Manuscript Group 474
JOHN F. HARTRANFT - SHIREMAN FAMILY PAPERS
1865-1899
(4 microfilm rolls)
John F. Hartranft served as Governor of Pennsylvania from 1872 to 1879. Born in
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in 1830, he served both in local government and
the local militia, and raised a regiment of Montgomery County militia in April
of 1861 to serve in the Civil War. Hartranft was later named Colonel of the 51st
Regiment Volunteer Infantry, participating in several major battles, and rose
to the rank of Brevet Major General. Following the Civil War, Hartranft was appointed
Special Provost Marshall, and given responsibility for the care and final execution
of the conspirators convicted in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Hartranft became Auditor General of Pennsylvania in 1865, serving two terms, and
was elected as Governor of Pennsylvania in 1872. As Governor, he was involved
in the ratification of a new state constitution, the Centennial of Pennsylvania,
and such labor issues as railroad strikes and the trials of the Molly Maguires.
Following his years as governor, Hartranft was active in various organizations,
and was appointed Major General commanding the Pennsylvania National Guard. He
died on October 17, 1889. These materials consist of microfilm copies of the John
F. Hartranft's papers, including Post-Governorship Records, 1879-1899 on microfilm
rolls #4640-4641 and National Guard and Grand Army of the Republic Records, 1865-1888
on microfilm rolls #6106 & 6107. For related types of materials see also the
Governor John F. Hartranft Correspondence and Issues
Files in Record Group 10, the John F. Hartranft Papers,
1853-1897 (Manuscript Group 144), the Hartranft-Stockham-Shireman
Family Photographs (Manuscript Group 461), and the Records
of Brevet Major General John Frederick Hartranft as Special Provost Marshal for
the Trial and Execution of the Assassins of President Lincoln (National Archives
Record Group 393) in the NARA Affiliated Archives.
General Files, 1865-1899. (4 microfilm rolls) {#474.1}