Reverend Horace S. Bishop papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0393
Scope and Contents
The Reverend Horace S. Bishop papers span the years 1832-1897. The papers are arranged alphabetically by subject. The majority of the papers consist of correspondence to Reverend Bishop.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically when the date is known. There are two letters in the collection which are not to Reverend Bishop. These letters are listed as Third Party Correspondence. One letter is to Mary Condit Bishop and the other letter is to a Mrs. Taylor in East Orange, New Jersey.
The collection also contains writings, newspaper clippings, materials on religious subjects and photographs of Reverend Bishop and his wife, Mary.
Dates
- 1832 - 1897
Biographical / Historical
Horace Smith Bishop was born on September 23, 1832 in Westchester County, New York to Leander and Maria (McDonald) Bishop. He was married to Mary Harrison Condit. Bishop served as minister in churches in New York and New Jersey before heading west.
After serving in missions in West Texas and new Mexico, Bishop was appointed Army chaplain to Fort Fillmore (New Mexico) in 1859. Later that same year he was also appointed postmaster at Fort Fillmore. Bishop was active in the community trying to start a school in Mesilla, New Mexico. He also worked with people who were trying to get the part of New Mexico south of the 34th parallel declared the Territory of Arizona. Bishop also worked to block silver ore from the Stephenson Silver Mine from being sent to Washington as a contribution for the Washington Monument.
In late 1860 Bishop went back east on leave. After the Southern states seceded from the Union, Bishop wrote his superiors to ask if he was to return to Fillmore. He was informed that the regular soldiers were ordered out of New Mexico with volunteers filling their places and that the future of Fort Fillmore was uncertain (Letter dated June 28, 1861).
Bishop returned permanently back east and served in various churches in New York and New Jersey until his death in 1898.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 Box and photos in collection are located in small collections photo area)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Chaplain and postmaster at Fort Fillmore, territory of New Mexico, from 1859-1861. The collection consists primarily of correspondence to Reverend Bishop. There are also some writings, hymns, receipts, and photographs of Reverend Bishop and his wife, Mary.
Processing Information
Portia Vescio, July 2001
- Title
- Guide to the Reverend Horace S. Bishop Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Portia Vescio
- Date
- July 2001
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository