Archive and personal effects of Marcellus Ovando Messer (1842-1928), Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 19th Regiment, Company C, and later, the 19th Ohio Veteran Infantry Volunteers. Includes nine (9) badges and buttons, including one (1) Company K., 41, Ohio, Volunteer Infantry ladder badge with fragments of blue silk ribbon, one (1) Chickamauga & Chattanooga Military Park souvenir dedication badge, dated September 19-20, 1895, with red, white, and blue grosgrain ribbon, one (1) Grand Army of the Republic Cleveland 35th National Encampment badge, dated September 9-14, 1901, one (1) Grand Army of the Republic badge, two (2) William McKinley Campaign buttons, including one (1) with Theodore Roosevelt, one (1) Independent Order of Odd Fellows button, two (2) patriotic eagle badges, including one (1) with a bell, and one (1) fragment of red, white and blue grosgrain ribbon, ranging in size from 1" L to 4" L. The archive also includes four (4) letters, one (1) addressed to his uncle from a camp near Brooks Station, dated December 5, 1862, referencing the Battle of Fredericksburg two (2) addressed to his mother from Camp Ford, dated circa 1861. Also includes a commission appointing Messer the rank of Sergeant in Company G of the 19th Regiment of the Ohio Veteran Infantry Volunteers, dated September 23, 1865. Includes CDVs, photos, discharge documents, Departments of the Interior pension documents, deeds, contracts, a written biography on Messer, a Warren Iron & Steel Company stock certificate, reunion invitations, newspaper articles, and more. Includes Messer's travel trunk or blanket chest, pine with red wash and lined in floral fabric, interior till and drawer (16" H x 41 1/2" W x 17 1/2" D), and contents: one (1) 48-star machine sewn US flag, Valley Forge Flag Co. (58" H x 114" W), two (2) printed silk 48-star US flags (48" H x 32" W); one (1) printed cotton 50-star US flag (35" H x 55" W); one (1) printed linen Confederate third national "blood stained banner" reunion flag (20 1/2" H x 35 7/8" W), and one (1) 19th century plaid wool blanket (45" H x 59" W) said to have been used by Messer during the War.

Trunk with alligatored varnish, abrasions, lacking feet, does not sit flat. Badges and button in overall good condition with some tarnish, fraying to ribbons. All flags with scattered tiny holes and stains; 1 silk flag with additional fraying at ends; cotton flag with several larger stains; CSA flag with frayed ends and shadow stain; plaid blanket with several noticeable holes and frayed edges. Paper ephemera with toning, dampstaining, foxing spots, tears, etc. to be expected from age.