Collection number: MC 284
Size:
(2 boxes)
(0.66 cu.ft.)
About Sylvester Bingham (1901-1981)
Sylvester Bingham was a graduate of Dartmouth College, studied at Harvard Law School, earned a master’s degree from Harvard University and the Ph.D. from Yale University. He joined the faculty at the University of New Hampshire in 1936 and taught English Literature until his retirement in 1970. He chaired the department for 21 of those years. Bingham died on November 4, 1981. He was 80 years old.
About the Sylvester Bingham Family Papers (1870-1972)
This collection includes four unpublished manuscripts written by Professor Bingham and a bound copy of his dissertation for his Ph.D. from Yale University.
Sylvester Bingham acquired several pieces of family history written in detail by family members beginning with a journal kept from 1870-1875 by his great, great grandmother, Cordelia Miller Smith (Pearmain), wife of William Robert Pearmain. This journal has daily entries describing, routine tasks, chores and outings as well as insights to personalities and relationships of family members. Throughout the years, other family members carried on the tradition and wrote statements describing personalities of relatives as well tracking family tree data. Included are statements by: Sumner Bass Pearmain, Albert Hinckley, and Thomas Bingham. A family tree outline titled “Ancestors of Cordelia M. Smith (Pearmain) and collateral relatives” begins with Thomas A. Smith of Dorsetshire, England. Pieces in this folder include family tree information along with some personal reflection of ancestors.
Margaret Sprague’s Bible is also included in this collection with many pages of family tree information. This family tree chart begins with John Paget of Bridgenorth, England. Also included is a biography of William Robert Pearmain and Cordelia Miller Smith (Pearmain) and their children compiled by Sylvester Bingham in 1972 from letters, diaries, and clippings. Some correspondence to different family members and a few legal documents are also included.
Many family photographs are in this collection including: photos corresponding with Sylvester Bingham’s biography, formal studio portraits and family groupings as well as candids and photographs of family houses. The majority of these photographs are identified.
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], Sylvester Bingham Family Papers, 1870-1972, MC 284, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Donated by Vivian (Mrs. Sylvester) Bingham, Nov. 1, 2013
Collection Contents
Series 1: Genealogy, 1870-1949
Subseries A: Family papers, 1870-1949
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Journal of Cordelia Miller Smith (Pearmain), 1870-1875 | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Personal reflections of ancestors,1600's-1900's | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Ancestors of Cordelia M. Smith (Pearmain) | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Margaret Spreague's 'Bible' family tree | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Biography of William Robert Pearmain and Cordeliz Miller Smith Pearmain and Their Children, written by Sylvester Bingham | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Cordelia Miller Smith (Pearmain) "deathbed wishes" | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Memorial booklet for George H. Bingham, 1864-1949 | |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Memorail booklet for Sumner Bass Pearmain, 1859-1941 | |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Correspondence with family members (8 letters) | |
| Box 1, Folder 10 | Legal documents (death certificate for Lillian Hoag Savacool) | |
Subseries B: Photographs
| Box 1, Folder 11 | Photographs included in the Biography of William Robert Pearmain and Cordelia Miller Smith (Pearmain) and their Children | |
| Box 1, Folder 12 | Photographs of Sylverster Bingham | |
| Box 1, Folder 13 | Photographs of George H. Bingham | |
| Box 1, Folder 14 | Family portraits | |
| Box 1, Folder 15 | Studio portraits of different family members | |
| Box 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 2, Folder 1 | Candid photos | |
| Box 2, Folder 2 | Photos of family houses | |
| Box 2, Folder 3 | Coat of Arms | |
Series II: Sylvester H. Bingham's manuscripts
| Box 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 2, Folder 4 | "Explication of" Great Expectation | |
| Box 2, Folder 5 | A Trial Introduction to the Method of Dickens | |
| Box 2, Folder 6 | "Lords and Owners of Their Faces" | |
| Box 2, Folder 7 | "Inductive Reading of Babbit" | |
| Box 2, Folder 8 | "Edward and Charles Dilly: A Study of Publishing in the Eighteenth Century" (Dissertation) | |
