Papers of Thaddeus Sheldon, 1853-1868.

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Papers of Thaddeus Sheldon, 1853-1868.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/173992980

This collection consists mostly of correspondence, speeches, meeting minutes, and financial statements of the Harmonia organization, and papers on various subjects such as education, the future of America, and sacred matrimony (frequently delivered as addresses to the group). These papers document the activities of a mid-nineteenth century utopian group which combined its philosophy, socialism, and ideas about spiritualism. Many of the documents are addresses and essays written by Spiritualist John Murray Spear (1804-1887) on a wide range of topics, such as education, human relations, and government. Some of Spear's correspondence is also part of the collection. Other important members of the groups whose letters and papers are part of the collection include Daniel and Rebecca H. Gano, John Orvis, and Thaddeus S. Sheldon, who received custody of the papers upon the dissolution of Harmonia. Many of the communications and speeches were transcribed or rewritten by Caroline Hinkley, who was the Scribe, or secretary, of the Order. Hinckley, a woman's rights advocate, began a relationship with the then married Spear and gave birth to their child in 1859. In 1863 Spear divorced his wife of thirty-two years in order to marry Hinckley and legitimize their son. Several of the papers, as well as letters, written in 1863, decry the institution of slavery and question whether the Civil War could force a union based on freedom. Additionally, scattered papers from 1861 through 1865 reveal the group's interest in perfecting and selling sewing machines. Also of note are the signatures on a number of items. The "signatures" of John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Franklin appear on several documents, possibly reflecting the personas of J. M. Spears or Thaddeus Stephens who adopted Franklin and Adams, respectively, as their guides from the past. Please note these are not the actual signatures of Adams, Franklin, or other notable figures that had long since been deceased. Series II of the papers contains twenty-six folders of correspondence concerning the community which were written and received by Mr. Ernest C. Miller. There are also research notes relating to Harmonia at Kiantone.

4 boxes

University of Pittsburgh

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6927615

University of Pittsburgh

Related Entities

There are 13 Entities related to this resource.

Orvis, Boyd and Company.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mt0jc7 (corporateBody)

Orvis and Williams Company.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67q5pzz (corporateBody)

Miller, Ernest Charles, 1925-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sr381f (person)

Orvis, John

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c294qd (person)

American Sewing and Embroidery Machine Company.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s826x2 (corporateBody)

Hinckley, Caroline.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nk7pt8 (person)

Sterling, J. E. Wallace (John Ewart Wallace), 1906-1985

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rb75fn (person)

J. E. Wallace Sterling was president of Stanford University from 1949 to 1968. During his 19 years in office, Stanford's endowment nearly doubled, the faculty increased 170 percent, graduate programs were improved, major building plans were completed, the Medical School was moved to campus from San Francisco, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center was built. After his retirement in 1968, Sterling was named University Chancellor. From the description of J. E. Wallace Sterling Spee...

Sheldon, Thaddeus S.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tx7pqx (person)

The nineteenth century utopian community of Harmonia, located in the valley of Kiantone Creek, situated on the border between New York and Pennsylvania, was known variously as Harmonia, the Association of Beneficents, The Sacred Order of Unionists, and The Domain. This group of spiritualists "believed that the great men and women of earlier ages were guiding them toward the realization of a new social order. Some of their ideas included a perpetual motion machine, the curing of disease by 'magne...

Buffum, Jonathan, 1793-1868

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63r1gb0 (person)

Harmonia Community.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m39mnt (corporateBody)

Gano, Daniel, 1758-1849

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61301pj (person)

Spear, John Murray, 1804-1887

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6v993xf (person)

American clergyman and prison reformer. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Boston, to the Reverend John Pierpont, 1851 Feb. 17. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270662335 ...

New York, Boston and Philadelphia Sewing Machine Embroidering Company.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64n5w7d (corporateBody)