Guide to the John Potter Collection

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 7 Guide to the John Potter Collection Lippitt Road Kingston, RI archives@etal.uri.edu Website: Published in 2009 University of Rhode Island Library

2 Page 2 of 7 Collection overview Title: John Potter Collection Date range: Creator: Potter, John, Extent: Abstract: Language of materials: Repository: 0.5 linear feet 1 box This collection contains letters to and from John Potter, pocket diaries written by Julia Johnson Wells, a transcription of the diaries, and a pamphlet entitled Important Correspondence Between Elisha Reynolds Potter and R. G. Hazard, Esq., Potter was a resident of Connecticut who served in the Connecticut Legislature. His family had close ties to Rhode Island. English Collection number: Mss. Gr. Scope & content The collection is organized into a Subject File. It consists of letters to and from John Potter, pocket diaries written by Julia Johnson Wells, a typescript transcription of the diaries by Charles Hoffman completed in 1978, and a pamphlet entitled Important Correspondence Between Elisha Reynolds Potter and R. G. Hazard, Esq., While John Potter was at the New Hampton Literary Institute, his mother Angeline, wrote to her son on a weekly basis. These letters along with letters from other relatives and friends roughly span a twelve year period, There are no letters for the years Along with the letters to John, are six pocket diaries ( ) kept by Julia Johnson Wells, wife of Thomas Potter Wells ( ), banker and later Deacon of the Kingston

3 Page 3 of 7 Congregationalist Church in Kingston, RI. The connection between John and Julia is not clear from researching the materials at hand. The letters and diaries are in excellent condition and are open for research. Related to this collection, are John's mother, Angeline's wedding dress and several hand-made quilts, ca. 1860, donated by Nancy Potter to the URI Historic Textile and Costume Collection. Arrangement The collection is arranged into one series: 1. Subject File Biographical note John Potter was born in Griswold, CT in 1869 to Elisha Palmer Potter ( ) and Angeline Whitford Potter ( ). He attended the New Hampton Literary Institute, now known as the New Hampton School, in New Hampshire from the age of twelve to approximately twenty-one years of age. He attended Yale University but never graduated. He was eventually elected to the Connecticut Legislature where he made his first public speech in favor of the Women's Suffrage bill in John was the couple's only child but had a half-brother, Caleb Palmer Potter ( ), from his father's first marriage to Elizabeth Stanton. The family lived in Voluntown, Connecticut but had roots in Rhode Island and are related to the Potters of Kingston. Elisha Palmer was born in Richmond, RI and his wife Angeline was born in Greene, RI (in Coventry) and was working at a millenary in Providence when Elisha proposed marriage. Perhaps the most distinguished member of the Kingston branch of the family was Elisha Reynolds Potter ( ) who served as an educator, congressman, judge, historian and author. University of Rhode Island Special Collections was given a portion of Elisha Reynolds Potter's papers by William Davis Miller in the 1960's (see MSG# 12, Elisha Reynolds Potter Papers, ). The bulk of the Potter papers are at the Rhode Island Historical Society. Access & use Access to the collection: Open for research.

4 Page 4 of 7 Use of materials: Preferred citation: Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication. John Potter Collection, Mss. Gr., University of Rhode Island LibrarySpecial Collections and Contact information: Administrative information About the collection 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI archives@etal.uri.edu Website: Aquisition: Accruals: This collection was initially sent to the South Kingstown Library on behalf of Charles and Tess Hoffman by the executor of their estate for the purpose of locating a suitable repository. URI Prof. Emerita, Nancy Potter, the daughter of John Potter, had loaned the Hoffman's this small collection for their research. This collection was transferred by South Kingstown Library and donated to the Special Collections Unit of the University Library in April of 2003 by Prof. Nancy Potter. No further materials are expected for this collection. About the finding aid Author: Finding aid prepared by Ann Amaral and Sarina R. Wyant. Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey 2009 July 07 Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

5 Page 5 of 7 Search terms Names: Potter, James, Subjects: Potter, James, 1869-

6 Page 6 of 7 Inventory Series 1, Subject File, Box 1 Folder 1-11 This collection was organized into a single Subject File. It consists of letters to and from John Potter, pocket diaries written by Julia Johnson Wells, a transcription of the diaries by Charles Hoffman complete in 1978, and a pamphlet entitled Important Correspondence Between Elisha Reynolds Potter and R. G. Hazard, Esq., While John Potter was at the New Hampton Literary Institute, his mother Angeline, wrote to her son on a weekly basis. These letters along with letters from other relatives and friends roughly span a twelve year period, (one letter is dated December, 1893). There are no letters for the years Along with the letters to John, are six pocket diaries ( ) kept by Julia Johnson Wells, wife of Thomas Potter Wells ( ), banker and later Deacon of the Kingston Congregationalist Church in Kingston, RI. The connection between John and Julia is not clear from researching the materials at hand. The letters and diaries are in excellent condition and are open for research. Related to this collection, are Angeline's wedding dress and several hand-made quilts, ca. 1860, donated by Nancy Potter to the URI Historic Textile and Costume Collection. Container Description Date Box 1, Folder 1 Pamphlet: "Important Correspondence Between Judge Elisha R. Potter and R. G. Hazard, Esq." 1876 Box 1, Folder 2 Potter, John: letters Box 1, Folder 3 Potter, John: letters 1887 Box 1, Folder 4 Potter, John: letters 1888 Box 1, Folder 5 Potter, John: letters 1889 Box 1, Folder 6 Potter, John: letters 1890 Box 1, Folder 7 Potter, John: letters 1891

7 Page 7 of 7 Box 1, Folder 8 Potter, John: letters Box 1, Folder 9 Wells, Julia Johnson : Pocket Diaries Box 1, Folder 10 Wells, Julia Johnson : Pocket Diaries Box 1, Folder 11 Wells, Julia Johnson : pocket diary transcriptions, transcribed by Charles Hoffman