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James Ahern Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0058

Scope and Contents

The James Ahern Papers document James Ahern's research and writing process as he worked on a book about John Bankhead Magruder (1807-1871), a lieutenant-colonel in the Mexican-American War, general in the Provisional Confederate Army during the US Civil War, and general in the Imperial Mexican Army.  Ahern's research covered the full span of Magruder's life including his birth and early life in Virginia, his years fighting in the Mexican-American War in Florida, his years on frontier duty in California and Kansas, his role in the Battle of Yorktown, the Seven Days Battles, and the Battle of Galveston as a Confederate general during the US Civil War, and his later years in Mexico.   The collection consists of research material including photocopies of  manuscripts on deposit in numerous repositories as well as notes and index cards compiled by Ahern throughout his research.  Also included is Ahern's unpublished manuscript about Macgruder, which is broken into chapters and filed with supporting research material.

Dates

  • Creation: 1975-1988

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

James Ahern was a criminal investigator for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. While researching the background of the District Attorney's Office, he ran across some information about John B. Magruder, a Confederate general during the US Civil War. Magruder fascinated Ahern, who was initially interested in his exploits around San Diego, where he served on frontier duty prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Ahern ultimately decided to write a biography for Magruder which covered his entire life, from his birth in Port Royal, Virginia in 1807 to his death in Houston, Texas in 1871. He completed his notes and planned to write the biography following his retirement in January of 1988. He passed away on February 9th of that year, and so the book was never completed.

Extent

3.42 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Linda Ahern

Accruals

1988-001

Title
James Ahern Papers
Status
Completed
Date
11/04/2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791