Putnam, Eben, l868-1933. Eben Putnam papers, 1752-1950 (bulk: 1890-1930)
Title:
Eben Putnam papers, 1752-1950 (bulk: 1890-1930)
Collection primarily concerns genealogical research on the descendants of John Putnam (1580-1662) who settled in Salem, MA; extensive research on Putnam families in New York's Mohawk Valley; and lesser amounts concerning southern lines. Putnam also did varying amount of work on many allied families, especially the Bixby, Converse and Holden families, which are accompanied by extensive family documents provided by Willard G. Bixby (1868-1935), heirs of Frederick A. Holden (1839-1915), and Liberty E. Holden (1833-1913). Family and business papers by Putnam's own ancestors include material concerning Arthur Brown (d. 1864), a master mariner who sailed in the China Trade from NY, and pages from a diary kept by Ebenezer Balch (1726-1808), a clock maker and goldsmith in Hartford and Weathersfield Conn., who recorded family births, marriages, deaths, and his own religious musings, 1752-1759. Putnam assiduously collected records from North American and foreign sources. Although most concern Putnam and allied families, he also accumulated numerous records of a general nature. These include cemetery inscriptions, church records, census information and town records: Agawam cemetery and Ashleyville cemetery inscriptions copied by Louis Marinus Dewey; baptisms at the First Church of Beverly; War Record Committee certificates for Danvers, Mass.; copy of baptisms at Marblehead 1684-1740; handwritten copy by Alfred Poor of the Middletown vital records; First Congregational Church of Wakefield records; list of marriages by Theophilus Colton, minister First Church of Hampton Falls, NH 1712-1721 compiled by Emily Leavitt; births at Swanzey, NH 1754-1836; abstract of Burlington, VT deeds 1763-1784; abstract of Colchester, VT proprietor records 1773-1785; and a list of marriages by William T. Dewey from the Montpelier Christ Episcopal Church records, 1843-1902. Of particular interest are forms returned by town clerks in the New England States between 1889-1893 that describe the extent and condition of their records, though not every town replied and some replies were very brief. Putnam's private papers consist of scattered family correspondence, a diary, some political material concerning Democratic activities in Danvers and Salem at the turn of the century, and records of his military service (1917-1919) and reserve duty. His diary, kept during his middle teens, includes comments on football games he participated in (as well as those played by other teams) and family affairs, his school progress, social events, and local political activities. The collection contains numerous photographs that were primarily collected to illustrate books and articles. There are 133 photographs of individuals or groups, including the archaeological contemporaries of Eben's father. Particularly interesting is a set of three photographs showing the ethnologist Alice C. Fletcher (1845-1928) at work on the Winnebago Indian Allotment in Wisconsin, 1888-1889. Eben's father also received inscribed studio photographs from Zelia Nuttall (d. 1933), in appreciation for her archaeological training. Thirty-four views of homes and places, as well as two pictures of family furniture, provide context for the names and faces appearing in the collection.
ArchivalResource:
38 linear ft.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85844515 View
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