Collections

The Shaker collection includes a wide variety of materials written by or about Shakers.

The collection consists mostly of photocopied material written by or about Shakers. Most of the collection was copied from materials found either in the Clarke Historical Library or ordered via inter-library loan. The only materials which are originals in the collection are the Journal of Shaker Studies issues, (the) Clarion, the Correspondence, and Duffield’s Notes.

Materials are organize into the following topical series: Bibliographies, Broadsides, Correspondence (Duffield’s with Shaker organizations), Fiction, Fiction-Tangental (materials that appeared to be about Shakers but was not), Narratives, Nonfiction, Notes (Duffield’s), Periodicals, Poems, Vital Statistics, and Shaker Journals. The series are organized alphabetically, except the Shaker Journals, which are filed last as they require a larger box than the rest of the collection.

Within each series, materials are organized alphabetically by author’s last name or by title, if the author is unidentified. Periodicals include mailing lists and related materials for the Journal of Shaker Studies, various issues of the Manifesto, The Shaker, and (the) Clarion. The Shaker Journals are photocopied manuscripts of journals written by Shakers.

A later addition (Acc#67521) includes articles (copies) with typed transcripts and miscellaneous materials, such as photographs, brochures, postcards, sewing instructions (patterns), and other materials.

Processing Note: All published books and periodicals in the collection have been separately cataloged.

Holly Fine was a dancer and performer with the traveling vaudeville production, the Marcus Show, in the 1930s. The collection documents Fine’s relationship with entertainer Danny Kaye, as well as the Marcus Show itself. Includes correspondence, vaudeville programs and promotional material, photographs, scrapbooks, printed material and drawings. The correspondence includes approximately 0.5 linear feet of letters written from Kaye to Fine.

The Holly Fine and Danny Kaye Papers document the relationship between Fine and Kaye, as well as the 1930s traveling vaudeville production, The Marcus Show. The papers have been divided into six series: Correspondence, Vaudeville, Printed Material, Photographs, Scrapbooks, and Drawings and Artwork.

The Holman-Perkins family collection contains letters that family members and friends wrote to Catherine Holman Perkins and Daniel Perkins of Temple, Maine, in the 1850s and 1860s. Correspondents commented on their lives in Maine and California and sometimes referred to the Civil War.

The Holman-Perkins family collection (72 items) contains material pertaining to Catherine Holman Perkins ("Kate") and Daniel Perkins of Temple, Maine.

The Correspondence series (66 items) contains personal letters that the couple received, including early letters about life in Maine in the mid- to late 1850s. During the Civil War, the Perkinses' most frequent correspondents were Isabella Holman, who provided news from Dixfield, Maine; Mary Perkins Woodbury; and William P. Woodbury, who discussed life in Strawberry Valley and San Francisco, California. Correspondents occasionally referred to the draft and to soldiers such as Freeland Holman, who was taken prisoner in 1864 and died in 1865. After the war, Isabella Holman mentioned the administration of Freeland Holman's estate (November 8, 1865).

The Perkinses' other correspondents included friends from Maine; members of the Towle family in Mackford, Wisconsin; and Catherine Holman Perkins's aunt, Rosanna Tibbetts. Betsey Towle commented on political uncertainty following Abraham Lincoln's death (April 28, 1865). Isabella Holman's letter of June 7, 1864, including a small fabric sample, and the envelope for her letter of August 11, 1863 contains inked decorations. Another envelope contains a printed poem about overcoming despair (October 4, 1863).

The Documents and Fragments series (6 items) includes a decorative drawing in green ink, financial records, and an assignment for surveyor Daniel Perkins to amend and repair a road in Temple, Maine (April 15, 1863).

Irish Quakers and compatriots of William Penn, the family of John Holme prospered in the new colony of Pennsylvania. The Holme family account book includes accounts of goods sold and services rendered to Philadelphia families in the 1680s and 1690s. Interspersed throughout are medicinal and food preparation receipts, mostly recorded in the 1740s, as well as copies of the laws of Pennsylvania, ca. 1685, the wills of Capt. Thomas Holme, 1695, and John Holme, Jr., and a poem and two religious songs.

The Holme account book is particularly heterogeneous in its construction. It includes accounts of goods sold and services rendered to Philadelphia families in the 1680s and 1690s. However, the accounts appear to have been kept by several different members of the family. These include records of the sale of shoes, gun powder, grain, cloth, nails, and many other goods. Interspersed throughout the accounts are pages of calculations, numerous medicinal receipts, and receipts for various food preparations (including a large number relating to wine), most of which appear to have been recorded in the 1740s, though some are earlier.

John Holme, Sr., also appears to have used the "account book" to copy the laws of Pennsylvania (copied ca.1685), and he or a later Holme recorded the wills of Capt. Thomas Holme (1695; William Penn's Surveyor General), and of one of the John Holmes, probably John Holme, Jr. Finally, a poem and two religious songs have been included, the former perhaps written by one of the Holmes. It is tempting to attribute the poem to John Holme, Sr., whose poetry is among the earliest recorded as having been written in the province (see Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vols. 3 and 20).

Medicinal receipts are indexed under the term "Receipts" while those for foods are indexed as "Cookery." Additional indexing (e.g. for type of food or medicine) is highly selective. Similarly, only the primary names are indexed for the accounts.

The Holmes family papers consist of twelve letters written by Isabella Holmes, Gabriel Holmes, and Elizabeth Weir addressed to Nathaniel Holmes, who had emigrated from Strabane, Ireland to the Philadelphia area for economic reasons.

The Holmes family papers consist of twelve letters written by Isabella Holmes, Gabriel Holmes, and Elizabeth Weir addressed to Nathaniel Holmes between 1791 and 1805. These letters document the abysmal economic conditions in northern Ireland and the consequent stream of immigration to the United States. The separation of families through immigration and the sense that relatives might never see one another again pervades the Holmes letters. The letters, particularly, Isabella's, are written in halting English, but provide useful examples of Irish-English dialect.

Bay City, Michigan. Personal letters, primarily of Susie Holmes living in New York from family members in Michigan detaining daily activities and family matters.

The Holmes papers, dating ca. 1883 to 1957, have been divided into four major series: Susie Holmes Papers, Harry Holmes Papers, Other Holmes Papers, and Miscellaneous. For the most part, the Holmes Family collection documents events and concerns of a middle-class family running a family business and socializing with other middle-class business families. The family enjoyed good hotels when they traveled, they worried about profits and losses, and they commented occasionally on national events of the times. But in sum, their work ethic, comments about life and death in general, and concern for family and friends are the themes that distinguish this collection of family letters.

The bulk of the papers consists of letters from the family to Susie Holmes. From 1897 to 1903, Susie was living near, and working in, Buffalo New York for Charles G. Butts. In addition to family correspondence, business correspondence from her boss, and personal business material such as her insurance notices, the Susie Holmes series includes church activity announcements, a few wedding invitations, a batch of 3 x 5 cards with English and American literary references, and letters to and from other members of her family which were subsequently forwarded on to Susie.

Three young girls named Lillian Holmes Keyes, "Mildred," and "Edith" wrote these 6 letters to their grandparents in the summer of 1896. Edith's letters were penciled by her mother, Fannie. The girls wrote on illustrated children's stationery and commented on scenery, wildlife, health, and family news. Mildred addressed one of her letters from East Tilton, New Hampshire.

Three young girls named Lillian Holmes Keyes, "Mildred," and "Edith" wrote these 6 letters to their grandparents in the summer of 1896. Edith's letters were penciled by her mother, Fannie. The girls wrote on illustrated children's stationery and commented on scenery, wildlife, health, and family news. Mildred addressed one of her letters from East Tilton, New Hampshire.

Lillian Holmes Keyes wrote 2 letters to her grandparents on July 19 and 22, 1896, about her ongoing recovery from scarlet fever. Though she could not interact with other children, she did enjoy a trip to a nearby lake with her Aunt Alice. "Mildred" sent 2 letters (July 9, 1896, and undated), describing a picnic and other outdoor activities such as swimming. She also thanked her grandmother for throwing her a 7th birthday party. The final 2 letters are attributed to a child named Edith, though they are written by her mother, Fannie. The first letter reports family news, such as the recent sale of their store and an anticipated August vacation. The second offers greetings to various family members and bears scribbled drawings by a young child (possibly Edith).

Each letter is written on illustrated children's stationery with images of children writing, accepting a letter from a dog, riding in a cart, and repairing a doll.

This volume contains financial records, copied poetry and prayers, and colored illustrations compiled by various members of the Holstein family of Pennsylvania in the mid- to late 18th century. Most of the text is written in German.

This volume (about 100 pages) contains financial records, copied poetry and prayers, and colored illustrations compiled by various members of the Holstein family of Pennsylvania in the mid- to late 18th century. Most of the text is written in German.

Much of the volume is comprised of financial accounts recorded between 1753 and 1757, with 3 English-language promissory notes and receipts dated as late as January 1826; the later items pertain to John Holstein. Poems, devotions, and brief notes are written alongside the accounts. Numerous colored drawings in black, red, and yellow ink are located throughout the volume. These illustrations, which are crude examples of the Fraktur style, include floral patterns, pictures of people (sometimes represented by stick figures), and drawings of birds. Page 91 contains rubbings taken from 14 coins minted as late as 1831, including coins with the "draped bust" design, a "large cent," and a piece of Spanish currency.

Baptismal records, marriage, birth and death records, photographs, newspaper clippings and printed histories detailing activities of this Indian church.

The records of the church date back to 1847 and include baptismal records, marriage, birth and death records, photographs, newspaper clippings and printed histories detailing activities of this Indian church. Most of the records are in Latin and Ottawa.

The Holyoke Canoe Club photograph album contains pictures of canoeing and scenery along the Connecticut River, and of men and women socializing indoors and outdoors.

The Holyoke Canoe Club photograph album (19cm x 26cm) contains 65 pictures of scenery, communities, and activities along the Connecticut River. The red pebbled cloth cover has the title "Photographs" stamped in gold gothic letters on the front. Included are photographs showing wooded scenery and structures along the river, including pictures of the Holyoke Canoe Club boathouse, the sailing and paddling of canoes, and of men and women in sporting dress socializing indoors and outdoors. Many of the images focus on men in sailing canoes, including one view of a man sitting in a sailing canoe on shore with sails set. Two photographs show a woman standing next to a beached canoe and a woman paddling a canoe along a flooded street. Individual and group portraits appear, taken at a small cabin in a wooded area, in front of a doorway, beside an indoor fireplace, and beside indoor and outdoor tables set with food, among other scenes. A group gathered around a piano appears in two images, one of which shows two of the women holding banjos. The album contains exterior shots of churches and other unidentified buildings, some overlooking a body of water. A view of two horses pulling a large log on a sleigh is also included.

Of note are views of a steam launch at the canoe club dock; a view of canoes stored on racks inside the boathouse; and two views of the interior of what is likely a local textile mill.