Sweetser Family Papers, 1847-1958

Collection number: MC 90
Size: 9 boxes (2.97 cu.ft.)

About the Sweetser Family

The majority of this collection contains information on Harold Caswell Sweetser (1897-1988), son of John P. Sweetser of Portsmouth, N.H. He was employed as a Helper General at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in May of 1917 and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1918. He enlisted in the Army in August 1918 and was discharged in December of the same year. In April 1918 he was promoted to Copyist Ship Draftsman, then to Chief Engineering Draftsman in 1944, and eventually to Naval Architect in 1950. By 1958, when he retired after forty years service, he was the Supervising Naval Architect. He won “The Plack” for long service at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

About the Sweetser Family Papers

The Sweetser Collection contains the personal papers of Harold C. Sweetser, much of it school and work related material dating from 1904-1974, as well as a Sweetser genealogy and miscellaneous family related items, such as correspondence, autograph books, and scrapbooks spanning the years 1847-1971. The genealogy includes both maternal and paternal sides of Harold’s family and was compiled in large part by his half-sister Katherine Sweetser. Further information can be found in the William L. Hill Collection (MC 115). Hill was Katherine Sweetser’s husband.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open.

Copyright Notice

Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [Folder number], [Box number], Sweetser Family Papers, 1847-1958, MC 90, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Donation, Mr. and Mirs. William Warren on behalf of the Sweetser Family, Oct 1986 (Accession number: 8657)

Collection Contents

Series 1: Harold C. Sweetser, 1906-1974

(2 boxes)

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1		Harold Sweetser M S School Notebook, 1906
Box 1, Folder 2		Spelling Notebooks, 1911-1912
Box 1, Folder 3		U.N.H. Exams, 1918
Box 1, Folder 4		Correspondence School, Apr 1918-Jul 1918
Box 1, Folder 5		Correspondence School, Apr 1918-Jul 1918
Box 1, Folder 6		Correspondence School, Apr 1918-Jul 1918
Box 1, Folder 7		Correspondence School, Jan 1919-June 1919
Box 1, Folder 8		Correspondence School, Jan 1919-June 1919
Box 1, Folder 9		Correspondence School, Feb 1920-Apr 1920
Box 1, Folder 10		Correspondence School, Feb 1921-Oct 1921
Box 1, Folder 11		Correspondence School, Feb 1921-Oct 1921
Box 1, Folder 12		Correspondence School, Feb 1921-Oct 1921
Box 1, Folder 13		Correspondence School, Jan 1921 and undated material
Box 1, Folder 14		Vocational Education Notebook
Box 1, Folder 15		Official Correspondence to Harold C. Sweetser (concerning military service), 1904-1958
Box 1, Folder 16		Mass. Memorial Hospital, blood types of several men including Harold Sweetser
Box 1, Folder 17		Work-related notebooks, Ship Calculations, 1922 and 1950s
Box 1, Folder 18		Work-related notebooks, Ship Calculations, 1922 and 1950s
Box 1, Folder 19		Work-related notebooks, Submarines Plan Nos., 1925, 1933
Box 1, Folder 20		Work-related notebooks, Submarines Plan Nos., 1925, 1933
Box 1, Folder 21		Work-related notebooks, undated
Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1		Work-related notebooks, undated
Box 2, Folder 2		Work-related notebooks, undated
Box 2, Folder 3		Work-related notebooks, undated
Box 2, Folder 4		Work-related notebooks, undated
Box 2, Folder 5		Notebooks, 1930-1950
Box 2, Folder 6		Notebooks, 1930-1950
Box 2, Folder 7		Boat Diary, 1959-1974
Box 2, Folder 8		Boat Diary, 1959-1974
Box 2, Folder 9		Boat Diary, 1959-1974
Box 2, Folder 10		Personal Correspondence to Harold C. Sweetser, 1924-1925, 1964
Box 2, Folder 11		Guest List and Marriage Certificate of Harold C. Sweetser and Mildred Alberta Todd, Sept 11, 1926
Box 2, Folder 12		Guest List and Marriage Certificate of Harold C. Sweetser and Mildred Alberta Todd, Sept 11, 1926
Box 2, Folder 13		Guest List and Marriage Certificate of Harold C. Sweetser and Mildred Alberta Todd, Sept 11, 1926

Series 2: Sweetser Family Genealogical Materials, 1918-1947

Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1		Family Tree Data (Daughters of the American Revolution), 1920-1947
Box 3, Folder 2		Family Tree Data (Daughters of the American Revolution), 1920-1947
Box 3, Folder 3		Family Tree Data (Daughters of the American Revolution), 1920-1947
Box 3, Folder 4		Family Tree Data (Daughters of the American Revolution), 1920-1947
Box 3, Folder 5		Family Tree Data (Daughters of the American Revolution), 1920-1947
Box 3, Folder 6		Family Tree Data (Daughters of the American Revolution), 1920-1947
Box 3, Folder 7		Family Tree Data
Box 3, Folder 8		Family Tree Data
Box 3, Folder 9		Family Tree Data
Box 3, Folder 10		Family Tree Data
Box 3, Folder 11		Family Tree Data
Box 3, Folder 12		Family Tree Data
Box 3, Folder 13		Notebook on Hay and Sweetser Genealogy (ends May 1929)
Box 3, Folder 14		Notebook on Sweetser Genealogy
Box 3, Folder 15		Red Letter Birthday book for Mrs. John P. Sweetser, 1918

Series 3: Sweetser Family Materials, 1857-1946

(2 boxes)

Subseries A: Papers and Correspondence, 1857-1946

Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1		Misc. Correspondence to Geraldine Sweetser, Alberta Todd, and unidentified Parties, 1857-1909
Box 4, Folder 2		Financial Ledgers of Myra Hayes, 1863
Box 4, Folder 3		Financial Ledgers of Myra Hayes, 1863
Box 4, Folder 4		Financial Ledgers of Myra Hayes, 1863
Box 4, Folder 5		Financial Ledgers of Myra Hayes, 1863
Box 4, Folder 6		Financial Ledgers of Myra Hayes, 1863
Box 4, Folder 7		A.L.S. To Ida Caswell from Abbie M. Ross, May 14, 1890
Box 4, Folder 8		Misc. Correspondence, Notices, and Invitations. To Geraldine Sweetser and Unidentified Parties, 1919-1935
Box 4, Folder 9		Personal and Business Correspondence to Mrs. Harold Sweetser and Ida C. Sweetser, 1930-1946
Box 4, Folder 10		Personal and Business Correspondence to Mrs. Harold Sweetser and Ida C. Sweetser, 1930-1946
Box 4, Folder 11		Personal and Business Correspondence to Mrs. Harold Sweetser and Ida C. Sweetser, 1930-1946
Box 4, Folder 12		Patricia Sweetser: Birth Certificate and Other Certificates, 1938-1942
Box 4, Folder 13		Baptism of Patricia Sweetser, June 9, 1940
Box 4, Folder 14		Alberta Todd Sweetser, Feb 1919-Feb 1942
Box 4, Folder 15		Settlement of Estate of Frank Lester, a.k.a Frank Sweetser, 1951
Box 4, Folder 16		M. Sweetser, Farragut School, Portsmouth, N.H., n.d.

Subseries B: Autograph albums, Scrapbooks and Diaries, 1879-1936

Box 4
Box 4, Folder 17		Autograph album of Edith B. Johnston, 1879-1880
Box 4, Folder 18		Autograph book of Ida C. Caswell, 1880-1882
Box 4, Folder 19		Autograph album Katherine Sweetser, Dec 25, 1881
Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1		Autograph books of Ida C. Caswell, 1882
Box 5, Folder 2		Autograph books of Ida C. Caswell, 1882
Box 5, Folder 3		Autograph album of Myra Sweetser, 1886
Box 5, Folder 4		Diary (owner unknown), 1901
Box 5, Folder 5		Autograph album of Alberta Todd Sweetser, 1920-1936
Box 5, Folder 6		List of Wedding Gifts (Bride: Katharine Sweetser, Groom: unknown), n.d.
Box 5, Folder 7		Address Book (undated; owner unknown)
Box 5, Folder 8		Xerox copies of Bertie Sweetser's Scrapbook, (Alberta T. Sweetser), n.d.
Box 5, Folder 9		Xerox copies of Bertie Sweetser's Scrapbook, (Alberta T. Sweetser), n.d.
Box 5, Folder 10		Newspaper clippings from Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser: "Lonely Stories " and "Presence of Christ"
Box 5, Folder 11		Newspaper clippings from Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser: "Power in the name of Jesus" and "Beauty for Ashes"
Box 5, Folder 12		Newspaper clippings from the Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser
Box 5, Folder 13		Newspaper clippings from the Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser: "Judgement," "God's Man at the Throttle" & "God Advice and Prayer"
Box 5, Folder 14		Newspaper clippings from the Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser: "Only Trust Jesus" & "Concerning The Sabbath" etc.
Box 5, Folder 15		Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser
Box 5, Folder 16		Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser
Box 5, Folder 17		Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser
Box 5, Folder 18		Scrapbook of Bertie Sweetser

Series 4: Miscellaneous Materials, 1847-1941

(3 boxes)

Subseries A: Religious Materials, 1857-1946

Box 6
Box 6, Folder 1		Memorial Literature on: Edward Beaks,John P. Clark, Deacon, Joshua Lane, and Ranger Memorial Tablet, 1885-1941
Box 6, Folder 2		Memorial Literature on: Edward Beaks,John P. Clark, Deacon, Joshua Lane, and Ranger Memorial Tablet, 1885-1941
Box 6, Folder 3		Memorial Literature on Rev. Lucius H. Thayer, 1857-1931
Box 6, Folder 3		Memorial Literature on Rev. Lucius H. Thayer, 1857-1931
Box 6, Folder 4		Memorial Literature on Rev. Lucius H. Thayer, 1857-1931
Box 6, Folder 5		Materials on North Congregational Church of Christ, Portsmouth: 1) pamplet [2 copies in folder 6], 1861 2) "Box Club of the North Church," Account Book, c. 1900-1919
Box 6, Folder 6		North Congregational Church of Christ, Portsmouth: pamphlet, 1861
Box 6, Folder 7		Publications by Rev. Lucius H. Thayer, Pastor of North Congregational Church, Portsmouth, 1913-1928
Box 6, Folder 8		Publications by Rev. Lucius H. Thayer, Pastor of North Congregational Church, Portsmouth, 1913-1928
Box 6, Folder 9		North Church of Portsmouth Commemorative Materials, 1915, 1921, and 1940
Box 6, Folder 10		North Church of Portsmouth Commemorative Materials, 1915, 1921, and 1940
Box 6, Folder 11		Misc. Religious Pamphlets, 1920-1928
Box 6, Folder 12		Misc. Religious Pamphlets, 1920-1928
Box 6, Folder 13		Misc. Religious Pamphlets, 1920-1928

Subseries B: Poems and Speeches, 1847-1936

Box 6, Folder 14		Poem by Jacob Sweetser
Box 6, Folder 15		"The Wanderer Returned," by Henry Sweetser, June 1847
Box 6, Folder 16		"On The Road to Bimini," typed poem, c. 1920-1933
Box 6, Folder 17		"The Plains Gem," Feb-Mar 1861
Box 6, Folder 18		Typed Summaries of Speeches presented at Fifth Annual Forum on Current Problems. From New York Herald Tribune, 1936

Subseries B: Social Events, Clubs etc., 1890-1947

Box 6
Box 6, Folder 19		Misc. Items: Letters, Cards, and Invitations etc., 1890-1947
Box 6, Folder 20		Misc. Items: Letters, Cards, and Invitations etc., 1890-1947
Box 6, Folder 21		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1911-1939
Box 6, Folder 22		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1911-1939
Box 6, Folder 23		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1911-1939
Box 6, Folder 24		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1911-1939
Box 7
Box 7, Folder 1		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1940-1971
Box 7, Folder 2		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1940-1971
Box 7, Folder 3		Masons, Clubs, and Social Events, 1940-1971
Box 7, Folder 4		Pamphlets - School Plays and Programs, 1910-1920
Box 7, Folder 5		Misc. Correspondence, Notices, Invitations etc., 1930s
Box 7, Folder 6		Misc. Correspondence, Notices, Invitations etc., 1930s
Box 7, Folder 7		Misc. Correspondence, Notices, Invitations etc., 1930s

Subseries D: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, 1775-1945

Box 7
Box 7, Folder 8		Centennial History of the U.S. Naval Shpiyard, Portsmouth, NH, 1775-1875
Box 7, Folder 9		"Two Historic Days...Portsmouth Harbor," July 1898
Box 7, Folder 10		"One Hundred and Fifty Years of Accomplishment at the Portsmouth Naval Base," 1800-1950
Box 8
Box 8, Folder 1		Navy Day at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Oct. 21, 1937
Box 8, Folder 2		Squalus Memorial Benefit Concert, July 30, 1939
Box 8, Folder 3		The Portsmouth Periscope, May 25, 1945 - Dec.21, 1945
Box 8, Folder 4		The Portsmouth Periscope, May 25, 1945 - Dec.21, 1945
Box 8, Folder 5		The Portsmouth Periscope, May 25, 1945 - Dec.21, 1945

Subseries E: Other, 1775-1945

Box 8, Folder 6		Miscellaneous items
Box 8, Folder 7		Blueprint, unidentified
Box 8, Folder 8		Souvenir postcards, around 1900
Box 8, Folder 9		Scrapbook on Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933

Series 5: Oversized Materials, 1814-1918

Oversize Box 1
Oversize Box 1, Folder 1		Plans for Submarine Refigerator
Oversize Box 1, Folder 2		Scrapbook of Harold C. Sweetser, 1916-1918
Oversize Box 1, Folder 3		Certificate of Approval of Katherine Sweetser into the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Oversize Box 1, Folder 4		An example of Jacob Sweetser's Penmanship, January 27, 1814
Oversize Box 1, Folder 5		Diploma of Katherine Sweetser for completion of studies at Portsmouth High School, June 26, 1890