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    A spool of blue thread

    Rare Books

    "It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon." This is the way Abby Whitshank always begins the story of how she fell in love with Red that day in July 1959. The whole family--their two daughters and two sons, their grandchildren, even their faithful old dog--is on the porch, listening contentedly as Abby tells the tale they have heard so many times before. And yet this gathering is different too: Abby and Red are growing older, and decisions must be made about how best to look after them, and the fate of the house so lovingly built by Red's father."--

    646295

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    The phantom bouquet : a popular treatise on the art of skeletonizing leaves and seed-vessels and adapting them to embellish the home of taste

    Rare Books

    "This essay was written in the autumn of 1861 for the Atlantic Monthly, and accepted for publication by the editors of that popular Magazine; but the pressure upon its pages has prevented the appearance of an article which is so little in accordance with the tone of the current American literature during the past eventful year. The numerous applications to the author for instructions in the art of Skeletonizing have induced the determination to delay its publication no longer, and to change it from a magazine article to a small practical work, adapted to aid the tyro in attaining a perfect acquaintance with the subject of which it treats. It is hardly necessary to acknowledge the aid derived from numerous friends of both sexes, who have freely imparted the results of their experience in the matter in hand. Of course, all skeletonizers have learned by this time that it is only by communicating what they know that they can expect to receive in turn the ideas of others, and thus promote our beautiful pursuit to its true position among the liberal arts"--From preface.

    610268

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    Harvey W. Brown journal

    Manuscripts

    Diary kept by Harvey W. Brown while he traveled from Boston to San Francisco, and back again, in 1868. Brown left Boston on March 9, 1868, traveled to New York, and departed on board the Henry Chauncey on March 11. During the voyage Brown described his seasickness and the death and sea burial of a man from steerage, as well as making regular notes on weather conditions and distances traveled. On March 19 Brown arrived in Aspinwall (now Colón, Panama), traveled across the Isthmus by rail, and boarded the steamer Sacramento. On March 25 he described seeing "a volcano...on the mountain...it look[ed] like a grate of live coals." Writing on his 22nd birthday, April 1, 1868, Brown grew introspective, noting, "Little did I think last year at this time I should be here or that Aunty would be sleeping in the silent grave...How the things will change in a year." But his merriment returned when he got a piece of paper pinned to his jacket as an April Fool's joke. After a stop in Acapulco, the Sacramento arrived in San Francisco on April 2. Brown worked sporadically while in California as a painter (he worked briefly on the Mercantile Library) and applied for a job in cabinet making, but on April 17 he instead "hired a store" with his friend Ned at the cost of $25 a month. They attempted to sell corn, and while Ned did reasonably well Brown failed to sell anything. On May 6 Brown and Ned moved to new rooms when Brown got an unspecified job, but he "could not stand it...It made my arm so lame I could not work" (although he was well enough to go to the theatre that night). Brown seems to have been much more interested in amusement than work, and found the time to frequent the theatre, pay $20 in gold to join the Olympic Club, take multiple day trips, play nine pins and shooting, attend an Independent Order of Odd Fellows picnic, and carouse with his friends at places like the Bella Union, where he describes one of them as being "pretty drunk." By May 21 Brown had grown tired of San Francisco and bought tickets home for himself and a friend named Frank. They departed on the Sacramento on May 22, and had an uneventful voyage back across Panama and home, although Brown did not like their ship, the Rising Star. By June 16 they were back in Boston. Brown apparently worked as a carpenter, although the last entry in the diary, made August 31, 1868, notes that he "bought out A.Polson fish market [ in Fields Corners, Dorchester]." The front pages of the diary contain various sketches, including one of a ship. The back of the diary contains some accounting notes.

    mssHM 78060

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    Graduate Student Papers, A-B

    Visual Materials

    One box of 32 graduate student papers from Harvard and Massachusetts College of Art written by students whose last names begin with the letters A-B. The papers were written by students of Diana Korzenik, some for a course entitled "Why Skills Change- The History of Visual Art in American Education." At the front of this box are two copies of a bibliography compiled by Korzenik entitled "Cumulative Bibliography of Graduate Research Papers for History of Goals and Methods in Art Education." Abnet, Holly Pochman. "Quilting in the late 19th century: a display of competency for future mothers and wives." 1995 Aceves, Consuelo. "Seeing life through young eyes." 1995 Clemente, Ninive. "On Jacob Lawrence." 1995 Cossentino, Jackie. "Mining memory: the arts and progressive education in Baltimore's schools." 1995 Dorna, Deron J. "Art and Spirituality in the pedagogy of Francis Wayland Parker." 1995 Gilette, Dan. "Ware's MIT: empowerment through art education." 1995 Kim, Young Jae. "Education to bind, education to liberate." 1995 (2 copies) Litwin, Robin Gile. "May Alcott- the wind beneath her wings." 1995 Peckham, Kathleen. "A need to express: the rise of children's art and African art in Greenwich Village, 1910-20's." 1995 Tavilla, David. "Instruments of Perspective: the study of art and science in the pursuit of truth." 1995 Swosozowski, Kristin M. "Fragile threads of historical manipulation: the Ware Collection of glass flowers at Harvard University: casting a web of public support." 1995 Agam, Raya. "Educational justifications for introducing paper cutting in schools and art program in the U.S.A." 1984 Alzamora, Steven. "Aunt Lily Massachusetts College of Art, graduate of 1956." 1993 Anderson, James M. "Why art was omitted during the establishment of the French Christian Brothers and one of their schools, LaSalle Academy, in the United States." n.d. Baxter, Edwin Stuart. "Research Paper for Diana Korzenik." n.d. Beatte, Margaret. [Untitled, 1992?] Bedard, Tina. "Color instruction in late 19th century America." 1987 Berman, Ann. "Women's secondary education during the Depression years, in Boston." n.d. Berger, Jane A. "Howard Pyle: illustrator/ teacher of illustration." 1988 Bilal, Zuhairah N. [Untitled]. 1987 Bilal, Z.N. "History and Goals of Art Education, Supplement to complete the course" Hughes, Margreta A. "The passing of the cherry tree" 1991 Brown, Maryanne. [Untitled] 198? Billipp, Diana Haring. "How did Rudolph Steiner utilize art in the curriculum of the Waldorf School and what influences convinced him of its vital role in education?" 1991 Boemer, Allen J. "Frederick Law Olmsted 1822-1903 the father of landscape architecture: the park maker" 1990 Brown, Susan. "Superintendent Alcott, Concord Mass. 1859-1865" 1989 Bunting, Amy. "Child labor in the Lawrence textile mills during the mid 1800's" 1988 Burke, Linda S. "Emily Connick Burke, 1889-1978: the history of her art education" 1991 Bonito, David. "Historical research on Thompson's Island." 1986 Butler, Sandra. "Charles Frederick Whitney, Art Educator." 1988

    ephKAEE

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    Baldwin Family Papers

    Manuscripts

    This collection contains family correspondence and a few miscellaneous items, chiefly addressed to Joel and Ruth Barlow, Clara Baldwin Bomford, and her daughter Ruth Bomford Paine. Correspondents include Elizabeth Whitman and George William Erving (1769-1850), an American diplomat. The letters discuss the Baldwin family affairs and contain only occasional references to political affairs. Also included are a few documents and 1 manuscript poem. The collection chiefly reflects the children of Michael Baldwin (1719-1787) of New Haven, including Abraham Baldwin (1754-1807), American statesman and founder of the University of Georgia; Henry Baldwin (1780-1844), justice of the United States Supreme Court; Ruth (Baldwin) Barlow (1756-1818) and her husband, Joel Barlow (1754-1812), American poet and statesman; Clara (Baldwin) Bomford (1782-1856), wife of George Bomford (1782-1848), chief of ordnance of the army; and the descendants of George and Clara Bomford. About one-sixth of the letters are addressed to Joel and/or Ruth Barlow, 1779-1816; about one-half to Ruth's sister, Clara (Baldwin) Bomford, 1803-1855; about one-sixth to Clara's daughter, Ruth (Bomford) Paine, 1856-1891; and the remainder to others. Perhaps the collection as a whole is best described as the remnant of a family archive which has passed through a number of generations. Subject matter include Baldwin family affairs; social life in New Haven, Connecticut; the Kalorama property in Washington, D.C., purchased by the Barlows in 1807; sold to the Bomfords in 1818 and subsequently sold by them in 1846; society in Washington, D.C., from 1803 to 1815; the Barlow's social life in Paris in 1811 and 1812; and description and travel in Europe, with letters by George W. Erving describing Switzerland, Italy, and France. Includes biographical material for: Abraham Baldwin; Ruth (Baldwin) Barlow and Joel Barlow; Clara (Baldwin) Bomford and George Bomford; George William Erving; Robert and Harriet Fulton; and other members of the Baldwin family and descendants of George & Clara Bomford. Of particular note are the letters of Elizabeth Whitman to Joel Barlow; the letters of Ruth Barlow; and the extensive series of letters from George William Erving (1769-1850), American diplomat, to Clara Bomford. Erving's letters are perhaps the most substantial part of the collection and the earlier ones are particularly interesting. He never married, occupied several diplomatic posts in Europe, travelled about a good deal, and lived for many years in Paris. The letters contain nothing about his diplomatic work as such, but are full of reflections and observations on a number of subjects and some of them run to a considerable length--there is one of twenty-nine pages. In the earlier part of the collection there are references to Joel Barlow and a number of letters addressed to him, but only one document and several postscripts in his handwriting, and copies of his will and one poem. There are occasional references to political affairs, but the primary importance of the collection is for the picture it presents of the social and day-to-day life of the time, and for the information it contains about the individuals noted below. Persons represented by 3 or more pieces (Figures in square brackets indicate number of letters addressed to the individual)" Baldwin, Abraham (24 pieces, 1789-1807 [2]) Baldwin, Henry (8 pieces, 1813-1816) Baldwin, William D. (4 pieces, 1882) Barlow, Anica (Preble) (4 pieces, 1812-1855) Barlow, Joel (3 pieces, 1797-1812 (38)) Barlow, Ruth (Baldwin) (67 pieces, 1795-1816 [41]) Bishop, Victor (7 pieces, 1845-1852) Bomford, Clara (Baldwin) (21 pieces, 1811-1827 [236]) Bomford, George (7 pieces, 1844-1848 [10]) Bomford, James V. (6 pieces, 1883-1887) Bomford, Mattie (4 pieces, 1856-1883) Dall, Caroline Wells (Healey) (7 pieces, 1884-1892) Derby, Richard C. (5 pieces, 1882-1886) Erving, George William (116 pieces, 1812-1850 [1]) Eyre, Wilson (4 pieces, 1882) Gaines, Edmund Pendleton (10 pieces, 1812-1814) Lafayette, Marquis De (4 pieces, 1789-1827) Linwood, Mary (3 pieces, 1805-1812) Madison, Dolly (Payne) Todd (4 pieces, 1811-1842) Maguire, Bernard (3 pieces, 1844-1848) Marbois, Comte De (6 pieces, 1812-1814) Maulsby, A. M. (5 pieces, 1882) Moore, Margaret Jane (King), Countess Mountcashell (4 pieces, 1812) Olmstead, Lemuel G. (11 pieces, 1854-1855) Riddle, John S. (4 pieces, 1844) Seymour, Louisa (5 pieces, 1886-1891) Smith, J. B. H. (5 pieces, 1851-1856) Thornton, Anna Maria (Brodeau) (17 pieces, 1812-1855 [18]) Whitman, Elizabeth (15 pieces, 1779-1782) Williams, Helen Maria (6 pieces, 1812-1815) Some notable items include: Baldwin, Abraham. To Ruth Barlow. 1789, July 3. "These Politicians Keep Such A Talking Round My Ears, That I Cannot Write You Any More At Present." To Joel Barlow. 1791, Mar. 13. "Many Of The Atlantic Settlers Wish The Western Country Not To Be Settled, And Take All Opportunities To Throw Blocks In The Way...." Will. 1807, Mar. 1. Barlow, Joel. Will. 1797, Apr. 15. Certified Copy, Dated 1813. Barlow, Ruth (Baldwin). To Clara Bomford. 1810, Mar. 10 abd 14. Re: Clara'S Change Of Name; Mrs. Madison; Mme. Bonaparte; Napoleon'S Divorce; Etc. To Clara Bomford. 1812, Sep. Letters Describing Her Visit To Mme. De Villette. Will. 1813, Aug. 24. To Clara Bomford. 1814, Mar. 13. "...Yet The World Suppose Him [Robert Fulton] Swimming In Wealth, Whilst In Reality He Is Oppressed With Debts Which He Can Hardly Find The Means Of Meeting. How Little My Dear Clara, We Know Of Peoples Real Situations & Feelings." Bomford, Clara (Baldwin). To Anna Maria (Brodeau) Thornton. 1811, Nov. 13. Re: Paris Opera, Joel Barlow'S Presentation To The Emperor, Etc. To Anna Thornton. 1814, Dec. 11. Our [Connecticut] neighbors are mostly people of fortune or independant farmers, all delighted to see their friends & acquaintance, they call a visit from 2 in the afternoon till 9 in the evening--about 4 they have a table groaning with the weight of all the good things they can muster--chickens sausages, apple sauce, sweet meats, bread & butter cakes & pies & in the evening cider apples & nuts. Erving, George William. To Joseph Gales. 1814, Oct. 22. Re: the misinterpretation by the British press of American news. To Clara Bomford. 1819, Oct. 6-20. Re: his life in Paris; Mrs. Decatur (she is a charming woman; she was not absolutely a flame, but a little flamelet of mine many years ago, but all calculations duly made, I thought it most prudent to withdraw.); Lafayette (he is one of those in whom hope will never die, who will always see 'couleur de rose' tho affairs be as black as ink,--he thinks that good principles & a good heart is every thing,--tho a soldier he does not calculate well the power of bayonets...) To the same. 1825, Nov. 20. I am glad that you like Mr Vaughan, but I neither presume or desire that you see much of him;--tho' he is a very estimable man, perhaps more respectable (morally speaking) than ministers are in general, yet I shoud not have given him a letter to you (for this is against my rules) but that he almost compelled me to do so:-- with all Vaughans apparent simplicity & frankness, put this well into your head, that he is as thorough an Englishman as any of them; nor could they find in all England a more fit man to send to Washington; for his modesty, his want of all pretension,--his 'bonhommie' & his moderate calm manner, are the very qualities suited to our gullibility;... To the same. 1826, June 8. Monroe... demands great 'swads' of our money without even the shadow of any right at all; thinking no doubt that as the mouth of the publick purse has opened for poor Lafayette, he may as well thrust his big fist into it; before the delicate paw of Madam Decatur shall have quite exhausted it, for the sake of her future husband.... [In Washington] You live precisely in the centre, the best position for observation--look about you,--probably you will not find one man excepting your good husband, who is devoid of this mania; look at their gray or bald foreheads--laden with care; see all the younger ones--rushing--& jostling & fighting & worrying each other, their hearts full of bitterness & envy; their nights sleepless; see what a proportion leave their families, neglect their business, impair their fortunes & ruin their constitutions, for the gratification of empty vanity--called 'ambition':--for do not mistake, not one in an hundred is there to 'serve his country' as a duty. Poor Rufus King!--he has been minister & Senator, & not being able to arrive at the Presidency for which he has been struggling all his life, must needs be minister again; well he dies in the effort! Poor Monroe! he arrived by dint of perseverance, he retires, health & fortune ruined, reputation in not much better condition,--he is to be consumed by mortification! Poor Crawford! the best years of his life sacrificed, his estate & profession neglected;--all his prospects defeated,--he vegitates!--so of the rest. To the same. 1835, Mar. 18. You & I who knew so well must sympathize in the loss of that most excellent friend Mr Crawford; I have never seen in publick life anyone of such perfect & disinterested patriotism, or in private of more pure integrity. Fulton, Robert. To Joel Barlow. 1809, Mar. 1. Re: Explanation of his moving away from Kalorama; Barlow's interest in the steamboat (you had little faith in the success or profits of the boat); Barlow's financial affairs; and getting The Columbiad reviewed in London. Gaines, Edmund Pendleton. To Clara Bomford. 1812, Jan. 20. Re: death of his wife, Frances. Lafayette, Marquis de. Dinner invitation to Joel Barlow. 1789, Feb. 9. Thornton, Anna Maria (Brodeau). To Clara Bomford. 1812, Mar. 15. Re: Count Crillon. Whitman, Elizabeth. To Joel Barlow, 14 letters, 1779-1780; and one letter to Ruth Barlow, 1782. The tragic life of Elizabeth Whitman served as the basis for the popular early American novel by Hannah Webster Foster, The Coquette, or, the history of Eliza Wharton, 1797. These letters were published (inaccurately) by Mrs. Caroline Dall in The Romance of the Association..., Cambridge, 1875.

    mssBN 1-475