Noah Webster Family Papers, 1810-1917
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Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
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collection
Noah Webster Family Papers
Creation of Noah Webster Family Papers
Time of Creation of Noah Webster Family Papers
Webster, Noah, 1758-1843
Biographical History for: Noah Webster Family Papers
Biographical Note Noah Webster, influential American lexicographer, author and teacher, was born in 1758 in West Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College in 1778, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1781. As a schoolteacher in New York State, he became dissatisfied with children's textbooks, which he felt ignored distinctive elements of American language and culture. In 1783 he published The American Spelling Book, the famed "Blue-backed Speller," a widely used and highly influential textbook that is still in print. Subsequent publications of a grammar (1784) and a reader (1785) formed, with the speller, Webster's three-part Grammatical Institute of the English Language. Webster's advocacy of spelling reform in this period was responsible for most of the differences that exist today between American and British spelling. After marrying Rebecca Greenleaf in 1789, Webster practiced law in Hartford until 1793. In New York City he then founded two newspapers, American Minerva (said to be New York's first daily newspaper) and The Herald, both of which he sold in 1803. He moved to New Haven in 1798, where he was active in local politics. In 1806 Webster published his Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. This work prepared the way for the achievement for which he is most famous, An American Dictionary of the English Language, containing over 70,000 entries and published in two volumes in 1828. (Later, George and Charles Merriam purchased the rights to this dictionary from Webster's estate.) From 1812 to 1822, Webster and his family lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, where, living largely off the income from his published schoolbooks, he farmed, served in the Massachusetts legislature and continued work on his dictionary. In Amherst the Webster family lived in a house on Main Street, facing the Common. (This house was destroyed by fire in 1838.) As a trustee of Amherst Academy, he was involved in the founding of the Amherst Collegiate Institute, the precursor of Amherst College. In 1822 the family moved back to New Haven. Noah Webster died in New Haven in 1843. Descendants of Noah Webster: The following is a partial listing of the descendants of Noah Webster who are represented in the Noah Webster Family Papers. 1. Noah Webster (1758-1843) m. Rebecca Greenleaf Daughter: 2. Eliza Steele Webster (1803-1888) m. Henry Jones (Oct 15, 1801-Nov. 7, 1878) Daughter: 3. Emily Ellsworth Jones (1827-1869) m. Daniel Jones Day Son: 4. Robert W. Day (b. 1854, Bridgeport Conn.; lived in Buffalo, N.Y.) Son: 5. Rodney W. Day (b. 1883)
Scope and Contents of the Collection Letters, legal and business papers, journals, photographs and other materials belonging to Noah Webster and four generations of his descendants, chiefly Eliza S.W. Jones, Emily J. Day, Robert W. Day, and Rodney W. Day. Much of the early 19th century correspondence concerns Noah Webster's publications, family history, travels and trials. Other family papers relate to the work of Rev. Henry and Eliza Jones as educators in Bridgeport, Conn. and Greenfield, Mass.; and to the personal and business affairs Robert W. Day, a businessman in Buffalo, N.Y.
Day, Emily J., 1827-1869.
lcnaf
Day, Robert W., 1854-
Day, Rodney W., 1883-
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster, b. 1803.
Jones, Henry, 1801-1878.
Webster, Noah, 1758-1843.
series
Series 1: Family Correspondence, 1817-1917
Consists of letters from four generations of the descendants of Noah Webster (following the line of his daughter, Eliza S.W. Jones, her daughter, Emily J. Day, her son, Robert W. Day, and his son, Rodney W. Day). Some of the more interesting topics discussed in the letters are Noah Webster's publications, and family history, travels and trials. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by addressor, and chronologically within each folder. When the author of a letter could not be determined, the letter was placed under the name of the person to whom it was addressed.
Adams, John S. to Henry Jones (1) 1836 Jan 21
Andrews, Samuel R. to Henry Jones (1) 1825 Jul 12
Barton, H. to Robert Webster Day (1) 1910 Apr 7
Beecher, Frances Juliana Jones (Mrs. Thomas K.) to Henry Jones (3) 1847-1874
Beecher, Frances Juliana Jones (Mrs. Thomas K.) to Robert Webster Day (1) [1888?]
Beecher, Thomas Kinnicut to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (1) 1888 Jul 6
Boltwood, Lucius M. to Henry Jones (1) 1876 Nov 8
Day, Annie to Robert Webster Day (6) 1888-1914
Day, Daniel J. to Frances Juliana Jones Beecher (2) 1881-1882
Day, Daniel J. to Webster Day (1) 1863 May 27
Day, Elizabeth to Eliza Day (Mrs. Henry) (1) [1859?] Feb 10
Day, Elizabeth to Henry Day (4) 1862-1865, n.d.
Day, Emily Ellsworth Jones (Mrs. Daniel) to Frances Juliana Jones Beecher (41) 1839-1869
Day, Emily Ellsworth Jones (Mrs. Daniel)to Daniel J. Day (12) 1852-1859
Day, Emily Ellsworth Jones (Mrs. Daniel) to Robert Webster Day (3) 1868-1869
Day, Emily Ellsworth Jones (Mrs. Daniel) to Frances Juliana Jones Goodrich (1) 1855 Jan 26
Day, Emily Ellsworth Jones (Mrs. Daniel) to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (22) 1846-1866
Day, Emily Ellsworth Jones (Mrs. Daniel) to Henry Jones (2) 1850-1851
Clara to "Aunt Emily," i.e. Emily Ellsworth Jones Day (Mrs. Daniel) (1) n.d.
Day, M.E. to Robert Webster Day (cousin) (2) 1904-1909
Day, Robert Webster to Frances Juliana Jones Beecher (1) 1886 Mar 7
Day, Robert Webster to Emily Ellsworth Jones Day (20) 1868-1869, n.d.
Unknown to Robert Webster Day (8) 1894-1915, n.d.
Day, Rodney West to Robert Webster Day (1) 1912 Nov 25
Day, Susan to Robert Webster Day (8) 1901-1903
Esty, Reverend Isaac to Henry Jones (1) 1825 Jan 8
Goodrich, Frances Juliana (Mrs. Chauncey Allen) to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (13) 1837-1857, n.d.
Jones, Annie Marie Ward (Mrs. Henry Webster) to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (1) [1883?] Jul 12
Holton, Agnes to Robert Webster Day (1) 1910 Sep 16
Jones, Daniel to Mr. Day (1) 1820 Nov 10
Jones, Daniel to Mr. and Mrs. H. King (1) 1818 May
Jones, Daniel to Rhoda Jones (7) 1818-1827
Jones, Daniel to Timothy Savage (1) 1817 Sep
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster (Mrs. Henry) to Frances Juliana Jones Beecher (22) 1847-1883
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster (Mrs. Henry) to Robert Webster Day (35) 1864-1917
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster (Mrs. Henry) to Robert Webster Day (grandson) (40) 1887
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster (Mrs. Henry) to Robert Webster Day (28) 1888
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster (Mrs. Henry) to Henry Jones (husband) (8) 1843-1869
Jones, Eliza Steele Webster (Mrs. Henry) to Henry Webster Jones (husband) (2) 1869, n.d.
Jones, Henry to Frances Juliana Jones Beecher (16) 1851-1878
Jones, Henry to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (2) 1825-1837
Jones, Henry to Henry Webster Jones (son) (5) 1854-1874
Jones, Henry Webster to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (mother) (1) 1878 Nov 5
[Ingham?], Anne S. to Robert Webster Day (1) 1910 Apr 5
McLauchlan, J. to Robert Webster Day (1) 1910 Sep 21
Moseley, Jonothan to Rev. Samuel R. Andrews (1) 1825 Jul 11
Pardee, Madeleine L. to Robert Webster Day (1) 1912 Jan 6
Phelps, A. to Henry Jones (1) 1843 Oct 10
Phillips, Blaine to Robert Webster Day (2); also transcript of a letter and copy of R.W. Day's reply, pencil autograph letter of R.W. Day to Phillips, broadside entitled, "What's the Matter?" (2 copies) 1911-1912
Pierce, V. Mott to Robert Webster Day 1909 Jul 15
Schagruder, Rosalie E. to Robert Webster Day (cousin) (1) 1902-1903
Seymour, John to Robert Webster Day (1) 1906 Apr 21
Smith, Edmund Sewall to Robert Webster Day (father-in-law) (1) 1902 Oct 15
Smith, Emily Webster Day to Robert Webster Day (father) (3) 1902-1903
Smith, Phillip to Robert Webster Day (2) 1910
Van Vechten, J. to Henry Jones (1) 1837 Jan 24
Washburn, Louis H. to Robert Webster Day (1) 1908 Jan 10
Webster, Louisa Webster to [Eliza Steele Webster Jones] (sister) (3) 1854-1856, n.d.
Webster, Noah to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (daughter) (11) 1819-1843
Webster, Noah to Henry Jones (4) 1832-1837
Webster, Rebecca to Frances Juliana Webster Goodrich (daughter) (1) n.d.
Webster, Rebecca to Eliza Steele Webster Jones (11) n.d.
West, Edward A. to Robert Webster Day (uncle) (2) 1909
Series 2: Miscellaneous Family Papers, 1810-1911
Relates chiefly to Robert W. Day and his business affairs in Buffalo, N.Y. However, this series also includes an interesting group of papers of or relating to Daniel Jones (brother of Henry Jones) which includes compositions written while in grammar school, two journals written while onboard schooners, records kept while he served as a member of the governor's foot guard and sundry lists of purchases and inventories. Other manuscript groups of interest in Series 2 relate to Henry and Eliza Jones (educators who founded the Cottage School in Bridgeport, Connecticut and who were involved in the Greenfield High School for Young Ladies in Greenfield, Massachusetts); Illinois land holdings of Noah Webster; spelling reform; and Webster family genealogy.
Unidentified manuscripts: extracts from journal on writing a composition; essay on the law of honor, found near the Mirror office; general statutes of Conn. revision of 1875; miscellaneous poems, possibly written by Eliza S.W. Jones 1819-1905, n.d.
Poem "Aspiration" by Susan M. Day n.d.
Miscellaneous manuscripts of, and relating to, Daniel Jones (31 items) 1810-1823
Journal of Daniel Jones aboard Demarara; Journal of Daniel Jones aboard Aurora/Renewal 1827 Jun-Jul
Poem "The Drear of Youth" by Henry Jones [c. 1820]
Poem "The Luck of Eden Hall" in hand of Eliza S. W. Jones [c. 1830]
Minutes of Washington School District in hand of Eliza S.W. Jones [c. 1859]
Valentine poem sent to Eliza S. W. Jones by [Norman Day] n.d.
Epitaphs copies by Henry Jones; music notebook by Henry Jones [c. 1815]
Autograph notebook belonging to Emily Ellsworth Jones, signed by Noah Webster (1843 Apr 13) and others 1843-1878
Commonplace book belonging to Henry Jones; Some Chronicles of the Day Family, 1750-1850, compiled by E.D.P. Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1893 ca. 1825-1893
Cottage School on Golden Hill (Bridgeport, Conn.) - circulars and catalog of students and teachers (Henry Jones, Principal) 1838-1861
Genealogical information n.d.
Legal documents concerning division of land belonging to Noah Webster in Vermilion County, Illinois 1859-1902
Floor plan of Noah Webster house in Amherst, Mass. n.d.
Pamphlet: Memorial tribute to E.S.W. Jones (2 copies) 1888
Straight pincushions, 1 velvet, 1 silk, embroidered with initials and geometry ("From mementos of father's in the old secretary" - from note signed by Delia W. Ellsworth) n.d.
Locks of hair belonging to Noah Webster and Rebecca Webster n.d.
Printed material belonging to Robert W. Day relating to spelling reform 1906-1909
Catalogs from Greenfield High School for Young Ladies, Greenfield, Mass. (Henry Jones and Spencer Root, directors) 1828-1838
Materials relating to the Auto Radiator Company, Buffalo, N.Y. (stock information of R.W. Day) 1906-1908
Materials relating to speed boats and yachts (R.W. Day) 1905-1906, n.d.
Materials relating to Carabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad Company and St. George Development Company of Florida (property settlements of R.W. Day) 1892-1908
Materials relating to Portland Cement Company (stock information of R. W. Day) n.d.
Materials relating to Ellicott Square of Buffalo (life insurance policies of R.W. Day) 1908-1915
Materials relating to Massachusetts Mutual Life (insurance policies of R.W. Day) 1905-1911
Materials relating to White & Warhus Mining Company (claim information of R.W. Day) 1906-1908
Miscellaneous pamphlets and materials relating to Yale University (R.W. Day) 1864-1893
Miscellaneous invoices belonging to R.W. Day 1905-1909
Announcements and invitations belonging to R.W. Day 1893-1910
Calling cards given to R.W. Day n.d.
Newsclippings relating mostly to spelling reform and Noah Webster ca. 1900-1910
Photographs, mostly unidentified ca. 1850-1910