Louise Shattuck Papers

In her long life, Louise Shattuck wore many hats -- artist, teacher, dog-breeder, writer, and Spiritualist -- but to her, she only wore one: that of an art-making, skill-teaching, dog-breeding, writing, and spirit-talking resident of Lake Pleasant, Mass. Somehow, Shattuck managed the difficult feat of knitting these disparate strands into a single, seamless life, her professional and personal interests weaving together in a uniquely creative way.

Geographically, intellectually, and spiritually, the center of Shattuck's life was the village of Lake Pleasant, Mass. One of five villages in the town of Montague, Lake Pleasant was established in 1870 when George Potter, a real estate agent from neighboring Greenfield, sensed a business opportunity. Acquiring the land around the southern tip of the lake, Potter set up picnic tables and invited local residents to use the area as a park. It was an instant success, so much so Potter rapidly decided to cash out, selling the property to the Boston and Maine Railroad Company in 1872 so that it could be expanded into a regional destination for summer tourism. Taking advantage of the scenic lake front and deep woods, the Railroad erected a railroad stop, a pavilion and bandstand, hotel, and other amenities. Waging an aggressive marketing campaign, they lured dozens, and eventually thousands of tourists per year. From the outset, some of these visitors came in groups: Odd Fellows, Freemasons, Congregationalists, Unitarians, and Spiritualists among them.

It was Spiritualists, more than any other group, who exerted the greatest influence on the development of Lake Pleasant, and particularly those associated with the New England Spiritualist Camp-meeting Association (NESCA). Formed in 1874 and incorporated in 1879, NESCA was part of the first wave of truly successful regional- and national-level Spiritualist organizations, built upon the evangelical model of holding seasonal (and later permanent) camp meetings. From the beginning, NESCA found a home in Lake Pleasant, paralleling other Spiritualist groups that attached themselves to camps in Etna, Maine, Lilydale, N.Y., Chesterfield, Ind., and Cassadaga, Fla. Spiritualism soon transformed the look and feel of the community in the pine woods. "There never was a summer night when one did not have a choice of attending any number of [Spiritualist] 'circles'," Shattuck wrote in Yankee Magazine in 1968 (p.141). In 1913, a number of Lake Pleasant Spiritualists affiliated with NESCA split with their peers over some philosophical differences (reincarnation among them) to form the National Spiritual Alliance (TNSA). For over sixty years, the village hosted two Spiritualist temples, one for each faction.

When Louise was born on December 24, 1919, the only child of a railway electrician Frank Shattuck and his wife Sarah (Bickford), Lake Pleasant was in its heyday. Like their adopted village, the Shattucks were committed Spiritualists: Louise's maternal grandmother, Anna (Dyer) Bickford, was one of the early mediums at the resort, and Sarah Shattuck (also called Sara or Sadie) followed suit, delivering spirit messages and inspiration from spirit sources up until the time of Louise's birth. Louise inherited mediumistic tendencies from her women forebears, and although she never acted as a professional medium, throughout her life she engaged in automatic writing and in use of the planchette and Ouija board to contact spirit beings.

In the years following the First World War, Lake Pleasant experienced a slow decline, driven in part by the decrease of summering as a middle class activity and of Spiritualism as a religion. Although the rise of the automobile and decay of the American rail system hurt many summer resorts, Lake Pleasant was hit particularly hard after access to the lake was curtailed, then shut off, when its waters became a reservoir for the town of Montague. The Shattucks, however, remained loyal. Although Louise was born and raised in Medford, Mass., she and her family continued to summer in the cottage that Frank had built barely twenty yards from the TNSA temple, and following Frank's death in 1948, Sarah became a full time resident.

Louise emulated her mother in more than just mediumistic talent: the two shared a passion for animals, particularly dogs, for art and teaching. By her senior year at Medford High School, was already set on her future life course, entering Massachusetts College of Art (class of 1941) intent on making a career in the graphic arts. Although she taught art off and on for many years, beginning with a stint teaching ceramics at Garland Junior College in Boston (later absorbed into Simmons College), she began as early as 1943 to produce ceramic, clay, and bronze figurines for commercial distribution. Striking her first contracts with the Boston firm Contemporary Arts, and taking her grandmother's maiden name (Ann Dyer) as a pseudonym, she began to distribute work through Hudson Pewter, Lance Corporation, and the American Pewter Company.

Thematically and stylistically, Louise's early work was quite diverse, ranging from a figurine of a ballet dancer to a small sculpture of an Arab rider on horseback (one of her favorite pieces) that was sculpted under the influence of a spirit named Charles Memling. By the mid-1940s, however, her work acquired a real focus when she settled into a niche as an animal artist, dogs being her distinct favorite subject. An early member of the Society of Animal Arts), she also did a great deal of graphic work for magazines, particularly those associated with dog breeding, producing pen and ink drawings and cartoons, as well as pastels and paintings, both for private commission and retail distribution. Her love of dogs extended well beyond her artwork, and dogs assumed a greater prominence in her life as she grew older. As proprietor of Carry On Kennels, she became well known as a breeder of English Cocker Spaniels and stalwart in the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America.

Louise also became an author. In addition to two humorous works on her experiences with dogs, From Riches to Bitches (1979) and In Stitches Over Bitches (1983), Louise wrote and illustrated a children's book, The Donkey and the Tree (1999). Her last book, co-written with her friend David James, was "portrait of the body, mind, and soul" of her beloved Lake Pleasant, Spirit and Spa (2003).

Never married, Louise joined her mother in Lake Pleasant in 1967 as Sarah's health began to fail. Louise remained active as a sculptor and illustrator well into her 80s, remaining in her family cottage until her death in October 2005.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Shattuck Papers offer a window onto the eclectic life of artist, dog breeder, and Spiritualist Louise Shattuck and onto the equally eclectic Spiritualist community of Lake Pleasant, Mass. Organized into five series, the collection documents Louise's life from her childhood until her death, with an emphasis upon her connections to her community. Her diverse interests interweave throughout the collection, appearing in correspondence and writings, newspaper clippings and photographs, and in her voluminous diaries, kept sporadically between 1928 and the mid-1970s and regularly from then until 2005.

Of particular note in the collection are a small, but rich assortment of materials relating to Spiritualism. Among the photographs, pamphlets, and realia are items reflecting both Louise's Spiritualist practices and her interest in the history of Spiritualism and the Lake Pleasant community. A Lake Pleasant photograph album, along with a few publications and objects provide sketchy, but intriguing documentation of the Independent Order of Scalpers, a fraternal club in the village, but the collection also includes extensive samples of Louise's automatic writing, transcripts of Ouija board sessions, and four excellent examples of spirit slates with chalk inscriptions, dating from the time of Louise's grandmother (ca.1900-1910). Also included in a small assortment of Spiritualist pamphlets published by the Star Publishing Co. of Springfield, Mass., is H. A. Budington's History of the New England Campmeeting Association at Lake Pleasant.

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Series 1: Personal and Business 1902-2006 5.5 boxes (3.75 linear feet)

Shattuck's private and professional lives were intricately interwoven, and as such, the contents of this series pertain both to Louise's personal affairs and business ventures. With a few exceptions, the correspondence dates from Louise's childhood in the 1920s forward, with somewhat uneven survival through the years. Among the relatively few letters of Sarah Shattuck are some fascinating glimpses into her mediumistic activities, including a "Translation of a Persian message to the world given through the mediumship of Sara Bickford" (undated), written on the letterhead of the Spiritualist historian of Lake Pleasant, H.A. Budington, and a letter from John E. Coover of Stanford University (1915) discussing his views of automatic writing.

Series 1 also includes a large number of pen sketches and cartoons, largely depicting dogs, and numerous contracts for figurines Shattuck created for Contemporary Arts (mostly under the pseudonym Anna Dyer), the American Pewter Company, Hudson Pewter, and the Lance Corporation. Together, these provide a sense of the range of Shattuck's commercial work and how her interests evolved through the course of her career. Other miscellaneous items include newspaper clippings and a variety of legal documents, including birth certificates for Louise and other members of her family.

Series 2: Diaries 1919-2004 10.5 boxes (5.25 linear feet)

Shattuck kept a diary regularly from 1928 to 2005. At the end of almost each day, she wrote at least one full page discussing the day's work and events, often commenting that she was not getting enough done, and occasionally referring to money issues or personal conflicts. Two diaries in the series (1916, 1952)belonged to Louise's mother, Sarah Bickford Shattuck.

Series 3: Lake Pleasant and Spiritualism 1881-2004 1 box (0.5 linear feet)

While not born in Lake Pleasant, Louise was in a sense born to Lake Pleasant. From her mother and mother's mother, she inherited mediumistic abilities. Series 3 contains abundant evidence of Louise's efforts at spirit communication, including extensive sheafs of automatic writing, spirit writing, and transcripts of Ouija board sessions, along with a small number of relatively scarce Spiritualist pamphlets published by the Star Publishing Company of Springfield, Mass. While Lake Pleasant portcards have been included in this series, photographs and other audio/visual materials pertaining to Lake Pleasant and Spiritualism are to be found in Series 4: Audio/Visual.

Series 4: Audiovisual 1895-2004

This series contains primarily photographs, dating from the late 1800s to 2005. Several photograph albums are dedicated to documenting Louise's English cocker spaniels as they progressed in their training, while others pertain primarily to recording her artwork, especially sculpture. Of note are a number of photographs of Louise herself, from when she was less than a year old to very near the end of her life. Also included are slides and negatives as well as CD-ROM slide shows and a single video cassette. All audio or visual materials relating to Spiritualism and Lake Pleasant are to be found in this series.

Series 5: Realia 1907-circa 1970

Among the realia in the Shattuck Papers are several examples of Shattuck's artwork, most notably her statue of an Arab rider on horseback, created under the influence of the spirit, Charles Memling. Also included are Spiritualist artifacts such as a feathered headdress (from Lake Pleasant's Independent Order of Scalpers), a set of divining rods, and a Ouija board, and less directly three unidentified locks of human hair, and Shattuck's cremated remains, housed in a sealed vessel in the shape of a dog's head. Finally, the series includes a framed self-portrait by Sarah Bickford Shattuck, ca.1920?, dressed in a white gown worn during a Spiritualist play.

Series 1: Personal and Business 1902-2006

"Accept the Glory of Easter" undated

Adams, Willis Seaver 1921-1968

"A Real History of How the Tomahawk was Buried in 1902" 1902

Art and Writings, Childhood 1920s-1930s

Art, Copper Print Plate, "Ex Libris" undated

Art, Fliers and Advertisements 1960s-2000

Art, Portrait of Sarah Bickford Shattuck by Louise Shattuck undated

Art, Other undated

Art, Pamphlets 1934-1954

Art, Pastels/Other undated

Art, Sale Invitation Card, Sara Louise Bickford undated

Art, Sketches/Cartoons 1930-2005

Art, Sketches/Cartoons 1930-2005

Art, Sketches/Cartoons 1930-2005

Art, Sketches/Cartoons 1930-2005

Art, Sketches/Cartoons 1930-2005

Art, Sketches/Cartoons 1930-2005

Art, "The English Cocker Spaniel Cookbook" undated

Art, "The Lake Pleasanter" 1945

Athol Orchestral Society Schedule 1902

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" undated

Re-creation of the 1849 illustrated edition.

Award of Merit Card, American National Red Cross, Mrs. F. R. R. Shattuck 1953

Baby Book 1919

Bickford, Frank A., "Carpenter and Builder," Stationary undated

Bickford, John R., Construction Service Flier undated

Bickford Newsletter 1999-2000

Calendar, Christian 1970

"Canine Collector's Companion" 1985

Correspondence, Business, Art 1957-1999

Correspondence, Business, Art, American Pewter Company 1975-1982

Correspondence, Business, Art, Lance Corporation 1977-1981

Correspondence, Business, Art, Silva Enterprises/JEB Casting 1982-1983

Correspondence, Business, Art, The Tropical Shells Co. 1979-1981

Correspondence, Business, Dogs 1979-1985

Correspondence, Business, Dogs, Heredities Limited 1981-1983

Correspondence, Business, Teaching 1941-1957

Correspondence, Business, Writing 2001, 2005

Correspondence, Business, Writing, Galde Press 1998-2000

Correspondence, Business, Writing, Howell Book Press 1978-1979

Correspondence, Business, Writing, Howell Book Press 1980-1983

Correspondence, Business, Writing, Howell Book Press 1993

Correspondence, Business, Writing, Macmillian/Simon & Schuster 1993-1994

Correspondence, Legal, Zissu, Stein, Bergman, Couture & Mosher 1978-1982

Correspondence, Other, Assorted 1920-1983

Correspondence, Other, Assorted, Concerning Boyle, William Glenn 1990

Correspondence, Other, Hicks, Varion 1945

Correspondence, Other, Shattuck, Sarah Bickford, Legal 1961

Correspondence, Other, Shattuck, Sarah Bickford, Personal 1910-1935

Correspondence, Other, Shattuck, Sarah Bickford, Personal, with Adams, Willis Seaver undated

Correspondence, Personal 1925-2005

Correspondence, Personal circa 1965

Letters between Charles Bickford and Sarah Bickford Shattuck and Louise Shattuck.

Correspondence, Personal, Childhood circa 1930

Letters between Louise Shattuck and Frank R. Shattuck.

Correspondence, Personal, Childhood circa 1930

Between Louise Shattuck and Sarah Bickford Shattuck.

Correspondence, Personal, Boyle, William Glenn 1953-1990

Correspondence, Personal, Genealogical 1974-2004

Correspondence, Personal, Medical, Kalia, Kamal K. 2004

Correspondence, Personal undated

Reply to a personal ad placed by Louise Shattuck.

Diploma, Bickford, Sara Louise, Massachusetts Normal Art School 1907

Documents, Art, Assignments and Agreements 1944-2004

Documents, Birth Certificates 1940-1976

Documents, Copyright undated

Documents, Copyright undated

Documents, Dogs undated

Documents, Education, Diplomas 1908-1941

Documents, Financial and Receipts 1944-2000

Documents, Funeral 1936-1960

Documents, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society, Life Membership Ticket, Bickford, Louise 1907

Documents, Legal, Casey vs. Shattuck 1980-1985

Documents, Marriage 1916

Documents, Publication Agreements, Galde Press, Inc. 1998

Documents, Publication Agreements, Howell Book Press 1978-1982

Documents, Results, Pewter Chemical Composition Test 1981

Documents, Royalty 1991-2005

Documents, Shore Leave, Hicks, Varion 1940

Documents, Social Security 1919-1978

Documents, Vaccination 1926

ECSCA Review 2006

English Cocker Spaniel Handbook 1955, 1974

Flood Views 1938

Garland Junior College Pamphlets undated

Genealogy Information, Shattuck Family undated

"Home Town Recipes of Lake Pleasant" undated

Honorable Discharge Card, Women's Relief Corps: Shattuck, Sara Bickford 1917

Howell Books Catalog 1987

Hudson Pewter Catalog undated

Ladies' Dog Club, Inc. undated

Martha's Vineyard "Tabernacle" 1979

Massachusetts School of Art, Brochure circa 1930

Massachusetts School of Art, Yearbook 1938

Massachusetts School of Art, Yearbook 1941

Medford High School, Class of 1937, Yearbook; 50th Reunion Book 1937, 1987

Newspaper Clippings various dates

Newspaper Clippings various dates

Newspaper Clippings, Boyle, William Glenn undated

NGS NewsMagazine 2004

Postcards and other cards undated

Puppy Primer 1990

"Sappho and Sophocles" 1902

Scholarship Noticification Card, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston undated

Scrapbook undated

Scrapbook [1944]

Scrapbook [1945]

Scrapbook, "The Opera" undated

Scrapbook, individual pages undated

Shopping List, Shattuck, Sarah Bickford circa 1920

Society of Animal Artists News 2006

"Theta" 1974

"Whalom Breeze" 1908

Writings, Assorted various dates

Writings, Drafts, Periodicals undated

Writings, Assorted various dates

Not by Louise Shattuck.

Writings, Poetry undated

Not by Louise Shattuck.

Writings, Poetry undated

Not by Louise Shattuck.

Writings, Notebook undated

Writings, Publications, Books, Advertisements circa 1996

Writings, Publications, Books, "The Donkey and the Tree" 1999

Writings, Publications, Books, "From Riches to Bitches: Pick of the Litter," Cover mock up undated

Writings, Publications, Books, Reviews of 1978-1984

Writings, Publications, Periodicals 1968-1969

Writings, Publications, Periodicals undated

Writings, School and College 1925-1941

Series 2: Diaries 1916-2004

Diary undated

Diary, "Our Wedding Trip" 1916 Sept 11

Diaries 1928 May-June

Diaries 1930

Diaries 1930

Diaries 1932

Diaries 1936

Diaries, Missing Pages 1937 Feb 22-23

Diaries 1939

Diaries 1974-1976

Diaries 1976 Mar-Aug

Diaries 1976 Aug-Nov

Diaries 1976 Nov-1977 Apr

Diaries 1977 Apr-Sept

Diaries 1977 Sept-1978 Feb

Diaries 1978 Feb-Aug

Diaries 1978 Aug-1979 Jan

Diaries 1979 Jan-June

Diaries 1979 June-Sept

Diaries 1979 Sept-1980 Feb

Diaries 1980 Feb-July

Diaries 1980 July-Oct

Diaries 1980 Oct-Dec

Diaries 1980 Dec-1981 Mar

Diaries 1981 Mar-Aug

Diaries 1981 Aug-1982 Jan

Diaries 1982 Jan-July

Diaries 1982 July-Sept

Diaries 1982 Dec-1983 Mar

Diaries 1983 Mar-Aug

Diaries 1983 Aug-Oct

Diaries 1983 Oct-1984 Jan

Diaries 1984 Jan-June

Diaries 1984 June-Sept

Diaries 1984 Sept-1985 Feb

Diaries 1985 Feb-July

Diaries 1985 July-Dec

Diaries 1986 Jan-June

Diaries 1986 June-Aug

Diaries 1986 Aug-1987 Feb

Diaries 1987 Feb-July

Diaries 1987 July-Dec

Diaries 1987 Dec-1988 Apr

Diaries 1988 May-Aug

Diaries 1988 Aug-1989 Jan

Diaries 1989 Jan-June

Diaries 1989 June-Nov

Diaries 1989 Nov-1990 Feb

Diaries 1990 Feb-July

Diaries 1990 July-Dec

Diaries 1991 Jan-June

Diaries 1991 June-Nov

Diaries 1991 Nov-1992 Feb

Diaries 1992 Feb-July

Diaries 1992 July-Dec

Diaries 1992 Dec-1993 May

Diaries 1993May-Dec

Diaries 1993 Dec-1994 Sept

Diaries 1994 Sept-1995 June

Diaries 1995 June-1996 Jan

Diaries 1996 Jan-June

Diaries 1996 June-1997 Feb

Diaries 1997 Feb-Nov

Diaries 1997 Nov-1998 Nov

Diaries 1998 Nov-199 Aug

Diaries 1999 Aug-Dec

Diaries 1999 Dec-2000 Apr

Diaries 2000 Apr-2001 Feb

Diaries 2001 July-2002 July

Diaries 2003 Jan-Sept

Diaries 2003 Sept-Nov

Diaries 2004 Aug-2005 Apr

Diaries 1952

Series 3: Lake Pleasant and Spiritualism 1881-2004

Automatic Writing undated

Automatic Writing, Shattuck, Louise 1945

Banner of Life 1923-1933

Spiritualist newspaper.

Spiritualist Pamphlets through the medium Carrolinn E.S. Twing, Later Papers: A Supplement to the Experiences of Samuel Bowles... in Spirit Life (1881) and Visiting in Heaven (1909). Springfield, Mass.: Star Publishing Co. 1881-1909

History of the New England Campmeeting Association at Lake Pleasant, Mass.. Springfield, Mass.: Star Publishing Co. 1907

"History of Lake Pleasant" Lecture Flier 2004

Independent Order of Scalpers, 28th Annual Trail Pamphlet 1921

Independent Order of Scalpers, 31st Annual Trail Pamphlet 1924

Independent Order of Scalpers, By-Laws undated

Lake Pleasant Centennial Envelope 1974 Aug 6

Lake Pleasant Postcards undated

Messenger 1930 Oct

Spiritualist journal.

New England Spiritualists Campmeeting Association, Constitutions and By-Laws 1895

New England Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association, Programs 1948-1950

Ouija Board Messages 1967-1969

Prof. William Denton Speaks Again. Springfield, Mass. : Star Publishing Co. circa 1899

Spirit Session 1968 Oct

Spirit Writing 1945 Jan

Spirit Writing 1945 Feb

Spirit Writing 1945 Mar

Spirit Writing 1945 Apr

Series 4: Audiovisual 1895-2004

CD-ROMs, Lake Pleasant 2004

Photograph Album 1948-1964

Photograph Album undated

Photograph Album undated

Photograph Album undated

Photograph Album undtaed

Photograph Album: Portfolio of photographs of Louise Shattuck's dog art ca.1980s

Photograph Album undated

Photograph Album undated

Photograph Album undated

Photograph Album, Lake Pleasant undated

Photograph Album, Pages, "Remember 1977' 1977

Photograph, framed, Shattuck, F. R. R. undated

Photograph Album, Shattuck, Sarah Bickford

Photograph Album, Shattuck, Sarah Bickford 1895-1940

Photograph, Louise Shattuck and Dog 1989

Photograph, Louise Shattuck and Dog 1991

Photograph, Shattuck, Louise, "Bronze Boxer Pups" undated

Photograph, Shattuck, Louise, "Bronze Retrievers" undated

Photograph, Shattuck, Louise, "Clay Model" undated

Photograph, Shattuck, Louise, "Great Dane" undated

Photograph, Shattuck, Louise, "Stoneware Trophy" undated

Photographs circa 1920

Photographs various dates

Photographs circa 1900

various dates

Photographs circa 1940

Photographs various dates

Photographs various dates

Photographs, Art undated

Photographs: Art, Shattuck, Louise undated

Photographs: Art, Shattuck, Louise undated

Photographs: Art, Shattuck, Louise undated

Photographs: Bickford Family circa 1910

Photographs: Bickford Family circa 1910

Photographs: Bickford Family circa 1910

Photographs: Dogs various dates

Photographs: Dog Shows undated

Photographs: Dog Shows circa 1970-1990

Photographs: Hobart Family undated

Photographs: Lake Pleasant undated

Photographs: Shattuck, Louise various dates

Photographs, Tintype circa 1895-1920

Photogravure plate circa 1880s-11910s

Photogravure plate circa 1900-1920

Possibly Sarah Bickford Shattuck.

Slides and Negatives undated

Video Cassette, "How I Helped To Win The War" 2000

Series 5: Realia 1907-circa 1970

Art, Shattuck, Louise, "Shaddaq's Summer" circa 1937

Art, Shattuck, Louise, Pastel Portrait of Sarah Bickford undated

Banner undated

Feathered Headress, Shattuck, F. R. undated

Hair undated

Possibly Shattuck, Louise or Shattuck, Sarah Bickford.

Ouija Board circa 1970

Paperweight, "Spiritualistic Temple, Lake Pleasant, Mass. undated

Pocketed Sash undated

Self-portrait in white gown (worn in a Spiritualist play) ca.1920

Fan, The National Spiritual Alliance ca.1924

Fan, National Spiritual Alliance ca.1924

Somerville Grange Ribbon undated

Spirit slates ca.1900 4 items

The slates include messages from Dr. Joseph H. Beals (a dentist from Greenfield and founder and past-President of the New England Spiritualist Camp-meeting Association) and other spirits addressed to Mrs. [Ann Dyer] Bickford.

Trophy Plate, New England Dog Training Club 1948

Woven Pocket Basket undated

Woven Pocket Basket undated

Wooden Statue, "Lake Pleasant Fire," 1907 Apr