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

The Collins family papers consist of personal correspondence between several members of the Collins family of New Haven, Connecticut, and Westfield, Massachusetts, in the early to mid-1800s. Correspondence between Cynthia Painter Collins and her husband Simeon reflects his career as a bookseller in Boston and Philadelphia, and letters between a range of friends and family members document life in New England during the antebellum era. Reverend Sylvester Graham wrote one letter offering medical advice to Cynthia Painter Collins.

The Collins family papers (197 items) consist of personal correspondence between several members of the Collins family of New Haven, Connecticut, and Westfield, Massachusetts, in the early to mid-1800s. Much of the collection is comprised of the correspondence of Cynthia Painter Collins, primarily written between herself, her husband Simeon, and several of her children between 1829 and 1855; other early correspondence includes several letters to her brother, Alexis Painter. Many of the letters concentrate on family and social news. For example, Cynthia Collins wrote one letter to her mother proudly declaring her religious beliefs (December 12, 1829), and Simeon Collins frequently reported on his experiences selling books in Boston and Philadelphia. While in Boston, he became acquainted with Reverend Sylvester Graham (1794-1851). Collins occasionally attended Graham's lectures, sold Graham's books, and solicited medical advice for Cynthia, which Graham provided in a letter dated March 24, 1837. Simeon mentioned other aspects of the Grahamite movement and his bookselling career. In one letter, he described a visit to 2 Philadelphia schools for African Americans (December 23, 1840).

Other correspondence from this period includes several letters from Cynthia Collins to Alexis Painter, as well as a series of letters she exchanged with her son David. In her letters to David, she voiced her concerns about her son Thomas, who contemplated moving west to seek gold in California and wished for his brother to join him (December 12, 1848). David's letters contain occasional reports on his business affairs.

Much of the later correspondence (1856-1863) is comprised of incoming letters to Anna Maria Collins, Cynthia and Simeon's daughter, from acquaintances updating her on their families and social lives in New England. Though most of these letters pre-date the Civil War, Anna's friend Libbie wrote in June 1863 to report the arrest of a boarder for desertion.

The Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books document the merchant ship's travels to New Orleans, Boston, and Barcelona between 1847 and 1849. Along with weather and daily events, the books reveal an abusive, difficult crew that showed open animosity toward the captain.

The Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books document the merchant ship's travels to New Orleans, Boston, and Barcelona between 1847 and 1849. The first entries in Volume 1 were made at New Orleans, where the ship loaded hay and corn and headed to Mexico. After traveling along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the ship, under the command of Joshua A. Gray, returned to New Orleans and subsequently left for Boston. After a lengthy stay at Commercial Wharf, it went to Havana, Cuba, where the crew became restless, verbally abusing the captain and refusing to work. On March 17, 1848, one crew member threw a ladle of hot water in the log keeper's face. The ship remained in Cuba until March 22, when it returned to Boston carrying sugar and other goods, and sailed down to Mobile in early June. After a brief trip along the Tennessee River, the Henry Kelsey left for a voyage to Europe, reached Barcelona in late December 1848, and made a brief trip to Marseilles before returning to Boston in February 1849. The second volume ends on May 28, 1849, with the ship still on its way to the United States. A letter from Joshua Gray to his wife and daughter, written while en route to Barcelona from October to December 1848, is laid in to the front of volume 2. Throughout their travels, the crew of the Henry Kelsey participated in mutinous behavior, swearing at the captain and officers, and often appeared to be intoxicated. The journals record several incidents of insubordination, along with the more traditional entries on weather, wind, sailing techniques, and activities in port.

This collection contains 4 letters that Boston merchant John Weir wrote to businessman Thomas Savage during a business trip to the Caribbean in 1760. Weir discussed shipments of molasses to Boston and commented on local prices and news in Monte Cristo, Santo Domingo.

This collection contains 4 letters (5 pages) that Boston merchant John Weir wrote to businessman Thomas Savage between March 20, 1760 and May 1, 1760, during a business trip to the Caribbean. The letters concern the shipment of molasses from the Spanish port of "Mounto Christo" (Monte Cristo, Santo Domingo, now the Dominican Republic) to Boston, and include Weir's system for labeling the barrels (March 20, 1760) and his reports on the amount of molasses shipped aboard particular vessels. Weir often reported prices in "pieces of eight" (Spanish dollars). He commented on price differences between Monte Cristo and Boston, as well as on his monetary affairs in Massachusetts, including financial support for his mother (April 28, 1760). Weir frequently mentioned merchant Josiah Newhall; one letter notes that Mrs. Newhall "has arrested Capt. Malcom" on account of undelivered molasses (May 1, 1760).

This collection is comprised of 28 incoming letters addressed to Stephen Gore, a grocer and merchant in St. Louis, Missouri, between 1836 and 1844. They include letters from business and family connections, such as John Harris in Boston, Nathaniel Harbach in Newton, Massachusetts, and several writers in New Orleans, Louisiana. They discussed trade in coffee, brandy, gin, flour, candles, oil, and other goods, as well as the business climates, particularly in the Boston area and St. Louis. The health and travel of members of the Gore, Hyde, and Harris families.

This collection is comprised of 28 incoming letters addressed to Stephen Gore, a grocer and merchant in St. Louis, Missouri, between 1836 and 1844. They include letters from business and family connections, such as John S. Harris in Boston, Nathaniel Harbach in Newton, Massachusetts, and writers in New Orleans, Louisiana. They discussed trade in coffee, brandy, gin, flour, candles, oil, and other goods, as well as business climates, particularly in the Boston area and St. Louis. The health and travel of members of the Gore, Hyde, and Harris families.

Gore's correspondents shared information on the trade of coffee (including references to St. Domingo), alcohol, candles, oil, and other products. Several quoted recent prices, and one contains a detailed invoice. In addition to financial matters, Boston merchant John S. Harris, author of 12 letters, occasionally mentioned contemporary political issues, such as tariff legislation, Henry Clay's early presidential nomination by the Whig Party (September 15, 1842), and the economic effects of the temperance movement (August 7, 1843). Harris also provided news of the Gore family in Boston. Three acquaintances from New Orleans, Louisiana, sent business letters, including one from J. H. Lyon, who proposed a partnership (August 19, 1843).

Stephen Gore received four personal/business letters from Nathaniel R. Harbach of Newton, Massachusetts between 1838 and 1843. Harbach updated Gore on the health of his wife, members of they Hyde family, and business contacts. In 1838, Mary Gore, Stephen's wife, was unwell and wanted to travel to St. Louis to be with her husband. According to Harbach, she would not accept his offer to accompany her on the trip because of the "gross impropriety" of traveling with an unmarried man. Harbach's hope was to make money in St. Louis and intended on bringing a good quantity of wild cherries to sell there. He wrote of aging Mother Hyde and of Mrs. John Hyde, who was receiving too few boarders in Newton and planned to move to Boston. Harbach also updated Gore on his travel to New Orleans, and intentions for future travel.

Three acquaintances from New Orleans, Louisiana, sent business letters, including one from J. H. Lyon, who proposed a partnership (August 19, 1843). Stephen Gore's son Stephen D. Gore sent a single letter, dated November 30, 1836. The younger Gore reflected on the poor state of business affairs in Boston (worse than in the past 10 years), suspended business, bank securities, and business "failures." At the time, S. D. Gore worked selling goods for the Belvidere Flannel Company, but he hoped his father would find a different position. He also commented on Horatio Ware, who has the phthisic and could not speak more than a dozen words without taking a breath. Sarah Flint, Gore's sister, wrote one letter from Boston on October 11, 1840, concerning the care of their mother, who boarded with Sarah and her husband, and the impact of her care on the couple's financial situation.