Collection summary derived from "Guidebook to Manuscripts", 1969: These letters and newspaper clippings deal mostly with the famous "Battle of the Little Big Horn", and one letter concerns a horse named "Don Juan." There are photographs of Custer and his horse, "Comanche." George A. Custer, (1839-1876) an American army officer, was born at New Rumley, Ohio. He graduated from West Point in 1861 and served through the Civil War. He engaged in western patrol duty and in Indian fighting, especially in the expedition to Black Hills (1874). He was killed with all his immediate command in the Battle of Little Big Horn June 25, 1876. Interesting items: A telegram from General G. A. Custer to Lawrence Barrett in New York. Barrett was the famous Shakespearean actor and an intimate friend of Custer. The wire is dated March 4, 1876, St. Paul Minnesota, and reads, "We start to meet Sitting Bull tomorrow-will reach Lincoln Monday." Also in Custer 's hand is a letter to Mr. Barrett in which he writes "... Mr. S. B. had better put his house in order as his friends in the words of Babcock may visit him ... " For further information, see the "Benteen-Goldin" and "Cole" papers.