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

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Start Over You searched for: Repository University of Michigan William L. Clements Library Remove constraint Repository: University of Michigan William L. Clements Library Level Collection Remove constraint Level: Collection Places Philadelphia (Pa.) Remove constraint Places: Philadelphia (Pa.) Subjects Education--United States--History--19th century. Remove constraint Subjects: Education--United States--History--19th century.
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Collection

Caleb A. Wall collection, 1835-1850

8 items

This collection is made up of personal letters addressed to Caleb A. Wall of Worcester, Massachusetts. Several items pertain to his time at the Friends' school in Providence, Rhode Island, including correspondence from former schoolmates such as Joseph W. Aldrich.

This collection is made up of 8 letters addressed to Caleb A. Wall of Worcester, Massachusetts, from May 15, 1835-December 31, 1850. The first two letters, written by Caleb's brother Joseph, concern arrangements for Caleb's return home from the Friends' school in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1835 and 1837. In 1839, David Slade wrote to Caleb Wall about his experiences at the school after Wall's departure. Joseph W. Aldrich, a fellow student, wrote 4 of the remaining letters from the school and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he later lived. Aldrich reminisced about their time in Providence, shared news of the school, commented on the happiness of his marriage, described a recent gathering of Haverford School alumni, and discussed his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; he taught languages at the Haverford School in 1850. The final item, a letter from T. W. Butterfield, invites Wall to work at Butterfield's office in Worcester (December 20, 1845).

Collection

Ewing family papers, 1773-1937 (majority within 1773-1866)

4.75 linear feet

This collection is made up of correspondence, legal documents, financial records, school essays, ephemera, and other materials related to the family and descendants of Maskell Ewing of Radnor, Pennsylvania. The bulk relates to Maskell Ewing and his son, Maskell Cochran Ewing.

This collection is made up of correspondence, legal documents, financial records, school essays, ephemera, and other materials related to the family and descendants of Maskell Ewing of Radnor, Pennsylvania. The bulk relates to Maskell Ewing and his son, Maskell Cochran Ewing.

The Ewing family correspondence dates between 1784 and 1937, though the bulk falls between 1789 and 1845, with later groups dating from the Civil War and the mid-20th century. The earliest items include letters from Elinor Gardiner Hunter to her son James, written in the late 18th century, and incoming correspondence addressed to Maskell Ewing (1758-1825), often related to his financial affairs. Throughout the 1820s, Maskell Cochran Ewing (1806-1849) received letters from his mother and sisters while he studied at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. These letters reflect his military education and document women's lives in rural Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. Maskell Cochran Ewing occasionally wrote letters from the academy, and received letters from former classmates in the years immediately following his graduation. Several letters addressed to Maskell Cochran Ewing date from the Civil War.

The Ewing family's diaries, journals, school books, and a sketchbook primarily belonged to Maskell Cochran Ewing and James Hunter Ewing. One of Maskell Cochran's journals contains notes from a surveying expedition for the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal (1828). James Hunter Ewing composed 3 journals during the Civil War era.

Legal and financial documents comprise the bulk of the collection, with much of the material relating to the financial, legal, and real estate affairs of Maskell Ewing, with some items concerning Maskell Cochran Ewing's military career. Maskell Cochran Ewing kept a series of account books in 1859, intended for student use. Also of note is a set of United States debt certificates for goods seized for use by the Continental Army between 1780 and 1783. Bonds, receipts, financial records, and legal documents related to specific disputes also appear in the collection.

The Ewing family papers also include essays on many different topics, a manuscript map of West Point, and ephemera postcards, photographs, printed materials, and calling cards.

Collection

Joseph Stokes collection, 1840-1844

23 items

This collection is primarily made up of letters that Joseph Stokes received while attending the Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1840s. His parents, Nathaniel Newlin and Nancy Evans Stokes, wrote most of the letters, though he also corresponded with aunts, cousins, and friends. Most items pertain to family news from Westfield, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This collection is primarily made up of letters that Joseph Stokes received while attending the Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1840s. His parents, N. N. (Nathaniel Newlin) and N. E. (Nancy Evans) Stokes, wrote most of the letters from their home in Westfield, New Jersey; N. N. Stokes also wrote from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After 1842, some of the letters are addressed to both Joseph and John Stokes; one undated item is addressed to Anna Stokes, who also attended the Westtown School.

The Stokes family letters largely concern personal news of family members and friends, including members of the Stokes, Bispham, Lippincott, and Sharpless families, some of whom lived in Moorestown, New Jersey. They reported on the state of their farm in Westfield, where they raised cattle and hogs, and grew wheat, oats, potatoes, and corn. Some of the letters contain academic advice for Joseph and, later, his brother John. As the eldest of his siblings, the parents encouraged Joseph to set a good example; they once chastised John for the content of a previous letter (February 16, 1844). The letter of January 28, 1842, includes a description of a recent episode in which several members of the Stokes family fainted as a result of a gas leak in their stove. Joseph's aunts, cousins, and friends wrote similar letters, requesting news of his time at school and discussing their lives in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; one cousin reported on his pet pigeons and squirrel. Some of Joseph's friends reminisced about their time at Westtown School.

Collection

Whitney family letters, 1839-1843

30 items

This collection is comprised of 30 incoming letters to Mary Jane Whitney and her brother, William Wallace Whitney, of Albany, New York. Eliza Whitney wrote 13 letters to Mary about her experiences at the Albany Female Academy, and William and George Whitney each wrote letters to Mary about their lives in Albany. Asa Whitney, a machinist and railroad entrepreneur, sent Mary and William news from home and updates on his business affairs.

This collection is comprised of 30 incoming letters to Mary Jane Whitney and her brother, William Wallace Whitney, of Albany, New York. Eliza Whitney wrote 13 letters to Mary about her experiences at the Albany Female Academy, and William and George Whitney each wrote letters to Mary about their lives in Albany. Asa Whitney, a machinist and railroad entrepreneur, sent Mary and William news from home and updates on his business affairs.

Mary Jane Whitney received 21 letters while teaching at a school in Washington, D.C., between December 19, 1839, and July 26, 1841. Eliza, her sister, wrote about her social life and activities in Albany and her education at the Albany Female Academy. She discussed her subjects of study, classes, examinations, teachers, and classmates, and special occasions, such as visits to a local medical college and a lecture delivered by Harvey Peet. Eliza also attended parties and other social engagements, and often reported local marriages.

Asa, William, and George wrote to Mary about life in Albany, the health of her grandmother, and the potential publication of her father's political tract. Mary received two questions about possible encounters with William Henry Harrison: Eliza asked whether Mary had attended a ball given in President-elect William Henry Harrison's honor, and her father wondered if the capital had been crowded during Harrison's inauguration.

Asa Whitney sent 9 letters to his son William between August 26, 1842, and July 24, 1843, while William lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His letters primarily relate to his business interests and to his partnership with Matthias Baldwin. He also wrote one letter from Cleveland, Ohio, about a recent business trip (March 14, 1843). Whitney's letters from September 1842 concern John Whitney's affliction with scarlet fever, as well as the death of a neighbor from the same disease.