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https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/files/original/45c09a361f2ad419625ecfe9c2e08dd1.pdf
f5ee863b4b8ba16646d0b68e5081254c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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19th cen: Huntington family correspondence
Subject
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Original documents and annotated transcriptions primarily of letters between Elizabeth and Dan Huntington and their eleven children.
Description
An account of the resource
Original documents and annotated transcriptions primarily of letters between Elizabeth and Dan Huntington and their eleven children.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
These letters are the property of the University Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives. This is an ongoing project and additional letters will be added over time.
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Contact UMass SCUA for permission to publish or reproduce these materials.
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A project of the Amherst College American Studies course "Global Valley" in collaboration with the Porter Phelps Huntington Foundation and University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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1833.04.17 - Elizabeth Huntington to Mary Huntington Apr. 17th, 1833
Creator
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Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
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Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 12)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
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Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Date
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1833-04-17
Type
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Correspondence
Description
An account of the resource
This initial section of the original document is a letter from Elizabeth to her daughter, Mary. The first paragraph talks about the happiness Mary’s letter brought to her parents during a time of ‘gloom’. Mary’s father Dan had been trying to write to Mary for some time, but had been busy with the upcoming renovations to the house. Elizabeth gives Mary an update on her siblings and urges Mary to continue on practicing the guitar. Elizabeth says that they are lucky because they are able to work and rest even with the great illness going around, and tells Mary that even though she may feel uncomfortable, she is lucky too. For they have the use of all their faculties and should be thankful for their ability to comfort one another with God’s words. Elizabeth finished the letter saying her daughter Elisabeth has been preaching and received a new light but she has not yet been able to share it with her mother. The next section is a letter from Dan to his daughter, Mary. He notes that Edward will join them in Troy and hopes that Mary can see them while they are in New York. He encloses five dollars for Mary’s prudent use. He goes on to tell Mary that Theophilus is feeling better. He has stopped taking pills and is able to eat and work without complaint. Dan tells Mary to do the same unless there is a change in the illness and then he will bring her home.
Bethia
Dan
EDITED
Edward
Elizabeth
gratitude
guitar
illness
Mary
Mr. Fisher
Mr. Warren
Mrs. Willard
music
New Light
New York
preaching
renovation
school
Theophilus
Troy
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https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/files/original/3cc4ed92151eeb1cc1796eeaed504d86.pdf
5d40a6118e124ab09a1a42206ac24f02
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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1832.06.28 - Mary D. Huntington to Bethia Huntington, Jun 28, 1832
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 7)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Creator
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Mary D. Huntington
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
June 28, 1832
Rights
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Public domain.
Description
An account of the resource
Mary D. Huntington writes to her sister, Bethia Huntington, thanking her for a letter received from her. She goes on to discuss current events in her life at Miss Emma Willard’s School in Troy, New York. These events include, interactions and conversations had with her teachers Mr.Tucker and Mrs.Willard ranging in topic from religion and her studies to current town gossip concerning the recent death of two black townspeople. In discussing school lessons she mentions both French and learning to play the guitar. She then expresses her feelings concerning her family members, from hope for her sister Elizabeth’s plans to worry about her recent lack of correspondence with brothers Edward and William. She especially wants to hear Edward's advice on flowers. Finally, she concludes with caring sentiments about her parents and Fanny and reminds Bethia to write back soon.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div>
<div>
<p>Troy, June 28th 1832</p>
<p>My dear sister<span> </span><a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/bethiah">Bethia</a></p>
<p>I thank you for your kind sympathizing letter which I received yesterday together with one from<span> </span><a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/danh">Father</a>. Again I am obliged to regret that I have inflicted any needless pain in the hearts of those I love. By the blessing of a kind providence, I am quite well again, and I desire to be thankful for this, and all the other services with which he has crowned my life.</p>
<p>Last evening Mr. Tucker called to see those who attend his church, and as he saw me at the bible class, he inquired for me and wished to see me. As I was going down I met Mrs.Willard, and went with her into her room, and so was prevented from seeing Mr.Tucker. Perhaps it is as well on the whole that I did not, for as he was acquainted with Pa’s sentiments he might have said something to injure my feelings.</p>
<p>I am much pleased with sister<span> </span><a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/elizabethhuntington">Elizabeth’s</a><span> </span>plan and hope it will succeed. Since this intelligence has been communicated to me, I have often thought of the loss we have sustained since we last saw her, and I doubt not you have thought of it too.</p>
<p>We have been reviewing for examination for some time, so that I think I shall not dread my French recitations as much as I imagined I should. I am not hurried at all at present, with my studies as you will perceive by my writing home so often.</p>
<p>What can be the reason brother<span> </span><a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/edwardhuntington">Edward</a><span> </span>has not written to me yet? He is exactly the person whose ideas I want upon the subject of flowers, and I must have them. I cannot be satisfied with any thing less than three pages. Please, mention this to him. You do not know how disappointed I was, to find you had not condescended to give me one, solitary, thought upon my subject when I requested you to, so very particularly. Surely you thought I was in jest, or you would have complied with my request.</p>
<p>I have neglected to answer brother<span> </span><a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/williamhuntington">Williams</a><span> </span>french letters for various reasons but assure him that it was not from want of disposition but from a variety of very different circumstances. I intend now, however to bring myself to it soon.</p>
<p>Mrs. Willard told me last night that I could soon take lessons upon the guitar, but it is not likely that I shall make very rapid progress this term.</p>
<p>Matthew wrote me some time since that Marian had left you. Has she left for good, or is she coming back soon? If she is not coming back I should think you would like to take another. Saturday June 30th Mrs Willard mentioned at table this morning that two black woman [sic] had died very suddenly of late in Troy, and that she had sent to the attending physician to know if the disorder was cholera, and that he assured her [it crossed out] they died of intemperance, as they have been seen intoxicated for several days past.</p>
<p>We have sufficient to remind us every day we have, that “this is not our rest” O for a soul prepared to obey with joy the summons to depart, whenever they shall arrive. If dear Papa [knew how crossed out] &<span> </span><a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/elizabethwhp">Mamma</a><span> </span>knew how comforting their letters are to me, they would not fail of writing. Many thanks to Fanny for her sweet little letter. I value it very highly, and shall keep it as choice as possible. Kiss her for me a great many times. Write very soon to your affectionate but absent sister</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/maryhuntington">https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/exhibits/show/pph-papers/people/maryhuntington</a><span> </span>Mary D. Huntington]</p>
</div>
</div>
<div></div>
African-Americans
Bethia
cholera
death
EDITED
Edward
Elizabeth
Fanny
French
gossip
guitar
illness
Marian
Mary
Mr. Tucker
Mrs. Willard
music
religion
school
servants
temperance
Troy
William
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https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/files/original/4d8636f80223a2e8f43adc1dd863c223.jpg
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https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/files/original/dfcc1b852f73595da723436d55a86140.jpg
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https://www.ats.amherst.edu/globalvalley/files/original/19d90d17d5a1ae4238e9fca6082f3c49.jpg
24b43ae82d296b33a6da6bfa7b5278ed
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
19th cen: Huntington family correspondence
Subject
The topic of the resource
Original documents and annotated transcriptions primarily of letters between Elizabeth and Dan Huntington and their eleven children.
Description
An account of the resource
Original documents and annotated transcriptions primarily of letters between Elizabeth and Dan Huntington and their eleven children.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
These letters are the property of the University Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives. This is an ongoing project and additional letters will be added over time.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Contact UMass SCUA for permission to publish or reproduce these materials.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
A project of the Amherst College American Studies course "Global Valley" in collaboration with the Porter Phelps Huntington Foundation and University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
1833.04.23 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Apr 23, 1833
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Mary Huntington
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
Apr 23, 1833
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public Domain
Description
An account of the resource
Mary explains that she is struggling with her physical and mental health to her Mother. For the first part of her time at Troy, her school, she was struggling to get to her lessons but felt that the only time for her to finish her studies was the present. She has dropped her studies completely, but she is still not much feeling better. She knits to pass the time.
Mary states that she wishes that she was as grateful as her mother, as her letters are filled
with positivity more often than not. She begins to muse about how “we” should look at our
blessings as well as our troubles. Mary believes that when things are bad, it is harder to think of our blessings than when things are good.
She then expresses her gratitude at being granted the ability to return home with Edward but then shows her hesitation towards actually going home. She feels as if the option is too easy, and is leaving the decision for her mother (the reader) and Pa to make. While she is disappointed that she will not be following the path she expected to take, she knows that it is best for her mental health to not continue her schoolings at the present time.
Mary then jumps to questioning what to infer from what Elizabeth wrote. She wonders if Elizabeth has become a believer and if so, she will celebrate that with her. Mary then says that it is important to have “the assurance of faith.”
Although Mary wanted to have written back by that afternoon, she was prevented from doing so by Pauline, a guest. Mary makes sure to mention that Pauline has a plan for when she turns twenty-one that includes living in the country on a farm and doing the
housework herself. Two of Mary’s (teachers?) left the seminary on a journey to Clinton, and she hopes they succeed in what they do. She explains how she feels discouraged about herself and a burden to her friends. She asks her mother to express any cautions she may have, especially since she could do it with kindness.
Mary received Bethia’s letter, and hopes to see her brother in a few days. She ends the
letter by asking her mother to send a prayer for her.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
My dear Mother,
The letter which I received yesterday from you and Father, comforted me not a little. If I caused you much uneasiness by what I wrote, I regret it extremely. But with truth I can say that I expressed no more than I felt either with regard to my mental or bodily feelings. The first part of the time that I was here, I felt that I was hardly capable of sustaining the exertion necessary to getting my lessons, but as I thought it probable that the present was the only time for finishing my education. I determined to say nothing about my feelings but continued my studies till forced to give them up. About a fortnight since, Mrs. Willard advised me to drop them entirely, and since that time I have followed her advice. I do not see on the whole, that my health improves much, though thanks to a kind Providence, I am able to sit up all day and walk about the hall, excepting about an hour before dinner. I have amused myself with working cord, on a little apron for Fanny, (dont tell Helen of it) knitting, and sometimes reading. Yesterday Miss Lee one of the teachers, took me to ride Lansingburg. Our road lay along the banks of the Hudson. The morning was delightful, and getting out into the country, and breathing the fresh air, was quite invigorating. It gave me something of a headache but on the whole I think I feel better for it.
I wish I possessed half as much gratitude as my dear mother. You seem to call it into exercise an occasions when others, or when I at least, should not think of it [crossed out] being grateful. The mercies enumerated in your letter are so common, that we rarely are conscious of possessing them. And if by accident we are deprived of them, we regard it as something quite out of the ordinary course of events, and are apt to think our condition very insupportable. I suppose if we were to think more of our blessings and less of our troubles, we should save ourselves much unhappiness, and add much to our real worth. When every thing looks bright, such sentiments are easily uttered, but when a [crossed out] clouds darken our prospects, (and with me this frequently happens) it is far more difficult to bring our minds to a right frame.
I thank you with all my heart for giving me liberty to return with Edward. I am unwilling
to decide in this case. I think if compelled by necessity, I would remain the other few weeks, though I fear I should not be able to continue my studies I know what course my inclination would lead me to adopt, ^for one out of health is apt to be partial to home. But I do not wish to be directed by choice alone. I have endeavored to let you know all the circumstances of the case, and shall leave it to your kindness and judgement, and to Pa’s also, to determine with regard to my remaining here. It is a great disappointment to me not to be able to follow the path I had marked out for myself, but it is for wise ends without doubt, that I am prevented from doing so.
What do you infer from what Elizabeth writes? Can it be that she has been “brought out”
at a protracted meeting? If she has arrived at what she considers the truth I am sure I shall rejoice with her, and on her account. It is worth a great deal to leave “the assurance of faith.”
Wednesday evening. I meant to have finished this letter this afternoon, but was prevented by company. Pauline has been with us an hour or two, and has [crossed out] appeared to be delighted with my description of what I used to do at home. She says after she is twenty one she will leave the country, on a farm, and do the housework herself. Mrs Willard thinks her ^a much better girl since she returned from Guildford. This morning Miss Stevenson, and Miss Patterson left the seminary for Clinton. Their prospects are good and I hope they will succeed according to their wishes. Some appear to be prospered more than others and undoubtedly, more [word crossed out] for some wise design. I frequently feel a little discouraged about myself, for I fear by my ill health, and irresolution, and fretting, I make myself burdensome to my friends. You must not hesitate to caution me whenever you think it necessary, for I should esteem it a kindness to be counselled by you on this point, and every other [every other crossed out], always when I need advice. Coming from a Mother, it cannot but be well received. In kind parents, I have a blessing, of which many at my age are destitute and for which I desire ever to be grateful.
Bethia’s letter I received yesterday, and was so delighted with it, that I have read it over
many times, and intend answering it soon.
After I wrote you that I intended practicing on the guittar, I was not as well, and
since that time I have not had a good opportunity of speaking to Mrs W. on the subject. I am trying to wait with patience for brother’s arrival as I said before, I shall leave it to you and Pa to decide whether or not I shall return with him. But at any rate I shall hope to see him here in a few days. Give my warmest love to brothers and sister, and present my dutiful and affectionate regards to Father. Caroline sends a great deal of love to all inquiring friends. That the loveliest of heavens blessings may rest up on you my dear Mother is the prayer of your daughter.
Mary
Bethia
Caroline
Clinton
Dan Huntington
Edward
Elizabeth Fisher
gratitude
Guildford
guitar
health
Helen
Lansingburg
Miss Lee
Miss Patterson
Miss Stevenson
Mrs. Willard
NEEDS EDITING
Pauline
school
Studies
Troy