Skip to main content

Kane (Family : Kane, Thomas L. (Thomas Leiper), 1822-1883)

 Family

Dates

  • Existence: 1853-

Biographical History

The Thomas L. Kane (1822-1883) and Elizabeth Kane (1836-1909) family was a prominent family from Pennsylvania, and friends of members to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 19th Century.

The Kane family was a prominent family of politicians, lawyers, and doctors in Pennsylvania. Thomas L. Kane (1822-1883) was born in Philadelphia to John K. Kane (1795-1858), judge and politician in the city. In 1853, Thomas married Elizabeth Dennistown Wood (1836-1909), and they had four children: Harriet, Elisha, Evan, and William, who later changed his name to Thomas after the death of his father. Thomas L. Kane was a friend of Brigham Young and other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and helped facilitate their migration to Utah, and forged a compromise that kept the Utah War of 1857-58 from escalating to bloodshed. Elizabeth Kane wrote a book on her visit to Utah and interaction with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the winter of 1872-73, titled "Twelve Mormon Homes." Following the Civil War, the Kane family moved to western Pennsylvania to found the town of Kane, Pennsylvania.

Citation:
UPB files, Oct. 24, 2016 (The Kane family was a prominent family of politicians, lawyers, and doctors in Pennsylvania. Thomas L. Kane (1822-1883) was born in Philadelphia to John K. Kane (1795-1858), judge and politician in the city. In 1853 he married Elizabeth Dennistown Wood (1836-1909), and they had four children: Harriet, Elisha, Evan, and William, who later changed his name to Thomas after the death of his father. Thomas L. Kane was a friend of Brigham Young and other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and helped facilitate their migration to Utah, and forged a compromise that kept the Utah War of 1857-58 from escalating to bloodshed. Elizabeth Kane wrote a book on her visit to Utah and interaction with the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the winter of 1872-73, title "Twelve Mormon Homes." Following the Civil War, the Kane family moved to western Pennsylvania to found the town of Kane, Pennsylvania)

Kane family photographs and albums, approximately 1830-1920

Wikipedia, via WWW, Apr. 17, 2013 (Thomas L. Kane (1822-1883); b. in Philadelphia, Pa.; son of John K. Kane; m. 1853 to Elizabeth Dennistown Wood (1836-1909), four children; est. Kane, Pa. after Civil War)

Found in 74 Collections and/or Records:

Kane family newspapers, 1851-1908

 Sub-Series — Box 64: Series 11 [Barcode: 31197232570017]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 11 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains newspaper clippings of articles related to the Mormons and to the Civil War. Materials date from between 1851 and 1908.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1851-1908
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Kane family lithographs, clippings, and other material

Kane family personal papers, 1869-1965

 Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, journals, and other materials from members of the Kane family descendend from Thomas L. and Elizabeth Wood Kane. Includes information the individual family members, as well as relationships between different branches of the family. Materials date from between 1869 and 1965.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1869-1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers

Robert Livingston Kane correspondence, 1923

 Sub-Series — Box 40: Series 7 [Barcode: 31197232551066]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 7 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains a letter by Kane to William Wood Kane written in 1923 regarding his studies at the Pennsylvania Military College.

Dates: Majority of material found in 1923
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Kane family personal papers

Thomas L. and Elizabeth Wood Kane correspondence from Civil War, 1861-1863

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 5 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence between Kane and his wife Elizabeth during his service in the Civil War. Includes information on the course of the war, the Kane family, and personal business. Materials date from between 1861 and 1863.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1861-1863
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane papers on the Civil War

Thomas L. and Elizabeth Wood Kane correspondence from courtship and marriage, 1852-1853

 Sub-Series — Box 10: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197232550720]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence between Thomas L. Kane and Elizabeth Dennistoun Wood related to their courtship. Letters date from July 1852 to May 1853.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1852-1853
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane personal papers

Thomas L. Kane address to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1850-1851

 Sub-Series — Box 14: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197232550761]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 3 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence regarding Kane's address to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania given in 1850. Letters date between 1850 to 1851.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1850-1851
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane papers on the Mormons

Thomas L. Kane correspondence, 1924

 Sub-Series — Box 40: Series 7 [Barcode: 31197232551066]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 7 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Contains a letter of apology by Thomas L. and Thelma Kane to his parents, Evan O'Neill and Lila Kane, dating from 1924.

Dates: Majority of material found in 1924
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Kane family personal papers

Thomas L. Kane correspondence and other material on military service, 1869-1878

 Sub-Series — Box 24: Series 5 [Barcode: 31197232550878]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 5 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence between Kane and William Rickards, among others, related to Kane's service during the Civil War. Materials date from between 1869 and 1878.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1869-1878
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane papers on the Civil War

Thomas L. Kane correspondence from Civil War, 1861-1877

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 5 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence between Kane and family members and friends. Includes discussion of the conduct of the war, command of the Bucktails Regiment, and family and personal news. Also includes correspondence on Kane's resignation in 1863, and later reminiscences. Materials date from between 1861 and 1877.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1861-1877
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane papers on the Civil War

Thomas L. Kane correspondence from early Mormon contacts, 1846-1848

 Sub-Series — Box 14: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197232550761]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 3 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains letters to and from Thomas L. Kane related to his initial contact with Jesse C. Little and the Mormons. Letters date from 1846 to 1848.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1846-1848
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane papers on the Mormons

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.