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This collection contains the personal correspondence of Levi Henry Elwell and his family. Elwell was a professor in Amherst, Massachusetts, and many of the letters relate to his children's studies at Vassar College and Amherst College, as well as their everyday lives in Massachusetts and New York.

This collection contains 226 personal letters, 8 Greek-language examinations, and 5 loose newspaper clippings regarding Levi Henry Elwell and his family.

The Correspondence series contains letters between and to members of the Elwell family. During his early days as a student at Amherst College and as a teacher in Poughkeepsie, New York, Elwell wrote to his mother, Harriet Adaline Elwell, and fiancée, Abbie Miner Nickerson, about his scholarly life and experiences. In these letters, Levi and Abbie often discussed their engagement and wedding plans. Though later correspondence includes some letters that the couple sent to Levi's parents, most originated from their children, Marion, Florence, and James. The sisters frequently wrote each other to discuss Marion's experiences at Vassar College. They also received mail from various friends, several of whom enclosed sketches. Levi Elwell wrote many of the later letters to his daughter Florence during her studies at Vassar College, including a postcard entirely in Latin (June 1906) and a report on the family's reaction to witnessing Halley's Comet (May 10, 1910). Though the letters primarily concern personal news, correspondents occasionally discussed contemporary politics; in a letter to Marion dated October 30, 1904, Levi described the American political landscape and discussed his own political views. Around 11 newspaper clippings are enclosed in various letters.

The Newspaper Clippings and Exams series has 8 examinations (December 20, 1897-January 20, 1908) for students of Amherst College, who were required to translate and interpret classical Greek texts, printed in their original language. The 5 loose newspaper clippings concern women's colleges (May 14, 1910), faculty promotions at Amherst College (undated), dirigible balloons (undated), and Halley's Comet (2 items, ca. April 1910).

This collection is primarily made up of letters that George M. Chase wrote to M. Kathryn Hicks of Rhinebeck, New York, while serving in the United States Navy during World War I. Chase, who was a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, and a member of the New York Naval Militia prior to the war, served on the USS Lydonia in European waters and returned to New York in June 1918 after sustaining a knee injury.

This collection is made up of correspondence and other materials related to George M. Chase of Poughkeepsie, New York. The Correspondence series contains 48 letters that Chase wrote to M. Kathryn Hicks of Rhinebeck, New York, between October 7, 1917, and December 25, 1918. From October 1917-March 1918, Chase discussed his service in the New York Naval Militia and the United States Navy; he served on the Lydonia in European waters until March 1918, when he sustained a knee injury during a storm. He commented on Hicks's life in Dutchess County, New York, and expressed his confidence in an eventual Allied victory.

From March 1918-May 1918, Chase recuperated at a hospital in Europe, and he was transferred to a naval hospital in Brooklyn, New York, in May 1918. While there, he was often permitted to visit Poughkeepsie, New York, and his letters to Hicks describe his accident and the continuing effects of the injury. His letter of June 10, 1918, encloses a newspaper clipping regarding his return to Poughkeepsie, and his letter of September 2[2?], 1918, encloses a printed photograph of himself in uniform, a negative of the same image, and an additional negative showing sailors. From October 1918-December 1918, Chase wrote about his life in Rahway, New Jersey, where he worked for the local YMCA; he enclosed a clipping with a drawing of the building in his letter of October 20, 1918. An undated letter encloses 4 photographic negatives; the letter implies that the photographs depict George M. Chase (in uniform) and M. Kathryn Hicks.

The Printed Items and Ephemera series (5 items) includes 2 newspaper clippings about George M. Chase's military service and the Lydonia a New Year's card that Chase sent to M. Kathryn Hicks, a piece of red ribbon, and a program for commencement activities held at Rhinebeck High School on June 22, 1914. M. Kathryn Hicks gave the valedictory address at her commencement and won class honors in every subject except for German.

This collection is made up of correspondence related to the families of David S. Shearman of Poughkeepsie, New York, and his wife, Hepsa Hathaway Howland, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Most of the correspondence concerns family and social news, with occasional references to current events.

This collection is made up of correspondence related to the families of David S. Shearman of Poughkeepsie, New York, and his wife, Hepsa Hathaway Howland, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Hepsa Howland Shearman often exchanged letters with her mother, Hepsa Howland, and sister, Eliza Howland, who provided news from New Bedford. Hepsa wrote of her life and family in Poughkeepsie, New York. In several letters from late 1846 and early 1847, she mentioned her son David's failing health. Captain David Shearman received several letters from his cousin Abraham, who discussed finances, real property, and his attendance at Quaker meetings. David Shearman, Jr., corresponded with his parents while working on the ship Sea in the early 1840s. Other letters pertain to education, religion, and family health. One late letter from Mary Eliza Shearman to her sister Alice mentions the implementation of the draft in New Bedford; the night after the draft took place, several soldiers patrolled to prevent rioting (July 25, 1863).

The Martha Leach Packard commonplace book contains inscriptions, correspondence, autographs, and ephemera that Packard collected from the 1850s to 1890s. Inscriptions and autographs are written directly into the volume; additional items are pasted or laid in. The volume represents prominent individuals such as politicians and academics, as well as Packard's personal acquaintances.

The Martha Leach Packard commonplace book (200 pages) contains inscriptions, correspondence, autographs, and ephemera that Packard collected from the 1850s to 1890s. Packard used about half of the pages; additional items are laid into the volume.

Most inscriptions and autographs are written directly into the volume, and many are dated at Poughkeepsie, New York. Most entries are dated from the 1850s-1890s, though some letters pasted into the book are dated as early as 1837. Prominent individuals such as politicians, artists, and writers contributed autographs (see list below), and historian Benson J. Lossing provided a personal inscription (p. 39). Packard's other contributors included academics and personal acquaintances, 5 of whom mentioned participating in the Civil War (pp. 77, 145).

Laid-in letters include items by famous persons and personal correspondence to Martha Leach Packard and E. W. Packard. The volume also includes visiting cards, a menu from a dinner at the Stevens House (p. 157), a lock of hair (p. 178), and a swatch of fabric (p. 198). The album was originally published with printed illustrations, mainly portraits of women; some later pages contain cut-out colored illustrations of flowers.

• Benson J. Lossing (inscription, p. 39; letter, p. 200)
• John Jay Hyde (inscription, p. 41; calling card, front endpaper)
• Henry P. Tappan (autograph, p. 45)
• Thomas Nast (autograph on card, p. 61)
• Samuel F. B. Morse (autograph, p. 97)
• William W. Belknap (autograph, p. 99)
• Henry Clay (autograph, p. 115)
• Lydia Huntley Sigourney (autograph, p. 115)
• DeWitt Clinton (autograph, p. 115)
• Francis Napier (letter, p. 193)
• P. T. Barnum (autograph, back endpaper)

The Myron Barrett letters contain correspondence from his friends and family, who discussed various aspects of life in the mid-19th century, often with a focus on education.

The Myron Barrett letters contain correspondence from his friends and family, who discussed various aspects of life in the mid-19th century, often with a focus on education. Barrett had a wide range of acquaintances across the country, especially several friends who wrote from various educational institutions and, following his stint as a teacher in Columbus, Ohio, from that city. Many of the friendly, personal letters concern agricultural pursuits or teaching, and several letters from J. Collins provide a glimpse into cadet life at West Point in the 1840s. Additional material depicts various aspects of everyday life in the period, including one letter discussing a surgical operation to remove a cancerous tumor from a young woman (March 17, 1846).

The Nicholas Fish papers (97 items) consist of letters and documents that span Fish's career as a Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician. The collection is made up of 87 letters and 10 documents and financial records.

The Nicholas Fish papers (97 items) consist of letters and documents that span Fish's career as a Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician. The collection is made up of 87 letters and 10 documents and financial records.

The Correspondence series (87 items) is comprised of 14 letters written by Fish, 70 letters addressed to Fish, 2 letters to his son Hamilton Fish (1833 and 1844), and one item to the Committee of Defense of New York (August 4, 1815).

The series contains 52 items from Fish's military activities in the Revolutionary war (1776-1786). Forty-one of these letters are addressed to Fish as adjutant general of New York, 1785, regarding the raising and provisioning of troops to aid the first United States Army, commanded by Josiah Harmar on the frontier of the Northwest Territory. Discussed are transporting supplies, maintaining troop levels, defending the settlers of the region from Indians, taking prisoners of war, and punishing deserters. Fish received communications from the War Offices at Fort Schuyler; the Bronx; Albany; Philadelphia; and West Point. Many letters, notably, were from prominent American army officers, such as Secretary of War General Henry Knox, John Morin Scott (his former mentor), Major John Doughty, and Commissary of Military Stores Samuel Hodgdon. Of particular interest is a letter from Captain John Francis Hamtramck, who described catching and punishing 7 troops for desertion from Fort McIntosh in Western Pennsylvania (December 4, 1785), and another letter from Hamtramck, in which he discussed the poor treatment of the Six Nations hostages by the Americans in contrast to the civility shown Indian war prisoners held by the British (June 13, 1785).

A group of 36 letters relate to Fish's activities in New York politics between 1791 and 1830. These provide details of Fish's career as well as New York and American politics in general, including military affairs, the War of 1812, and presidential politics. On February 12, 1791, Fish wrote to President George Washington requesting an appointment as inspector for the district of New York. In his letter from March 10, 1794, fish discussed a dispute between Henry Dearborn and Theodore Sedgwick (March 10, 1794). In a letter to Fish, Jacob Radcliff expressed his support for Fish as New York alderman (November 8, 1810). Among letters written during the War of 1812, William Watson examined the role of Pennsylvania Germans in the Presidential campaign of 1812 (September 16, 1812); Fish wrote to James Madison concerning the punishment of Lieutenant William S. Cox for his part in the Chesapeake incident (after June 1, 1813); and Commodore J. Lewis, Chief Engineer Joseph G. Swift, and General George Izard all wrote letters regarding the defense of New York Harbor (May 8 and October 10, 1813, and August 4, 1815). (For a complete list of contributors, see the controlled access terms section.)

The Documents and Financial Records series (10 items) is comprised of military, personal, and official items.

• Two officer lists of the New York militia: one for the 1st Regiment (1775), and the other for the militia under Colonel John Lasher (September 25, 1776).
• Fish's bank deposit book with the U.S. Bank from April 1792-June 1793 (8 pages).
• Seven receipts for duties from the Supervisor's Office, District of New York, all signed by Fish (April 1795-February 1798).

This collection contains V-mail letters that multiple soldiers and a navy nurse wrote to correspondents in Poughkeepsie, New York, from 1943-1944. The correspondents commented on their experiences in England, India, and Africa.

This collection contains 14 V-mail letters that various soldiers (12 items) and a navy nurse (2 items) wrote to correspondents in Poughkeepsie, New York, from 1943-1944. Recipients included Dean H. Temple, then receiving mail at the Poughkeepsie YMCA (5 items); Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Lewis (4 items); the Poughkeepsie YMCA (3 items); and others (2 items). Most writers were members of the United States Army serving in England and Africa; these men discussed their travels, their eagerness to participate in combat, their leisure activities, and other subjects.

Norris DeRonde's V-mail letter to the Lewis family includes "Mystic India," a poem copied from the military newspaper CBI Roundup. The poem pertains to aspects of military service and life in India, and DeRonde added his own comments on native attire. Navy nurse Alice St. John discussed her difficulty finding in apartment in an unspecified location and remarked on weather patterns while serving at Base Hospital #2. Two items are pre-printed holiday greetings showing a soldier smoking by a palm tree (Christmas 1944) and a nativity scene (undated).

This album contains two titled groups of photographs: Snap Shots on Ranch and Gold-Claim in Colorado and Idaho in September 1895 and Kodak Peeps at Colorado in October, 1893. The photographs of ranches, cowboys, prospectors, and scenery in Idaho and Colorado are often accompanied by lengthy captions. A small group of photographs shows land near Pike Lake in Minnesota.

This album (24cm x 37cm) contains two titled groups of photographs: Snap Shots on Ranch and Gold-Claim in Colorado and Idaho in September 1895 (28 items, pp. 1-105) and Kodak Peeps at Colorado in October, 1893 (19 items, pp. 111-187). Additional items include five pictures of land near Pike Lake in Minnesota (pp. 159, 161) and a picture of a home in Poughkeepsie, New York (pp. 186-187). The volume has hard green covers, with the words "Colorado '93 & '95" stamped in gold the black spine. C. S. Green signed the first page, and each section opens with a title page, the text in stylized letters. The photographs of Colorado and Idaho are early Kodak prints.

In both 1893 and 1895, the photographer took pictures of settlers and scenery in Idaho and Colorado, particularly in and around Market Lake, Idaho; Menan, Idaho; Manitou Springs, Colorado; and Powderhorn, Colorado. Pictured buildings include homes, a small hotel, the signal station and cog railroad on Pikes Peak, and railroad stations; railroad tracks and trains are featured in a few items. Portraits of prospectors, cowboys, and ranchers are included. Captions, often lengthy, describe numerous aspects of life in the West, such as the crops and geography of Idaho and gold mining, ranching, and mineral resources in Colorado. The author also commented on less-visited areas of Colorado and prominent features such as the Continental Divide. Laid into the volume are brief essays on a dog named Bobby (1 page) and the Snake and Yellowstone Rivers (3 pages). These appear on the letterhead of Charles S. Green of Roaring Branch, Pennsylvania.

The Yacht Vergana photograph album contains approximately 190 photographs related to the lifestyle and friends of a New York-based yacht owner.

The Yacht Vergana photograph album contains approximately 190 photographs related to the lifestyle and friends of a New York-based yacht owner. The album (18 x 26 cm) is fully bound in brown leather. Images of interest include views taken in and around Long Island Sound, including the torpedo boat Ericsson at the Greenport dock; shell races at Poughkeepsie, with spectators aboard the steamboat Chester W. Chapin; Luna Park on Coney Island; various sailing and steam vessels on Long Island Sound; Prospect Park in Brooklyn; the racing yacht Flint's Arrow; a group of nurses from the Flower Free Hospital on a shipboard outing; buildings in Greenport; Sir Thomas Lipton's yacht, Erin; cadets at West Point; the steamboat Orient and her crew; the yacht Vergana; Long Island Railroad snow plows; and an automobile race at the Riverhead Fair (according to laid-in caption). Other photographs include beach scenes, fishing boats, family and friends onboard the Vergana and other vessels, and unidentified street views possibly taken on Long Island. A number of photographs include manuscript captions.