Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

Includes miscellaneous items related to Americans in Cuba: three letters sent by a planter Antonio Maden to his wife Kathleen Duryea in Brooklyn expressing dismay at the rapid Cuban insurgent advance into Cárdenas and the destruction of plantations, an assurance that the planter is alright but fleeing to Havana, and a hope that Kathleen's "servant hasn't left" her (the first letter); confirmation of arrival in Florida and anger at the lack of American intervention in the war (the second letter); and a desire for further communication and support for the possibility of American intervention against the Spanish (the third letter). [NB: The William L. Clements Library holds additional materials related to Antonio and Kathleen, which are described in the Antonio C. and Kathleen Duryea Maden Collection Finding Aid ]. Also in this group of materials are a menu of a New York Press Club dinner of May 1896 that hosted an American journalist who had been expelled from Cuba for his editorial line; an invitation from the Governor of Florida to the Governor of New York requesting a New York delegation to come to Florida for a January 1897 conference concerning the strengthening of southern U.S. sea defenses against the possibility of Spanish invasion; a letter sent to a C.C. Vaughan in Illinois, who had been considering volunteering in the war but thought better of it; and a letter sent by Charles Barnett, taken prisoner for his actions against Spain during the war, to U.S. consul to Cuba Fitzhugh Lee requesting his urgent intervention in Barnett's release. Florida sea defenses, interstate relations, prisoners of war, American volunteers in Cuba. Partial geographical list: Havana/Habana (Cuba), Cárdenas (Cuba), Bensonhurst (Brooklyn, N.Y.), New York, Tallahassee (Fla.), Golconda (Ill.), Brightwood (Ind.), Fortress Cabana.