The majority of the Schurz collection consists of German transcriptions and corresponding English translations of letters, 1841-1869, loaned by George McAneny, executor of the Schurz estate, to Joseph Schaefer for his book, The Intimate Letters of Carl Schurz, 1841-1869. The originals of these letters were eventually donated to the Library of Congress.
The originals and German transcriptions of 22 additional personal letters, 1849-1852, were donated by McAneny to the Historical Society. This correspondence includes letters by Schurz to his family in Germany describing his participation in the revolutionary movement of 1848-1849, his exile, and his decision to come to America. Other original material consists of letters, 1889-1906, to Frances Hellman concerning her book, Lyrics and Ballads of Heine and Other German Poets. This correspondence took place in both English and German. There is also an original 1857 letter announcing Schurz's acquisition of the Watertown Advertiser. Copies of Schurz material in other repositories consist of photostats of letters from Wisconsin men to Schurz, 1857-1861 (Library of Congress); letters to Rutherford B. Hayes, 1867-1887 (Hayes Presidential Library); and microfilmed letters, 1880-1903, from Schurz to his companion Fanny Chapman (Universitats-Bibliothek, Muenster). Other letters include one to S.J. Kirkwood, Secretary of the Interior, concerning Indian affairs in the West, an 1860 letter to Mrs. Schurz describing a meeting with Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, and a letter to a friend in Germany describing the United States.
Writings include a handwritten manuscript of Schurz's biography of Henry Clay and transcriptions of several Wisconsin speeches.
Material from Schurz's library consists of a volume written in German by Ludwig Knoth concerning his pseudo-religious philosophy; two volumes of clippings and military court records concerning the 1863 court martial of Colonel F.G. D'Utassy of the 39th Regiment, New York Volunteers; two volumes of congratulations on Schurz's seventieth birthday; a 1906 scrapbook of obituaries and clippings; and miscellaneous correspondence found in various books in the Schurz library. One of these letters contains transcriptions of two 1827 Henry Clay items; another is a card from General John Gibbon to Schurz, then Secretary of the Interior, requesting an interview on Indian matters.
