John Thomas Scharf

John Thomas Scharf
Born (1843-05-01)May 1, 1843
Baltimore, Maryland
Died February 28, 1898(1898-02-28) (aged 54)
New York City, New York
Cause of death heart/pneumonia
Residence 80 Manhattan Ave. New York
Nationality American
Citizenship United States
Education M.A., LL.D.
Alma mater Georgetown University
Occupation United States historian, journalist, antiquarian, politician, lawyer and Confederate States of America soldier and sailor
Known for His comprehensive histories continue to be cited as primary source materials by historians and researchers.
Home town Baltimore, Maryland
Religion Roman Catholic
Spouse(s) Mary McDougall (married December 2, 1869)
Parent(s) Thomas G. Scharf and Anna Maria McNulty
Signature

John Thomas Scharf (May 1, 1843 – February 28, 1898) was a United States historian, author, journalist, antiquarian, politician, lawyer and Confederate States of America soldier and sailor. He is best known for his published historical works. Modern historians and researchers cite his comprehensive histories as primary source materials.

Scharf used a formulaic and detailed approach to preparing his historical works. He contacted everyone who could provide information about his subject and used detail questionnaires to capture responses to his inquiries.[1] The J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892, held by the Maryland Historical Society, shows off his massive collection of original source materials.[2]

Scharf was one of the first American historians to consistently use newspapers as a primary source. Rather than trying to analyze the source material, he often quoted at length from newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and state and city documents. His books are written in the flowery style of his day, and several of his works, although long, are still considered among the best primary sources available. When writing about the American Civil War, the central event of his generation, he could not remain objective, and clearly articulated his strong pro-South perspective and prejudice about the war he fought. Still, his History of the Confederate States Navy remains a particularly valuable contribution to the literature of the American Civil War.[1]

At the outbreak of the war, Scharf enlisted with the 1st Maryland Artillery. He fought in the Confederate States Army and Navy.[2] Returning from the war, Scharf helped reorganize the Maryland state militia. He practiced law and took positions as a city editor for the Baltimore Evening News and managing editor for the Baltimore Sunday Telegram. He accumulated a mass of papers on the city of Baltimore and from these he published his first major work, The Chronicles of Baltimore.[3]

In 1878, Scharf, a Democrat from Baltimore City-District 2, was elected and served one term in the Maryland General Assembly, House of Delegates.[4] He served as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland from 1884 until 1892 and was an active member of the Maryland Historical Society. In the year before he died he was dismissed from his position as "Special Chinese Inspector" for the Southern District of New York,[5][6] a post charged with enforcing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Geary Act of 1892.

Colonel Scharf

References

  1. 1 2 Dawson III, Joseph G., Texas A&M University (1986). "J. Thomas Scharf (1 May 1843 - 28 February 1898)". In Clyde Norman Wilson, University of South Carolina. American Historians, 1866-1912. Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 47. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research. pp. 249–256. ISBN 0-8103-1725-7. LCCN 85029245. OCLC 12949842.
  2. 1 2 Cynthia H. Requardt (May 1978). "J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892". H. Furlong Baldwin Library. Maryland Historical Society. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  3. ↑ Chronicles of Baltimore, Col. J Thomas Scharf, 1874, accessed December 2009
  4. ↑ Papenfuse, Edward C.; et al. "Archives of Maryland Historical List, Index to Names of Officeholders". Archives of Maryland Historical List, Maryland Government. Maryland State Archives. Index - S. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  5. ↑ "CASE OF J. THOMAS SCHARF; Circumstances of His Leaving the Post of Chinese Inspector at This Port.". New York Times. October 19, 1897. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  6. ↑ "SECRETARY GAGE AND COL. SCHARF". New York Times. October 16, 1897. Retrieved 2010-01-04.

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