This collection reflects William Thomas' activities in Massachusetts before 1904, and in Connecticut from 1904-1915. Includes letters from Mabel, an independent single woman living and working near Boston. The diaries cover the years 1860-1906, with gaps, particularly between 1861-1866. The entries are rather sparse and provide little insight into his daily activities, although some of them are reflective of the moral and religious conflicts in his mind. Thomas' children wrote to him in 1909 and 1915, but there is very little material from the intervening years. Mabel was the most prolific writer as she described her daily activities and the progress of granddaughter Felicia Doughty, 1902-1915. William Jr. wrote detailed letters about setting up a mill in Quebec, Canada, and about his work in Rhode Island, 1908-1915. Only a few letters exist that were written by daughter Eleanor or granddaughter Felicia Doughty, 1902-1915. The bulk of the collection consists of incoming letters and circulars to William Thomas. Among Thomas' church-related papers are a volume with the names of church members and a list of those who needed pastoral visits. Notes of possible sermon themes have been gathered into one folder and are accompanied by a combination note- and scrapbook also used for citing religious themes. The only remnants of Thomas' military service are a few circulars about the formation of a military chaplain's association and letters from lawyers in Washington, DC, offering to help him recover lost wages from the war. Financial records consist of one volume recording his stocks, 1873, and receipts from 1909 only, divided into those for milk and those for other household goods. Also among the receipts are two dog licenses. There are two letters and one formula for a prescription in the folder of non-family materials.
