Selden family papers, 1785-1920.
Collection Number: 1655
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Selden family papers, 1785-1920.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
1655
Abstract:
Personal correspondence of Selden family mambers and additional letters and other
papers of members of the related Gale, Hitchcock, and Selden families.
Creator:
Selden family.
Quanitities:
.3 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
Personal correspondence of Charles, Abigail, and Eliza Selden of Lansingburgh, Rensselaer
County, and Harriet Gale, daughter of George Washington Gale, founder of the Oneida
Institute at Whitesboro, New York, and Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. Additional
letters and other papers of members of the related Gale, Hitchcock, and Selden families
include correspondence of George Washington Gale, chiefly personal, but also mentioning
his pastoral duties at a Presbyterian Church in Adams, Jefferson County, and affairs
at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois; one letters describing slavery and other aspects
of life in St. Croix, Danish West Indies (now Virgin Islands), 1839; photostat copies
of the genealogy of Colonel Samuel Selden, a Revolutionary War officer; miscellaneous
printed items, including publication about Knox College (1860) and booklet about the
Campus School in Ithaca (1920). Locations include Adams, Jefferson County, N.Y.; Whiteboro,
Oneida County, N.Y.; and Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Correspondents include George Bowen,
Harriet Selden Gale, Harriet Yvonnet Gale, William S. Gale, Margaret Gale Hitchcock,
Amasa Kellogg, Mary Osborn, Abigail Jones Selden, Charles Selden, Mary Selden, Samuel
Selden, and William Jones Selden.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Selden Family Papers, #1655. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell
University Library.
Names:
Selden, Eliza.
Selden, Abigail Jones
Selden, Charles.
Gale, Harriet Selden
Gale, George Washington.
Gale family.
Hitchcock family.
Selden family.
Knox College
Presbyterian Church (Adams, N.Y.)
Places:
Jefferson County (N.Y.) -- Religious life and customs.
Saint Croix (United States Virgin Islands) -- Social life and customs.
Subjects:
Slavery -- Virgin Islands.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
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Description
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Date
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Scope and Contents
All the material in the collection may not be covered by this guide.
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Box 1 |
Amasa Kellogg to Abigail Jones
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1785-03-23 | |
Scope and Contents
ALS, Amasa Kellogg, Hartford to Aunt, Abigail Jones, New City. Original Letter donated
by Miss Hitchcock.
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Box 1 |
George Bowen to Mary Selden
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1812-04-01 | |
Scope and Contents
ALS, George Bowen, New York to cousin, Mary Selden, Troy. Original Letter donated
by Miss Hitchcock.
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Box 1 |
Mary Osborn to Eliza Vail
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1814-01-28 | |
Scope and Contents
ALS, Mary Osborn, Montville, to friend Eliza Vail, Troy. Original Letter donated
by Miss Hitchcock.
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Box 1 |
Harriet Yvonnet Gale to William S. Gale
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1836-06-20 | |
Scope and Contents
ALS, Harriet Yvonnet Gale, Albany to brother, William S. Gale, Whitesboro. Original
Letter donated by Miss Hitchcock.
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Box 1 |
From Margaret Gale Hitchcock
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1855-09 | |
Scope and Contents
Fragment of letter Sept. 1855 - Miss Hitchcock from Margaret Gale Hitchcock, from
Clifton Springs Watercure, to unknown person; contains directions for making boiled
flour as a baby food for babies with weak digestions.
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Box 1 |
From William J .Selden
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1839-09-09 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter (photostat) from William J. Selden, comments on status of agricultural pursuits.
"…..upon the subject of his going into the mercantile business. If he is determined
upon it. I think a country store where a general assortment is kept, in some village
{sic}, would be a much better school, than a retail Dry goods store in a city. there
is very little exercise to be got in the latter place, & the information very limited,
if he wishes to do business in the country, all the information he could get of city
business would be good for nothing, city merchants seldom succeed in the country,
whereas most of the successful city merchants commenced in the country. Such a store
as Knoxes in Knoxville would be a good place - if you & he still wish. I will try
to get him in in Troy. It would be very difficult to get in where he would get any
compensation for the 1st year, as there are 10 or 20 applications for every vacancy.
My advice would be that he should turn his attention to the cultivation of the earth.....an
educated farmer in my humble opinion, is the only true gentlemen we have in the land
of liberty, speculation, and cheating...." Original at Knox College, Galesburg,
Illinois.
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Box 1 |
William J .Selden to ?
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1839-12-30 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter (photostat) from William J. Selden, description of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
"…..This is the pleasantest winter resort I have yet found…. The roads are very fine
throughout the Island superior to our best McAdam roads being composed of ground coral
and shells. They are never wet nor dusty, riding is one of our principal amusements.
We generally go out twice a day sometimes in carriages & sometimes on horseback.....We
have abundance of the finest fish, poultry, mutton, etc. Fruit is very cheap, large
oranges & bananas 18 for a sixpence...the thermometer seldom varies more than 2 degrees
from 80 ....and the water being about the same temperature makes it delightful sea
bathing....There are two Catholic, two Moravian, two Lutheran & two Episcopal Churches
on the Island. I think even you could not find much fault with the institution of
slavery on the Island. The Blacks are not compelled to work hard & have each a piece
of land to cultivate. Most of them have a pony, pigs, fowls, etc. The vegetable
markets are supplied by the slaves & many of them are quite well off. We are now
in the Holidays & they have it all in their own way. Most of the houses are thrown
open to them & they have it all in their own way. Most of the houses are thrown open
to them & they march in with their rude instruments of music & set of such a drumming,
dancing & singing as to almost deafen one. The government have ordered school houses
to be erected throughout the Island & one day in the week is to be set apart for their
education under the direction of the Moravians. The schoolhouses are handsome large
& airy stone buildings....." 2 pcs. Location of original not known. Was returned
to donor in 1955; she died in 1966.
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Box 1 |
Negative Microfilm
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1860 | |
Scope and Contents
J.W. Bailey. "Knox College by Whom founded and Endowed: Also a Review of a Pamphlet
Entitled Rights of Congregationalists in Knox College." Chicago: Press and Tribune
Book and Job Printing Office, 1869 (1 reel negative microfilm of our 131 pp. pamphlet).
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