Special Collections
- Special CollectionsDaniel Hood (1792-16 October 1866) was a retired sea captain from Portland, Maine. He married Susanna Peasly Sargent. Two letters written by Daniel Hood to Reverend Jacob Hood of Nottingham, N.H., providing the latter with knowledge of the Hood family’s history. The remarks include not only…
- Special CollectionsJoseph Rowlandson was born in England in or around 1631. He served as a Congregational minister, living for a time in both Lancaster and Ipswich, MA, before finally settling in Wethersfield, CT. He was the husband of Mary Rowlandson, whose Indian captivitity narrative made her a famous figure in…
- Special CollectionsDaniel Berkeley Updike, printer and publisher, worked for the Merrymount Press of Boston, Mass. He was a recognized authority on the history and use of print types, and he played an important role in the development and improvement of typography in…
- Special CollectionsEdwin Francis Edgett (1867-1946) was an author, literary editor of the Boston Evening Transcript and a journalist. Thirteen letters (1918-1934) and published materials sent to Edwin Francis Edgett from various N.H. authors and educators, including Charles Townsend Copeland, Bertha…
- Special CollectionsMinutes of the directors and officers of the failed Mt. Belknap Railroad Corporation comprise 26 pages of the volume. They pertain to the corporations financial matters, the election of officials, and the proceedings of annual meetings. There is no evidence that the railroad was ever built.
- Special CollectionsThe Society of the Cincinnati was founded in 1783 by George Washington, Baron von Steuben, Henry Knox, and other officers of the United States Army. It was a patriotic and charitable “society of friends,” which had a branch in each of the original…
- Special CollectionsWilliam H. Small (1854-1909) lived in Newmarket, N.H. and served in the fire department as the chief fire engineer. Two letters and a notebook kept by William H. Small. One letter, dated 1865, is from Small’s parents, while the other is from Cyrus A. Sulloway of the N.H. House of Representatives…
- Special CollectionsLewis Gaylord Clark (1808-1873), editor and publisher of the Knickerbocker magazine. Two letters written by Lewis Gaylord Clark of the Knickerbocker magazine to M.S. Beach inquiring about the possibility of publishing some accounts of the life of the…
- Special CollectionsUnited States President Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921 Two page letter written Oct. 22, 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson to Winston Churchill, New Hampshire writer, in which Wilson thanks Churchill for all his “generous courtesies” in connection with the leasing of a house in Cornish, N.H.
- Special CollectionsAmerican author best known for her depictions of frontier life on the Great Plains in such novels as O Pioneers, My Antonia and The Song of the Lark. A May 2, 1922 letter to George N. Whipple of Boston, MA, which describes some of Cather’s travels and views on lecturing.
- Special CollectionsFrederic Ogden Nash, 1902-1971 was an American Poet well known for his humorous poetry. He was born in Rye, N.Y. and lived most of his life in Baltimore but he spent summers with his family in a house at Little Boar's Head in North Hampton, N.H. and is buried in the town's East Side Cemetery. Three…
- Special CollectionsJohn Greenleaf Whittier (December 17, 1807 – September 7, 1892) was an influential American Quaker poet and ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States A four page letter to Sarah Orne Jewett, London, England, July 3, 1882 in which Whittier expresses delight at the fact that…
- Special CollectionsEunice Fowler was a single woman and spinster of Kingston, N.H Deposition of Eunice Fowler taken Nov. 26, 1777 by Josiah Bartlett. Fowler stated that Edward Brown, yeoman of Exeter, N.H., “by wheedlings and promises of great kindness” had “carnal knowledge of her body whereby she is now pregnant…
- Special CollectionsFrederick Smyth (1819-1899), thirty-second governor of New Hampshire, was born in Candia, NH. In 1839, he moved to Manchester, N.H., where he worked for ten years, first as a clerk and then as proprietor of a store. He became Manchester city clerk in 1849 and later served four terms as mayor of the…
- Special CollectionsThe Congregational Church in Hampton, N.H. was established in 1638. The first minister was Rev. Stephen Bachiler. Contains the minutes of a meeting in which the Congregational Church of Hampton, N.H. decided to invite Ebenezer Thayer to settle. Also includes a petition and statement by members of…
- Special CollectionsLevi Bartlett (1793-1885) was a tanner and farmer of Warner, New Hampshire. In the 1830s, Bartlett sold off his tannery and struggled to cultivate his family’s farm. From his experience in reclaiming this nutrient-exhausted land, Bartlett became a…
- Special CollectionsJohn Sullivan (1740-1795) was a Revolutionary War general, Statesman, and President of New Hampshire 1786-1789. A one page letter dated May 4, 1790 to Nicholas Gilman, [Exeter, N.H.?] in which John Sullivan, governor of New Hampshire, supports the assumption of state debts by the federal government…
- Special CollectionsNothing more is known of John A. Lane, or of how successful his exploits in the Gold Rush were, beyond this letter. Letter written by John A. Lane from Willow Springs, California, to A. J. Sanborn of Hampton or Seabrook, NH. April 9, 1855 describing conditions in California during the gold rush.
- Special CollectionsThis seems to be the only written record for this particular Horance Wilson. Three page letter (ca. 1845-1849) begun aboard the ship "Areatus" and completed after the writer’s arrival in San Francisco. Wilson writes to James C. Steel, Andover, Mass of…
- Special CollectionsE. E. Cummings, 1894-1962, Harvard-educated poet, prose writer, and critic. Seventeen signed letters and postcards from E. E. Cummings, mostly to Seymour Lawrence of the Atlantic Monthly Press. All of the letters and most of the postcards are…
- Special CollectionsLydia Hall (b. 1788?) was a member of the Hubbard family of Walpole, N.H. A letter to Sanuel J. Hubbard, Walpole, NH in which Hall describes Manchester, N.H., mentions hearing “a collard [sic] man from Canida [sic]” who wanted money to assist “runaway slaves in getting up a school for the children…
- Special CollectionsJoseph Woodman Sanborn was born on March 10, 1801 in New Hampton, N.H. and died on Aug. 9, 1868 in Bridgewater, MA. He resided for some time at Benicia, California where his sons died. He was a cordwainer in 1850, resided at "Sanborn's Corner" in a house that stood at the N.E. corner of Hancock and…
- Special CollectionsJohn W. Warner enlisted in the New Hampshire Battalion of the First Regiment New England Volunteer Cavalry on September 15, 1862. He was captured near Middleburg, VA on June 18, 1863 and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond, VA. After his parole in 1864…
- Special CollectionsWilliam Badger (1823 or 1826-1897) was born in Gilmanton, NH, son of William Badger and Hannah Pearson (Cogswell) Badger. He mustered in Company D, of the Fourth Infantry Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers on Sept. 18, 1861 as a captain. He was…
- Special CollectionsWinston Churchill (1871-1947) was an American novelist who moved to Canaan, New Hampshire in 1899. Churchill's early novels were historical but his later works were set in contemporary America. He often sought to include his political ideas into his novels. Churchill wrote in the naturalist style…
- Special CollectionsThe 4th NH was organized in Manchester on Sept. 18, 1861. Length of service was four years. Order of exercises: for the celebration of the 86th anniversary of American independence at St. Augustine, Fla., 1862 July 4. Humorous broadside listing the 4th New Hampshire Regiment’s July 4th activities.…
- Special CollectionsHarvard graduate (1746) and minister. Letter written by James Hobbs Nov. 11, 1751 accepting an invitation to settle as a minister in the town of Pelham, N.H.
- Special CollectionsTimothy H. Lewis operated a small pail factory in the Westport section of Swanzey, N.H. and had as many as eight employees under his supervision, most of whom were paid for light finishing work. He married Martha in 1867 and they had one son, Earl.…
- Special CollectionsWalter Williams (1711-) was a mariner and owner of a coasting vessel from Hampton Falls, N.H. He married Mary Hilyard in 1747. This Subpoena was served to Walter Williams June 3, 1748 by Justice of the Peace John Paige that requires him to provide testimony.
- Special CollectionsPresident Andrew Johnson was impeached by House of Representatives in February 1868. Ticket of admission to the proceedings for the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.
- Special CollectionsSurry is a New Hampshire town in Cheshire county with a 15.9 square mile area, incorporated in 1769. Contains town meeting notices, highway tax lists, receipts, treasury reports, and school accounts.
- Special CollectionsReverend John Lowell, 1704-1767, was the first pastor of Newburyport, Mass. A one page letter from Reverend Lowell to Joshua Brackett of Portsmouth New Hampshire. In the letter of March 13, 1758 Reverend Lowell describes the late arrival of spring and rumors concerning British troop movements…
- Special CollectionsRoger Deering (b. 1624 England d. 1718 Kittery, Territory of Maine). Son of Roger Deering and Joan Palmer. Spouse Mary____?. Ebenezer More (b. 1706 York, Territory of Maine, d. 1748 Territory of Maine). Son of John More and Sarah Cutts. Thomas Allen (b. 1700 Maryland, m. Mary Couch 1712 Kittery…
- Special CollectionsUniversity of New Hampshire graduate (1942) and elementary school teacher. Twelve-page story written by Teresa Foley of Dover, N.H. about some of her childhood school experiences which appeared in Harper's, Dec. 1956
- Special CollectionsJohn Follett was a cousin of the Follett family of Durham, N.H. He was probably John Follett Jr. of Kittery, 1681-1719. A letter written between 1706 and 1722 by John Follett to James Bunker, regarding the settlement of the estate of William Follett, John Follett’s uncle.
- Special CollectionsElizabeth F. Ellet, (1818-1877), the first American historian of women, was born in upstate New York in October 1818. She became well-known for her collective biographies of women, most notably The Women of the American Revolution (1848). A two page…
- Special CollectionsFrancis Wainwright (1687-1772) was the son of Col. John Wainwright and Elizabeth Norton, born in Essex MA. He married Mary Dudley in 1713 and died in Boston in 1772. Letter written by Francis Wainwright of Portsmouth, NH to his brother. In the letter, Wainwright notes that he is uneasy about the…
- Special CollectionsEdith Nelson was born in Malden, Mass. in 1894. An experienced secretary, Nelson became a field clerk in the U.S. Army Intelligence Section during World War I. She was charged with investigating German nationals and subversives in the Boston area. She…
- Special CollectionsNancy Doe (1798-1880) was a resident of Durham, N.H. Letter written by Nancy Doe April 29, 1825 to the Congregational church in Durham. In the letter, Doe confesses that she had “criminal connexions with the man who is since my husband” and she asks for the forgiveness of the church. Also included…
- Special CollectionsAlvin A. Gove enlisted at age 21 in Seabrook, N. H. on Dec. 6, 1861 into the 6th New Hampshire Regiment. On Oct. 15 1862 in Washington D.C. Alvin mustered out with a disability. A two page letter from eighteen year-old Alvin Gove, a private in the 6th New Hampshire Regiment sent from Camp Stanton…
- Special CollectionsHorace Greeley, 1811-1872, was an American editor, writer and politician, and he was also a Presidential candidate. One page letter in which Greeley explains his stance on the question of women’s suffrage. It is dated 4 Nov. 1867.
- Special CollectionsOn Nov. 28, 1863, in Nashua, N.H., 20 year old William B. Green enlisted as a private in Company G (New Hampshire), Second Regiment, United States Volunteer Sharpshooters. Near Petersburg, Va. William deserted on July 9, 1864. From Brady Station, Va, William wrote a four page letter to his mother…
- Special CollectionsRobert Simpson, a Deerfield, NH native, lived from 1764-1844. In ca. 1818 he moved west to the area of Rutland, Ohio, where he lived until his death. A letter written Jan. 7, 1818 by Robert Simpson, a Deerfield, NH native to his brother, John Simpson, a long-time resident of Nottingham, NH. It…
- Special CollectionsHoward M. Hanson (1835-1909) was born in Lebanon, Maine. A resident of Somersworth, New Hampshire, Hanson joined the Ninth New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment on June 28, 1862. Hanson was mustered in as a commissary sergeant on August 6, 1862. Following…
- Special CollectionsReverend Curtis Coe was born in Middleton, CT in 1750. He graduated from Brown University in 1776 and began preaching in Durham, NH in 1779. He was ordained and installed as Durham minister on November 1, 1780 and served until 1806. Three manuscript sermons written in 1787, 1797, and 1800 by the…
- Special CollectionsWilliam Yale, an authority on the Middle East, was born in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., August 6, 1887. In 1907 he served as a civil engineer with the Isthmian Canal Commission in Panama. He began his career in the Middle East in 1913, when he was sent to…
- Special CollectionsIrving E. White (1894-1966) of Canaan, New Hampshire, entered boot camp at Camp Upton, New York in September of 1918 and was transferred to France in December of that same year, where he remained until June of 1919. The Irving E. White Collection…
- Special CollectionsBrooks K. Webber was born in Webster (Boscawen), New Hampshire in 1837. He was educated at Colby Academy in New London and went on to study law in Newport and Woodstock, Vermont. Webber was admitted to the Bar in 1859. He was a veteran of the Civil…
- Special CollectionsJames Burns Wallace (1813-1853) was born in Salem, N.H. He eventually settled in Canaan, N.H., where he worked as a printer, merchant, teacher, and soldier. He described himself as a “reformist, an abolitionist, a pure Radical.” George Kimball (1787-…
- Special CollectionsThe Van Ackeren family resided in Antwerp, Belgium; Francois Van Ackeren served as a soldier in World War I. The Van Ackeren family papers consist of approximately 50 letters written by Francois Van Ackeren and family to William McLain and…
