Collins Family Papers, 1797-1937
General International Standard for Archival Description
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399 Phone: (610) 328-8496 FAX: (610) 690-5728
Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, May 2002.
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Papers, 1797-1937
Collins Family
Biographical History for: Papers, 1797-1937
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL 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.
SCOPE AND CONTENT 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.
Quakers -- Rhode Island
Quakers -- Connecticut
Quakers - New York
Quakers - California
Quakers -- Social life and customs
Quakers -- Diaries -- 19th century
Diaries
Collins, Francis W., 1845-1887
Collins, Abel, 1770-1834
Collins family
Burdick family
Providence Friends Boarding School
Moses Brown School (Providence, R.I.)
series
Ser. 1. Biographical and Genealogical, 1858-1932, n.d.
Genealogical charts and records: Collins, Burdick, Durfee, Lamb, Hall, Wilbur, Hoxsie
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.
Genealogical correspondence
Creation of Genealogical correspondence
Time of Creation of Genealogical correspondence
Genealogical forms, Burdick family
Typescript of genealogical research, Capt. George K. Collins.
F. W[infield] Collins, Genealogy, bound typescript
Miscellaneous, Collins family
George Sherwood correspondence
Ser. 2. Personal Correspondence, 1801-1903
Abel Collins (1770-1834) & contemporaries, 1801-1856
Abel and Mary A. Collins (1796-1861) from John and Elizabeth Collins
Creation of Abel and Mary A. Collins (1796-1861) from John and Elizabeth Collins
Time of Creation of Abel and Mary A. Collins (1796-1861) from John and Elizabeth Collins
re: family news, move to Chatam, Quaker issues, hope to found a new school.
Abel and Mary A. Collins from Lewis Clark
Creation of Abel and Mary A. Collins from Lewis Clark
Time of Creation of Abel and Mary A. Collins from Lewis Clark
re: Quaker testimony and discipline
Abel and Mary A. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Mary W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Creation of Mary W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Time of Creation of Mary W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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.
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).
Abel F[rancis] Collins (b. 1809) & contemporaries, 1832-1886
Abel F. Collins from G[eorge] F[ox] Collins
Creation of Abel F. Collins from G[eorge] F[ox] Collins
Time of Creation of Abel F. Collins from G[eorge] F[ox] Collins
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.
Abel F. Collins from Electa J. Collins
Creation of Abel F. Collins from Electa J. Collins
Time of Creation of Abel F. Collins from Electa J. Collins
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).
Abel F. Collins, miscellaneous rec'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.
Electa J. Collins (1818-1896) from Job Scott and Ruth Collins
Includes some letters from Chalkley Collins, while he lived at home with his parents, re: Mexican American War, 3mo. 1847
Electa J. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Clarkson and Lydia Collins
Creation of Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Clarkson and Lydia Collins
Time of Creation of Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Clarkson and Lydia Collins
Includes some letters written by Rebecca A. Coffin, who was a part of their household.
Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Francis W. Collins
Creation of Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Francis W. Collins
Time of Creation of Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Francis W. Collins
Written at the time of Francis's marriage and subsequent move to California. Includes letters from Alice V. Collins
Abel F. and Electa J. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkey Collins
Family letters to Clarkson A[bel] Collins (b. 1853)
Includes letters addressed jointly to A. Chalkley Collins, while the brothers attended Providence Friends Boarding School and later Brown University.
Clarkson A. Collins from Francis W. Collins
Clarkson A. Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
Creation of Clarkson A. Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
Time of Creation of Clarkson A. Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
Clarkson A. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Clarkson A. Collins
Creation of A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Clarkson A. Collins
Time of Creation of A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Clarkson A. Collins
A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Francis W. Collins
Creation of A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Francis W. Collins
Time of Creation of A. Chalkley Collins (b. 1857) from Francis W. Collins
Includes letters from Alice V. Collins
A. Chalkley Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
Creation of A. Chalkley Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
Time of Creation of A. Chalkley Collins from Abel and Electa Collins
A. Chalkley Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Job Scott and Ruth H. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Clarkson T. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Creation of Clarkson T. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Time of Creation of Clarkson T. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
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.
Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
Creation of Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
Time of Creation of Francis W. Collins from Abel F. and Electa J. Collins
Letters written while he attended Friends Boarding School, Providence
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)
re: visit to Columbia S.C.; speech of Secretary of State Hayne; meeting of Negro Assembly (March 12, 1875)
Includes letters to Alice V. Collins.
Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkley Collins
Creation of Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkley Collins
Time of Creation of Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. and A. Chalkley Collins
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)
Francis W. Collins from A. Chalkley Collins
Creation of Francis W. Collins from A. Chalkley Collins
Time of Creation of Francis W. Collins from A. Chalkley Collins
re: lecture by suffragist Anna Dickinson, (Nov. 9, 1873); reading by Wilkie Collins, (Dec. 14, 1873).
Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. Collins
Creation of Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. Collins
Time of Creation of Francis W. Collins from Clarkson A. Collins
Francis W. Collins from Clarkson T. Collins
Creation of Francis W. Collins from Clarkson T. Collins
Time of Creation of Francis W. Collins from Clarkson T. Collins
Francis W. Collins from Alvin H. Wright
Creation of Francis W. Collins from Alvin H. Wright
Time of Creation of Francis W. Collins from Alvin H. Wright
Written while he was a soldier in the Union army; re: Great Dismal Swamp, NC; Battle of Fredricksburg; army life.
Alice V. Collins (1855-1937), miscellaneous rec'd
Alice V. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Francis W[infield] Collins (b. 1878) from Sarah Collins
Creation of Francis W[infield] Collins (b. 1878) from Sarah Collins
Time of Creation of Francis W[infield] Collins (b. 1878) from Sarah Collins
Francis W[infield] Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Francis W. Collins, miscellaneous rec'd
Ser. 3. Journals, 1862-1886
Francis W[endell] Collins journal
Consists of short passages describing daily routine at Friends Boarding School in Providence
Francis W[endell] Collins commonplace book
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.
Ser. 4. Business and Financial, 1795-1886, n.d.
Abel F. Collins, 1842-1875, n.d.
Receipts
Business correspondence and papers
Creation of Business correspondence and papers
Time of Creation of Business correspondence and papers
Francis W. Collins, 1866-1886, n.d.
Business papers re: Ornamental Trees
Creation of Business papers re: Ornamental Trees
Time of Creation of Business papers re: Ornamental Trees
Receipts and misc. papers
Account book
Misc. business correspondence
Miscellaneous Business, 1795-1875, n.d.
Reciepts of Isaac, Abel, Mary A., and Amos Collins, and others.
Index to account book
Ser. 5. Miscellaneous, 1804-1881, n.d.
School and Teaching, 1840-1881
Correspondence regarding school and teaching
Creation of Correspondence regarding school and teaching
Time of Creation of Correspondence regarding school and teaching
Primarily associated with Francis W. Collins, including job offers and his teaching certificate.
School attendance record for schools in North Stonington
Creation of School attendance record for schools in North Stonington
Time of Creation of School attendance record for schools in North Stonington
Connecticut school registers
Misc. school materials
Creation of Misc. school materials
Time of Creation of Misc. school materials
Includes examination schedules, notices of meetings, program for school, undated list of rules from Nine Partners Boarding School, essays and lectures, report cards.
Meeting Papers
Creation of Meeting Papers
Time of Creation of Meeting Papers
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)
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
Recipes
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.
Miscellaneous
Clippings, wedding invitations, birth announcements, an index to biblical passages, unidentified photographs, and a ribbon