Guide to the Roderick Terry, Jr., autograph collection, 1672-1940 (bulk 1750-1915) Collection overview: Title: Roderick Terry, Jr. autograph collection Date range(inclusive 1672-1940 dates): Bulk dates: 1750-1915 Creator: Terry, Roderick, 1876-1951 Extent: 1.3 linear feet (1 document case, 1 flat box) Abstract: Correspondence, financial accounts, poems, legal documents, notes, lists, and other documents primarily from individuals prominent in colonial and early United States history as well as notable literary figures. Language of materials: Collection is predominately in English, materials in French are indicated at the folder level. Repository: Redwood Library & Athenaeum, Newport, Rhode Island Collection number: RLC.Ms.024 Access and use: Access to the collection: Use of the materials: Preferred citation: Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Roderick Terry, Jr. autograph collection, RLC.Ms.024, Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Administrative information: About the collection Acquisition: Processing information: Gift of Roderick Terry, Jr, September 24, 1951A Prior to processing in 2009 by Leah Podolsky, this collection was found within the Steel Cabinet Collection: Drawer 7, Folder 8. About the finding aid Author: Leah Podolsky and Aimee Saunders, 2009; Elizabeth Delmage, 2014 Encoding and Revisions: Elizabeth Delmage, November 2014 Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Page 1 of 9
Additional information: Related material: Bibliography: Sponsor: Cortazzo autograph collection, RLC.Ms.027, Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Henry Ledyard collection, RLC.Ms.564, Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Newport Historical Society, "In memory of Reverend Roderick Terry, D. D.: President 1918-1933; died, December 28, 1933," Bulletin of the Newport Historical Society, no. 90 (April 1934). Terry, Roderick. The library of the late Rev. Dr. Roderick Terry of Newport, Rhode Island. New York: American Art Association, Anderson Galleries, Inc., 1934-35. Funding for processing and cataloging this collection was provided by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation. Biographical note: Rev. Dr. Roderick Terry, Sr. (1849-1933) was born on April 1, 1849, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of John T. and Elizabeth R. (Peet) Terry. He earned a degree from Yale University in 1870, graduated from the Union Theological Seminary in 1875, and was awarded an LL.D. from Princeton University in 1881. Rev. Terry married Lynda Marquand on September 22, 1875, in Newport, Rhode Island, and they had two children: Roderick, Jr. (1876-1951) and Eunice Terry Hale (d. 1919). Rev. Terry served as an ordained Presbyterian minister for twenty-seven years as well as a chaplain for the 12th Infantry of the New York State National Guard from 1890-1900. Following his retirement, Terry took up residence in Newport, where he was active in philanthropist pursuits and various cultural institutions such as the Redwood Library, the Newport Historical Society, the Newport Hospital, and the Newport chapter of the Red Cross. He served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Redwood Library and Athenaeum from 1916-1933 and was instrumental in the restoration of the Harrison Room. Rev. Dr. Terry died on December 28, 1933 in Newport. Roderick Terry, Jr. (1876-1951), was born in Newport on August 6, 1876, the son of Roderick Terry, Sr. (1849-1933) and Lynda Marquand (d. 1931). He graduated from Yale University in 1898 and after working for a year at Henry Marquand & Company, bankers in New York City, he attended the New York Law School, graduating in 1904. Terry, Jr. worked as a lawyer in New York City until his retirement in 1940 when he returned to Newport and served as president of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum from 1940 to 1948. Roderick Terry, Jr. passed away on June 7, 1951, in Newport and was survived by no immediate relatives. Rev. Dr. Terry, Sr. was an assiduous collector of books and manuscripts and a major part of his collection was sold after his death (making $270,000 at three sales in 1934 and 1935), but his son did keep several thousand items. Many of the items retained by Terry, Jr., were left to the Library after his death. These letters came to the Redwood Library as part of the bequest of Roderick Terry, Jr. Page 2 of 9
Scope and content note: This collection contains correspondence, financial accounts, poems, legal documents, notes, lists, and other documents primarily from people prominent in colonial and early United States history including: George Washington, John Hancock, Aaron Burr, Henry Clay, Jonathan Edwards, Ethan Allen, Baron von Steuben, Lord North, Edmund Randolph, and Ezra Stiles. Materials from notable literary figures are also found within this collection including: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Victor Hugo, W. D. Howells, and four of the five Fireside Poets (Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Cullen Bryant, John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell). Letters and documents from Rhode Island and Newport residents during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are also included. Items of particular note include a letter to Major General Nathanael Greene from R.I. Governor William Greene about the British withdrawal of troops from R.I. in 1789, fleeing Loyalists, and the subsequent seizure of their property; a 1755 census of the number of people living in Rhode Island and they amount of army they kept in their homes; and a 1740 commission from the English royal government for setting the boundaries between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Arrangement: This collection is arranged alphabetically by sender. Oversize documents can be found within Box 2. Inventory: Box Folder Title Date 1 1 Adventure (Schooner) 1802 Nov 8-13 Account of wine brought on board the Adventure to the port of Newport. 2 83 Allen, Ethan (1738-1789) 1772 Mar 16 Letter to Herman and Levi Allen written in regards to a financial transaction. 1 2 Arbuthnot, Marriot (1711-1794) 1781 Jan 6 Letter to John Hancock regarding repatriating troops and war prisoners back to Europe. 1 3 Bancroft, George (1800-1891) 1860 Jul 16 Letter to Mr. Reed. 1 4 Letter to [Washington] Irving. 1855 Jan 2 1 78 Baylis, John 1749 Dec 9 Land survey previously attributed to George Washington (Christopher Coover of Christie's said it is not in Washington's hand, 2001 Mar 8.); typed transcript of document; clip indicating that the land survey was written by Washington, yet signed by Baylis; letter to Donald Jackson regarding the validity of this document. [See also Washington, George.] 1 5 Benjamin, Walter Romeyn (1854-1943) 1912 Jan 22 "The Drums," poem. 1 6 Berkeley, George (1685-1853) Letter to Rev. Dean Gervais. Includes typed copy. 1752 Apr 6 Page 3 of 9
1 7 Bigelow, Poultney, 1855-1954 1915 Feb 12 Letter to Mrs. Roderick Terry. 1 8 Bounty certificate and proof of payment 1793 Feb 28 Certificate of payment for eight wolves killed in Northfield. Signed by Samuel Mattoon, James Lyman, and Aaron Whitney. 1 9 Bryant, William Cullen (1794-1878) 1871 Mar Letter to John Durand. 1 10 Burr, Aaron (1756-1836) 1795 Dec 9 Letter to James Greenleaf. 2 84 Champlin, George C. (1738-1809) 1792 Jul 21 Letter to B. Bourn Esq. written in regards to congressional representatives and a presidential election. 1 11 Clap, Nathaniel (1669-1745) 1744 May 26 Letter to Rev. John Calendar. 1 12 Clay, Henry (1777-1852) Letter to Horace Greeley, written in Newport on Bellevue House stationary. This letter is regarding the U.S. purchase of land near Texas and New Mexico as well as concerns of whether or not new land will become Slave Territory. 1 13 Cooke, Rose Terry (1827-1892) 1887 Sep 12 Letter to Mr. Butterworth. 1 14 Letter to Professor Stillman with two of her poems 1847 Aug 27 attached. 1 15 Dorchester, Guy Carleton, Baron (1724-1808) 1769 Jul 6 Letter to the Respective Offices of His Majesty's Ordinance Stores at Quebec regarding order for troops. An image of Gen. Carleton is included in the folder. 1 16 Edwards, Jonathan (1745-1801) 1791 Jan 14 Letter signed to unknown. 1 17 Edwards, Timothy (1738-1813) 1776 Jan 29 Letter signed to Mr. Aaron [Burne?]. 1 18 Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882) 1868 Oct 16 Receipt signed to Ticknor & Fields. 1 19 Letter to Miss Terry, his cousin, Allyn House, regarding a [18--] visit. A typed transcription is also included. 1 20 Letter to D. W. Gooch. Emerson received a letter for 1864 Mar 31 Gooch by mistake and sent it to him. 1 21 Everett, Edward 1940 May 16 Letter to Rev. Dr. Sprague in regards to an autograph. 1 22 Everett, Edward B. (1858-1937) Letter to George D. Canale. 1911 Dec 29, 1912 Jan 11 1 23 Galignani, Giovanni Antonio (1757-1821) 1803 Feb 27 Letter to Messrs. Manners and Miller, Paris. 1 24 Gates, Horatio (1728-1806) Letter fragment. Page 4 of 9
1 25 Godfrey, Caleb 1749 Feb 9 Letter to Isaac Winslow, Newport. 1 26 Godwin, William (1756-1836) 1814 Jan 31 Promissory note. 2 85 Greene, William (1696-1758) 1779 Nov 14 Letter to Major General Nathanael Greene about the British withdrawal of troops from Rhode Island, fleeing Loyalists, and the subsequent seizure of Loyalist property in Rhode Island. 2 86 Letter from Warwick to Newport to Major General 1785 Oct 2 Nathanael Greene. 1 27 Halleck, Fitz-Greene (1790-1867) 1851 Dec 31 Letter to Thomas Kings. 1 28 Letter to G. D. Canch Esq. 1860 Mar 14 1 29 Letter to G. D. Canch Esq. 1860 Mar 15 1 30 Hancock, John (1737-1793) 1799 Dec 12 Letter to John Avery Collins of Newport, in regards to coffee shipments and other business in Newport. Also includes an engraving of Hancock. 1 31 Hartford, John and Thomas Powell Certificate signed by John Hartford and Thomas Powell 1770 May 31, 1771 Jun 27 in London granting Power of Attorney to Henry Marchant; witnessed by Abraham Ogier, Moses Pitt, and William Cornafleau. Also includes an Act of Substitution, signed by Henry Marchant of Newport and witnessed by Henry Ward, Joseph Borden, and Edward Wanton. 1 32 Hawthorne, Julian (1846-1934) 1887 Nov 21 Letter to E. P. Roe. 1 33 Letter fragment. 1 34 Hazard, Roland (1801-1888) 1821 Jul 26 Letter sent to Newport for William R. Prince. 1 35 Holmes, Oliver Wendell (1809-1894) 1892 Mar 15 Letter to Madam. 1 36 Poem. 1888 Dec 22 1 37 Hopkins, Esek (1718-1802) 1754 Deed to John Andres. Also included is an engraving of Hopkins. 1 38 Howell, David (1747-1824) 1797 Jul 31 Letter to James Sullivan. 1 39 Howells, William Dean (1837-1920) 1895 "Midway," poem. 1 40 Hugo, Victor (1802-1885) Manuscript draft of "Un Mot sure John Brown," with a presentation inscription to M. Marquand by Hugo. This document is in French. 1859 Dec 1 Page 5 of 9
1 41 Huskinson[?] 1807 Nov 9 Note sent to Downing St. stating that Mr. Huskinson would not be able to wait upon the Lord Mayor at dinner that day. 1 42 Johnson, Edward (1599?-1672) 1672 Apr 2 Letter to Bartholomew Poirsou. 1 43 Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of (1705-1782) 1756 Aug 20 Copy of a letter from Albany, NY, signed to Stephen Hopkins asking for troops to assist him against the French. This contemporary copy was delivered to Abraham Redwood. 1 44 Lowell, Amy (1874-1925) 1923 Jul 18 Typed letter to Roderick Terry, Sr. in regards to their Keats manuscript collections. 1 45 Lowell, Abbott Lawrence (1856-1943) 1925 May 30 Letter to Roderick Terry, Sr. in regards to the Keats manuscripts and his sister, Amy Lowell's, death. 1 46 Lowell, James Russell (1819-1891) 1891 Apr 2 Letter to L. Clark David Esq. 1 47 Malbone, Edward Greene (1777-1807) Letter to John Derby sending payment for the payment 1805 Aug 12, 1975 Nov 25 of two miniatures. Print of Malbone's portrait. Typed letter from William Arthur Dupee to Richard Champlin of the Redwood Library in regards to the "Derby Miniatures." 1 48 Muhlenberg, Henry Melchior (1711-1787) 1755 Aug 6 Letter to Reverend. 1 49 Letter. 1759 Jun 9 1 50 North, Frederick, Lord (1732-1792) 1764 Nov 19 Letter from Bushy Park, England, to Lieut. Gov. Clarke (Jamaica). 1 51 Paulding, James Kirke (1778-1860) Letter. 1 52 Peck, Samuel Minturn (1854-1860) 1898 Dec 6 "A Knot of Blue," poem. 1 53 Prescott, William Hickling (1796-1859) [1818] Dec 17 Letter to Mrs. Willard. 1 54 Letter to Lizzie [Elizabeth Wormeley?]. 1 55 Letter Henry W. Longfellow. 1 56 Pym, Charles 1718 Aug 8 Letter to John Elliot and includes a reply from Thomas Staples. 1 57 Randolph, Edmund (1751-1813) Copy of a letter from George Washington to General Lee, Headquarters Cambridge. (Copied by Edmund Randolph, his aide de camp.) 1776 Mar 14 Page 6 of 9
1 58 Randolph, Edmund (1751-1813) 1776 Mar 14 Copy of a letter from George Washington to Lord Alexander Stirling, commander of forces at New York, Headquarters Cambridge. (Copied by Edmund Randolph, his aide de camp.) 1 59 Rhode Island Census 1755 Dec 24 "Account of the People in the Colony of Rhode Island - Whites and Blacks, together with the Quantity of Arms & Ammunitions In the Hands of Private Persons." 1 60 Rhode Island Commission to Set Boundaries 1740 Sep 4 Commission for settling the eastern boundaries of the colony of Rhode Island towards the province of the Massachusetts Bay. 1 61 Rives, W. L. 1851 Dec 12 Letter to F. Corbin. 1 62 Rodman, Joseph 1774 Jul 26 Bond monies signed by John Rogers and David Sweet. 1 63 Rome, Richard 1774 Dec 3 Letter to Mr. Seton. 1 64 Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751-1816) 1791 Oct 1 Letter to John Palmer regarding his work at Palmer's theatre, hoping to receive an advance on his salary. 1 65 Sigourney, L. H. (Lydia Howard) (1791-1865) 1861 Oct 17 Note signed on the anniversary of the Battle of Burgoyne in 1777. 1 66 Smith, Francis Hopkinson (1838-1915) 1886 Apr 14 Letter to William Travers Jerome. 1 67 Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von Jul 22 (1730-1794) Letter also signed by John Hinton, addressed to Sir. 1 68 Stiles, Abel (1709-1783) 1741 Jul 9 Letter to Rev. Solomon Williams. 1 69 Stiles, Ezra (1727-1795) 1789 Letter from Yale College to Lieut. Hingham. 1 70 List of "members actually communicating" at Stiles' 1770 church. 1 71 Stoddard, Richard Henry (1825-1903) 1901 May 21 Letter. 1 72 Sullivan, John (1740-1795) 1778 Apr 18 Letter from Headquarters at Providence to Samuel Grey. 1 73 Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice, prince de Bénévent (1754-1837 1838) Letter to Monsieur Dupertuis, written in French. 1 74 Tuckerman, Henry T. (Henry Theodore) (1813-1871) 1848 May 3 "To Teresa," poem. 1 75 Unidentified author "The flower of Lincoln Castle," poem. Page 7 of 9
1 76 Unidentified author Poem. 2 87 Vernon, William (1719-1806) 1746 Aug 1 Letter to his brother, James Vernon. 1 77 Ward, Thomas (1711-1760) 1750 May 11 Letter to Mr. Willard regarding the Boundary Commission and General Assembly of Rhode Island. Includes a response by T. Hubbard. 1 78 Washington, George (1732-1799) 1787 Apr 12 Receipt of payment from Dr. David Stuart. [See also Baylis, John.] 1 79 Whittier, John Greenleaf (1807-1892) 1878 Letter to John Elderkin Esq. 1 80 Poem. 1 81 "Garrison of Cape Ann," poem. 1 82 Wilkie, David (1785-1841) Letter. 1837 Feb 18 Access terms: Names: Allen, Ethan, 1738-1789 Arbuthnot, Marriott, 1711?-1794 Bancroft, George, 1800-1891 Benjamin, Walter Romeyn, 1854-1943 Bigelow, Poultney, 1855-1954 Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878 Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836 Champlin, George C., 1738-1809 Clap, Nathaniel, 1669-1745 Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 Collins, John Avery, 1764-1833 Cooke, Rose Terry, 1827-1892 Dorchester, Guy Carleton, Baron, 1724-1808 Edwards, Jonathan, 1745-1801 Edwards, Timothy, 1738-1813 Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882 Everett, Edward B., 1858-1937 Galignani, Mr. (Giovanni Antonio), 1757-1821 Gates, Horatio, 1728-1806 Godwin, William, 1756-1836 Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786 Greene, William, 1696-1758 Halleck, Fitz-Greene, 1790-1867 Hancock, John, 1737-1793 Hawthorne, Julian, 1846-1934 Hazard, Rowland Gibson, 1801-1888 Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894 Hopkins, Esek, 1718-1802 Hopkins, Stephen, 1707-1785 Howell, David, 1747-1824 Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920 Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885 Irving, Washington, 1783-1859 Jerome, William Travers, 1850-1934 Johnson, Edward, 1599?-1672 Longfellow, Henry W. (Henry Wadsworth), 1895-1986 Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of, 1705-1782 Lowell, Amy, 1874-1925 Lowell, A. Lawrence (Abbott Lawrence), 1856-1943 Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891 Malbone, Edward Greene, 1777-1807 Muhlenberg, Henry Melchior, 1711-1787 North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792 Palmer, John, 1742-1818 Paulding, James Kirke, 1778-1860 Peck, Samuel Minturn, 1854-1938 Prescott, William Hickling, 1796-1859 Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813 Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816 Sigourney, L. H. (Lydia Howard), 1791-1865 Smith, Francis Hopkinson, 1838-1915 Page 8 of 9
Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794 Stiles, Abel, 1709-1783 Stiles, Ezra, 1727-1795 Stoddard, Richard Henry, 1825-1903 Sullivan, James, 1744-1808 Sullivan, John, 1740-1795 Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice, prince de Bénévent, 1754-1838 Terry, Roderick, 1849-1933 Tuckerman, Henry T. (Henry Theodore), 1813-1871 Vernon, William, 1719-1806 Ward, Thomas, 1711-1760 Washington, George, 1732-1799 Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892 Wilkie, David, Sir, 1785-1841 Subjects: Authors, American--19th century Autographs Newport (R.I.)--History Rhode Island--History United States--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 United States--History--Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 Genre terms: Accounts Financial records Legal documents Letters (correspondence) Poems Page 9 of 9