Series 17 - Dr John Bell letters

2 sub-series

Photostatic copies of the Bell letters were provided to Kerby A. Miller in December 1973 by the Tennessee State Library & Archives, Nashville, from which Kerby A. Miller created transcripts. The original manuscripts are in the Bell Family Papers, Tennessee State Library & Archives (accession number 1200, Manuscript Section).

Materials pertaining to seven letters written by and to members of the Bell family, an Irish Protestant family forced from Ireland after involvement in the Irish Rebellion. After a period in London, where brothers John, William, and Walter Bell operated a business partnership, family members emigrated to the United States between 1810 and 1834. John Bell settled first in Richmond, Virginia, encouraging Walter to join him. Walter’s family arrived in 1811, later moving to Tennessee in 1820, where they engaged in iron manufacturing and farming. William’s branch settled near Pittsburgh in the iron industry, while a sister, Mrs. Williams, emigrated in 1834 to Ohio.
Much of the collection consists of correspondence between Dr John Bell, Walter’s son, and his sister Anne Jane. His letters describe American cities, education, travel, and medical practice. After studying medicine in Europe, John established himself in Philadelphia, becoming a physician, lecturer, editor, and member of prominent medical societies. His letters discuss disease, medical education, and family matters.
Anne Jane worked as a teacher, later marrying her cousin Samuel Bell before returning to Tennessee. She helped support Cloverdale Seminary, founded by her brother William.