Eleanor Parmenter Churchill Papers, 1924-1992

Collection number: MC 144
Size: 7 boxes (2.0 cu.ft.)

About Eleanor Parmenter Churchill

Eleanor Parmenter (1914-1994) was brought up with the Shakers at East Canterbury for several years along with several other orphaned and abandoned children. While at Canterbury, Eleanor attended school taught by Sister Marguerite Frost. She worked alongside the Shaker sisters and participated in many aspects of life at the Village, including the Shakers’ numerous plays, parades, and day trips. In 1939 Eleanor left Canterbury and shortly thereafter she married Sam Churchill. Until Sam’s death in 1971 the couple frequently visited and corresponded with the Shaker sisters. Eleanor eventually remarried (Dick Schopp), and she continued to maintain contact with the remaining sisters until the passing of Ethel Hudson, the last Canterbury Shaker, in 1992. Eleanor died in 1994, the victim of a car accident.

About the Eleanor Parmenter Churchill papers

The Eleanor Parmenter Churchill Collection contains materials relating to Churchill’s childhood with the Canterbury Shakers, newspaper clippings and articles about the Shakers, and her correspondence with various Shaker sisters after leaving the Village. It also includes well over a hundred photographs, many of which document life at Canterbury from 1926 to 1940 as well as three cassette tapes of telephone conversations and interviews with the Shakers.

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 file], [Folder number], [Box number], Eleanor Parmenter Churchill Papers, 1924-1992, MC 144, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Purchased from Scott De Wolfe, Alfred ME, dealer (Accession number: 95.024)

Collection Contents

Series 1: Correspondence, 1929-1983

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1		Arthur Bruce, cards, undated
Box 1, Folder 2		Ida F. Crook, 1958
Box 1, Folder 3		Aida Elam, 1946-1955
Box 1, Folder 4		Aida Elam, 1956-1957
Box 1, Folder 5		Aida Elam, 1958
Box 1, Folder 6		Aida Elam, 1959
Box 1, Folder 7		Aida Elam, 1960
Box 1, Folder 8		Aida Elam, 1961-1962
Box 1, Folder 9		Aida Elam, birthday and Christmas cards, undated
Box 1, Folder 10		Edith Eunice, undated
Box 1, Folder 11		Marguerite Frost, 1929-1968
Box 1, Folder 12		Irving Greenwood, undated
Box 1, Folder 13		Rebecca Hathaway, 1950-1951
Box 1, Folder 14		Rebecca Hathaway, 1956-1958
Box 1, Folder 15		Rebecca Hathaway, birthday and Christmas cards
Box 1, Folder 16		Alice M. Howland, 1964-1967
Box 1, Folder 17		Alice M. Howland, undated
Box 1, Folder 18		Emma B. King, 1940-1948
Box 1, Folder 19		Emma B. King, 1952-1954
Box 1, Folder 20		Emma B. King, 1955-1956
Box 1, Folder 21		Emma B. King, 1958-1963
Box 1, Folder 22		Emma B. King, 1964
Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1		Bertha Lindsay, 1965-1982
Box 2, Folder 2		Bertha Lindsay, 1963-1981
Box 2, Folder 3		Bertha Lindsay, cards, 1971-1983
Box 2, Folder 4		Mary Alice McCoy, undated
Box 2, Folder 5		Alice McNear, cards, undated
Box 2, Folder 6		Arthur F. Nevers, undated
Box 2, Folder 7		Lillian Phelps, 1967
Box 2, Folder 8		Evelyn Polsey, 1932
Box 2, Folder 9		Evelyn Polsey, 1940
Box 2, Folder 10		Evelyn Polsey, 1943
Box 2, Folder 11		Evelyn Polsey, 1944-1946
Box 2, Folder 12		Evelyn Polsey, 1947
Box 2, Folder 13		Evelyn Polsey, 1948
Box 2, Folder 14		Evelyn Polsey, 1949
Box 2, Folder 15		Evelyn Polsey, 1950
Box 2, Folder 16		Evelyn Polsey, 1951
Box 2, Folder 17		Evelyn Polsey, 1952
Box 2, Folder 18		Evelyn Polsey, 1953
Box 2, Folder 19		Evelyn Polsey, 1954
Box 2, Folder 20		Evelyn Polsey, 1955
Box 2, Folder 21		Evelyn Polsey, undated
Box 2, Folder 22		Evelyn Polsey, Birthday cards, undated
Box 2, Folder 23		Evelyn Polsey, Christmas cards, undated
Box 2, Folder 24		Evelyn Polsey, Easter cards, undated
Box 2, Folder 25		Evelyn Polsey, other cards, undated
Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1		Helena Sarle, 1947-1954
Box 3, Folder 2		Beatrice Stackpole, undated
Box 3, Folder 3		Lena Thomas, undated
Box 3, Folder 4		Louisa F. T?, 1931-1932
Box 3, Folder 5		Miriam Wall, undated
Box 3, Folder 6		Josephine Wilson, 1925
Box 3, Folder 7		Mary Louise Wilson, cards, undated
Box 3, Folder 8		From various Shakers, undated
Box 3, Folder 9		From various girls at Shaker community, undated
Box 3, Folder 10		Between various Shakers, undated
Box 3, Folder 11		Miscellaneous birthday cards, not identified, undated
Box 3, Folder 12		Miscellaneous, Christmas cards from the Canterbury Shakers, undated
Box 3, Folder 13		Miscellaneous, 1930-1937

Series 2: School Materials, Articles, and Stationary 1937-1992

Box 3
Box 3, Folder 14		Autographed sentiments written to Eleanor from the Shakers, the Shaker children, and other friends, 1937-1940
Box 3, Folder 15		Blank cards and postcards, undated
Box 3, Folder 16		"Canterbury Shaker Sweater," pattern, 1989
Box 3, Folder 17		The Canterbury Shakers," Vol. 2 #1; Vol. 6 #1, 1982, 1986
Box 3, Folder 18		Catalogs from the Shaker Workshops, 1972; 1983
Box 3, Folder 19		Funeral programs, 1938-1965
Box 3, Folder 20		Invitations to parties, undated
Box 3, Folder 21		"The News," various issues, 1988-1992
Box 3, Folder 22		Newspaper clippings and articles about the Shakers, undated
Box 3, Folder 23		Paintings (watercolor) by Helena Sarle, undated
Box 3, Folder 24		Programs and pamphlets from Canterbury, undated
Box 3, Folder 25		"The Shaker Legacy," calendar, 1991
Box 3, Folder 26		Shaker School, commonplace book kept by Eleanor Parmenter while in school, undated
Box 3, Folder 27		Shaker School, composition book kept by Eleanor Parmenter that describes various paintings (art history), undated
Box 3, Folder 28		Shaker school, misc. files, undated
Box 3, Folder 29		Transcriptions of poetry and music, undated (**also see Box 6 and Ovsz Box 1)

Series 3: Photographs (mostly undated), 1800s-1979

Box 3, Folder 1		Photos of Shakers: 1. Sister M. Catherine Allen (sepia, 8 x 4cm, half of postcard) 2. Sister Flora Appleton and unidentified woman (black and white, 8 x 11 1/2cm) 3. Elder Arthur Bruce (3 photos: black and white, 9x12; black and white, 5x8, black and white, 5x8, with negative), 1933; 1957 4. Antoinette Chandler 5. Eleanor Parmenter Churchill 6. Eleanor Parmenter Churchill 7. Eleanor Parmenter Churchill 8. Eleanor Parmenter Churchill 9. Eleanor Parmenter Churchill 10. Sam Churchill 11. Martha Coombs 12. Dorothea Cochran 13. Aida Elam 14. Edith Eunice 15. Ethel Frost 16. Marguerite Frost 17. Eva Gardner 18. Irving Greenwood - includes pictures of buildings on Mt. Washington taken by I.G. 19. Rebecca Hathaway 20. Ethel Hudson 21. Emma King 22. Bertha Lindsay 23. Mary Alice McCoy 24. Ethel Phelps 25. Lillian Phelps 26. Evelyn Polsey 27. Evelyn Polsey 28. Helena Sarle 29. Gertrude Soule 30. Gertrude Stanley 31. Miriam Wall 32. Pets and horse 33. Unidentified Individuals 34. Unidentified Individuals 35. Eleanor (Ellie) Parmenter and Alberta Hudson 36. Sister Evelyn Polsey and Eleanor Parmenter in radio room. 37. Mary Alice McCoy, Miriam Wall, Bertha Lindsey, Alberta Hudson, Hazel Smith and Eleanor 38. Elizabeth Gilbert, Beatrice Stackpole, Eleanor, Shirley Dunlap, Anna Dunlap, and Elsie Dunlap 39. Front row: Rosamond, Ellen Walker, Hazel Smith, Marion Hoyt Middle row: Unidentified, Eleanor, Lena Thomas Back row: Sister Marguerite Frost, Beatrice Stackpole 40. Front row: Marion Hoyt, Hazel Smith, Ellen Walker Middle row: Eleanor, Rosamond, Lena Thomas Back row: Beatrice Stackpole, Sister Marguerite Frost 41. Auntie ? and Eleanor standing by a fence 42. Beatrice Stakeploe, Alberta MacMillan (Hudson), Eleanor and standing is Martha Coombs with beadspreads in the background 43. Elanor, Laura, Peggy Roberts, Hazel Toourtelot (?), Emmeline Van Gilder, Rex the dog playing in a pile of hay 44. Eleanor, Evelyn Polsey, Aida Elam in the dining room 45. Eleanor, Evelyn Polsey, Aida Elam in the dining room 46. Alberta Hudson, Martha Coombs, Eleanor standing on a fence waving 47. Group shot of 39 Children 48. Sammy Churchill, Evelyn Polsey, Helena Sarle, two unidentified friends of the Shakers 49. Sammy and Eleanor Churchill 1942 50. Eleanor, Bertha Lindsay, Gertrude Soule, 1988 51. Margaret Elwell, Ellie Churchill, Pat Patterson 1962 52. Bob ?, Eleanor, Ralph ?
Box 4
Box 4, Folder 2		Photos of Shakers 1. Evelyn Polsey and Aida Elam, in kitchen, with wagon of Shaker Brick Oven Baked Beans, and outside buildings (5 photos) 2. Evelyn Polsey and Helena Sarle, standing and seated outside (2 photos) 3. Aida Elam at the piano and Lillian Phelps at the organ (2 photo postcards) 4. Emma King and Rebecca Hathaway, standing 5. Anne Baker, Edna Fitts, Lucy Shepard, Julia Briggs, seated outside building 6. Edith Eunice and Ida Crook, standing outside building 7. Jessie Evans and Mary Alice McCoy standing outside building 8. Ursala Gillette and Bertha Lindsay(?) with float for a Shaker parade 9. Miriam Wall and Aida Elam, knitting at desks 10. Anne Baker (Fannie Fellon?) and Lilliam Phelps, seated 11. Sarah Frances Wilson and Jennie Meade, seated 12. Bertha Lindsay and Lillian Phelps making poplar baskets 13. Lucy Hunt and Aida Elam at the piano 14. Marguerite Frost with camera and Evelyn Polsey standing 15. Bertha Lindsay and Marguerite Frost with school children 16. Unidentified individual, Sister Blanche, Josephine Wilson (seated) 17. Left: Marguerite Frost, Mary Louise Wilson, Antionette Chandler Right: Unidentified, Frieda Weeks, Edith Eunice. 18. Evelyn Polsey, Helena Sarle, Aida Elam, outdoors (2 photos) 19. Mary Alice McCoy(?), Miriam Wall, Bertha Lindsay, standing outside a building 20. Evelyn Polsey, Alice Howland, Aida Elam, Rebecca Hathaway, Helena Sarle, Emma King, indoors, 1955 (2 photos) 21. Alice Howland, Mary Alice McCoy, Helena Sarle, Evelyn Polsey, a friend, Ethel Eunice, Arthur Bruce, seated, picnicing 22. Emma King, friend, Marguerite Frost, Aida Elam, Evelyn Polsey, Ethel Eunice, Unidentified, Helena Sarle, Rebecca Hathaway, Alice McNear(?) 23. Evelyn Polsey and Marie, standing outside 24. Evelyn Polsey, standing and Sam Churchill, weeding in the garden 25. Josephine Wilson with a friend, standing outside 26. Bertha Lindsay, Gertrude Soule, and Dick Schopp, Feb. 1986 27. Helena Sarle and Rebecca Hathaway, standing outside 28. Shaker Orchestra: Marguerite Frost (sax), Alice Howland (violin), Ethel Eunice (Sax), Aida Elam (cello), Frieda Weeks (piano), Evelyn Polsey (violin), Helena Sarle (trumpet)
Box 4, Folder 3		Photos of the "Shaker children": 1. Evelyn Polsey and Emily Colby as children 2. Front row: Ellen Walker Razzi, Hazel Smith Eaton, Rosamond Start Alger Back row: Beatrice Stackpole, Marguerite Frost, on steps of a building 3. Ellen Walker, Marion Hoyt, Rosamond Start, Lena Thomas, Helen Hoyt, Hazel Smith, Unidentified, outside (2 photos) 4. Peggy and Gertrude Roberts, outside a building 5. Rosamond Start Alger and Hazel Smith Eaton, with irons in laundry room, 1988 (?) 6. Helen Hoyt, Rosamond Start Alger, and Hazel Smith Eaton, in drying room, 1988 (?)
Box 4, Folder 4		Tour Groups at Shaker Village: 1. Bud Thompson taking a group through the Village, 1980 2. Nola Stokes taking a group through the Village, 1984 3. Group at the Shaker Village, 1988
Box 4, Folder 5		Dogsled, group shots
Box 4, Folder 6		Graduation, 1930
Box 4, Folder 7		Hampton Beach, Franconia Notch, and Boer's Head trips, ca. 1930
Box 4, Folder 8		Hurricane of 1938 1938
Box 4, Folder 9		Reunion, Shaker Village, 1979
Box 4, Folder 10		Trip to Shaker Camp on Lake Winnisquam, 1927
Box 4, Folder 11		Unidentified play or program, people dressed as angels
Box 4, Folder 12		Unidentified play or program, people dressed as Indians
Box 4, Folder 13		Other scenes of plays and parades
Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1		Stereoscopic views of Canterbury Shaker Village, 1800s
Box 5, Folder 2		Buildings at Canterbury Shaker Village: Horse Barn; Old Church; Lower Mill; Sister's Shop; Shaker's Shed; Barns; Dwelling House; Garage and Electric Light Plant; Basket Shed; Laundry; Syrup Shop; Saw Mill; Infirmary; Office
Box 5, Folder 3		Inside buildings at Canterbury Shaker Village: Chapel; Kitchen; Power House; Radio Room; Dining Room; Laundry Room; Old Church; Cow Barn; Dairy
Box 5, Folder 4		Outside scenes of the Shaker Village
Box 5, Folder 5		Shaker furniture

Series 4: Material files, 1927-1987

Box 6
Box 6, Folder 1		Shaker stuffed toy zebra, undated
Box 6, Folder 2		Shaker bean bag toy clown, undated
Box 6, Folder 3		Shaker stuffed toy dog, undated
Box 6, Folder 4		Linen handkerchief with needle point flower done by Rebecca Hathaway, undated
Box 6, Folder 5		Brown swatch of cloth with pink needle point design, undated
Box 6, Folder 6		Shaker fine work lace, undated
Box 6, Folder 7		Needle holder with "Eleanor" written on the front, undated
Box 6, Folder 8		Spoon owned by Evelyn Polsey, undated
Box 6, Folder 9		Potholder made by Myra Green (age 102), undated
Box 6, Folder 10		Yellow needle and pin sharpener shaped like a strawberry, undated
Box 6, Folder 11		Blue and green ibid, undated
Box 6, Folder 12		Eleanor's hair saved from first cutting, 1927
Box 6, Folder 13		Cassette tape (Sony HF 90): Bertha Lindsay and Gertrude Soule taped telephone conversations, 1986-1987
Box 6, Folder 14		Cassette tape (Compact cassette C-90): Christmas greetings from Bertha Lindsay, Dec. 1986
Box 6, Folder 15		Cassette tape (Memorex dBS 60): Ray Lajoie, Barney Larri, Norman, Robbie Bertha Lindsay and Gertrude Soule, undated
Oversize Box 1
Oversize Box 1, 1		"Scrapbook I [Eleanor Parmenter] filled at the Shakers,"1926-1939
Oversize Box 1, 2		Scrapbook of newspaper clippings and mementos about and from the Shakers, 1950s-1992
Oversize Box 1, 3		Student's Certificate for the Palmer Method of Business Writing granted to Eleanor Parmenter in 19301930