John Dabney Shane (1812-1864)

 From: Jerry Brimberry Subject: Re: Draper & Shane Date: December 31, 2006 2:37:45 PM EST To:   TWWFA@googlegroups.com

ContentI corrected his dod from 1819 to 1891. He was born in 1815 and served as the director of the Wisconsin Historical Society, the repository for his collection, from 1854-1886. Presbyterian minister John Dabney Shane, the primary author of the Kentucky Papers, died in 1864 at the age of 52. Shane dedicated "more than twenty years to historical research, using the oral history technique similar to his contemporary, Lyman Copeland Draper. Shane purposefully sought out those of age and experience to interview, writing down their reminiscences. He copied from family, church, and government records and clipped from newspapers and magazines."

"While Draper had a deep interest in the military (personal papers in his original collection are rare), Shane was just as interested in the domestic, business, educational, religious, and literary aspects of the time. His inquiries concerning old barrels, trunks, and chests—which he carefully searched—brought him many family letters, records, and other items" which Draper purchased following Shane's death. Originally known as the Shane Manuscripts they were combined with other materials acquired by Draper and are now known as the Kentucky Papers. Jerry