Guide to the Benjamin L. Askue Archival Collection


Title:
Benjamin L. Askue Archival Collection
Repository:
University of Cincinnati, Health Sciences Library, Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions
Phone: 513-558-5120
http://www.libraries.uc.edu/winkler-center.html
Creator:
Askue, Benjamin L., 1833-1906
Dates:
1851-1952
Quantity:
9 linear feet
Abstract:
A collection of papers and realia belonging to Benjamin L. Askue, a doctor in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War, which include letters written to his wife, Flavia Pritchard Askue.
Identification:
WC-BA-1982
Location:
Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Benjamin L. Askue

Born in Ashtabula County, Ohio in 1833, Benjamin Askue was a nurse during the American Civil War. He did not, however, go the traditional educational path. Instead, he studied under the hand of a local doctor and eventually became a practitioner of homeopathic medicine. Askue joined the Union Army in 1861, serving for the 23rd Ohio Volunteers Infantry (O.V.I.). Under the leadership of future President Rutherford B. Hayes and William S. Rosencrans, Askue eventually became a field nurse for the O.V.I., putting his medical training to use. While in the army, Askue was captured several times by the Confederacy and even hid in the forest of West Virginia to avoid capture on one occasion, but he always managed to escape. His brother, Oscar Askue, had also been a soldier in the Union Army, and when Oscar was killed in battle, Benjamin Askue escaped the Confederates and made his way to the battlefield where his brother’s body lay. Upon arrival, he had his brother shipped back to Ohio. Benjamin Askue married his cousin and “Ever Dear Companion,” as he referred to Flavia in his letters, in 1854, though he later remarried after her death in 1893. After leaving the army in July of 1865, when the Civil War ended, Askue returned to Ashtabula, where he practiced homeopathic medicine until his death in 1906.

Scope and Content

The Askue archives occupy only nine linear feet, but include a collection of flyers, advertisements, and pamphlets from the 19th century, a multitude of transcribed letters to his wife, books, and realia, such as a beaver top hat, the medical bag Askue used in practice, and ambrotypes of himself and his wife, Flavia. The collection spans the years 1851 to 1952.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection is organized into six series, arranged by item type. Categories include: "Almanacs, booklets, and flyers," "Articles and publications," "Miscellaneous documents," "Correspondence," "Realia," and "Books."

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

American Civil War
Correspondence--1860-1870.
Medicine--History--19th century.
Medicine--United States--History--19th century.
New York tribune.
Nursing--1860-1870.

Persons:

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893
Rosecrans, William S. (William Starke), 1819-1898

Material Types:

Correspondence.
Letters.

Preferred Citation

The preferred citation for this collection is: Cite specific item as appropriate, Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Detailed Description of The Collection


Box 1
Articles and publications, 1865-1931



Box 1 / Folder 29
The Eclectic Medical Journal, The Scudder Brothers Co. Vol. LXV, No. 12, 1905




Box 1 / Folder 30
The Lady's Friend, Vol. III, No. 4-16, 1866




Box 1 / Folder 31
The Chautauquan, Vol. XVI, No. 3, 1892




Box 1 / Folder 32
The Chautauquan, Vol. XVI, No. 6, 1893




Box 1 / Folder 33
New-York Tribune, Vol. XXIV, No. 1,229, 1865 April 1




Box 1 / Folder 34
New-York Tribune, Vol. XXIV, No. 1,225, 1865 March 4




Box 1 / Folder 35
Adult Hereditary Anterior Megalophthalmus Sine Glaucoma: A Definite Disease Entity, Derrick T. Vail, Jr., MD, 1931




Box 1 / Folder 36
Sugar of Milk, Wells and Richardson Co., undated




Box 1 / Folder 57
"Uncle Sam's a Hundred" Evening Post, 1875 December 31




Box 1 / Folder 59
Daily Examiner, 1852 April 23





Box 1 / Folder 29
The Eclectic Medical Journal, The Scudder Brothers Co. Vol. LXV, No. 12, 1905




Box 1 / Folder 30
The Lady's Friend, Vol. III, No. 4-16, 1866




Box 1 / Folder 31
The Chautauquan, Vol. XVI, No. 3, 1892




Box 1 / Folder 32
The Chautauquan, Vol. XVI, No. 6, 1893




Box 1 / Folder 33
New-York Tribune, Vol. XXIV, No. 1,229, 1865 April 1




Box 1 / Folder 34
New-York Tribune, Vol. XXIV, No. 1,225, 1865 March 4




Box 1 / Folder 35
Adult Hereditary Anterior Megalophthalmus Sine Glaucoma: A Definite Disease Entity, Derrick T. Vail, Jr., MD, 1931




Box 1 / Folder 36
Sugar of Milk, Wells and Richardson Co., undated




Box 1 / Folder 57
"Uncle Sam's a Hundred" Evening Post, 1875 December 31




Box 1 / Folder 59
Daily Examiner, 1852 April 23




Box 2
Almanacs, booklets, and flyers, various dates



Box 1 / Folder 1
Advertisement for the Weekly Ohio State Journal, 1877


Scope and Content: Hand written notes on back


Box 1 / Folder 2
I.O.O.F. Price List, Charles G. Manning & Co, undated




Box 1 / Folder 3
The Regulator Diary or Pocket Companion for Everybody, published by J. H. Zeilin & Co., undated


Scope and Content: Hand written notes inside


Box 1 / Folder 4
Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster, 1888




Box 1 / Folder 5
Rush's Almanac and Guide to Heath, Flanders & Co., 1883




Box 1 / Folder 6
Pierce's Memorandum and Account Book, World's Dispensary Medical Association, 1885-1886




Box 1 / Folder 7
Pierce's Memorandum and Account Book, World's Dispensary Medical Association, 1886-1887




Box 1 / Folder 8
Poor Richard Almanac, Wilmer Atkinson Co., 1919




Box 1 / Folder 9
Hostetter's illustrated United States Almanac, The Hostetter Company, 1900




Box 1 / Folder 10
Jayne's Medical Almanac and Guide to Health, 1851




Box 1 / Folder 11
Dr. Harter's Almanac, The Dr. Harter Medicine Co. St. Louis, MO, 1888




Box 1 / Folder 12
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Almanac, 1917




Box 1 / Folder 13
Centennial Memorandum Book, E. F. Rinehart, Manufacturing Druggist, Troy, Ohio, 1876




Box 1 / Folder 14
Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster, undated




Box 1 / Folder 15
Souvenir of South Dakota (booklet), undated




Box 1 / Folder 16
Dr. Pierce's Memorandum Book, World's Dispensary Medical Association, 1937-1938




Box 1 / Folder 17
Ransom's Family Receipt Book, D. Ransom, Son & Co., 1883




Box 1 / Folder 18
Hostetter's illustrated United States Almanac, The Hostetter Company, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 19
Advertisement, The New Improved "Favorite" Monthly Protector, Forshee & McMakin, undated




Box 1 / Folder 20
Advertisement, Natural Uterine Supporter, Dr. McIntosh Natural Uterine Supporter Company, undated




Box 1 / Folder 21
Advertisement, Fay's New Patent, Manilla Roofing and Siding, undated




Box 1 / Folder 22
Merchant's Collecting and Reporting Association, undated




Box 1 / Folder 23
Advertisement, Dr. L. D. McIntosh's Electric or Galvanic Belt, undated




Box 1 / Folder 24
The New Almanac, Dr. Greene's Nervura, 1898




Box 1 / Folder 25
Flyers, Milo B. Stevens & Co., 1888




Box 1 / Folder 26
The Taraxine Memorandum Book, A. Kiefer, 1881-1882




Box 1 / Folder 27
Bliss Native Herbs, pocket notebook, undated


Scope and Content: Hand written notes inside


Box 1 / Folder 28
Ladies' Note Book and Calendar, 1911


Scope and Content: Notes inside on eggs and chickens



Box 1 / Folder 1
Advertisement for the Weekly Ohio State Journal, 1877


Scope and Content: Hand written notes on back


Box 1 / Folder 2
I.O.O.F. Price List, Charles G. Manning & Co, undated




Box 1 / Folder 3
The Regulator Diary or Pocket Companion for Everybody, published by J. H. Zeilin & Co., undated


Scope and Content: Hand written notes inside


Box 1 / Folder 4
Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster, 1888




Box 1 / Folder 5
Rush's Almanac and Guide to Heath, Flanders & Co., 1883




Box 1 / Folder 6
Pierce's Memorandum and Account Book, World's Dispensary Medical Association, 1885-1886




Box 1 / Folder 7
Pierce's Memorandum and Account Book, World's Dispensary Medical Association, 1886-1887




Box 1 / Folder 8
Poor Richard Almanac, Wilmer Atkinson Co., 1919




Box 1 / Folder 9
Hostetter's illustrated United States Almanac, The Hostetter Company, 1900




Box 1 / Folder 10
Jayne's Medical Almanac and Guide to Health, 1851




Box 1 / Folder 11
Dr. Harter's Almanac, The Dr. Harter Medicine Co. St. Louis, MO, 1888




Box 1 / Folder 12
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Almanac, 1917




Box 1 / Folder 13
Centennial Memorandum Book, E. F. Rinehart, Manufacturing Druggist, Troy, Ohio, 1876




Box 1 / Folder 14
Merchant's Gargling Oil Songster, undated




Box 1 / Folder 15
Souvenir of South Dakota (booklet), undated




Box 1 / Folder 16
Dr. Pierce's Memorandum Book, World's Dispensary Medical Association, 1937-1938




Box 1 / Folder 17
Ransom's Family Receipt Book, D. Ransom, Son & Co., 1883




Box 1 / Folder 18
Hostetter's illustrated United States Almanac, The Hostetter Company, 1908




Box 1 / Folder 19
Advertisement, The New Improved "Favorite" Monthly Protector, Forshee & McMakin, undated




Box 1 / Folder 20
Advertisement, Natural Uterine Supporter, Dr. McIntosh Natural Uterine Supporter Company, undated




Box 1 / Folder 21
Advertisement, Fay's New Patent, Manilla Roofing and Siding, undated




Box 1 / Folder 22
Merchant's Collecting and Reporting Association, undated




Box 1 / Folder 23
Advertisement, Dr. L. D. McIntosh's Electric or Galvanic Belt, undated




Box 1 / Folder 24
The New Almanac, Dr. Greene's Nervura, 1898




Box 1 / Folder 25
Flyers, Milo B. Stevens & Co., 1888




Box 1 / Folder 26
The Taraxine Memorandum Book, A. Kiefer, 1881-1882




Box 1 / Folder 27
Bliss Native Herbs, pocket notebook, undated


Scope and Content: Hand written notes inside


Box 1 / Folder 28
Ladies' Note Book and Calendar, 1911


Scope and Content: Notes inside on eggs and chickens


Box 3
Miscellaneous documents, various dates



Box 1 / Folder 37
Hand written letter, 10 pgs, undated




Box 1 / Folder 38
Printed images of Richard Saunders and Daniel Turner, undated




Box 1 / Folder 39
Miscellaneous papers, various dates




Box 1 / Folder 40
Composition No. 2nd, B. L. Askue Jnr., undated




Box 1 / Folder 41
Celluloid Manufacturing Co. letter on Goodyear Dental Vulcanite Company vs. Charles G. Davis, Supreme Court ruling, 1880




Box 1 / Folder 42
Book lists, P. Blakiston, Son & Co., undated




Box 1 / Folder 43
Flyer, War Savings Society Bureau, National War Savings Committee, undated




Box 1 / Folder 44
Invitation to annual reunion of 23d O. V. V. I., 1887




Box 1 / Folder 45
Account statements, Askue, 1904-1905




Box 1 / Folder 46
Papers, notes, instructions on penmanship, various dates




Box 1 / Folder 48
Business cards (4), undated




Box 1 / Folder 52
Civil War battlefield drawing, undated




Box 1 / Folder 58
Miscellaneous items, various dates


Scope and Content: Small card with illustration, Cincinnati Hospital patient admission paper, ribbon for 23d O.V.I. Lakeside, postcard



Box 1 / Folder 37
Hand written letter, 10 pgs, undated




Box 1 / Folder 38
Printed images of Richard Saunders and Daniel Turner, undated




Box 1 / Folder 39
Miscellaneous papers, various dates




Box 1 / Folder 40
Composition No. 2nd, B. L. Askue Jnr., undated




Box 1 / Folder 41
Celluloid Manufacturing Co. letter on Goodyear Dental Vulcanite Company vs. Charles G. Davis, Supreme Court ruling, 1880




Box 1 / Folder 42
Book lists, P. Blakiston, Son & Co., undated




Box 1 / Folder 43
Flyer, War Savings Society Bureau, National War Savings Committee, undated




Box 1 / Folder 44
Invitation to annual reunion of 23d O. V. V. I., 1887




Box 1 / Folder 45
Account statements, Askue, 1904-1905




Box 1 / Folder 46
Papers, notes, instructions on penmanship, various dates




Box 1 / Folder 48
Business cards (4), undated




Box 1 / Folder 52
Civil War battlefield drawing, undated




Box 1 / Folder 58
Miscellaneous items, various dates


Scope and Content: Small card with illustration, Cincinnati Hospital patient admission paper, ribbon for 23d O.V.I. Lakeside, postcard


Box 1-2
Correspondence, various dates



Box 1 / Folder 47
Miscellaneous correspondence, various dates




Box 1 / Folder 49
Ensign Lodge papers, 1878-1886




Box 1 / Folder 50
Correspondence 1861 March 6 - 1901 December 26, 1861 March 6 - 1901 December 26




Box 1 / Folder 53
Correspondence - Pritchard, 1854




Box 1 / Folder 54
Valentine and anniversary cards, undated




Box 1 / Folder 55
Correspondence - F. A. Davis, Att'v and Dr. Benj. Askue, undated




Box 1 / Folder 58
Correspondence - E. A. Armstrong, The Armstrong Uniforms, undated




Box 1 / Folder 60
Letters to Flavia Askue, 1862-1863




Box 2
Transcripts of letters to Flavia and family, various dates





Box 1 / Folder 47
Miscellaneous correspondence, various dates




Box 1 / Folder 49
Ensign Lodge papers, 1878-1886




Box 1 / Folder 50
Correspondence 1861 March 6 - 1901 December 26, 1861 March 6 - 1901 December 26




Box 1 / Folder 53
Correspondence - Pritchard, 1854




Box 1 / Folder 54
Valentine and anniversary cards, undated




Box 1 / Folder 55
Correspondence - F. A. Davis, Att'v and Dr. Benj. Askue, undated




Box 1 / Folder 58
Correspondence - E. A. Armstrong, The Armstrong Uniforms, undated




Box 1 / Folder 60
Letters to Flavia Askue, 1862-1863




Box 2
Transcripts of letters to Flavia and family, various dates




Box 3-9
Realia, various dates



Box 3
Wire rimmed glasses, undated




Box 3
Black leather case of medical instruments, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, E. M. Hessler, Cleveland, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, E. M. Hessler, Cleveland, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, J. D. Chevalier, New York, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, unknown maker, undated




Box 3
Metal Pliers, unknown maker, undated




Box 3
Unknown instrument, thin and spoon-shaped, undated




Box 3
Photograph of woman, in metal frame with scroll work, undated


Scope and Content: Woman in photograph is Flavia Askue


Box 3
Black leather booklet with account notes, undated




Box 3
Calomel pill bottle, Yates Drug & Chemical, undated


Scope and Content: Cork stopper with pills inside


Box 3
Photograph of B. L. Askue in wooden case, undated




Box 3
Leather billfold, undated




Box 3
Straight razor, Wade & Butcher, Sheffield, undated




Box 3
Large glass vials (3), undated




Box 3
White cloth covered box, undated




Box 3
Small leather notebook, undated




Box 4
Beaver top hat, undated




Box 5
Balance scales, undated




Box 5
Leather case with glass vials, undated




Box 5
Glass bottle - 8.5"x2"x2", undated




Box 5
Surgical kit, red leather case, undated


Scope and Content: 18 instruments inside


Box 5
Leather pouch containing several glass vials, undated




Box 5
Box containing several glass vials, undated




Box 6
Black leather bag with strap, undated




Box 6
Dr. Young's Ideal Rectal Dilators for the Intelligent Treatment of Piles, Constipation, Nervousness, F. E. Young & Company, undated




Box 6
Unknown instrument with wooden handle, metal hooks, undated




Box 6
Glass jar - 6.25"x3"x3", undated




Box 7
Medical box/kit, B. L. Askue, MD, undated




Box 8
Photograph in metal frame - 3.25"x2.75", undated




Box 8
Round metal cap - 2.5"x2.5"x1", undated




Box 8
Metal tobacco case, undated


Scope and Content: "Tobacco" stamped on outside of container


Box 8
Ceramic skull, The Francis Statuary Co. Wellington, O., undated




Box 8
Pocketknife - 3", undated




Box 8
Anesthesia cup, undated




Box 8
Anesthesia mask, undated




Box 8
Vial of Leptandrin (Lloyd Brothers), undated




Box 8
Vial of potassium chloride, undated




Box 8
Box containing metal instrument, undated




Box 8
Glass vials (10), undated




Box 8
Small glass vials (15), undated




Box 8
Photograph in metal frame, undated




Box 8
4 Paper pouches tied with string, undated


Scope and Content: 1 Paper pouch labelled "A.S. Ewing Ph.G, Druggist" tied with string; 1 Paper pouch with handwritten label "salts" tied with string


Box 9
Leather saddlebags, undated





Box 3
Wire rimmed glasses, undated




Box 3
Black leather case of medical instruments, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, E. M. Hessler, Cleveland, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, E. M. Hessler, Cleveland, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, J. D. Chevalier, New York, undated




Box 3
Metal pliers, unknown maker, undated




Box 3
Metal Pliers, unknown maker, undated




Box 3
Unknown instrument, thin and spoon-shaped, undated




Box 3
Photograph of woman, in metal frame with scroll work, undated


Scope and Content: Woman in photograph is Flavia Askue


Box 3
Black leather booklet with account notes, undated




Box 3
Calomel pill bottle, Yates Drug & Chemical, undated


Scope and Content: Cork stopper with pills inside


Box 3
Photograph of B. L. Askue in wooden case, undated




Box 3
Leather billfold, undated




Box 3
Straight razor, Wade & Butcher, Sheffield, undated




Box 3
Large glass vials (3), undated




Box 3
White cloth covered box, undated




Box 3
Small leather notebook, undated




Box 4
Beaver top hat, undated




Box 5
Balance scales, undated




Box 5
Leather case with glass vials, undated




Box 5
Glass bottle - 8.5"x2"x2", undated




Box 5
Surgical kit, red leather case, undated


Scope and Content: 18 instruments inside


Box 5
Leather pouch containing several glass vials, undated




Box 5
Box containing several glass vials, undated




Box 6
Black leather bag with strap, undated




Box 6
Dr. Young's Ideal Rectal Dilators for the Intelligent Treatment of Piles, Constipation, Nervousness, F. E. Young & Company, undated




Box 6
Unknown instrument with wooden handle, metal hooks, undated




Box 6
Glass jar - 6.25"x3"x3", undated




Box 7
Medical box/kit, B. L. Askue, MD, undated




Box 8
Photograph in metal frame - 3.25"x2.75", undated




Box 8
Round metal cap - 2.5"x2.5"x1", undated




Box 8
Metal tobacco case, undated


Scope and Content: "Tobacco" stamped on outside of container


Box 8
Ceramic skull, The Francis Statuary Co. Wellington, O., undated




Box 8
Pocketknife - 3", undated




Box 8
Anesthesia cup, undated




Box 8
Anesthesia mask, undated




Box 8
Vial of Leptandrin (Lloyd Brothers), undated




Box 8
Vial of potassium chloride, undated




Box 8
Box containing metal instrument, undated




Box 8
Glass vials (10), undated




Box 8
Small glass vials (15), undated




Box 8
Photograph in metal frame, undated




Box 8
4 Paper pouches tied with string, undated


Scope and Content: 1 Paper pouch labelled "A.S. Ewing Ph.G, Druggist" tied with string; 1 Paper pouch with handwritten label "salts" tied with string


Box 9
Leather saddlebags, undated




Box 9
Books, 1854-1862



Box 9
Trall, R. T., MD. Diphtheria: its Nature, History, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment on Hygienic Principles. New York: Fowler and Wells, 1862, 1862




Box 9
Comstock, J. L., MD. A System of Natural Philosophy, Revised. New York: Pratt, Oakley, & Company, 1858, 1858




Box 9
Ricord, PH., MD. A Practical Treatise on Venereal Diseases. New York: Redfield, 1854, 1854





Box 9
Trall, R. T., MD. Diphtheria: its Nature, History, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment on Hygienic Principles. New York: Fowler and Wells, 1862, 1862




Box 9
Comstock, J. L., MD. A System of Natural Philosophy, Revised. New York: Pratt, Oakley, & Company, 1858, 1858




Box 9
Ricord, PH., MD. A Practical Treatise on Venereal Diseases. New York: Redfield, 1854, 1854