16. Manuscript draft, summaries, acknowledgements, unidentified
work
Box 3. Folder 17. Manuscript draft, unidentified fragments
Series 4: Academic Notes and PapersBox 3. Folder 18. Lecture notes, Roman history, part 1 of 2, 1894
Box 3. Folder 19. Lecture notes, Roman history, part 2 of 2, 1894
Box 3. Folder 20. Lecture notes, European history, part 2 of 2, 1895
Box 3. Folder 21. Lecture notes, European history, part 2 of 2, 1895
Box 3. Folder 22. Lecture notes, modern history, 1895
Box 3. Folder 23. Lecture notes, English 4, 1896
Box 4. Folder 1. Lecture notes, part 1 of 2, 1897-1898
Box 4. Folder 2. Lecture notes, part 2 of 2, 1897-1898
Box 4. Folder 3. Lecture notes, 1899
Box 4. Folder 4. Paper, "Authorship of the
Iliad," 1895
Box 4. Folder 5. Paper, "History of
Philosophy," 1896
Box 4. Folder 6. Paper, "Chamber of St. Louis to the
Battle..."
Box 4. Folder 7. Paper, "Did the Federalists or their
Opponents...."
Box 4. Folder 8. Paper, "Review of the French
Revolution," Aulard, pgs. 11-109
Box 4. Folder 9. Paper, "Review of the French
Revolution," pgs. 1-100
Box 4. Folder 10. Paper, "Review of the French
Revolution," pgs. 101-199
Box 4. Folder 11. Paper, "Review of the French
Revolution," pgs. 201-299
Box 4. Folder 12. Reprint, "Mably, A True Prophet of
Revolution," 1900, Apr.
Box 4. Folder 13. Dissertation reprint, "Influence of the
Breton Deputation and the Breton Club in the French
Revolution," 1903
Box 4. Folder 14. Reprint, "Relation of the Jacobins to
the Army....," 1906
Box 4. Folder 15. Pamphlet, Frederick Kuhlman
Box 4. Folder 16. Photographs, originals
Box 4. Folder 17. Photographs, research and battlefield materials
Related Material and Resources: Kuhlman, Charles. Did Custer Disobey Orders at the Battle of
the Little Big Horn? A Study. Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co. [1957] _____________ and Michael J. Koury, editor. The Frank Finkel
Story: Possible Custer Survivor? Bellevue, Neb.: Old Army Press,
[1969?] _____________. Legend into History: The Custer Mystery; an
Analytical Study of The Battle of the Little Big Horn. Harrisburg, Pa.,
Stackpole Co. [1951] _____________ and Michael J. Koury. Massacre Survivor! : The
Story of Frank Finkel, a Trooper with Custer at the Little Big Horn. Fort
Collins, Col.: The Old Army Press, 1972 With the exception of the unpublished essay Kuhlman wrote in reaction to Colonel
Hughes' Custer history and a copy of his work done for the Encyclopedia Britannica,
Kuhlman's Western Americana scholarship was purchased by Michael J. Koury and later
sold to Brigham Young University (1.5 linear feet). In addition to the Brigham Young
University Collection, several linear feet of Jacobin research and teaching
materials related to his academic career are located at the Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, as well as an
undetermined amount held by the Montana State Historical Society Archives. |