Contents
Descriptive Summary
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL
SCOPE AND CONTENT
Arrangement
SELECTED SEARCH TERMS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS
Ser. 1. Biographical and Genealogical, 1858-1932, n.d.
Ser. 2. Personal Correspondence, 1801-1903
Ser. 3. Journals, 1862-1886
Ser. 4. Business and Financial, 1795-1886, n.d.
Ser. 5. Miscellaneous, 1804-1881, n.d.
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Collins Family Papers, 1797-1937
FHL staff
1994
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Creator
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Collins Family |
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Title
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Papers, |
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Dates:
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1797-1937 |
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Abstract:
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The Collins family was a Quaker family of New England and New York City. Abel Collins (1770-1834) was a birthright Quaker and a minister recorded by Hopkinton Monthly Meeting. He married Mary A. Wilbur (d. 1858) of Hopkinton in 1790 and they had eight children. One of their sons, Abel Francis, was clerk of South Kingston Monthly Meeting. He had three sons who attended Friends Boarding School in Providence, Rhode Island, and continued their studies at Brown University. The collection contains extensive family correspondence (1812-1903) which covers a variety of topics, including schools and education, Quaker concerns, topical events of the day, and family life; journals of Francis W. Collins, including descriptions of his student days at Friends Boarding School in Providence; family business and financial papers; miscellaneous papers, photographs, and genealogical material on the Collins and Burdick families.
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Extent:
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8 boxes; 4 linear ft. |
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Identification:
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RG 5/173 |
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Location:
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For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog |
Abel Collins (1770-1834) was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, one of the eleven children of Amos and Thankful (Clark) Collins. Other children were John (b. 1781) and Hannah Earle (1786-1819). Abel was a birthright Quaker and a minister recorded by Hopkinton Monthly Meeting. He married Mary A. Wilbur (d. 1858) of Hopkinton in 1790. Between 1794-1809, Abel and Mary Collins had eight children who survived to adulthood: Deborah, Mary W., Phebe, Timothy Clark, Abigail, twins Amos Wilbur and Thankful, and Abel Francis.
Abel Francis Collins (b. 1809) lived on the Collins farmstead, which he named Prospect Vale, in North Stonington, Connecticut. In 1844 he married Electa Jane Collins (1818-1896), the daughter of Job Scott and Ruth Hall Collins of Utica, New York. Electa Collins had two brother, both medical doctors, Chalkley Collins, who died in his twenties, and Clarkson Thomas Collins (1821-1881). Clarkson T. Collins married Lydia Coffin in 1844 and established a medical practice in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he founded the Invalid's Hotel for the treatment of chronic diseased.
Abel F. and Electa J. Collins had three sons, Francis Wendell (1845-1887), Clarkson Abel (b. 1853), and Abel Chalkley (b. 1857). All three sons attends Friends Boarding School in Providence, Rhode Island, and continued their studies at Brown University. Chalkley Collins practiced as an attorney in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and Clarkson was a lawyer in New York City. Francis W. Collins moved to Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, where he taught elementary school. In 1877 he married Alice V. Burdick. They moved to Woodland, California, where Francis operated a nursery business, "Ornamental Trees." They had one son, Francis Winfield Collins.
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The collection contains correspondence, journals of Francis W. Collins, including descriptions of his student days at Friends Boarding School in Providence; family business and financial papers; miscellaneous papers, photographs, and genealogical material on the Collins and Burdick families.
Return to the Table of Contents
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore CollegeThis collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings:
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The collection is divided into five series:
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Ser. 1. Biographical and Genealogical, 1858-1932, n.d.
Box
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Folder
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1 |
Genealogical charts and records: Collins, Burdick, Durfee, Lamb, Hall, Wilbur, Hoxsie
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2 |
Biographical information, wills, marriage certificates:
Includes biopgraphical sketches of Amos M. Collins, Mary A. Collins, Abel Collins, and Charles Coffin; biographical sketches of Francis W. Collins, and of the Burdock family. Also includes marriage certificate of Francis W. Collins and Alice Burdick; will of Mary A. Collins.
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Genealogical correspondence
1858-1931
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Genealogical forms, Burdick family
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Typescript of genealogical research, Capt. George K. Collins.
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F. W[infield] Collins, Genealogy, bound typescript
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Miscellaneous, Collins family
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George Sherwood correspondence
1931-32
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Ser. 2. Personal Correspondence, 1801-1903
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Abel Collins (1770-1834) & contemporaries, 1801-1856
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Box
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Folder
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8 |
Abel and Mary A. Collins (1796-1861) from John and Elizabeth Collins
1807-1831
re: family news, move to Chatam, Quaker issues, hope to found a new school.
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Abel and Mary A. Collins from Lewis Clark
1823-1824
re: Quaker testimony and discipline
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Abel and Mary A. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1801-1856, n.d.
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Mary W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1812-1819
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Mary W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1820-1829
re: descriptions of school life from both a student's (Lydia Wilbur, 1821) and a teacher's (Timothy Clark Collins, 1821) perspective. From Lewis Clark (5mo. 5, 1822) re: "Philadelphia Friends" and Quaker Testimony; from Charles D. Longworthy (April 19, 1825) re: Scriptures and Quaker Testimony.
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Mary W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1830-1856, n.d.
re: opening colored school in Plainfield, Phebe C. Monroe (6mo. 9, 1833); re: ode to "life and character of grandfather Collins" from T. Monroe (11mo. 22, 1840).
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Abel F[rancis] Collins (b. 1809) & contemporaries, 1832-1886
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Box
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Folder
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14 |
Abel F. Collins from G[eorge] F[ox] Collins
1835-1841
re: observed changes in society after returning to upstate NY from 9 yrs. at sea, including the visit of Lindly M. Hoag, slavery and abolition, tensions between North and South, and the details of establishing a medical practice.
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Box
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Folder
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15 |
Abel F. Collins from Electa J. Collins
1843-1880
Includes one letter from before they were married, and then on several occasions when she was visiting her family (includes some letters from Abel to Electa during the same period, re: conscription in Utica).
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Abel F. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1832-1869, n.d.
From miscellaneous family, includes criticism of Virgile (sic) by G. Foster, 1836; an account of the state of the Society in Indiana, and of a visit to Quaker Meetings (H) in New York by William Morris, 1861; an account of teaching school, medical practice; and the situation of the Society by Emmeline Collins, 1837-41.
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Electa J. Collins (1818-1896) from Job Scott and Ruth Collins
1844-1871, n.d
Includes some letters from Chalkley Collins, while he lived at home with his parents, re: Mexican American War, 3mo. 1847
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Electa J. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1848-1883, n.d.
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Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Clarkson and Lydia Collins
1845-1864
Includes some letters written by Rebecca A. Coffin, who was a part of their household.
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Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Francis W. Collins
1860-1872
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Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Francis W. Collins
1873-1877, n.d.
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Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Francis W. Collins
1877-1886, n.d.
Written at the time of Francis's marriage and subsequent move to California. Includes letters from Alice V. Collins
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Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkey Collins
1867--1880
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Box
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Folder
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24 |
Family letters to Clarkson A[bel] Collins (b. 1853)
1856-1876, n.d.
Includes letters addressed jointly to A. Chalkley Collins, while the brothers attended Providence Friends Boarding School and later Brown University.
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Clarkson A. Collins from Francis W. Collins
1868-1880, n.d.
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Clarkson A. Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
1869-1873
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Clarkson A. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Clarkson A. Collins
1869-1879
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A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Francis W. Collins
1870-1881
Includes letters from Alice V. Collins
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A. Chalkley Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
1872-1880
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A. Chalkley Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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Job Scott and Ruth H. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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Box
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Folder
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33 |
Clarkson T. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1843-1880
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Francis W[endell] Collins (b. 1845) & contemporaries, 1857-1903
Note: Francis W. Collins refers to Francis Wendell Collins, and Francis W[infield] Collins refers to his son.
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Box
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Folder
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1857-1862
Letters written while he attended Friends Boarding School, Providence
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Box
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Folder
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1863-1868
re: visit to Washington, D.C. including meeting President, touring White House; visit to War Dept.; news about warl; fire at Smithsonian Institute (Feb. 4-5, 1865)
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1869
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1870-1872
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1873
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1874
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1875-1877
re: visit to Columbia S.C.; speech of Secretary of State Hayne; meeting of Negro Assembly (March 12, 1875)
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Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
1878-1886, n.d.
Includes letters to Alice V. Collins.
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Folder
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Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkley Collins
1866-1869
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Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkley Collins
1870-1871
re: visit from Sojourner Truth at age 80; her account of being forbidden to ride a rail car in Washington, D.C.; her views on women's rights (Sept. 18, 1820)
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Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkley Collins
1872
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Francis W. Collins from A. Chalkley Collins
1873
re: lecture by suffragist Anna Dickinson, (Nov. 9, 1873); reading by Wilkie Collins, (Dec. 14, 1873).
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Francis W. Collins from A. Chalkley Collins
1874, n.d.
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Francis W. Collins from A. Chalkley Collins
1875-1884
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Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. Collins
1873
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Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. Collins
1874-1878
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Francis W. Collins from Clarkson T. Collins
1873-1881
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Box
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Francis W. Collins from Alvin H. Wright
1863-1864
Written while he was a soldier in the Union army; re: Great Dismal Swamp, NC; Battle of Fredricksburg; army life.
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Alice V. Collins (1855-1937), miscellaneous rec'd
1877, n.d.
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Alice V. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
1877-1884, n.d.
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Francis W[infield] Collins (b. 1878) from Sarah Collins
1902-1903
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Francis W[infield] Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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Francis W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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Ser. 3. Journals, 1862-1886
Box
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Folder
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57 |
Francis W[endell] Collins journal
1862-63
Consists of short passages describing daily routine at Friends Boarding School in Providence
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Francis W[endell] Collins commonplace book
1877, 1879, 1886
3 journal entries describing his wedding trip in 1877, and New Year's observation in 1879 and 1886. Volume also includes commonplace items, poetry, newspaper clippings, lecture notes, etc.
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Ser. 4. Business and Financial, 1795-1886, n.d.
Box
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Folder
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58 |
Abel F. Collins, 1842-1875, n.d.
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Business correspondence and papers
1842-1875
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Francis W. Collins, 1866-1886, n.d.
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Business papers re: Ornamental Trees
1866-1881
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61 |
Receipts and misc. papers
1864-1886, n.d.
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Box
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Folder
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62 |
Account book
n.d.
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63 |
Misc. business correspondence
1867-1886, n.d.
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Miscellaneous Business, 1795-1875, n.d.
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Box
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Folder
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64 |
Receipts
1795-1875, n.d.
Reciepts of Isaac, Abel, Mary A., and Amos Collins, and others.
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Index to account book
n.d.
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Ser. 5. Miscellaneous, 1804-1881, n.d.
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School and Teaching, 1840-1881
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Box
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Folder
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66 |
Correspondence regarding school and teaching
1867-1881
Primarily associated with Francis W. Collins, including job offers and his teaching certificate.
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67 |
School attendance record for schools in North Stonington
1881
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68 |
Connecticut school registers
1880-81
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69 |
Misc. school materials
1840-1874
Includes examination schedules, notices of meetings, program for school, undated list of rules from Nine Partners Boarding School, essays and lectures, report cards.
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70 |
Meeting Papers
1804-1863
Letters addressed to New England Quarterly Meeting by George Churchman, 1804, Extract "On Spiritual Silence" from the journal of Jesse Kersey, copied for Abel Collins by Job Munroe, 1817. Minutes and correspondence from South Kingstown Monthly Meeting, and Hopkinton Preperative Meeting (these papers are primarily associated with Abel F. Collins)
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Poems and Essays
Some copied and some original poems, including several by Francis W. Collins, one by Electa J. Collins, a sewn volume entitled "Rosy the Wreath" compiled by Clarkson Collins, an anonymous poem "On the death of A.M. Collins," and several signed "Rustic Bard" in the handwriting of Francis W. Collins
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Album of photographs
Album belonged to Francis Wendell Collins, and depicted members of the Collins family (as identified in 1954 by Francis Winfield Collins): Electa J. and Abel F., Ruth H. and Job S., Clarkson T. and Chalkley C., Francis Wendell and Alice V., and A. Chalkley Collins, as well as many other unidentified photographs.
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Miscellaneous
Clippings, wedding invitations, birth announcements, an index to biblical passages, unidentified photographs, and a ribbon
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