Papers, 1850-1876.

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Papers, 1850-1876.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11889337

Thornton, born in Saco, Maine, graduated in 1840 from the Harvard Law School and subsequently practiced in his profession from offices on Court St., Boston. He was a leading antiquary and genealogist of his day, a founder of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (1844) and the Prince Society (1858). He authored many books and pamphlets in a restless spirit of historical inquiry. The collection consists of his "quaintly formal" journal for 1851-1, a bound volume holding his "fervid and didactic" letters to his children Bessie and Harry and folders containing fragments of his journals for 1861-75, letters rec'd (1861-76) family photographs and misc. printed matter. Sometime after the journals were written, pasted-in items were cut out, so as to render the text virtually unreadable for the years 1861-75. The papers present a view of an active and intelligent gentleman of the mid-19th c., as curious about the past as he was fascinated by current events in his home town. Thornton was a keen observer, and this is an interesting record.

2 v. + 1 box.

Boston Athenaeum

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SNAC Resource ID: 6676782

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