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atlases and maps. In the process, the library's collection had become much greater than collections of older institutions, and
Peckham devoted much time to sorting and organizing these documents. Under his management, the library provided a rich environment of archival knowledge and education for students and scholars pursuing the study of early American history. When the Great Depression came, however, William Clements suffered severe financial loss and subsequently made out his will, reluctantly asking that the university purchase the valuable collection of manuscripts. Clements died in 1934. An optimistic Adams, still the library's director, saved the collection by prevailing upon
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educational programs and its publications. While at
Indiana he contributed to its collection of manuscripts, rare books, and historical maps of the original Northwest Territory. Peckham returned to Ann Arbor in 1953, shortly after the death of former director Randolph Adams, and was formally appointed Director of Clements Library, where he began greatly expanding the library's colonial and revolutionary collections, personally contributing many important manuscripts for the early American and antebellum periods.
353:, he painstakingly counted American military wartime casualties in the Revolutionary War and added them to the number of American soldiers who died while prisoners of war in British captivity. Peckham's investigation revealed that the number of deaths was much greater than previously assumed, which now totaled about 25,000 American deaths, a significant loss for a population that during the Revolutionary War numbered fewer than three million.
346:, where they lived a more relaxed lifestyle. Peckham was given an honorary doctorate degree by Olivet College in 1976. He continued his writing, turning out occasional historical articles. He also taught and attended a few classes at the local community college, and took up playing the bassoon in the community orchestra. He also tried his hand at writing a novel.
265:, the Clements Library's first director who had been always been impressed with Peckham as a student, offered him the position of Assistant Curator of the library. Within a year Peckham had become the head curator, holding this post until 1945. In little time he essentially created the Manuscript Division, making it a separate department of the library.
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oversee, sort, and manage this abundance of historical material. Under
Peckham, the library had established an international reputation as a leading institution for the study of the Revolutionary War and British Colonial America, and in the process established professional standards for the management of manuscripts.
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and other such revolutionary notables. Most of the documents were untouched, still in original packages and bundles. It was the most notable collection of
Revolutionary War documents ever acquired by an American library at one time. Peckham was given the rare opportunity of being the first person to
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the same year, where he subsequently began establishing professional standards for historical society work. During his eight years in
Indiana Peckham acquired a great appreciation and love for the state and wrote two books on the history of that state. He was in charge of both the library's various
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Peckham authored informative histories of the colonial wars and the
American Revolutionary War that wielded much scholarly influence. His works also included histories of the state of Indiana and the University of Michigan. Peckham was a founder and contributor to American Heritage and president of
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The
Clements Library had first opened its doors in 1923. When Mr. Clements was active, funding for the library was plentiful and the University's library had amassed an extensive collection of Revolutionary era manuscripts, journals, documents, pamphlets, and books, along with a huge assortment of
234:
In 1936 he married
Dorothy Koth Peckham, with whom he had a son and daughter. His wife, also a lover of books, had considerable academic and literary abilities herself. When Peckham was diagnosed with diabetes in mid career, Dorothy's culinary ability and vigilant eye minimized the effects on his
309:'s treason. In 1937 he was a founding member of the Society of American Archivists. He was the first person to unfold, sort, and read the most historically significant collection of Revolutionary War documents ever to come into the possession of an American library, about which
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Peckham wrote 21 books on early
American history together with a wide assortment of articles and pamphlets. His works were aimed at the general reader; however, they were based upon solid archival research. His 1947 publication,
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At his retirement, Peckham expressed his great enthusiasm for the
Clements library, claiming and truly believing that it was the best place anywhere to acquire manuscripts and other primary sources on early American history.
273:, who had joined the Library's Committee of Management the year before Clements' death. McGregor donated $ 100,000 to the library, saving the collection from sale and ultimate dispersal among the private sector.
394:
It is said that Peckham is remembered by his colleagues and the many scholars who came to the Clements Library as graduate students, as a kind and giving man with a courteous manner.
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Peckham died on July 6, 1995, at the age of 84 in Hendersonville, where he had lived since his 1977 retirement. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and three grandchildren.
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newspaper and began his association with the William Clements Library in 1929. Returning to his home town of Lowell, Peckham began his literary career as an editorial writer for
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history who published a number of works on those subjects. His academic career encompassed a wide variety of involvements in educational institutions and various
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407:, the product of meticulous scholarship, is widely acclaimed as his finest book. Peckham produced his first major work in 1939. His works include:
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Peckham later chaired the University Bicentennial Committee and in 1966 was Secretary to the Regents for the President's Selection Committee.
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Lexington to Fallen Timbers, 1775–1794; Episodes from the Earliest History of Our Military Forces – Primary Source Edition, (reprint, 2014)
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184:, in 1939, making them available to the general public for the first time. He is also noted for establishing more accurate numbers of
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The William Clements Library offers several research fellowships ever year. In honor of Howard Peckham, the library offers the
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began. American history was one of his main interests, but English was his greatest enthusiasm. Peckham earned his
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and historical society work in the 20th century that have endured to this day. He was a founding member of the
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208:. Peckham's father, on his way in establishing a successful business career, died when Howard was an infant.
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By the middle of the 1970s, Peckham and his wife decided for health reasons to move to a warmer climate in
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In 1937 the Clements Library acquired a collection of manuscripts and papers belonging to British Generals
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A Brief History of Indiana, (1946); Indiana: A Bicentennial History, (1978)
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The Journals and Indian Paintings of George Winter, 1837–1839, (reprint, 2013)
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daily routine and allowed him to perform throughout the remainder of his life.
200:. He grew up in a typical small American town—his family having emigrated from
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Peckham left the University of Michigan in 1945 and became the director of
261:. In 1935, on a chance return visit to Ann Arbor and Michigan University,
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Campaigns of the American Revolution: an atlas of manuscript maps, 1976
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with a gift of $ 5,000, one of Michigan's first charitable foundations.
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University of Michigan Faculty History Project: Howard H. Peckham
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Memoirs of the life of John Adlum in the Revolutionary War, 1968
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in 1939, a publication that includes the six journals written by
156:. Peckham played a fundamental role in establishing professional
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Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775–1783, (1939,
305:(1941), editing documents from the Clinton Papers that revealed
219:, then transferred to the University of Michigan just as the
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Advancing standards for management of historical manuscripts;
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Captured by Indians: True Tales of Pioneer Survivors, 1954
251:. As an undergraduate, he worked as a student reporter for
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The Making of the University of Michigan, 1817-1992, 1994
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deaths, which were much greater than previously assumed.
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Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775–1783
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Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775–1783
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University of Michigan, Faculty History Project: Memoir
522:(another prominent archivist of early American history)
391:, a $ 10,000 annual endowment for qualifying scholars.
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Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775–1783
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the American Association for State and Local History.
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William L. Clements Library at University of Michigan
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Howard H. Peckham Fellowship on Revolutionary America
436:The War for Independence: A Military History, 1958
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Discovering new numbers of Revolutionary War deaths
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469:The War for Independence a Military History, 1975
1003:. University of Michigan: Faculty History Project
454:The Declaration of Independence: Two Essays, 1976
445:Narratives of Colonial America, 1704–1765, 1971
418:British secret writing in the revolution, 19??
368:Peckham was the first historian to publish the
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1090:"The Clements Library Research Fellowships"
324:Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau
692:The Clements Library Associates, 1995, p.9
681:The Clements Library Associates, 1995, p.4
670:The Clements Library Associates, 1995, p.3
500:List of American Revolutionary War battles
421:The papers of General Josiah Harmar, 1937
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303:Secret History of the American Revolution
510:United States military casualties of war
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545:In 1925 McGregor also established the
457:Indiana: A Bicentennial History, 1978
427:Pontiac and the Indian Uprising, 1947
1154:Historians of the American Revolution
1072:. Media Genesis. 2016. Archived from
986:Peckham, M. Steneck, N. Steneck, 1994
726:The Clements Library Associates, 1995
714:The Clements Library Associates, 1995
623:The Clements Library Associates, 1995
592:The Clements Library Associates, 1995
196:Howard Henry Peckham was a native of
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1159:Historians of Colonial North America
1149:20th-century American male writers
1124:Peckham obituary in New York Times
1049:. The Quatro. 1995. Archived from
439:Treason of the Blackest Dye, 1958
14:
1209:American male non-fiction writers
1139:20th-century American biographers
1092:. The William L. Clements Library
1043:In Memory of Howard Henry Peckham
430:Pontiac's Siege of Detroit, 1951
424:A Brief History of Indiana, 1946
160:for the management of historical
1144:20th-century American historians
567:A few of the works he coauthored
528:American historian and librarian
942:— Also available at archive.org
917:— Also available at archive.org
749:The William L. Clements Library
748:
448:The Toll of Independence, 1974,
405:Pontiac and the Indian Uprising
344:Hendersonville, North Carolina
166:Society of American Archivists
71:Hendersonville, North Carolina
16:American historian (1910–1995)
1:
1184:University of Michigan alumni
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1189:People from Lowell, Michigan
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515:American Antiquarian Society
297:Peckham worked closely with
1070:"McGregor Fund of Michigan"
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505:List of American historians
170:William L. Clements Library
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1016:Dearborn; Peckham (2009).
328:Indiana Historical Society
289:, and to American General
186:American Revolutionary War
178:American Revolutionary War
1204:The Michigan Daily alumni
547:McGregor Fund of Michigan
215:, Peckham first attended
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520:John Clement Fitzpatrick
463:The Colonial Wars, 1965
351:The Toll of Independence
349:In Peckham's 1974 work,
315:did an exclusive story.
192:Early life and education
168:and the Director of the
892:Peckham, Marshall, 1976
760:Dearborn, Peckham, 1939
659:McGregor Fund, Michigan
227:degree in 1931 and his
109:Professor and historian
815:Peckham, Carmony, 1951
793:Peckham, Carmony, 1946
259:The Grand Rapids Press
249:University of Michigan
211:After graduating from
174:University of Michigan
91:University of Michigan
1179:Olivet College alumni
1174:Writers from Michigan
928:Peckham, Winter, 2013
326:and Secretary of the
903:Peckham, Jones, 1976
859:Adlum, Peckham, 1968
526:James Kendall Hosmer
231:in English in 1933.
154:historical societies
142:Howard Henry Peckham
127:Dorothy Koth Peckham
23:Howard Henry Peckham
1164:American librarians
1056:on October 29, 2015
1001:"Howard H. Peckham"
277:Manuscript findings
1117:2016-03-25 at the
1022:. Heritage Books.
486:Manuscript culture
254:The Michigan Daily
213:Lowell High School
158:academic standards
495:Archival research
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287:Sir Henry Clinton
271:Tracy W. McGregor
263:Randolph G. Adams
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1094:. Retrieved
1078:. Retrieved
1074:the original
1058:. Retrieved
1051:the original
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1005:. Retrieved
994:Bibliography
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65:(1995-07-06)
63:July 6, 1995
1199:1995 deaths
1194:1910 births
1034:282 pages.
338:Later years
283:Thomas Gage
202:New England
162:manuscripts
79:Nationality
1133:Categories
575:References
44:1910-07-13
1096:April 11,
1080:April 11,
87:Education
1115:Archived
1060:April 7,
1007:April 7,
480:See also
206:New York
146:colonial
132:Children
82:American
491:Archive
301:on his
247:of the
245:alumnus
172:at the
1036:e'Book
1026:
728:, p. 7
716:, p. 6
361:Legacy
124:Spouse
73:, U.S.
54:, U.S.
1054:(PDF)
1047:(PDF)
625:, p.2
594:, p.1
533:Notes
398:Works
1098:2016
1082:2016
1062:2016
1024:ISBN
1009:2016
493:and
312:Life
285:and
229:M.A.
225:B.A.
204:and
148:and
60:Died
38:Born
1135::
630:^
599:^
582:^
415:)
384:.
99:MA
97:,
95:BA
1100:.
1084:.
1064:.
1032:.
1011:.
135:2
101:)
93:(
46:)
42:(
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