Appraisal and Description of the Handwritten Civil War Diary of John C. Gorman

^Bukc JSititocrstty Jlurhnm ^Nnrll; (Carolina 2770 6 ЗШШшш ^R. ^jcrbins ^library ^fflnnuBcrtpi .Department December 15, 19 80 Mr. Jerry Morris Trust Department Central Carolina Bank & Trust Company P.O. Box 931 Durham, North Carolina 27702 Dear Mr. Morris: On November 13, 1980, Dr. Lenox D. Baker delivered to the Duke University Manuscript Department the Civil War diary (45 pages, 1864) of John C. Gorman, together with a typescript of the diary and a three-page manuscript describing the federal prison at Fort Delaware. Dr. Baker informed me that these items were a gift to Duke University from Mrs. Joseph A. (Gladys Gorman) Speed and asked that I send you an appraisal of this gift. The diary and the items accompanying it are more fully described on the attached copy of our accession sheet. The diary itself provides a highly descriptive account of the ex¬ periences of an educated and observant Confederate officer during his imprisionment in two major federal prisons. Like all Civil War material of this quality, it is an item that would command a ready market among private collectors and manu¬ script repositories. In my opinion, the current market value of Mrs. Speed's gift is four hundred fifty dollars. ($450.00). If you have any questions concerning this appraisal, please feel free to call me. Sincerely yours, Robert L. Eyrd Manuscripts Librarian RLB :pw copy: Dr. Lenox Baker