Levi S. Graybill Papers

The collection is made up of diaries, correspondence, military-related documents, and photographs all pertaining to Graybill's service in the Union Army. The folders are arranged in chronological order, followed by the cartes-de-visite and ephemera.

The two diaries describe recruiting in Ohio, camp life and military operations in West Virginia and Virginia in 1861 and Texas in 1865. In the 1865 diary, Graybill also talks about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln as well as participating in Lincoln's funeral ceremonies and the search for John Wilkes Booth. The military letters and documents deal with Graybill commissions, orders, duties, resignation, discharge, and pension. There are also several documents pertaining to the 22nd U.S. Colored Infantry including the order for the regiment to return to Washington DC for Lincoln's funeral. There are also several documents dealing with courts martial taking place in Brownsville, Texas when Graybill was stationed there in 1865. Also included in the papers are personal letters of Graybill's including a letter by Colonel Joseph B. Kiddoo regarding Graybill's resignation. There are several pieces of ephemera including Graybill's marriage certificate, receipts, printed items and notes about Graybill. Participants in the collection include Major General Godfrey Weitzel, Brevet Brigadier General Alonzo G. Draper, Joseph B. Kiddoo, and Major General Frederick Steele.

The 53 cartes-de-visite include 34 of commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the 22nd U.S. Colored Infantry. The majority of these are identified and have names on the verso. There are also cartes-de-visite of other soldiers, several of which were in different U.S. Colored Infantry regiments. The photographs include: Levi S. Graybill, an unidentified African-American soldier, Colonel Joseph B. Kiddoo, Lt. Colonel Ira Terry, and Ulysses S. Grant. There are also several images dealing with Texas and Mexico including Juan Cortina, Ignacio Mejía, and Queen Charlotte. There are also several images of Graybill family and friends including Levi's brother Samuel who was killed in action in 1864 and one image that might be Levi S. Graybill, perhaps before the war.