Scope and Contents: The papers of Elliott F. Grabill consist mainly of letters sent by Grabill (December, 1863-1865) to Anna S. Jenney, whom he would marry in March of 1865. Grabill expressed himself well on such matters as schools for contraband, relations with other officers, regard for black troops, troop dispositions including their transport by water, the siege of Petersburg, descriptions of battle, the wounding of Colonel Giles W. Shurtleff, exchange of papers with a Confederate soldier, a tour of four northern North Carolina counties, the tedium of waiting for peace and his interest in Anna.
Correspondence (1864-1868) written by Anna Grabill discuss their courtship and her desire to teach upon arriving in Greenville. Her frustrations over receiving less money than a man for teaching are also documented.
Other correspondence received by Elliott Grabill are letters from his sisters, Cynthia and Mary, and from a friend named Lydia from 1864-1865.
The writings of Elliott and Anna Grabill in this collection are meager. Three of Anna's essays and her notes on mineralogy and trigonometry from Oberlin are contained in a single notebook, 1859-1860. Another undated notebook holds poems collected (and possibly written) by Anna Grabill.
One black and white photograph of a young boy, unlabeled and undated, is part of the collection as well. Several originals and copies of newspaper clippings about the Grabills are also included as well as receipts which show donations made to the College and a report card of one of Grabill's children. One newspaper, entitled the Ohio Seventh was edited by Grabill in 1861.
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